Bowland Benefice
Pews News 25 May 2025
Collect for 6 th Sunday of Easter
Risen Christ, by the lakeside
you renewed your call to your disciples:
help your Church to obey your command
and draw the nations to the fire of your love,
to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
This week in the Benefice

Sunday
25 May

9.30am

Holy Communion
in White Ladies
Aston

10.30am

Morning Prayer
in Upton
Snodsbury
11.00am Holy Communion
in Peopleton

Thursday
29 May 7.00pm

Holy Communion
for Ascension
Day in Fladbury

Saturday
31 May

from
9.30am

The Big Breakfast
at Peopleton
Rectory

from
10.30am

Flower Festival in
Upton Snodsbury

Sunday
1 June
Easter 7

10.30am
from
2.00pm

Family Service in
Upton Snodsbury
Flower Festival
continues
11.00am Holy Communion
in Peopleton

6.00pm

Evensong in
White Ladies
Aston
Ascension Day – this Thursday 29 May
Once again we have been invited to join Revd Canon
Sarah Dangerfield and the Five Alive Parish
congregation to a Communion Service for Ascension
Day in Fladbury Church at 7.00pm.
It is always a good opportunity to meet up with
friends from across the Deanery.
Next Saturday – the Big Breakfast
at Peopleton Rectory

Tim and Claire look forward to welcoming you for
breakfast! £12 for a Full English with breakfast rolls
available too. Unlimited tea and coffee. Tickets from
Kim (840911), Shirley (841991), Carole (840879) or

Sue (840037).

Next Saturday and Sunday – Flower Festival
In St Kenelm’s, Upton Snodsbury
From 10.30am to 4.00pm on Saturday and 2.00pm to
4.00pm on Sunday, come along and enjoy some
wonderful flower arrangements under the title of
From my Garden. There will be a craft stall and
refreshments available. Entry £2 and all the money
raised will go towards floor repairs and retarmacking

part of the churchyard path.

What is the relevance of Ascension Day?
In the Church of England, Ascension Day is a
commemoration of the biblical account of Jesus; of his
return to his Father in heaven after his resurrection
and post-resurrection appearances to his disciples.
It marks Jesus' physical ascension into heaven, 40 days
after Easter – so it is always on a Thursday.
It marks the end of his earthly ministry and the
beginning of his reign in heaven. 
It represents a transition; the end of the Easter season
and anticipates the coming of Pentecost, when the
Holy Spirit is bestowed upon the disciples.
Ascension is closely linked to the theme of mission, as
Jesus commissions his disciples to continue his work
and promises them the Holy Spirit as a source of

power and comfort.

This week also – Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
are designated as Rogation Days. What are they?
The word rogation comes from the Latin rogare to ask
and the Rogation Days are 4 days set apart to bless
the fields and ask for God’s mercy on all creation.
25th April is called the Major Rogation and the days
preceding Ascension Day are the Minor Rogations.
These days of prayer and procession were instituted
in the 5 th Century during a period of disaster and
pestilence to pray for good weather, good health and

pardon for sins.

Over the centuries it became the custom to use the
procession to beat the bounds (to mark the parish
boundaries) whilst blessing the trees, fields and
stones of the Parish. In the 21 st century it is a time to
remind us of our obligation to be good stewards of all

of God’s creation.
Creation Prayer

God our Father, you created the world and sent your
own Son to live among us, made of the same stuff,
breathing the same air, marvelling at sunrise and

sunset just as we do.

Help us to participate in the life around and within us
as your life, as you living in us and we living in you and

in each other.

God of love and life, restore us to your peace, renew
us through your power and teach us to love all that
you have created and to care for the earth as your gift

and our home. Amen.
God of life,

we praise you for the beauty of creation,
its richness and variety;
yet, through greed and ignorance,
we scar your world with plastic waste
and throw so much away.
Make us more like Jesus,
treading gently on our common home,
and breathe your Spirit on us,
that we may care more deeply for your Earth.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Rt Revd Graham Usher)