Dear All The start of the Easter journey with Jesus grows closer each week. You will notice from the attachments that we have been busy planning for Shrove Tuesday with the Pancake party at Gilston and Eastwick Village Hall on 1st March, our Ash Wednesday service 5th March at 7.30 pm, the Lent Bible study course and the Lent Challenge for 2025. We are trying to give you as much notice as possible so that you can put these dates in your diaries and do our Easter Journey together this year. We will also be having Wednesday Welcome at the usual address on Wed 5th March, a community dog walk starting at Allens Green on 9th March at 2.30 pm and our Door Dedication (which was postponed because of Joy’s health) is now back on and will be celebrated on Sunday 16th March at 10.30 am that morning. Before all that though we do have next week as half term. I will be taking Thursday 20th February off work but will be back as normal on Saturday 22nd February. There will be no Jim’s café and no Jimmy’s toddler group next week – so thank you for all the people who help in those teams who hopefully will be having a well-deserved rest. Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday at 9.30 am St James for our Holy Communion service or 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm for our Messy Church session in High Wych Memorial Hall Every blessing Alison
During Lent we are called to give things up that may harm us, like alcohol, smoking, maybe to fast from chocolate or too much social media, or TV – the idea being that the time this frees up you can give more attention to God, in prayer and reading the Bible. We are also called during Lent to remember those worse off than ourselves and there are so many ways we can do this. We can give our money to charity, maybe sending help to children in Gaza who are struggling without food and basic necessities:- Donate to Gaza Appeal for Children in Crisis - UNICEF UK – (follow this link to financially give). Or maybe you would like to organise a Lent Lunch or Lent Brekkie and invite people to join you, eat yummy food and donate to Christian Aid and their action against Poverty. Lent Lunches | Christian Aid – (follow this link to find out how to go about it and see all the resources they provide to help you with this). Or you may want to look closer to home and take up the Lent Challenge for our own area. We are committing to give generously to the Pop-Up shop during Lent, focussing on a particular area of food/household products each week as follows:- Week 1 - we focus on bringing soft drinks for that week. Week 2 – cans of food. Week 3 – dried goods Week 4 - Household cleaning products. Week 5 – chocolate (small Easter eggs) Week 6 – Special Easter food This will call us to sacrifice some of our wealth but it will benefit others who are struggling. The church at St James, High Wych is open every day from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm for you to bring food and place in the green box provided, and we will make sure this food gets to the Pop-Up Shop.
Dear AllAs I sit here, although it was a frosty morning the sun is shining. Snowdrops and crocus can be seen in St James churchyard, and it is hard not to feel hopeful when we see those signs of spring around us. We have a little way to go yet but I am encouraged by the signs of Spring and also for the signs of growth in all our services and activities across the Benefice.Wednesday Welcome was a treat this week as we were able to welcome Keith and Paul (The Racketeers) to play for us. Doreen loved it as she loves a bit of rock ‘n’ roll – lots of us were dancing in our seats and singing away to all the tunes we recognised. A great deal of fun was had by all. Please do tell your friends and neighbours about Wednesday Welcome – the next one will be Wednesday 5th March.The Ministry team have been thinking already about Easter and prior that to Lent. We have chosen the Lent study of Holy Habits. The information is attached to this e-mail. We hope to see many of you taking the Lent Bible study with us, if you would like the prayer reflections for the 40 days of Lent please sign up at the back of church and I will order them for you. They are currently costing £3.99 each.This Sunday our service of Holy Communion will be at 9.30 am at St James, High WychOur second Holy Communion service of the day will take place at St Mary’s, Gilston at 11.15 am.I hope to see you at one of our services.Every blessing Alison
Dear AllIt has definitely been a Wedding week. It looks like we will now have 3 weddings booked so far for next year and 4 weddings and a wedding blessing this year. Word is obviously spreading that our beautiful village churches would be the perfect setting for a deeply meaningful ceremony and celebration, I am so happy to be asked to officiate and be part of one of the most special days in a couple’s life. Big smiles from me.This weekends we have our 8.00 am BCP (Book of Common Prayer 1662 said service, this is a quiet service with no music but with space to reflect) at St James followed by a very different family service starting at 9.30 am with bacon sandwiches and other yummy breakfast food. This is a time for families to come together and worship in a way that works for the whole family. We have a very relaxed service that lasts 45 mins with music and drama and hopefully, lots of fun.Following on from this service we will go straight into our next Messy Church meeting from 10.45 am for coffee where we will be discussing the last Messy Church and the theme etc for our Messy Church on 16th February 2025. We are really looking forward to you being able to make this meeting and hear your views on what we have achieved so far.I hope I see you at one of these services or meeting tomorrow and my prayer is that your week has been a good one with a weekend with moments of joy. At the bottom of this e-mail is a reminder of our bible reading for the year – you can still find fridge magnets at the back of St James or St Mary’s church should you want one.Every blessingAlisonIsaiah 43:1-343 But now says the Lord,Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.3 For I am the Lord your God.
