A very warm welcome to all
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Readings:
1 Samuel 16: 1-13; Ephesians 5: 8-14
Gospel: John 9: 13-41
In our Gospel
So the Jews, who had just been shown to be divided on the question of Jesus, now declare with over-confidence that “we know that this man is a sinner.” They’ve forgotten (intentionally) about the dilemma that they’ve gotten themselves into. On the one hand, Jesus has performed a miracle. On the other, he’s done it on the Sabbath; against the traditions of the Pharisees. So is he of God or he is a sinner? The Jews say, “we know that this man is a sinner.” But what does the formerly blind man himself say? What is his opinion? He responds, again with brevity, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind, now I see.”
Lent Appeal
Bishop John shares the following prayer: ‘I hold in prayer those thousands of people in Turkey and Syria who have been affected by the recent earthquakes; those who have lost loved ones, who wait anxiously for news, who have lost their homes. May God’s healing love and compassion be with them and those they love. The response from across the world has been immense in the face of this devastating natural disaster, in sending both rescue teams and material aid. May we continue to give all that we can in support of our sisters and brothers living with such tragedy’ Our Lent Appeal this year will go towards helping those who are involved in the relief effort. Therefore, any donations you are able to make will be diverted accordingly by our Treasurer.
Lent Course
Our Lent Course continues. On Thursday evening we heard The Shema, a very popular prayer used in Judaism. There was excellent discussion and enthusiasm with fellowship afterwards. This Thursday we will listen to a popular Islamic prayer and I again hope that the contribution will be as active. We will adopt the ‘Lectio Divina’ method as per last year. The course will run every Thursday evening in the Choir Vestry at 7 pm and will last no longer than 45 mins – 1 hour, after which we shall have coffee/tea and cake/biscuits. I hope that you will find time to join me during our Lenten journey.
War in Ukraine
Please continue to offer prayers for our brothers and sisters caught up in Ukraine’s mayhem. Please think about what you can do to help in any way for those who continue to reach out to the rest of Europe and beyond for our assistance. Whatever method or organisation you use to make donations, please do it rather than think about it.
Easter Egg Appeal
Our annual appeal for donations of Easter Eggs is well up and running, with several donations already made. If you are out shopping, and only if you are able, please consider picking up an Easter Egg (or two), to put towards our appeal.
Bottles
We continue to ask everyone to consider donating any unusual bottles for our ‘Bottle Appeal’. This is an ongoing fundraising initiative and I ask you to keep your eyes open.
Holy Week
Holy Week will commence on Sunday, April 2nd. I recently received an email from Bishop Dorsey McConnell (our Assisting Bishop) to confirm that he will be with us here at St Mary’s, for the Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday). +Dorsey will also be with us for Easter Sunday. We are blessed that +Dorsey will provide his ministry to us during this most intense part of our Christian Calendar. The proposed services for Holy Week are attached to this newsletter.
Final Draft
You will see attached to this newsletter a very slightly amended list of services I intend to provide during Holy Week, please consider coming along to some of, or even all of them if you are able.
More volunteers needed
I am appealing for more people to volunteer to assist with providing coffee and tea after our Sunday worship. Please use the St Mary’s Calendar on the notice board in the Choir vestry to indicate when you would be free to help. Many hands etc…
Poem Competition 2023
Just to remind everyone that our Short Poetry Competition was launched on the 4th of December. If you recall how successful our previous competition was it was a ‘no-brainer’ that we should do it again. So, get your artistic thinking caps on once more and let’s see if we can have some wonderful poems as we did last time. I have decided to extend the cut-off date of the competition, so you now have until the end of June 2023 to submit your entries via email to stmaryscardenplace@gmail.com or if you do not have a computer, on a hard copy to either myself or Mr David Rose our webmaster. The rules can be found via the website on the following link to this year’s competition at https://stmaryscardenplace.org.uk/uncategorized/poem-competition-2023/ Further information will be updated and will soon be made available.
Services/Events Commencing Sunday the 19th of March 2023
Sunday 19th March – at 8 am – Holy Communion (Cn Terry)
Sunday 19th March at 10 am – Sung Eucharist (Cn Terry)
Monday 20th March – Cn Terry – Day Off
Tuesday 21st March at 10 am – Morning Prayer (Cn Terry)
Wednesday 22nd March at 10 am – Holy Communion (Cn Terry)
Thursday 23rd March at 7 pm – Lectio Divina Lent Course in the Choir Vestry
Friday 24th March – at 6 pm – Compline (Cn Terry)
Sunday 26th March- at 8 am – Holy Communion (Cn Terry)
Sunday 26th March at 10 am – Sung Eucharist – 5th Sunday of Lent (Cn Terry)
Sunday the 26th March readings: Ezekiel 37.1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8.6-11
Gospel: John 11.(1-16)17-45
“You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working and just so, you learn to love by loving. All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves”
(Saint Francis de Sales)
Cn Terry Taggart:
01224588776/07768219984