Welland Fosse Group of Churches

The Welland-Fosse Benefice: Prayers and Notices

9 January 2022: The First Sunday of Epiphany

 

Please pray for the sick including Judith Piggott, Jan Bailey, John Hall, Pat Simmons and Derek Barker. 

Zoom Morning Prayer continues on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8.30 am. Compline is on Thursday at 6 pm.

Please note that Face Masks must now be worn for all services.

 

 

BARROWDEN:

Sunday, 9 January: 11.00 am Morning Worship

Sunday, 23 January: 11.00 am Holy Communion – Baptism Sunday

 

 

SOUTH LUFFENHAM:

Sunday January 9th 9.30am Morning Worship
Sunday January 23rd 9.30am Holy Communion with Baptism

 

See wellandfosse.org for much more information, including contact details for

the churchwardens

The Welland-Fosse Benefice: Prayers and Notices

Sunday 19 December 2021: the Fourth Sunday of Advent

• Please pray for the sick including Judith Piggott, Jan Bailey, John Hall, Pat Simmons and Derek Barker.
• Zoom Morning Prayer continues on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8.30 am. Compline is on Thursday at 6 pm.
• Please note that Face Masks must now be worn for all services.

 

BARROWDEN:

Sunday 19 December 2021 4 pm: traditional Carol service with lessons and Carols, followed by mulled wine and mince pies. Children and adults are welcome to dress up.

Friday 24 December 9.30 pm Christmas Eve communion.

SOUTH LUFFENHAM:

Carols on the Green with Chater Community Choir, Sat 18th Dec 6 pm. Christingle Kits for children.
Sunday December 19th 4 pm Carol Service.
Christmas Day Holy Communion 10 am.

 

MEDITATION:

This was found in a book called “Christmas Blessings” by Judith Merrell and seems very appropriate.

After 1 Corinthians 13

If I bake a Christmas cake and dozens of mince pies but have not love, I am just another harassed housewife.

If I decorate my house with outdoor fairy lights and a twinkling Christmas tree but have not love, I am just wasting electricity for no reason.

If I write a hundred Christmas cards and stick a newsletter in each one but have not love I only gain writer’s cramp.

Love stops baking to phone a friend in need

Love stops decorating to hug a child

Love stops shopping to visit a lonely neighbour.

Love does not envy the colour coordinated Christmas decorations in another’s house

Nor envy the neatly wrapped presents under a neighbour’s tree.

Love does not write vain letters boasting of this year’s achievements

Love does not just send cards to those who will send back

Love does not only buy presents for those who can return the favour

Love does not work out how much a friend will spend on your gift and then seek to spend not a penny more

Love knows the joy of giving without counting the cost

Love is patient when faced with the seasonal queue at the post office and smiles at those sharing the experience

Love does not get angry and shout at the kids to stay out of the way:

It keeps no record of wrongs.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails

Computer games break, chocolates soon vanish, Christmas trees drop their needles, but the gift of love endures forever.

Love is not just for Christmas: it lasts the whole year through.

Christ is not just for Christmas: he wants to stay with you forever.

God bless and enjoy all Christmas blessings

See wellandfosse.org for much more information, including contact details for

the churchwardens

The Welland-Fosse Benefice: Prayers and Notices

Sunday 12 December 2021: the Third Sunday in Advent

 

• Please pray for the sick including Judith Piggott, Jan Bailey, John Hall, Pat Simmons and Derek Barker. Pray too for the departed especially Bill Saunders.
• Zoom Morning Prayer continues on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8.30 am. Compline is on Thursday at 6 pm.
• Please note that Face Masks must now be worn for all services.

 

BARROWDEN:

Sunday 12 December 11.00 am Morning worship.

Sunday 19 December 2021 4 pm: traditional Carol service with lessons and Carols, followed by mulled wine and mince pies. Children and adults are welcome to dress up.

Friday 24 December 9.30 pm Christmas Eve communion.

MORCOTT:

Carol Service at 11.00 am on Sunday 12 December.

 

SOUTH LUFFENHAM:

Christmas Sunday December 12th 9.30 am Morning Worship.
Sunday December 19th 4 pm Carol Service.
Christmas Day Holy Communion 10 am.
​Please note that the last South Luffenham Foodbank collection before Christmas will be this Wednesday (15th).

 

MEDITATION:

Not quite two weeks left until the big day! I’m sure the children have already worked out how many sleeps there are until Christmas morning and are anticipating the gifts they are sure will appear by magic! Meanwhile their mums and dads are wondering how they can get everything on the list completed in time.

The Christmas advertisements on the television are becoming more frequent and the number of carols being played on the radio is increasing, even on Classic FM! In our villages the wonderful Advent windows are shining out and the Christmas lights and decorations are sparkling in the darkness. All the trimmings of our traditional Christmas are coming together.

But there is a serious side to this time of preparation, and it is the time when we are also asked to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Saviour. He came to earth as a tiny baby and lived as all of us do in the world, suffering and understanding love and loss. In amongst all our busyness at this time of year perhaps we could spare time to ask what we can give Christ as a present. The words of the carol “In the bleak midwinter” give us the answer.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.

See wellandfosse.org for much more information, including contact details for

the churchwardens

The Welland-Fosse Benefice: Prayers and Notices

Sunday 5 December 2021: the Second Sunday in Advent

 

• Please pray for the sick including Judith Piggott, Jan Bailey, John Hall, Pat Simmons and Derek Barker. Please also pray for Sylvia Martin who was buried on Friday. 
• Zoom Morning Prayer continues on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8.30 am. Compline is on Thursday at 6 pm.
• Please note that Face Masks must now be worn for all services.

 

BARROWDEN:

Sunday 12 December 11.00 am Morning worship.

Sunday 19 December 2021 4 pm: traditional Carol service with lessons and Carols, followed by mulled wine and mince pies. Children and adults are welcome to dress up.

Friday 24 December 9.30 pm Christmas Eve communion at.

SOUTH LUFFENHAM:

Mulled Wine and Mince Pie event in the Village Hall, Sunday 5 December 11.30 am – 1pm. 

Sunday December 12 9.30 am Morning Worship.
Sunday December 19 4pm Carol Service.
Christmas Day Holy Communion 10 am. 

MORCOTT:

Carol Service at 11.00am on Sunday 12 December.

 

See wellandfosse.org for much more information, including contact details for

the churchwardens

 

The Welland-Fosse Benefice: Prayers and Notices

Sunday 28 November 2021: the First Sunday in Advent

 

• Please pray for the sick including Judith Piggott, Jan Bailey, John Hall, Pat Simmons and Derek Barker.
• Zoom Morning Prayer continues on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8.30am. Compline is on Thursday at 6pm.
• Face Masks: up until now we have been relaxed about the use of face masks in church. The situation is now changing with high infection rates so the staff would be grateful if you would be prudent and consider a return to face masks for the time being. The Covid restrictions on the Holy Communion service will continue.

 

BARROWDEN:

Sunday, 28 November 11.00 am Holy Communion in St Peter’s.

The first Advent Window will be opened on Wednesday around 5.00 pm at the Exeter Arms.

Sunday 19th December 2021 at 4 pm: traditional Carol service with lessons telling the Christmas story and Carols, followed by mulled wine and mince pies.

 

SOUTH LUFFENHAM:

Sunday November 28th 9.30am Holy Communion led by Rev Pippa Madgwick.
Sunday December 12th 9.30am Morning Worship.
Sunday December 19th 4pm Carol Service.
Christmas Day Holy Communion 10 am. 

Village Advent Windows begin with Helen’s this Wednesday. 

Mulled Wine and Mince Pie event in the Village Hall, Sunday 5th December 11.3am – 1pm. 

 

MEDITATION:

There are only four weeks to go until the big event! The shops are brightly lit, the carols are playing in the background and there is an air of bustle and anticipation. There are few adverts on the television which are not related to Christmas. So unlike last year when it appeared that Christmas was cancelled.

 

There are the preparations that commerce makes and there are the preparations that each one of us makes. Last Sunday was Stir Up Sunday which was used as a reminder that the Christmas puddings had to be made by that day. At least some people were rushing home from church to do just that! The presents are being bought, wrapped and cards written, and the frenzy continues!

 

Advent is not only a time for preparing the food which always seems to be an integral part of Christmas; it is a time much like Lent when we are asked to prepare ourselves for the coming of that tiny baby and open our hearts to his love and light. John Betjeman wrote these words which show so clearly the true meaning of Christmas. In all the rush, let us not forget the real coming of Christ to earth.

And is it true,

This most tremendous tale of all,
Seen in a stained-glass window’s hue,
A Baby in an ox’s stall?
The Maker of the stars and sea
Become a Child on earth for me?

And is it true? For if it is,
No loving fingers tying strings
Around those tissued fripperies,
The sweet and silly Christmas things,
Bath salts and inexpensive scent
And hideous tie so kindly meant,

No love that in a family dwells,
No carolling in frosty air,
Nor all the steeple-shaking bells
Can with this single Truth compare —
That God was man in Palestine
And lives today in Bread and Wine.

 

See wellandfosse.org for much more information, including contact details for

the churchwardens

The Welland-Fosse Benefice: Prayers and Notices

Sunday 14 November 2021: Second Sunday before Advent

 

• Please pray for the sick including Judith Piggott, Jan Bailey, John Hall, Pat Simmons and Derek Barker. Pray too for the departed especially for Sylvia Martin who died last Sunday in Oakham care home. A long-standing villager and Church supporter.
• Zoom Morning Prayer continues on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8.30am. Compline is on Thursday at 6pm.
• Face Masks: up until now we have been relaxed about the use of face masks in church. The situation is now changing with high infection rates so the staff would be grateful if you would be prudent and consider a return to face masks for the time being. The Covid restrictions on the Holy Communion service will continue. 

 

BARROWDEN:

Sunday, 14 November 10.55 am, Service of Remembrance.

Sunday, 28 November 11.00 am Holy Communion in St Peter’s.

Barrowden Advent Windows Project needs more volunteers. Please phone Judith Piggott on 01572 747329 as soon as possible.

 

SOUTH LUFFENHAM:

Sunday November 14th 9.30am Service of Remembrance.
Sunday November 28th 9.30am Holy Communion led by Rev Pippa Madgwick. 

Also, in the Village Hall, Monday 15th Nov 3.30pm The Luffenhams Community Church – all young families welcome to informal worship with crafts. 

Urgent:  The Luffenham Community Church need a portable, white screen to project onto.  If anyone has one, please can we borrow it for Monday 15th Nov. Please email sally@saltlane.com.

MEDITATION:

Here are two pieces to help on a difficult day for so many.

Lord, we give you thanks for the gift of tears

For tears of grief, redeeming our mourning from despair

For tears of anger, awakening our thirst for justice

For tears of laughter, celebrating our joy in living.

 

May the light of Christ, shining through our tears

Become the rainbow of your promise

Shedding colours of your love’s bright presence

In your grieving, struggling, laughing world.

                                                 Author unknown

 

Time is too slow for those who wait

Too swift for those who fear

Too long for those who grieve

Too short for those who rejoice

But for those who love, time is eternity.

                                    Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)

 

May the nations know peace and each one know calmness and light.

 

See wellandfosse.org for much more information, including contact details for

the churchwardens

The Welland-Fosse Benefice: Prayers and Notices

Sunday 7 November 2021: Third Sunday before Advent

 

• Please pray for the sick including Judith Piggott, Sylvia Martin, Jan Bailey, John Hall, Pat Simmons and Derek Barker.
• The funeral of Jane Williams will be at Morcott Church on 8^th November at 12 noon.
• Zoom Morning Prayer continues on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8.30am. Compline is on Thursday at 6pm.
• Face Masks: up until now we have been relaxed about the use of face masks in church. The situation is now changing with high infection rates so the staff would be grateful if you would be prudent and consider a return to face masks for the time being. The Covid restrictions on the Holy Communion service will continue. 

 

BARROWDEN:

Sunday, 14 November 10.55 am, Service of Remembrance.

Sunday, 28 November 11.00 am Holy Communion in St Peter’s.

Barrowden Advent Windows Project needs more volunteers. Please phone Judith Piggott on 01572 747329 as soon as possible if you would like to be included.

 

SOUTH LUFFENHAM:

Sunday November 14th 9.30 am Service of Remembrance.
Monday 15th Nov 3.30 pm South Luffenham Village Hall – informal Community Church for young families. 

Sunday November 28th 9.30 am Holy Communion. 

MEDITATION:

Bonfire Night has become a tradition in many of our villages. I remember taking my godsons to Barrowden when they were small and because they are French it was a very different experience for them. They enjoyed the hotdogs with tomato sauce smeared all over their smiling faces. We watched the different fireworks and stood round the fire until the heat was too much!

 

I have always liked sparklers, moving them round to make trails in the air and holding them carefully with a little bit of delighted fear when they reached their end. There were the Catherine wheels which always seemed to detach from the fence my father had so carefully nailed them to and they would lie on the ground spinning happily! The rockets and those which went into the sky gave a wonderful display of colour. And there were always those that simply dwindled to nothing!

 

Life is a bit like fireworks. Sometimes it just goes along steadily like a sparkler with highs and lows moulded into each other. At other times we can become detached from others and be sad and disappointed. But there are times when life bursts upon us and is colourful and exciting.

 

It is Jane’s funeral on Monday and her life burst upon all those who met her. She was not afraid of dying knowing that she would burst into the bright light of her Saviour. As we live our lives we need to remember the light that came into the world. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world and am with you always”. We have never needed that light more.

 

God bless

 

See wellandfosse.org for much more information, including contact details for

the churchwardens

The Welland-Fosse Benefice: Prayers and Notices

Sunday 31st October 2021: Fourth Sunday before Advent

 

• Please pray for the sick including Judith Piggott, Sylvia Martin, Jan Bailey, John Hall, Pat Simmons and Derek Barker.
• The funeral of Jane Williams will be at Morcott Church on 8^th November at 12 noon.
• Zoom Morning Prayer continues on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8.30am. Compline is on Thursday at 6pm.
• Next Sunday, 7^th November, we are in church at Duddington at 9.30am and the Zoom service will be at 11 am.
• Face Masks: up until now we have been relaxed about the use of face masks in church. The situation is now changing with high infection rates so the staff would be grateful if you would be prudent and consider a return to face masks for the time being. The Covid restrictions on the Holy Communion service will continue. 
• Barrowden Advent Windows Project needs 8 more volunteers. Please phone Judith Piggott on 01572 747329 as soon as possible.

 

SOUTH LUFFENHAM:

Sunday November 14th 9.30am Service of Remembrance.
Sunday November 28th 9.30am Holy Communion. 
Starting on Monday 1st Nov at 3.30pm at North Luffenham School, a new joint venture between St Mary’s Church, South Luffenham and St John’s Church, North Luffenham – Community Church aimed at children and their parents/carers. Fun, food, crafts and songs based on a Bible story. On Monday 15th November we will meet in South Luffenham Village Hall. Anyone from our benefice is very welcome to attend. Please email sally@saltlane.com to reserve your place. Please include this new initiative in your prayers. 

 

MEDITATION:

As life progresses, we meet many people. Some drift into our lives for a few minutes, others stay longer. We remember them for different reasons, for the effect they had on us at the time and for the impression they left.

 

There are many hellos and goodbyes in life, some easy, some more difficult and others most distressing. We are saying goodbye to Christopher and Geraldine today. Goodbye means “God be with you” and that is a fitting wish. Jeremiah Rankin wrote a hymn for his congregation and said this about it:

 

“Written…as a Christian goodbye, it was called forth by no person or occasion, but was deliberately composed as a Christian hymn on basis of the etymology of “goodbye,” which is “God be with you.”

The first verse of the hymn is:

 

God be with you till we meet again,
By His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you,
God be with you till we meet again.

 

It is difficult to say goodbye but all we can hope for Christopher and Gerry and for us is “God be with you” always.

 

See wellandfosse.org for much more information, including contact details for

The Very Rev Christopher Armstrong and the churchwardens

The Welland-Fosse Benefice: Prayers and Notices

Sunday 24th October 2021: Last Sunday in Trinity

 

• Please pray for the sick including Judith Piggott, Sylvia Martin, Jan Bailey and Derek Barker. Pray too for the departed especially for Jane Williams, giving thanks for her faithful ministry as churchwarden of Morcott. Her funeral will be at Morcott Church on 8^th November at 12 noon.
• Please remember in your prayers Alba Scott to be baptized this morning in Duddington church.
• Zoom Morning Prayer continues on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8.30am. Compline is on Thursday at 6pm.
• Next Sunday, 31st October, we are in church at Duddington at 10am for the Benefice Holy Communion Service. There will be no Zoom service on that day.
• Face Masks: up until now we have been relaxed about the use of face masks in church. The situation is now changing with high infection rates so the staff would be grateful if you would be prudent and consider a return to face masks for the time being. The Covid restrictions on the Holy Communion service will continue. 
• The County Council, working with Leicestershire, are busy housing Afghan refugees in our area. They have asked us to hold fire on further donations as the critical need at the moment is detached housing.  If you can help for at least a year, please visit the government website for refugees.

 

SOUTH LUFFENHAM:

Sunday 24th October 11am Holy Communion (please note time!).
Sunday November 14th 9.30am Service of Remembrance.
Sunday November 28th 9.30am Holy Communion.

 
Starting on Monday 1st Nov at 3.30pm at North Luffenham School, a new joint venture between St Mary’s Church, South Luffenham and St John’s Church, North Luffenham – Community Church aimed at children and their parents/carers. Fun, food, crafts and songs based on a Bible story. On Monday 15th November we will meet in South Luffenham Village Hall. Anyone from our benefice is very welcome to attend. Please email sally@saltlane.com to reserve your place. Please include this new initiative in your prayers. 

 

MEDITATION

Either / or?  Both / and?  Or what? 

For a brief moment, let’s take a dip into the ‘moral maze’ – do you remember a scenario that went like this?  A man walks through a marketplace on the way to see a friend who lives nearby, and happens to see, at the back of a stall, an unattended case stuffed full of money.  His mind opens to the possibilities all this ready wealth would bring – bigger house, faster car, trips abroad, better education for his children, comforts for his parents, support for a needy friend.  

 

He says to himself – “I could easily steal this; nobody is watching, and nobody would be any the wiser if I made off with it!” But his mind closes to these possibilities; the dream fades and without hesitation, he continues on his way.  

 

Another man walks through the marketplace also on the way to see a friend who lives nearby and happens to see at the back of a stall, the unattended case stuffed full of money. But, although he actually sees it, there is no reaction – no impact on his mind whatsoever and he continues on his way. 

(Anxious readers may like to know that the rightful owner did not lose his property!) 

 

Which man would we call the more moral – the more trustworthy? Many people choose one or the other straight away, but it is not as straightforward as our first thoughts would make it. What issues or questions arise?  

 

See wellandfosse.org for much more information, including contact details for

The Very Rev Christopher Armstrong and the churchwardens

The Welland-Fosse Benefice: Prayers and Notices.

Sunday 17^th October 2021: Trinity XX

 

• Please pray for the sick including Judith Piggott, Sylvia Martin and Derek Barker. Pray too for the departed especially for Jane Williams, giving thanks for her faithful ministry as churchwarden of Morcott.
• We welcome Archdeacon Gordon as our preacher at Tixover this morning, 9.30 am.
• Zoom Morning Prayer continues on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8.30 am. Compline is on Thursday at 6pm.
• Next Sunday, 24^th October, we are in church at Duddington, 9.30 am for Holy Communion and the baptism of Alba Scott at 11 am. Please remember her and her parents in your prayers. At 11 am Holy Communion is at South Luffenham and Zoom at 11 am also.
• Face Masks: up until now we have encouraged people to wear face masks in church but with the break between infections and hospitalization, the immunization rate and the space and airiness of our churches we invite you now to wear a mask or not, as you feel most comfortable. The Covid restrictions on the Holy Communion service will continue.
• Thanks for your support for the Rectory Yard Sale.
• The county Council, working with Leicestershire, are busy housing Afghan refugees in our area. They have asked us to hold fire on further donations as the critical need at the moment is detached housing.  If you can help for at least a year, please visit the government website for refugees.

 

SOUTH LUFFENHAM:

Sunday 24th October 11am Holy Communion (please note time!).

Sunday November 14th 9.30am Service of Remembrance.
Sunday November 28th 9.30am Holy Communion.

 

Starting on Monday 1st Nov at 3.30pm at North Luffenham School, a new joint venture between St Mary’s Church, South Luffenham and St John’s Church, North Luffenham – Community Church aimed at children and their parents/carers. Fun, food, crafts and songs based on a Bible story. On Monday 15th November we will meet in South Luffenham Village Hall. Anyone from our benefice is very welcome to attend. Please email sally@saltlane.com to reserve your place. 

 

MEDITATION:

What do angels do?         

We don’t often chat about angels over the Sunday morning toast and coffee. Yet, if you have seen angel cards around the villages in our benefice over the last few weeks, then you might know at least some of the answers. Angels announce things. They invite us to participate in the good stuff, but also sometimes warn about possible consequences when the world gets itself in a pickle. Perhaps most importantly of all, angels are a sign of hope. We aren’t left to struggle alone.

 

Angels feature, of course in the bible. They are mentioned at least 273 times. They adorn Christmas cards and table decorations, including those charming chimes from Norway. They feature in various guises in old master paintings or modern films.  Like puppies, angels aren’t just for Christmas.

 

This afternoon, everyone in the benefice is invited to gather in St Mary’s, Morcott. We’ll be there to remember those who have been lost in the dark days of the pandemic; we’ll honour kindness prompted by harsh conditions or sad moments; we’ll dedicate ourselves to the spirit of hope which angels often represent.  Why not come along? Bring an angel with you and hear the song written just for today. It ends with these words:              

For those who by their work our strength renew

Not by mere words but what they chose to do

For angels who bring hope and joy from you

We thank you Lord, we thank you Lord

 

See wellandfosse.org for much more information, including contact details for

The Very Rev Christopher Armstrong and the churchwardens