Thoughts from The Vicarage with Pews News, Bonhoeffer and dates
Greetings as we look ahead to the 3rd Sunday of Lent… with Mothering Sunday the following week! Looking for a bit of peace & quiet . all welcome to visit the Stations of The Cross now in St Michael & All Angels with images and prayers to help us journey with Jesus on the road of suffering, death & grief. They really are special images by Sieger Koder with prayers by Padraig O Tuama. Photos https://tinyurl.com/yks69wnd
The season of Annual Parish Meetings APCMs is coming up when Parishioners are invited to a meeting at which Church Wardens are elected for the year 2025-2026. Nominations for Church Wardens should be received by before each meeting.
Those on the electoral roll then elect members onto the PCC – the Parochial Church Council. Nominations for PCC members need to be received with consent from the nominee prior to or at the meeting. Nomination forms for Wardens, PCC members Deanery Synod members will be available in each church and attached along with Pews News today. While this might all sound rather a mouthful – we do need to follow due process.
And of course at the heart of this is a sense of service, of using gifts and talents to serve the church in this small corner of God’s creation. Please do think about stepping up and once again, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Dates for your diary
- March 28th 2pm making Mothering Sunday poesies @ St Michael & All Angels
- March 29th Mothering Sunday; St James 9.30
- March 29th Mothering Sunday; Lambourn 10.30
- March 29th Mothering Sunday; All Saints 11.00
- March 31st 6pm St James Annual Meeting of Parishioners followed by APCM & PCC
- April 3rd 5pm St Michael & All Angels PCC @ The Vicarage
- April 4th 9.30 Lambourn CE Primary school, Easter Celebration @ St Michael’s
- April 9th 7pm All Saints PCC
- April 13th Palm Sunday leading into Holy Week services in each church
- April 14th 7pm Holy Communion & reflection St Michael & All Angels
- April 15th 7pm Holy Communion & reflection St James
- April 16th 7pm Holy Communion & reflection East Garston
- April 17th Maundy Thursday 7pm St Michael’s Holy Communion & Stripping of altars
- April 18th 10.00 Good Friday Walk of Witness from Market Square
- April 18th 11.00 Good Friday Veneration of The Cross Sacred Heart
- April 18th 12.00 Good Friday Liturgy St James
- April 18th 7.30 Good Friday concert St Michal & All Angels
- April 20th 7pm Easter Vigil
- April 21st Easter Day
St Michael & All Angels needs YOU.
Thanks to Cathy who has wonderfully volunteered to be minute secretary. We still have a vacancy for our next PCC secretary ? Please do speak to Ruth Honey or myself if you would like to know more.
Finally, food for thought in Lent from Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“The exclusion of the weak and insignificant, the seemingly useless people, from a Christian community may actually mean the exclusion of Christ; in the poor brother Christ is knocking at the door.” (“Life Together” p.24, SCM Press)
And very finally a prayer
In a world which often lauds power rather than peace,
greed rather than generosity,
you call us, Lord,
to stand not with oppressors and bullies,
but with those who face injustice.
Strengthen our resolve,
as people of your kingdom,
to pursue the peace you offer.
Every blessing
Julie