Thoughts from The Vicarage with school, day of prayer and water
Greetings especially to our new readers
Seeing as the heavens are once again open and you may wish to report a ‘water’ problem’ I thought it may be of help to share the Thames Water link to save you looking up the reporting link, here it is again: https://tinyurl.com/4mtvud4x
Thames Water – Report a problem – Location Map. Or call: 03333 445 610.
A quick reminder that tomorrow, Friday, 1/3/24, is World Day of Prayer at 3pm St Michael’s Lambourn. All warmly welcome. This years’ service has been prepared by an ecumenical group of Christian women sharing stories of 3 Palestinian women who witness to the power of bearing together in love. Its aim is to encourage and inspire women throughout the world. This material was written prior to the current conflict in the area. So a prayer for Gaza and Israel (written by Tearfund) has been added to the service, providing an opportunity to bring this land before our Lord in intercession for the troubles and devastation they are currently going through.
Thursday March 7th – we will be welcoming children from Lambourn school to St Michael’s for their monthly visit – it is always a delight to welcome them! If you would like to volunteer to either walk with the children from and back to school, or be in church please do let me know. You’d be welcome to join the team!
Electoral Roll – this is the official bit !
If you live in the parishes of All Saints, St James or St Michael’s or are a regular attendee at church you are eligible to apply for admission to the electoral roll of that church. Application forms will be in each church from March 3rd. A revision of the Electoral Roll is due before the APCMs this year. All applications to be received before 31st March 2024 please.
Anyone wishing to take an official post within the church must have her or his name on the Electoral Roll. Likewise, anyone wishing to stand for election to the PCC or Deanery Synod must have had his or her name on the Roll for at least six months prior to the election and be an ‘actual communicant’. If you already have your name on the Electoral Roll of one of our churches, you do not need to apply afresh this year but, if your details have changed, please fill in a new application form.
Lenten discussion groups continue as follows:
- 2pm from Tuesday Feb. 20th at Christine’s home 07801 096345
- 7.30pm from Wednesday Feb 21st at Ruth’s home Meridian stables 07720 439733 9am from Saturday Feb 24th in St James Eastbury with morning prayer at 8.30 followed by breakfast. (for breakfast please phone Jan & Paul Reynolds on 01488 71001)
- It’s never too late to join in – all are welcome in relaxed and friendly settings. The Church of England’s small Lent Book for 2024 is called Watch + Pray and it is excellent.
- Sign up to free daily Lent reflection emails (except Sundays) straight to your inbox. You can also purchase print booklets of the reflections or find out more about the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 2024 which inspired this year’s reflections.
Looking further ahead:
- March 9th Brownies making poesies St Michael & All Angels
- March 10th Mothering Sunday
- March 29th Good Friday walk of witness and Faure Requiem St Michael’s & All Angels
- March 31st Easter Day
- August 17–25 trip to Taize in France this summer led by Bishop Olivia (financial help available) No one who has been to Taizé comes back unchanged. Download the leaflet and book on Eventbrite. Or pop into St Michael’s in Lambourn and pick up a ready printed leaflet! Please do be in touch with Bishop Olivia if you have any questions – you can email her at bishopreading@oxford.anglican.org or explore here … 2024 Pilgrimage to Taizé – Diocese of Oxford (anglican.org)
And finally, a prayer from tomorrow’s World Day of Prayer that seems especially apt at present.
God of righteousness, bless us and make us witnesses of peace and justice.
Open our eyes so that we can see things as you do.
We pray especially for women who are denied education and other basic rights; for women who are abused and suffer violence.
Help us to raise our voices and use our gifts and talents to help others.
Amen
God bless
Julie