Wednesday 12 February 2025

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I hope to see many of you this coming weekend.

Ladies Breakfast, this Saturday 15th February, 9.30-11am
There will be a bring and share breakfast in the Church House. After breakfast, there will be a Bible study, and opportunity to share and pray for one another. Please let Helen know by TOMORROW if you are interested in coming.

Sunday 16th February: Teenager Group
Our Teenager Group will be meeting this Sunday in the Upper Office. The meeting starts at the beginning of the service, with the teenagers joining us in church for communion. Please pray for our young people (11 in all) and for James as he leads the group.

Mission Sunday, 23rd February (Sung Eucharist)
Our service will focus on mission, and we will also be highlighting the charities we support and praying for them. After the service, James Morgan will speak about his volunteer work with the Drop-in Day Room of the Heilsarmee in Bern.

Lent
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 5th March. There will be a special Eucharist at 6.30pm. Do put that date in your diary now. More details about activities in Lent to follow soon.

Musicians Needed<
We are very thankful to our team of dedicated musicians who take turns on a rota to play the music at our services at St Ursula's. We would be glad to have more musicians on the rota especially as one of our team will be leaving later in the year. There are many new members of our church and perhaps some of you play a musical instrument? If you are interested in joining the team, do let Helen know.

Electoral Roll
Would you like to be on our electoral roll? This means you can vote at our Annual General Meeting. You need to be baptised but you don't have to be an Anglican: you can be a baptised member of any church in communion with the Anglican church. You need to have worshipped with us regularly for at least 6 months. The deadline for completing the form to join the electoral roll is 2nd March. Please ask Tricia or me for more information.

This Sunday, one of our readings is Psalm 1, and we will be reflecting on the Psalms in general. Below is a poem inspired by Psalm 1, called Beatus Vir, which means 'blessed is the man'. It is a beautiful poem to read before or after going for a walk in a wood and looking at the trees. It reminds us that our fruitfulness comes from being deeply rooted.

Beatus Vir
Come to the place, where every breath is praise,
And God is breathing through each passing breeze.
Be planted by the waterside and raise

Your arms with Christ beneath these rooted trees,
Who lift their breathing leaves up to the skies.
Be rooted too, as still and strong as these,

Open alike to sun and rain. Arise
From meditation by these waters. Bear
The fruits of that deep rootedness. Be wise

In the trees' long wisdom. Learn to share
The secret of their patience. Pass the day
In their green fastness and their quiet air.

Slowly discern a life, a truth, a way,
Where simple being flowers in delight,
And let the chaff of life just blow away.

(Malcolm Guite)

With love in Christ,
Helen