A service, including prayers, hymns and a short sermon, will be broadcast online by the Church of England and broadcast on BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Worship and 39 local BBC radio stations this Sunday as congregations across the country find new ways of sharing worship together after public church services were put on hold. Churches of all major denominations will also be marking a national day of prayer and action this Sunday – Mothering Sunday - particularly remembering those who are sick or anxious and all involved in health and emergency services. The Church of England, far from “shutting up shop”, will face the challenge by becoming a radically different kind of church rooted in prayer and serving others. This service, recorded in the crypt chapel at Lambeth Palace in London includes hymns sung by St Martin’s Voices, one of the choirs of St Martin-in-the-FieldsThe service will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Worship at 08:10am and all local radio stations in England at 8:00am and will premier online at 9:am on Sunday 22nd March 2020.The Archbishop will say: “In all of the current troubles, and they are very serious troubles, looking inwards will only reveal the limits of our own resources, and lead to deeper fear and selfishness.“Acting in love found from God in Jesus Christ will do the exact reverse. As we look out from ourselves in love, we can enable people to find the place of their nurture, not their historic place but a new place where they meet God and find his consolation.“As we share our consolation the mother love of God will enfold them. As we love the poor, go and give to a foodbank, call on someone who is isolated, do their shopping, pray with and for them from a distance, we will find that we are deeply consoled by our own gift of consolation."Links to the Church of England and the Church Times websites may be found below.https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/news/archbishop-canterbury-lead-first-national-virtual-church-england-service https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2020/20-march/news/uk/day-of-prayer-and-action-light-a-candle-say-church-leaders
This month Connected welcomes Revd. Hannah Suekarran who writes about how the changing landscape of our lives can often influence how we see God in the ‘Dear Friends’ article.Tony Service apprises us about services and events on the Methodist Circuit. Lynn Allan reports on the recent Mothers’ Union meeting during which Canon Rodney Nicholson spoke about the founder of MU Mary Sumner, and Barbara Richardson reports on the 2020 World Day of Prayer.Mental Health and the Time to Change initiative forms the basis for an article by Claire Nutt, and Lis Middup reports on St Wilfrid’s charitable giving to Swaziland.Carol Sowden encourages us to take a break from our hectic lives at the Night Prayer Service at St Wilfrid’s, and Revd. Pete thanks everyone involved in the management of the Parish Hall.Finally I report on the Churches Together service at St James and, more creatively, the excellent Burns’ Night Supper. I also put together some words that relate to vegetables and global warming without mentioning Churchyard Tidying. Which must be a first…
This month Joy Piper leads with the ‘Dear Friends’ piece on the importance of providing fertile soil in which to grow faith. Joy’s text leads into a report on the St Francis’ interactive experience that wound its way along Fox Lane to the Church just before the Christmas. Many thanks to Fiona Richards for the excellent photographs.Tony Service updates us with a look back at the Christmas Services and in particular the recent visit of St Wilfrid’s to join in the annual Covenant Service. Chocolate biscuits get a mention…The Mothers Union has been counting the muscles in the head of a caterpillar (248 apparently…) and finding time to admit Pat Javis as a paid-up member!Guest contributors Revd. Paul Hardingham and Revd. Dr Jo White write about fasting and crossing themselves respectively. Finally I report on Valentine’s Day (and a cleaner home) and everything else that caught my imagination this month – I really must get a grip…
Over 40 poetry (and whisky!) lovers assembled in the Parish Hall on a dark January evening to hear some of Burns wonderful verse whilst enjoying a fantastic three course dinner. The haggis was addressed in fine style by Revd. Pete and Mr. Mel Allan said the Selkirk Grace.It was lovely to share the evening will so many people, some of whom hadn’t visited St Wilfrid’s before. It is amazing how haggis, neaps and tatties can bring people together! In total £535 was raised for Church funds.A massive thanks to Pat, Carol, June and Margaret for their splendid efforts in keeping us all fed, watered and entertained.The Selkirk Grace“Some hae meat and cannot eatSome cannot eat and want toBut we hae meat and we can eatSae let the Lord be thanks”
