News and Comments from the
Vicarage
Can I open by saying thank you to all those who helped make Christmas at St John’s and St Peter’s a wonderful uplifting experience, it was great to welcome so many visitors to our services in both our churches. From the flowers and decorations in church to the wonderful singing from the choir so ably led by Donald, to the wardens Doug, Ian, Ann and John who put in an inordinate effort to make sure everything is in place , to those who baked and cleaned, to the Mulled wine from Roger, to everyone that helped in any way, goes my heartfelt thanks.
There was only one disappointment and that was when some people were unable to find a car parking space for the Carol service, and had to leave without being able to attend the carols. To these people can I on behalf of the church family apologise. I will personally make sure that that situation is not repeated next year.
Now that the high point of Christmas is over, and we are back to what the lectionary calls Ordinary time, there is a danger that we will relax and take our eye off the ball. With only a few more weeks to the beginning of lent, and then the flurry of activity at Easter, there is a temptation to take a rest from church and faith things in our lives. There is nothing wrong with taking a rest; we all need to take a break once in a while, in the gospels we often read of Jesus taking the disciples up a mountain to find peace and quiet, but we must all keep an eye on what God is doing in our lives. God’s work never stops, it is one of the constants in life that he will always be there when we need Him and will never be too busy resting, to answer us when we call on Him.
With that in mind I trust that you will all have enjoyed a rest since Christmas and are now ready to throw yourself into the Lenten period and the excitement of Easter in April. It’s a bit like nature, as the leaves fall in Autumn and the flowers die, then by the time February arrives they a waking up once again, refreshed and revitalised ready to dress God’s kingdom and do his work once more.
This is the pattern of God’s year.
Malcolm
Can I open by saying thank you to all those who helped make Christmas at St John’s and St Peter’s a wonderful uplifting experience, it was great to welcome so many visitors to our services in both our churches. From the flowers and decorations in church to the wonderful singing from the choir so ably led by Donald, to the wardens Doug, Ian, Ann and John who put in an inordinate effort to make sure everything is in place , to those who baked and cleaned, to the Mulled wine from Roger, to everyone that helped in any way, goes my heartfelt thanks.
There was only one disappointment and that was when some people were unable to find a car parking space for the Carol service, and had to leave without being able to attend the carols. To these people can I on behalf of the church family apologise. I will personally make sure that that situation is not repeated next year.
Now that the high point of Christmas is over, and we are back to what the lectionary calls Ordinary time, there is a danger that we will relax and take our eye off the ball. With only a few more weeks to the beginning of lent, and then the flurry of activity at Easter, there is a temptation to take a rest from church and faith things in our lives. There is nothing wrong with taking a rest; we all need to take a break once in a while, in the gospels we often read of Jesus taking the disciples up a mountain to find peace and quiet, but we must all keep an eye on what God is doing in our lives. God’s work never stops, it is one of the constants in life that he will always be there when we need Him and will never be too busy resting, to answer us when we call on Him.
With that in mind I trust that you will all have enjoyed a rest since Christmas and are now ready to throw yourself into the Lenten period and the excitement of Easter in April. It’s a bit like nature, as the leaves fall in Autumn and the flowers die, then by the time February arrives they a waking up once again, refreshed and revitalised ready to dress God’s kingdom and do his work once more.
This is the pattern of God’s year.
Malcolm
St John's Church, Chelford and St Peter's Church, Lower Withington
Church Services February 2012
Sunday 5th
8.00 am BCP Communion at Chelford
10.00 am Family Service at Chelford, 'Sowing Sunday'
6.30 pm Plough Service at Lower Withington
Sunday 12th
10.00 am Family Communion Service at Chelford
11.30 am Holy Communion at Lower Withington
Sunday 19th
10.00 am Family Service at Chelford
11.30 am Matins at Lower Withington
6.30 pm Evening Service at Chelford
Sunday 26th
10.00 am Family Communion Service at Chelford
11.30 am Holy Communion at Lower Withington
8.00 am BCP Communion at Chelford
10.00 am Family Service at Chelford, 'Sowing Sunday'
6.30 pm Plough Service at Lower Withington
Sunday 12th
10.00 am Family Communion Service at Chelford
11.30 am Holy Communion at Lower Withington
Sunday 19th
10.00 am Family Service at Chelford
11.30 am Matins at Lower Withington
6.30 pm Evening Service at Chelford
Sunday 26th
10.00 am Family Communion Service at Chelford
11.30 am Holy Communion at Lower Withington