“Will You Come and Follow Me…..?” This is the first line of a wonderful hymn composed by John Bell (of the Christian community based at the Abbey on the Scottish island of Iona), as seen in its first verse: Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don’t know, and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known, will you let my life be grown in you, and you in me? Throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus had a naturally invitational approach with everyone he met, from the very first fishermen he invited to ‘come and follow him’ to each one of us, here and now in our 21st century lives! That personal invitation especially includes journeying with Jesus through Holy Week (10th – 17th April), and our churches in Alrewas, Fradley and Wychnor most warmly welcome you and your family to join in with the various special services and activities hosted by each one (details available in each church’s section in this edition of Parish News)….. Come and experience the first day of HolyWeek – Palm Sunday (10th April) – as Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem is retold in story, movement and symbol (with palm crosses for all) …enter into the awe and wonder of the crowds which celebrated Jesus as King, but had no idea what that might mean for their own lives……what might it mean for ours? On Maundy Thursday (14th April), join us at All Saints Alrewas as we gather from all three villages to enter into the experience of Jesus’ ‘last supper’ with his disciples, and Jesus blows his disciples’ minds as he reveals completely unexpected insights into God’s presence and power in their lives….and ours too! This moving Communion Service will include symbolic ‘handwashing’ for those who wish to partake as we remember Jesus being betrayed by one of his very own and his disciples abandoning him out of fear for their own lives, from 9pm to 12ama ‘Night Watch’ will continue in All Saints, with opportunity for candle-lit personal meditation and occasional readings – you are warmly invited to ‘drop in’ and stay for however long you wish, as we prepare for the world-changing events the next day… On Good Friday (15th April), you are invited to participate in a variety of services and activities which help us to experience the awesome depth and costliness of God’s love for our world, and for each one of us personally, as the events leading to Jesus’ death are retold in story, song, activities and experiences for all ages…… Following an eerily quiet ‘Holy Saturday’ as the painful reality of Jesus’ death sinks in, we sincerely hope everyone will join in our churches’ joy-filled celebration of our Lord’s Resurrection on EASTER SUNDAY as we celebrate the life-changing victory of God’s love! We sincerely hope you will accept this personal invitation to join in the wonder of Holy Week and experience afresh the amazing presence and power of God to make all things new…. including me and you, and our lives now and eternally! With every blessing, Vicar John
Our Lenten Journey…. Believe it or not, it’s time for yet another Lenten journey to begin – a journey which lasts for forty days until Easter (excluding Sundays, which continue to be celebrations of Jesus resurrection!), and which invites each of us to make personal time and space to explore our relationship with God, and deepen our personal faith in his wonderful presence and promises. The journey begins on Ash Wednesday, 2nd March, when everyone from Alrewas, Fradley and Wychnor is welcome to All Saints Church Alrewas for a special Holy Communion with Ashing service at 7:30pm, giving us an opportunity to reflect upon our lifespan on planet Earth and what it means to truly depend upon and trust God as the source of our life and love. We hope you will also join in a special and important journey of reflecting, sharing and discovery in this year’s Lent Discussion Group, which will be using video resources from the Church of England’s Living in Love and Faith course.Being hosted at St. Stephen’s Church Fradley for all three of our churches, from 7:00 to 8:30pm on Wednesdays beginning the 16th March and concluding on Wednesday 13th April, this part of our Lenten journey invites us to listen and share, learn about and reflect upon what it means to be human, exploring Christian teaching and Christians’ experiences about identity and relationship, sexuality, marriage, and the ways in which ‘living in love and faith’ find expression in people’s lives. Each session will include hearing people’s stories (including specially prepared video interviews), Bible exploration, discussion and prayer – along with free refreshments and fellowship time! This part of our Lenten journey will be greatly enriched with YOUR PARTICIPATION, which is sincerely valued – PLEASE DO JOIN IN, SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS AND VIEWS, QUESTIONS AND HOPES as we learn with and from one another! Finally, but importantly…….how might you personally choose to ‘journey with Jesus’ more intentionally this Lenten season? There are a variety of ‘spiritual practices’ associated with Lent which you might choose to embrace.... ……taking time to honestly speak to, and deeply listen to God in PRAYER – for the needs of those you know, for healing and hope, for peace in our nations, for those who don’t believe anyone thinks they’re worthwhile praying for…….……re-discovering what God is trying to tell us through the amazing ‘gathered library’ of 66 books which we commonly call the Bible – discerning the powerful presence, and precious promises of God through ancient truths which help us live our lives more meaningfully in the challenging present…… …….perhaps choosing to ‘give up’ something during the 40 day ‘Lenten fast’ which you enjoy very much (excluding Sundays, as noted earlier), as a way of personally appreciating Jesus’ own human experience of temptation and suffering in order to stay true to God’s sacrificial, loving purposes for his world….……or, perhaps instead of ‘giving up something’ you enjoy, you decide to take up an additional way of serving others….helping out the Lichfield Foodbank; visiting a lonely neighbour; providing transport for someone in need of getting somewhere…….. Our Lenten Journey will, of course, continue with special events for Holy Week and Easter from April 10th to 17th…..but more about that in the April Magazine! With every blessing for the journey, Vicar John
From 27 January there is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering. The Government suggests that you continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you may come into contact with other people you do not normally meet. We will be encouraging the use of face masks in our building for the time being. especially with cases being so high in our area at present, as we continue to be mindful of those around us.
I cannot believe that I have been with you for 17 months, it doesn’t seem that long. I think we can all agree that we have lived through some very strange times and that we are not yet fully out of the woods. I am sure that if we continue to stay safe and look after ourselves and others, that we will all come to terms with living with, what some describe as the new flu. This year we are all hoping for new beginnings, and for myself and my family this will be a reality. Christmas 2021 was the last one for us in our family home. Our youngest son is moving into his own home this month and our third child will begin life as a foundation year 1 doctor in a hospital somewhere within England. (We find out in April where this will be). For Mr Hines and I, we will be moving to wherever I obtain my first position of responsibility. I am currently looking for a post that God is calling me too and if you have a spare minute, I would appreciate your prayers as I discern where this will be.<span style="font-size: 1rem;">Am I excited? Yes, but along with the excitement comes a sense of fear. Fear that I get it wrong, and I don’t hear God guiding me into my first post. Fear that I do not have the gifts to lead a parish and that I will let everyone down, when they realise that I am not the person they thought that they were looking for. These are all natural responses, not just for clergy but for anyone moving into a new role, or even a new school.</span>hen any of us are called by God to any form of ministry, it is natural to look at others within our congregations and think that they can do it so much better. We wonder how we will fit in the work we are being called to do by God with everything else we have to do, and so we begin to find reasons for why we can’t do what is being asked of us.God is a persistent God and if it is his will then it will be done. God equips us for all that he calls us to do. He never calls us so that we will fail, but as examples to those who do not yet know God, that he has a purpose for all of us when we accept him into our lives. When we do except God and begin to use the gifts that he has given us then amazing things can happen; not just for us but for others as well. If anyone had told me that one day, I would have a degree and be leading worship and ministering to others I would not have believed them! I come from a working-class background and currently live on the edge of a council estate and yet God called me to this role. If that is not a sign of how God calls and encourages all his people, then I don’t know what is! So, as I continue to discern where God is taking me next, I pray that you will all listen to God and ask where he wants to lead you. Will it be scary? Probably. Will you be surprised? Yes. But saying yes to God will lead you to meet some amazing people and share in their journeys. There are two passages of scripture that encourage me, and I hope they will encourage you as you journey on.The first is: Isaiah 41: 10 '<em>do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand '.</em>The second is from Paul’s letters to the Romans: 12:2. '<em>Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect.'</em> There will always be those who think you can’t do what you believe God is calling you to do, they may even try to discourage you. Do not let them! Listen to God, go with God and be amazed by his awesomeness as he calls you to minister in his name to his people. Rev. Ashley
