Wednesday 23 March 2022

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope to see many of you this Sunday, 27th March, which is the fourth Sunday of Lent and also Mothering Sunday. Do join us in church. If you can't come along, you can listen to the service online,. Many thanks to Hector, Art and Martin.

Annual General Meeting
After the service on Sunday, we will be holding our AGM. This is an important meeting in the life of our church when the Churchwardens and members of Council are elected and we reflect on what has happened over the past year and look to the coming year. Please do attend if you can.

Recording of the sermon
The online service includes the text of the readings, sermon and intercessions but no audio recordings. However, a recording of the sermon will be taken during the Sunday service (as in pre-COVID times) and put on the website afterwards. You can find sermons here.

Future Provision of Online Service
The Church Council recently decided that from Sunday 3rd April we will not be providing the online service in the same format. It is a lot of work for a small number of people and cannot be sustained indefinitely. We would also like to encourage as many people as possible to attend church in person. Of course, we realise that some people are unable to do this so we will still be providing many parts of the service in text form. The text of the readings, sermon and intercessions will still be available on the website. We will also send out each week the titles of the hymns that have been chosen so that anyone who would like to can find them on the internet. I will let you know more details about this next week.

Live Lent
I know some people in our community are using the Church of England Live Lent material which suggests prayers and small actions of practical service which we can do each day in Lent. You may want to have a look at it here.

Wednesday Prayers for Peace
There will be a simple 30 minute service online praying for peace in Ukraine every Wednesday at 18:00 throughout Lent, until April 13th. This is organised by the Diocese in Europe.

Online Study of the Creed
Our next online discussion of the Nicene Creed is next Tuesday, 29th March. We will be reflecting on the death of Christ. If you would like to, you can read pages 18-20 in the attached booklet before the meeting. But this is not essential. Everyone is welcome.

La Côte Lenten Seminars
La Côte Anglican Chaplaincy is running three seminars during Lent: opportunities to reflect, learn, question and discuss. The first is tomorrow, Wednesday 23rd March, 19.30-21.30: Trauma Theology: Holy Saturday and the God who Remains with Dr Karen O'Donnell.
Please register by writing to Christ Talbot (christalbot1953@gmail.com)

Music in Church
We are looking at the provision of music in our church. Please could you let me know:

1. If you play a musical instrument and would like to play regularly, or occasionally, in a church music group playing songs in services. (Please let me know the instrument!)

2. If you can suggest anyone who might be willing to play the piano/organ in the church and who is happy and able to play a wide range of music including traditional hymns and more modern worship songs. Ideally we would like that person to become fully involved in the life of the church. Please pass on any contacts to me so that I can get in touch with them to talk further. I would be grateful if you could do this in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, we will also be making contact with other musicians outside the church.

Thank you to all those who have already passed on these details to other musicians and contacts.

Online Sale Site
The online sale site is now open to buy goodies for Easter, including home made hot cross buns.

Memorial Service for David Winfield
There will be a special service to give thanks for David's life and to pray for Barbara, Claudia and Daniel on Saturday 9th April, 2.30pm. Please let the office know as soon as possible if you would like to attend as we need to know numbers.

Prayer of St Anselm
As we approach Mothering Sunday, you might like to use this prayer of St Anselm, which speaks of the motherly love of Jesus:

Jesus, like a mother you gather your people to you:
you are gentle with us as a mother with her children.

Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness;
through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.

Your warmth gives life to the dead,
your touch makes sinners righteous.

Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal us;
in your love and tenderness remake us.

In your compassion bring grace and forgiveness,
for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us.

Anselm (1109)

With love in Christ,
Helen