https://eomail5.com/web-version?p=4c5acdd8-c6d1-11f0-80ac-2352cc035ed5&pt=campaign&t=1763726412&s=a480be03fe3e6e510f0c21ceeab2ec32d0f73539ddd6e008e84dbfe241ea610dCopy & paste the above link to discover what's on this week including our Deanery Synod evening at Mappleborough Green with Bishop Sophie. Our Afternoon Tea at Church House, Alcester and our usual features including:-Prayers-Services-Upcoming meeting-Zoom prayer link
Have you ever noticed that Christianity seems to have a language of its own?For example, think of some of the things you find in churches, ciborium, corporal, paten, purificator, chalice. These are the traditional names for some of the vessels and cloths we use at communion. Cassocks, surplices, stoles, dog collar, all clothes worn by clergy in worship. In some churches you might find thuribles, acolytes sacristans and crucifers,. I still have to google words like this sometimes!However, it’s not just Christian objects which have special names, there are a whole range of churchy names for special days and seasons we celebrate like Lent, Advent, Pentecost, some of these are very familiar and for other a google search can help!As we approach Holy Week and Easter, there are a number of interestingly names days. It might be obvious why Palm Sunday is so called if you know the story, but did you know that the Wednesday of Holy Week is sometimes called ‘Spy Wednesday’, as we remember Judas’ decision to betray Jesus. The following day Maundy Thursday is named after the Latin ‘mandatum’ meaning commandment and recalls that as the Last Supper after which Jesus was arrested, he commanded his followers to both love one another and to share bread and wine in remembrance of him. The word for our special easter candle is called a paschal candle derived from the Jewish work ‘pesach’ which means Passover which was both the festival of freedom Jesus was celebrating at the time of his death, and also a reminder that Jesus’ resurrection brings freedom from death and sin.But of all the interesting names days we observe, perhaps the most interesting is Good Friday. I’m often asked ‘But why is Good Friday called good, when it is the day that Jesus died?’ Some explain that Good is a corruption of God’s Friday or that good simply means holy. But I think the goodness of this day is found in the meaning of Jesus’ death, The cross is the clearest expression of God’s love for us: as Jesus said, ’no one has greater love than this; to lay down their life for their friends (John 15:13) At the cross, we know our sins are forgiven, we see God’s amazing grace, we witness God’s amazing love for us and the world. In the darkness of that awful day, God’s love shines brightly.This is why Good Friday is, as well as being full of sorrow, also very good.So how are you going to mark Good Friday? Celebrating Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday is wonderful but its true meaning can only be found if we’ve stood at the cross.So, this year I really encourage you to join us on Good Friday, whether at the Churches Together Walk of Witness leaving from the Baptism church at 10.30am, or for a meditation at Haselor at 2pm, or coming to experience the story of Easter in the stations at St Nicholas Alcester. Whilst these events have a very different tones, and the cross can feel like such a dark place, it’s only when we face it, that we an discover the amazing Good and Love that it holds, and the full joy of Easter be discovered.I hope to see you at one of our Easter Celebrations across the minister .With Easter BlessingsKatie
These are places all over the UK are listed for the purpose of encouraging solitude, providing focus points, making space. Each place has a beauty and uniqueness of it's own. We are SO pleased to announce that St James' church, Weethley is now a member and listed as a place to visit. Please do visit the website and have a look around, maybe there is somewhere nearby a holiday destination you'll be going this year.
Dear Friends, Lent is upon us and once again I’m thinking about what that means for me and for all of us. I wonder if, like me, you’ve ever found yourself considering what the fuss about giving something up is all about? Have you tried it and found it hard to do? Or worse still that it made you feel ‘virtuous’ or pious? Last year I gave up coffee (I absolutely love the stuff) and far from making me holier, I ended up indulging in alternative distractions (snacking, scrolling Facebook etc). Perhaps you’ve adopted the modern trend to take something up instead (writing cards to people, visiting neighbours, volunteering) which feels more productive.But Jesus fasted, and he expected those who follow him to do the same (Matthew 6:16-18). I’m a latecomer to this ancient Christian discipline, but at last, I think I’m beginning to get it! Starting on 1st January, I began a forty day season of fasting, which at the time of writing, I have just finished. I don’t say this to make you think I’m a super-Christian (far from it), but as an encouragement to you. I did a ‘mixed-mode’ fast, experimenting with giving up a range of different things (foods or things that distract me such as social media) for different durations. But by far the best for me were the actual water-only fasts. Fasting is not about denying ourselves in the hope that a good dose of stoicism will fortify us. It’s also not about getting ourselves in God’s good books. It’s about making space for God and enjoying his presence. It’s about hungering for Him in our lives so that we can become more consecrated, that is, more ready for Him to use us for His purposes. And I did hunger! I have a fast metabolism and get hungry very quickly. I have been known to get ‘hangry’ - that state when you become tetchy or short-tempered from low blood sugar. But by God’s grace, I found these times of physical hunger led me deeper into His presence. I found myself drawing closer to Jesus - praying more often, enjoying reading the Bible more, thinking of Him every time my tummy rumbled, even dreaming about Him. I also became more aware of some things that I need to get right with God in my life, where I’m living more for myself than for Him. As a result, other things happened - my head has felt clearer, I’ve had a stronger sense of direction and purpose - in fact I feel a little bit ‘turbo-charged’.During Lent, I’m going to invite you to join me on two short fasts - the first and last Fridays of Lent. My plan is to gather to pray and eat together to break our fasts, so watch out for details in Minster Mail. But whatever Lenten disciplines we enter this year, we need to ask ourselves: how will this get me closer to Jesus and help me become more like Him? With love in Christ, Rev Daniel Corlett
