Church Matters February 2012
RULES OF LIFE The Revd David Adlington
At the beginning of a new year we all like to resolve to do things in our lives better and particularly how we use our time. These New Year resolutions have often been forgotten a few days or weeks into the new year. We quickly get back into old ways when work and social activities recommence after the Christmas and New Year holiday. But our time and how we use it is very important for our lives. Making time by controlling our use of time frees us to seize the moment. We say that “time is of the essence”.
Saint Augustine, an African Christian of the fourth century, said “Time comes from the future, which does not yet exist, into the present, which has no duration, and goes into the past, which has ceased to exist.” The present moment is there to be seized and make the most of the opportunity that is presented. We also measure our lives by the seasons which give a rhythm to our lives.
Christians also have a rhythm of life in the Church’s Year. February includes the season of Lent beginning with Ash Wednesday on 22nd February and continuing until Holy Week prior to Easter.
During this time of year Christians consider how they use their time following the teachings of Jesus and sometimes have a rule of life to help them in this. A Rule is a means whereby, under God, we take responsibility for the pattern of our spiritual lives. It is an intentional pattern of living which is embraced rather than a set of rules to be kept. It may include making time to pray, to read the Bible and time to worship God. It will probably include using our time to serve others or give to charity. Lent is not so much giving things up as making full use of our time to serve God and other people, always in the context of our own life.
I hope that 2012 will continue to be full of promise for you as the months go by.
Services
Eucharist services are held every Sunday in St. Mary's at 8.00am (said) and 9.30am (sung) with the following exceptions and additions.
February | Sunday 19 | 10.00am | St. Mary's At Ten Led by the Brownies and Guides. “It’s a Small World". |
| Wednesday 22 | 7.00pm | Ash Wednesday Eucharist |
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Roman Catholic Mass |
There will be no RC Mass in February. The next Mass will be at 6.30pm on March 4th |
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Services are held on the following Sundays at 9.30am at the Methodist Church |
| 5th | 9.30am | Rev. Kevin Taylor - Holy Communion |
Saturday | 11th |
| 8.00am Prayer Breakfast. |
| 12th | 9.30am | Mr. Dudley Shipton |
| 19th | 9.30am | Mr. David Swindale |
| 26th | 9.30am | Mr. A. Blanch Valley Service |
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Also Friday 2nd March 2.00pm Womens World Day of Prayer held this year at the Methodist Church. |
Readers and Interceders for St. Mary's in February
5th 3 Before Lent |
Interceder | Chris Osborne |
Readers | Geoff Webb Isaiah 40. 21-31 (page 480) Pat Webb1 Corinthians 9. 16-23 (page 483) |
12th 2 Before Lent |
Interceder | Mary Morgan |
Readers | Denis Osborne Proverbs 8. 1. 22-31 (page 497) Chris Osborne Colossians 1. 15-20 (page 499) |
22nd Ash Wednesday |
Interceder | Denis Osborne |
Readers | Margaret Keeble Mary Morgan |
26th Lent 1 |
Interceder | Audrey Brooks |
Readers | Jenny Gasson Genesis 9. 8-17 (page 507) Frances Horton 1 Peter 3. 18-22 (page 508) |
Pancake Brunch
This popular Annual event will be held on Saturday the 18th February
from 10.00 am until 12 noon in the Church Hall.
Sunday School:
February 5th - 9.30am Meet in Hall then to the Methodist Church.
February 12th - 9.30am Meet in Hall then to St. Mary's.
February 19th - 10.00am SMAT at St. Mary's.
February 26th - 9.30am Special Family Service at the Methodist Church. |