BARROWDEN HARVEST FESTIVAL
CAFE STYLE 
We thank Thee then, O Father,
For all things bright and good,
The seedtime and the harvest,
Our life, our health, our food;
Accept the gifts we offer
For all Thy love imparts,
And what Thou most desirest—
Our humble, thankful hearts.
EVERYTHING
PREPARED FOR THE COMMUNION SERVICE THIS SUNDAY
The Rev. Christopher Armstrong and Paul Elwys
Martin Beattie by the war memorial
Musicians at the piano and organ
Congregation all welcome
SUNDAY 27TH DECEMBER Christmas I
11.00am Zoom and service from Barrowden Church Holy Communion (CA)
Reading: John 21. 19b to end
20TH DECEMBER ADVENT 3
9.30 am South Luffenham Church Holy communion (CA)
11.00 am Zoom and service from Barrowden church Morning worship/ Carol Service (AR)
6.00 pm Zoom from South Luffenham Church Compline (CW)
Reading :Luke 1. 26 – 38
SUNDAY 13TH DECEMBER Advent 3
9.30 am Morcott Church Holy Communion (CA)
11.00 am Zoom and Service from Barrowden Church Transition Service (AR)
6.00 pm Zoom from Duddington Church Compline
Reading. John 1. 6 – 8, 19 – 28
Harvest festival October 25th 2020
Services for the last Sunday after Trinity
11.00am Barrowden Church Harvest Festival
11.00 am: Zoom Service
Note this is a new Benefice Zoom Account with the ID: 251 867 5293 Passcode 1234
Readings for the last Sunday after Trinity.
St Luke ch 12 v 16-23
BSP: Eph. 5. 15 – 21 Matt. 22. 1 – 14
Help needed at Barrowden Church with
CHURCHYARD MAINTENANCE
We have had in place a maintenance programme with Elms Landscaping to cut the churchyard during the summer months. However, as the church has been closed as a result of the coronavirus, our income has been considerably reduced and as we need to conserve church funds we have found it necessary to cancel the contractor in the short term.
It is our intent to maintain the churchyard in good order, and we have in place a small team of volunteers who are cutting the grass with the church petrol mower in between maintenance cuts. However, our greatest requirement is for someone with a sit-on mower to assist in cutting the areas around the back of the church once a month, together with someone with a strimmer to trim around the gravestones. An additional two or three people to help spread the load of the current volunteers using the petrol mower would also be welcomed.
Please contact David Lovering, tel no. 747670, if you are able to offer any help as it would be greatly appreciated.
The Welland-Fosse Benefice: Prayers and Notices.
Sunday 5 April 2020: Palm Sunday.
Please remember in your prayers those who are sick: Ann Fowler, Gill Profit, Jeremy Bagshaw (Kay’s son); Coronavirus) and Barry Broughton.
In our wider prayers we remember the Deanery of Greater Northampton and its Rural Dean, Beverley Hollins.
Don’t forget our very own daily Lent Blog which can be accessed via the Benefice website, www.wellandfosse.org.
If you have now received your stewardship form, please consider prayerfully how you might respond. (The Priest-in-Charge has just rediscovered his!).
There are limited number of Palm Crosses in circulation. Please contact your wardens.
SOUTH LUFFENHAM:
If you would like a Palm Cross delivering to your door please email sally@saltlane.com (if you haven’t already done so).
If you are out for a walk on Good Friday there will hopefully be a wooden cross on the village green, for quiet contemplation.
TIXOVER:
Please think of Margaret and Derek Barker.
Here is a short meditation extract for Palm Sunday but first you might want to click and watch this short Pam Sunday video – great for children of any age! Called Holy Moly! It goes on to tell the story of Maundy Thursday too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipAcuR-NiYc
You are in Jerusalem – a crowd is gathering. As you peer down the road you see them coming, men, women, a few children their sandals kicking up dust in the dry air. One man is riding, the donkey just a little small, so his long legs drag in the dust. The stranger standing next to you points and yells, “There he is.”
Your eyes follow the line of his pointing finger. You ask, “On the donkey, is that Jesus on the donkey.” The stranger nods. As they approach people around you cut palms from the trees and wave them. A chant rises from the watchers. “Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna, to the son of David.” Are you joining them or standing back and just watching? A victorious king rides a donkey as he returns to his city. What victory is Jesus celebrating? The little party passes directly in front of you. Your eyes are drawn to Jesus. He turns his head. Your eyes meet and hold their gaze. What message are you receiving from Jesus? What would you like to tell him? The moment is fleeting. He smiles and turns to someone else. In minutes the parade is over. Did you wave your flag? As you watch the little band of people pass through the gates, you realize the sun has dropped even lower. They disappear from view. How are you feeling now? What will you tell your friends about this encounter?
See wellandfosse.org for much more information, including contact details for
The Very Rev Christopher Armstrong and the churchwardens
MEDITATION FOR PALM SUNDAY
APRIL 5TH 2020
A disciple’s viewpoint
I almost don’t know how to bear it. It has been the worst week of my life so far and I’m not sure what will happen now. He did give us clues about what would happen but we didn’t want to understand. Everything seems so final now and we daren’t go out in case we are arrested.
It all seemed so different at the beginning of the week. We had stayed at Bethany for a while after Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. It was such a strange experience for us and for Mary and Martha. There was a feeling of—I don’t know—perhaps faith, something we could not understand but it didn’t matter. We were all together and Jesus was our Messiah.
Then we were off again and heading straight for Jerusalem. We remembered what Jesus had said about dying and to be honest we wanted him to go the other way! It was hard to keep up with him especially when we tried to go slowly so that it would take longer to get there but I think Jesus had sussed us out and just kept going as if he was on a mission.
Jerusalem was crowded when we got there; everyone there to celebrate the Passover. Herod had ridden into the city and he had arrived as a warrior with all his circus beside him. He was only there because the Romans thought there might be trouble and they wanted to have a presence. People had cheered him and there was a feeling of freedom and holidaying.
Jesus told some of us to fetch him a donkey and her colt. It seemed to be all arranged and it happened just like he said it would. We were somewhat perplexed about why he wanted them but we soon found out! Like Herod he was going to enter Jerusalem but what a difference. He was riding a donkey. But then it happened as he entered by the Golden Gate.
You should have heard them. What a noise! What a sight! What a welcome! I’ve never seen anything like it. Herod must have thought he was popular but people only cheered him because they felt they had to. But Jesus was cheered and palm branches laid in front of him, people running after him, wanting to touch him, be near him, tearing off their cloaks and carpeting the road in front of him.
And the noise was amazing. ‘Hosanna’ they shouted; Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’. And the crowds just kept growing and growing, their throats got sore and they were breathless with all the shouting and running. Jesus sat calmly on the donkey and seemed somehow accepting it all but sometimes there was a sadness about him as though he knew this wouldn’t last.
But we were so pleased that our Lord and Master had at last been recognised by everyone else; although there were some at the back of the cheering crowds who were not looking too pleased, some of the Pharisees and the Roman soldiers who seemed totally taken by surprise. But there was nothing they could do; Jesus, the Messiah had arrived and they could do nothing to stop him; the people had given their verdict and that was that!
Jesus went to the Temple, the rightful place for the Messiah and went inside. Gradually the crowds dispersed and Jesus was left alone (there was something quite sad about this). We wanted him to capitalise on what had happened but he seemed strangely reluctant and spent a long time in the Temple just looking round and being quiet, praying, I suppose. We wanted to carry on with the cheering and whip up the people again, gain their adulation and bask in his reflected glory but Jesus seemed to have lost the impetus.
We went back to Bethany. Jesus seemed to be settled there, although there was such a strange expression in his eyes, such melancholy, wretchedness and, I don’t know, grief. We really didn’t understand but Lazarus seemed to and they spent a lot of time together, often not saying anything but you could see the bond between them.
And now all that joy and cheering seems so far away and as if it never happened. Not only did we enter Jerusalem but we entered the most sombre of all times. This week has been so hard and confusing; the preparation that Jesus had already made for us to be together and share the Passover meal; the Passover meal that we celebrated with him and the strange words that he used with the bread and the wine; his anguish in the Garden when he prayed so hard; the betrayal by Judas with that most intimate kiss and the arrest. I was so afraid and wanted to fight but Jesus said no and I could see his eyes that he really meant it.
He is suffering so much now. The Romans won’t spare him at all because he has made their life difficult and his own people don’t want him either. And not only could I not keep awake when he asked us to, I didn’t even have the courage to say I knew him. Even after all I’d said about being ready to die for him. I have failed him so much; I deny him, I abandon him, I betray him. But I caught his eye as I passed and they were full of love for me, even me. He forgives me and loves me always and offers me everything. He never invited us to worship him but to follow him. He may not be a conventional king but he is my King and I will share in his glory and hope.
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, we are reminded of how you entered Jerusalem to shouts of joy and celebration. But we remember too how quickly that welcome evaporated, how soon the mood of the crowd changed.
Lord, we know all too well that we are not so different. Our commitment to you is so often short-lived, superficial, self-centred. Help us to welcome you into our lives with true gladness and to go on serving you, come what may.
Our world is in turmoil, people suffering and hurting. We know that you too have suffered and now suffer with us. May we remember that there is glory in your resurrection and look towards your light. Amen
It is said that a week is a long time in politics and recently it has been a long time for all of us. Life has changed rapidly and is now completely different. In Holy Week so much happened and yet the beginning of the next week brought such joy in the Resurrection. As we enter Holy Week let us remember that Christ suffered and he weeps with us now as throughout the world people are feeling lost and in darkness. Light will return to us and the light of Christ is always there in the gloom.
Keep well and safe and God bless
Ann