Thoughts from The Vicarage with BBC Radio 2, dates and Joan Chittister
Greetings !
Please find Pews News attached with service information for the coming week, prayer requests and the readings for the 1st Sunday of Lent.
The Quiet Day led by Bishop Mary was most inspiring. She guided us through mini biblical love stories … reflecting how God loves us, alongside the radical, challenging call to love our neighbour…. whoever, wherever that neighbour may be. Mary shared the poem by Gemma Gately that you will find on this week’s Pews News – I trust you may find it of use as we enter the Lenten season.
Earlier this week I caught Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2. The words of Archbishop Stephen really struck me. “This season invites us to consider our ending and our beginning and look forward to the abundance of spring, and, for those of us who follow Jesus, the abundance of life that Jesus’ dying and rising bring to the world.”
If you prefer something visual, this year’s Visual Commentary on Scripture Lenten series of artworks and associated commentaries is centred on the theme of community, something as urgently needed as ever in a fractured world Sign Up to VCS Emails | VCS.
Finally – as we enter into Lent a reflection from Joan Chittister “The proofs of eternal rebirth are everywhere. Spring comes every year. Dawn comes every morning. Love happens out of hate. Birth absorbs the pain of death….To the Christian, in both the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus we see proof of God’s will for the world, and in the Paschal Mystery the demonstration of the cycle of struggle.” (Scarred by Struggle; Transformed by Hope 2003).
And very finally … a prayer from a colleague Rev Sue Hart:
Christ of the wilderness and the desert
Show us the path to your heart
Where we will know ourselves
To be hidden in you
Help us to unload
And be willing
To journey naked
Into the fire
Of your love
Amen
Every blessing,
Julie
Revd Julie Mintern Vicar Lambourn Valley Benefice
Diary Dates
- Monday February 23rd 2.00 – Lent group @ Christine’s home
- Wednesday February 25th – Come & See Lent gathering 2.30 @ The Vicarage
- Wednesday February 25th Come & See Lent gathering 7.00 @ Meridian (Ruth’s home)
- Monday March 2nd 2.00 – Lent group @ Christine’s home
- Wednesday March 4th 2.30 – Come & See Lent gathering The Vicarage & 7pm @ Meridian
- Monday March 9th 2.00 – Lent group @ Christine’s home
- Wednesday March 11th 2.30 – Come & See Lent gathering The Vicarage & 7pm @ Meridian
- Monday March 16th 2.30 – Lent group @ Christine’s home
- Wednesday March 18th 2.30 – Come & See Lent gathering The Vicarage & 7pm @ Meridian
- Monday March 23rd 2.00 – Lent group @ Christine’s home
- Wednesday March 25th 2.30 – Come & See Lent gathering The Vicarage & 7pm @ Meridian
- Friday March 27th – Lambourn school breaks up
- Sunday March 29th – Palm Sunday
- Monday March 30th – Holy week begins
- Thursday April 2nd – Maundy Thursday
- Sunday April 5th – Easter Day