Dear Friends,

As we reach the Sunday before Ascension, we enter the traditional agricultural festival of Rogation, a time when we are encouraged to pray for the land and see for those who work to harvest from it for us. Historically processions were made to beat the bounds, and the poet George Herbert suggested this was a good time for blessing the land, neighbourliness and for giving to the needy. I have included extended prayers for this season at the end of the printed reflection attached with this email.

Over the last few years Ascension Day (this year – Thursday 13th May) to Pentecost has become a time for an international wave of Prayer: Thy Kingdom Come, and the thoughts I am sharing in this week’s sermon might be an encouragement to renew our vocation of prayer with and for our friends, communities and the wider world during this time. I have some prayer journals edited by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cotterell, to give away, so if you would like one to support your prayer life, please do get in touch. We will celebrate Ascension in church on next Sunday.

May 10th also marks the beginning of Christian Aid week, an opportunity to extend our concern for those in need across our world in Jesus’ name. Lyn White has provided these details for giving this year:

"Dear all,

Christian Aid Week falls this year between May 10th and 16th.Once again there are no paper envelopes to insert in parish magazines,so if you feel you could make a donation,please go to Christian Aid Week,and follow the prompt to GIVE,and then WAYS TO DONATE.

The favoured method in online,but there is a phone line,(020 7523 2269) and if you are really stuck,please give me a call,and I will make sure a cheque or cash donation gets through to them.

Thankyou ,

Lyn White

Christian Aid Coordinator

753760 "

Remembering Jesus’ confidence in us: “You did not choose me, I chose you” may God bless our prayers and actions with lasting fruit this week,

Samantha

The Lyn Valley Mission Community