Wednesday 15 March 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It was glad to see many of you at the Spring Sale last Saturday. It was a very good community event. I want to say a very big thank you to all those who worked so hard to organise the sale, to run it, and to clear up afterwards.

Mothering Sunday, 19th March
This coming Sunday is Mothering Sunday and it will be an All Age Eucharist. There will be no Junior Church or creche and the children will stay in church, but toys will be provided in the upper hall for younger children if parents need to take them out. This Sunday, James Morgan, who is training for ordination, will be leading the first part of the service and giving the all age talk. Please do support and encourage him and pray for him in his training.

LENT ACTIVITIES:

Lent Course
We continue with our Lent course Praying with the English Mystics, Wednesday evenings 7.00- 8.15pm, via Zoom. This evening we are looking at The Cloud of Unknowing. I sent out a handout yesterday but I attach it again here. Please have it with you for the session. (Ask me for the Zoom link.)

Meditating on Scripture: Lectio Divina
We meet on Thursday mornings, 10.30-11.15am (via Zoom) to ponder a short passage of scripture in silence and then to share our reflections. It is a way of allowing Scripture to speak deeply into our hearts and lives. If you have never tried this, why not try it out during Lent?

Lent Eco-Tips
I attach our Lent Eco-tips to encourage us to live more simply during Lent. If you have any good vegetarian recipes, please send them to the office and we will compile a St Ursula's vegetarian cookbook.

Earth Hour and Special Compline
Saturday, 25th March, 8.30-9.30pm, is Earth Hour, when we are encouraged to switch off all our lights as a symbolic gesture to remind us that we need to be more careful about how we use the earth's resources. At 9pm, I invite you to join me for Candlelit Night Prayer (Compline) via Zoom. This is a very short, reflective service as we offer to God the past day, meditate on short Bible readings, and pray for those in need. We will especially pray in this service for all those affected by climate change.

Night Prayer (Compline) during Passiontide
We will continue to offer an online Night Prayer service throughout Passiontide. Do join us every evening at 9pm. This will begin on Saturday 25th March and continue until Saturday 8th April. (I will send out the Zoom link next week).

St Ursula's AGM, Sunday 26th March
Please do come along to our Annual General Meeting, 11.30am on Sunday 26th March after the service. This is an opportunity to elect our churchwardens and council members, and also to hear a review of this past year and some priorities for the coming year. The list of proposed churchwardens and council members is up in the Upper Hall. Please do think and pray about who you would like to propose to stand as a council member or whether you would like to stand yourself. (Those who stand need to have been on the electoral roll for at least 6 months.)

Professor John Wyatt: Lecture on AI and Robotics
Many of you will remember Professor Wyatt's visit to St Ursula's last September. He preached an excellent sermon and led a very stimulating discussion. Professor Wyatt is Professor of Ethics and Perinatology from University College, London. He is giving an online lecture 18:00, Monday 3rd April, entitled: AI and Robotics: Friends or Foes in Medicine and Human Health? The event is free but you need to register and get an e-ticket. See this link for further information and how to register.
If you want to know more, please ask Jorum Kirundi who is organising the event.

Missing Hymn Books
We are missing several of the red hymn books which also include the music as well as the words. If you have taken one of these home, could you please return it. Many thanks.

As we prepare to celebrate Mothering Sunday, we remember God's tender love for us. There are several 'motherly' images of God in the Bible. Jesus, himself, compares himself to a mother hen gathering her chicks under her wings. Below is a canticle written by St Anselm which takes up some of these ideas.

Song of St Anselm

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