Latest news from the Parish of Goring by Sea.
28th January 2021
Parish Office. Email: [email protected] Tel: 01903 709163
Prayer for the Nation
In response to reaching the terrible milestone of 100,000 deaths from COVID-19, the Archbishops invite all to call on God in Prayer. Starting on 1 February they invite us to set aside time every evening to pray, particularly at 6pm each day. More than ever, this is a time when we need to love each other. Prayer is an expression of love.
The Archbishops’ letter, with some prayers and further details can be found on the Church of England website using this link.
https://click.email.churchofengland.org/?qs=a1ffe0e3c5b8a5b12c8172572403b36a8602a4912c582531cd99756a4c3c13635b78921d384642847ed3816c8ea7360f82598de2306e87ca76dd9b59c8e0b1cf
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices. St. Teresa of Avila Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give your angels and saints charge over those who sleep.
Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ.
Rest your weary ones.
Bless your dying ones.
Soothe your suffering ones.
Pity your afflicted ones.
Shield your joyous ones, and all for your love's sake. Amen.
Attributed to St. Augustine
Preparing for Lent
This Sunday is the last in Epiphany the following Sunday being the 2nd before Lent. This week’s newsletter has a focus on preparing for Lent, with a message from Fr. Keith and an update about the Parish Lent Course. Please note the Eucharist service on Tuesday 2nd February for The Presentation of Christ in the Temple / Candlemas.
Bible readings in preparation for worship from Fr. Keith
Dear Friends,
We’re not very far away from Lent; Ash Wednesday falls on 17th February. In this holy and solemn season the Church encourages us to turn our spiritual attention to the Holy Scriptures, in study and in devotion. One way we can do this is to look ahead to the Sunday readings, and spend some time alone or with others, prayerfully reflecting on God’s word.
Find a quiet place and time, and, after a moment of stillness, ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and grace to receive what the Lord wants to show you. Read the scriptures carefully and prayerfully. Be attentive to any word, phrase, or image that particularly resonates with you. Don’t be despondent if nothing “happens”, we are simply engaging in an act of faithfulness. We are not looking for instant enlightenment, or the acquisition of spiritual knowledge. We are spending time with the Lord, humbly disposed to receive what he wishes to give us. Importantly, we shall be better prepared to enter into the Sunday liturgy, and perhaps be more open to the themes explored in that week’s preaching.
To help us in this practice the weekly readings will be circulated in order that you can read them before worship. I would not recommend reading along with the scriptures during worship: far better to use the faculty of spiritual listening. You can, of course, reread the scriptures after the service. My brothers and sisters do remember the graciousness of God. He has not set the Bible as an exam, but has given it to us as a place of holy encounter, like Moses before the burning bush. While it is true that the scriptures lead us to Christ, it is equally true that Christ leads us to the scriptures. Trust in Him!
A prayer before Bible reading
O Lord, you give us your word
for a light to shine upon your path,
Grant us so to mediate upon that word,
and to follow its teaching,
that we may find in it the light
that shines more and more until the perfect day;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (after St Jerome 420)
Attached to this newsletter are the weekly readings for the Sunday Eucharist and Wednesday Morning Prayer. We will send these out regularly approximately 8 weeks ahead with the newsletter. For those who are interested, the Lectionary for the Church Year for each day of the week, can be accessed on the Church of England website, or purchased from Church House Publishing (01603 785925) as a hard copy or in the form of a Smart phone App (also available direct from your phone’s App store).
Lent Course - Update
There is a change to the materials advertised last week as we now plan to use The Sheffield Diocese Lights for Christ course. Apologies to those of you who may have started to look at the material advertised last week. Fr. Keith and Fr. Neill having looked at the Sheffield materials believe these materials match our needs as Parish more closely.
The course will start the week of the 22nd February and run for 5 weeks, more details to come. As with our recent Advent course this will be delivered via Zoom and there will be a choice of daytime and evening sessions. The course can be followed in a group or individually. For further information see:
https://www.lightsforchrist.uk/sal-course-navigation https://youtu.be/1u8gn7-U_xM
Online Alpha Course Summer 2021
Please continue to pray for the planning of this course. We pray that God will be calling and preparing many people to join this course as participants and leaders. Find out more:
https://www.alpha.org/alpha-online/
This week’s online services
10.00am Sunday. 31st January. Said Eucharist. 4th. Sunday of Epiphany from St Laurence’s Church
10.00am Tuesday. 2nd February. Said Eucharist. The Presentation of Christ in the Temple / Candlemas
from St Mary’s Church
Both the above streamed on https://www.facebook.com/StMaryAndStLaurenceGoringBySea/
10.00am Wednesday. 3rd February. Morning Prayer will be said via Zoom.
https://www.zoom.us Meeting ID: 955 2642 8233 Password: 386017
08.00pm Tuesday 2nd and Friday 5th February Compline / Night Prayer
Streamed on https://www.facebook.com/StMaryAndStLaurenceGoringBySea/
All Age Worship Sunday 7th. February 11.00am. Focus: The Presentation of Christ in the Temple/ Candlemas
Pastoral visits
Please let Fr. Keith, Fr. Neill or the Wardens know if you have a personal or pastoral concern or may know of someone in need.