View this email in your browser Thought for Thursday with Benefice News Thursday April 11th 2024 Services for Sunday 14th April The Third Sunday of Easter 09.00 Holy Communion St Pega’s Peakirk 10.30 Family Communion St Andrew’s Northborough 18.00 Joyful Journey St Benedict’s Glinton Th4Th for April 11th The reading set for communion for today is Acts 15.7–21 which tells of the disagreements in the early church. It opens with the line,” After there had been much debate, Peter got up and said to them…” This feels very familiar to those in the church. This is the time of annual meetings and elections to PCCs. There is often quite a bit of debate held in the church and much of it can be unhelpful. Peter goes on to speak of there being no difference between ‘them and us’. He is referring to the gentiles. This happened at the council of Jerusalem where there was a disagreement as to who can be a Christian and ‘be saved’. The elders insisted that only those who were circumcised (used to mean following the Jewish laws) would be saved. I often wonder if there is too much debate and questions about them and us in the church. Peter wonderfully tells them (and us) that, “On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.’ Those last four words I think encapsulates the principal of the church. We are all welcome and we are all saved through Jesus Christ. We should go about our lives with this in our hearts. In a world where being homeless is being criminalised, war is raging in many parts of the world, immigration is rarely out of the news, perhaps we need to add this sentiment to our own thinking. By doing this we can show everyone that our love comes from Christ and that His love is for all of us. Rev. Keir FOR OUR PRAYERS For pupils, teachers and all school staff as they begin their new term. For the deanery youth project and our benefice bible course planning. For all those who are sick in mind, body or soul, especially, Mike, Ann, and Gavin For those who we love but see no longer, especially Nina Vergette, Emma Hearn and Freda Neaverson. For our upcoming concerts and all the planning work For turning Fear into Joy APCMs (Annual Parish Church Meetings) Sunday 14th April 11:30 St Andrew’s, Northborough Sunday 21st April 11:30 St Stephen’s, Etton DIARY DATES And looking further ahead : Saturday April 20th : St Pega’s 100 Club The 100 CLUB was launched at the Easter Fayre. Look out for our stand promoting the 100 Club in the Ruddy Duck Car Park on 20th April from 12 noon to 2pm. Also come along for coffee and cake in the church on Saturday 20th April from 2.30pm to 4pm to sign up. Saturday May 11th at 7.30pm in St Pega’s Church, Peakirk Spring is in the Air - an evening of popular music with THE SIX Saturday May 18th in St Peter’s Church, Maxey Dancing in the Aisles with Uppingham Soul and Jazz Band Friday June 7th at 7.30pm in St Andrew’s Church Northborough Frumenty in Concert - folk music and more..... Songs, Stories and Shenanigans. Tickets will be available shortly. NOTICES Church emails will be moving to Iknow church soon. Please make sure we have your details. Benefice office open every Friday 9:30 -11:00. All are welcome to pop in for /tea and a chat. NEWSROUNDUP There are many images depicting the Resurrection. Th4Th will feature just some of these in mailings in the weeks after Easter, some modern, some more traditional. Messy Church We had great fun at Messy church last Sunday, learning about the life of Moses. We made flatbread, played Plague Bingo, made a basket for the baby Moses and even crossed the Red Sea! Reader Freda led our worship and explained about the importance of the Ten Commandants. Unfortunately, our ‘official’ photographer was poorly and everyone else was so busy with the activities we forgot to take a photo! Our next Messy Church will be on Sunday May 5th when we will find out about Joshua. Will we knock down the walls of Jericho? Come and find out! Miss Freda Neaverson It was with sadness that we learned of the sudden but peaceful passing of Miss Freda. After, a wonderful celebration of her 100th birthday, she died just few days later. Miss Freda devoted so much of her life to the community of Peakirk and to St Pega’s Church. She will be remembered fondly by many in the village. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nick, Ann and Miss Freda’s extended family and friends. blessings Jane Copyright (C) 2024 The Nine Bridges Benefice. All rights reserved.
