Bowland Benefice
Pews News
27 April 2025
2 nd Sunday of Easter
Jesus Lives!

No longer now can thy terrors, death,

appal us!

Collect for today – also called Low Sunday

Risen Christ,

for whom no door is locked, no entrance barred:
open the doors of our hearts,
that we may seek the good of others
and walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace,
to the praise of God the Father. Amen.
This week in the Benefice

Sunday
27 April

9.30am

Holy
Communion in
White Ladies
Aston

10.30am

Hymns and a
Prayer in
Upton
Snodsbury

11.00am

Holy
Communion in
Peopleton

Sunday
4 May
Easter 3

10.30am

Family Service
in Upton
Snodsbury

11.00am

Holy
Communion in
Peopleton

6.00pm

Songs of Praise
in White Ladies
Aston
Claire says a big thank you to everyone, across the
Bowland Benefice, who helped in anyway with the
wonderful services of Holy Week and Easter Day in
our parishes. She was pleased to see so many people
welcomed into our churches not only for the
Communion Services on Maundy Thursday and Easter
Day itself but also for the peaceful Quiet Service on
Holy Tuesday, The Stations of the Cross on the
morning of Good Friday and the contemplative service
of Meditation on Good Friday evening.

We woke to the very unexpected news last Monday
that Pope Francis had died following his appearance
in St Peter’s Square on Easter Day.
Claire writes……… Our thoughts and prayers are with
people of all faiths across the world as they mourn the
death of Pope Francis.  We pray for the wise
discernment of those who decide on his successor.
As I write this, the Pope is being taken to lie in state in
St Peter’s Basilica for all the world to honour him.
I feel sure, like me, that a lot of people will have seen
the TV footage of him lying in a simple coffin in the
chapel in the home he loved – Saint Martha’s House
with its very simple chapel which, to the television
viewer I feel, speaks overwhelmingly of peace, light
and hope. The words on the beautiful white shaped
ceiling above his coffin are the words Christians
always particularly associate with Pentecost:-
Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of your faithful people.

May Pope Francis rest in peace and rise in glory.

A prayer for us all
Almighty Father,

you have given your only Son to die for our sins
and to rise again for our justification:
grant us so to put away the leaven of malice

and wickedness
that we may always serve you
in pureness of living and truth;
through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
With the local elections later this week in mind, a
prayer for our fabulous country and its amazing
diverse population, written by Desmond Tutu.
Yes we all know that awful things happen and that
there is so much wrong with society in many areas of
life but, despite everything, there are very many
positives to be grateful for. We are so very lucky.
Bless our beautiful land O Lord,
With its wonderful variety of people,
of races, culture and languages.
May we be a nation
of laughter and joy,
of justice and reconciliation,
of peace and unity,
of compassion, caring and sharing.
We pray this prayer for a true patriotism,
in the powerful name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.