Pewsheets

From the Curate…

Pewsheets

As we approach the Parish Vision Day and in the wake of the Annual Parish Church Meeting, I paused to reflect in my study at St Barnabas’ about the importance of prayer and the prayer life of the Parish.

In a few weeks, we have been challenged by our Archbishops, Justin and Sentamu, to enter with all other churches into a season of prayer between Ascension Day (5th May) and Pentecost Sunday (15th May).  We (the clergy) are going to pray at Morning Prayer each day for a specific geographical area of our Parish and send an email/post on Facebook a daily reflection that we hope will enable those amongst our congregations to engage also in this season of prayer.

As is always the case with God, this initiative has coincided with a parallel – renewed interest in the prayer life of the Parish that has emerged from the Home Groups looking into the spiritual gifting amongst us.  From this, a small prayer group has committed to meet in the Upper Room at St Barnabas’ at 9.30am each Sunday to pray together for such things as the parish, the Parish Vision Day and the service that follows.  If you would like to join them then please do ask me and I will point you in the right direction.  Prayer matters and makes a difference.

Blessings, Steve

From the Rector…

Clergy, Pewsheets

Today’s gospel reading speaks of an encounter with Jesus that leaves a life transformed, enabling a sharing of faith.  As churches up and down this land come together this week to celebrate the 90th birthday of our (temporal) Sovereign it is fitting to spend a moment reflecting on the example she has given, particularly in recent years, of sharing the faith that has enabled her remarkable service, touching the lives of so many.  The response to the Everybody Welcome sessions, both the sheer numbers attending and the valuable feedback that is emerging, encourages me to think that we – as a parish family – are showing signs of that maturity.  A willingness not only to serve the community in which we are set but also to want to share something of what motivates us.  Frances Reed – born before the Queen, so our oldest regular worshipper – whose own life of service and faith has touched (transformed?) many lives moves to Sidcup in the next week and we wish her every blessing as she does.  Alongside that ‘fare well’ comes a joyful welcome to Erin, Peter and Kirsty Murgatroyd’s daughter, born on Thursday.  Congratulations! So, with the Queen, Frances and Erin reminding us that we are never too young or old to encounter Jesus or share his love, let us pray:

Heavenly Father,

as we celebrate the ninetieth birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, receive our heartfelt thanks for all that you have given her in these ninety years and for all that she has given to her people.

Continue, we pray, your loving purposes in her,

and as you gather us together in celebration, unite us also in love and service to one another;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Anthony

Pewsheet for Week Beginning 26th April 2016

Easter, Pewsheets

Click here for the pewsheet for the week beginning Sunday 26th April 2016 – sorry for the delay.

Tip: If this, or any other, PDF document opens at too large a size, here’s what you do:

  1. Open Adobe Reader, for example, by opening a *.pdf document you have on your computer.
  2. From the Edit menu, click Preferences.
  3. With Page Display selected in the left hand list of Categories, on the right hand side of the window, choose a Page Layout and Zoom level that suits you, for example Single Page and Fit Page.
  4. Now any time you open a PDF, it will open at this zoom level.

Pewsheet for Week Beginning 17th April 2016

Easter, Pewsheets

Click here for the pewsheet for the week beginning Sunday 17th April 2016.

Tip: If this, or any other, PDF document opens at too large a size, here’s what you do:

  1. Open Adobe Reader, for example, by opening a *.pdf document you have on your computer.
  2. From the Edit menu, click Preferences.
  3. With Page Display selected in the left hand list of Categories, on the right hand side of the window, choose a Page Layout and Zoom level that suits you, for example Single Page and Fit Page.
  4. Now any time you open a PDF, it will open at this zoom level.

Pewsheet for week beginning 10th April 2016

Pewsheets

Click here for the pewsheet for the week beginning Sunday 10th April 2016, Palm Sunday.

Tip: If this, or any other, PDF document opens at too large a size, here’s what you do:

  1. Open Adobe Reader, for example, by opening a *.pdf document you have on your computer.
  2. From the Edit menu, click Preferences.
  3. With Page Display selected in the left hand list of Categories, on the right hand side of the window, choose a Page Layout and Zoom level that suits you, for example Single Page and Fit Page.
  4. Now any time you open a PDF, it will open at this zoom level.

Pewsheet for Week Beginning 3rd April 2016

Easter, Pewsheets

Click here for the pewsheet for the week beginning Sunday 3rd April 2016.

Tip: If this, or any other, PDF document opens at too large a size, here’s what you do:

  1. Open Adobe Reader, for example, by opening a *.pdf document you have on your computer.
  2. From the Edit menu, click Preferences.
  3. With Page Display selected in the left hand list of Categories, on the right hand side of the window, choose a Page Layout and Zoom level that suits you, for example Single Page and Fit Page.
  4. Now any time you open a PDF, it will open at this zoom level.

One Parish or Two?

Pewsheets

“One parish or two” is one of the questions raised about Worth Parish in the recent Crawley Review.  We currently have two churches in the parish – St Barnabas’, Pound Hill, and St Nicholas’, Worth.

We’d like your views on whether we should split the parish or remain as one.  This page details all the ways you can contact us and please give us your views by 22 April.

The April/May edition of the Parish Magazine will have a short piece on arguments for and against splitting into two.  There will be a report back to the annual meeting on 27 April and the responses will inform discussion at the Away Day on 7 May, to which all are invited.

Correction to Service Times/Venues

Pewsheets

Please note that the Dawn Eucharist at Worth Park Lake on Easter Sunday (27th March) Morning will begin at 6am not 5.30am as was previously advertised in the magazine, and will be followed at am by a breakfast at St Barnabas’.

Also that the 3 hour meditations will be held on Good Friday from 12-3pm at St Nicholas’, not St Barnabas’ as was erroneously stated in the magazine.

The Rector Writes…

Pewsheets

Palm Sunday has a bitter-sweet atmosphere. The crowds welcome Jesus into Jerusalem with the kind of fanfare we can expect for the English rugby team after their Gland Slam victory last night.

The Gospel from the Liturgy of the Palms makes it clear that Jesus no longer tells his disciples to remain silent – the time for decision has come: Jerusalem must crown or crucify her king.  And we know, as we continue through Passiontide into the events of Holy Week recounted in the Passion gospel, that that crucifixion awaits.

In our common life we have a bitter-sweet time after the Nic’s service when the regulars (all welcome to join in!) have a (possibly indoor) picnic to say goodbye to the Moulder family as they make final preparations for a move to Africa.  We wish them the very best and look forward to their return.  May we, with them and, indeed, St Paul strive to confess in word and deed, that “Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”. Luke’s account of the Passion offers us a catalogue of those who avoid or deny this truth and condemn Jesus to a horrid death.  Time and again Jesus is let down, but even in the bitterness of his death we are able to keep an eye on the good news of what that death means for us. Nothing less than our salvation.

Have a blesséd walk with Jesus as you share again in Holy Week .

Anthony