A very warm welcome to all
Second Sunday in Lent
Readings:
Genesis 12: 1-4a; Romans 4: 1-5, 13-17
Gospel: John 3: 1-17
In our Gospel
In our Gospel today.
The great temptation in the night time is to think that if we just get the answer, if we can understand and explain it all, then we’ll know what to do. We’ll do it better this time. We’ll do it differently this time. Things will change and we’ll get what we want. That’s what Nicodemus is doing. “How can these things be?” He wants an answer and information. That’s just more daytime living and it doesn’t work in the night time
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 Lord’s Prayer, covering several of the versions we are familiar with. There was great discussion and enthusiasm with fellows afterwards. This Thursday we will listen to a popular Jewish 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.
Calendars
We have a few St Mary’s Calendars still available and in order to see that they all go to a good home, please feel free to take one for a small donation. Of course, if you wish to pay the full £10 then that would be welcome, but we would like to see them all gone and in the process, collect some donations towards our continued fundraising campaigns.
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.
Curry Night
Our ‘Curry Night’ was a great success. I am thankful to everyone who helped out on the night and to those who prepared food etc.
Diocesan Synod
The Diocesan Synod took place yesterday and a lot of business was discussed in a very short period of time. I will liaise with Dr Nicola Mills in order to provide some brief oversight of the proceedings.
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.
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…
Keep warm
During this current cold weather, please know that we have a good supply of woollen blankets at the rear of the church that you may wish to avail yourselves of in order to stave off the chill.
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 the last time. You have until the end of March 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 26th of February 2023
Sunday 5th March – at 8 am – Holy Communion (Cn Terry)
Sunday 5th March at 10 am – Sung Eucharist (Cn Terry)
Monday 6th March – Cn Terry – Day Off
Tuesday 7th March at 10 am – Morning Prayer (Cn Terry)
Wednesday 8th March at 10 am – Holy Communion (Cn Terry)
Thursday 9th March at 7 pm – Lectio Divina Lent Course in the Choir Vestry
Friday 10th March – at 6 pm – Compline (Cn Terry)
Sunday 12th March- at 8 am – Holy Communion (Cn Terry)
Sunday 12th March at 10 am – Sung Eucharist – 2nd Sunday of Lent (Cn Terry)
Sunday the 5th March readings: Exodus 17: 1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5: 1-11
Gospel: John 4: 5-26
“No act of virtue can be great if it is not followed by advantage for others. So, no matter how much time you spend fasting, no matter how much you sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes and sigh continually; if you do no good to others, you do nothing great.”
(John Chrysostom)
Cn Terry Taggart:
01224588776/07768219984