The Welland-Fosse Benefice: Prayers and Notices.

 Sunday 14 February 2021:  The Sunday next before Lent

 

• Please remember in your prayers those who are sick: Janette Saunders and Jane Williams.
• Today, the Zoom Service will be at 11am.
• Zoom Morning Prayer continues on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8.30 am. Compline is on a Thursday at 6pm. If you would like an invitation, contact Sally Smith, sally@saltlane.com
• Studies in St. Mark’s Gospel begin again this week: Tuesday 9th February at 7.30pm. If you would like an invitation, please contact Simon Aley at simon@oakhamteam.org.uk
• ‘Just the Job’ – an entertainment for our 5 parishes. Starts on Zoom, 7pm on Monday 15 February and fortnightly thereafter. It brings together 3 people with similar career backgrounds who share something of their work for 5 minutes after which we are invited to ask questions. On 15 February: ‘The Artists’. Each session last for 40 minutes. Join us by emailing our Zoom host Martin Beattie at mfn.beattie@btinternet.com.
• Compline on Sundays in Lent begins on 21st February at 6pm. The short service will be followed by an 8 minute presentation on each of the 7 Virtues given by visiting speakers. Martin Beattie is our host. Please contact him if you wish to join the Zoom service.

 

SOUTH LUFFENHAM:

The church will be open daily from 10-4 for quiet time and private prayer. 

MEDITATION:

Valentine’s Day! Do you remember when as a teenager it was so important to have as many cards as possible and spend time trying to work out who they came from, with a lot of giggles? And the shame if everyone else got more! Fortunately, as we grow older these things cease to matter but we all need to feel loved.

 

During lockdown many of us have spent more time watching television and have possibly watched programmes which normally would not figure in our lives. Last week I watched Musicals: The Greatest Shows and to my surprise quite enjoyed it until a song from “Dear Evan Hansen” called “You will be found” was sung. I put down my knitting and listened captivated by the words:

Have you ever felt like nobody was there?

Have you ever felt forgotten in the middle of nowhere?

Have you ever felt like you could disappear?

Like you could fall, and no one would hear?

Well, let that lonely feeling wash away

Maybe there’s a reason to believe you’ll be okay

‘Cause when you don’t feel strong enough to stand

You can reach, reach out your hand

And oh, someone will coming running

And I know, they’ll take you home

Even when the dark comes crashing through

When you need a friend to carry you

And when you’re broken on the ground

You will be found

There is much talk about mental health and the impact that it has on lives and many people will recognize the sentiments expressed in this song, which almost sounds like a prayer. Sometimes when we feel broken the people around us are not enough to mend us. But if we put our trust in Christ, who suffered so much, he will find us and mend us and give us, not the love of the Valentine’s card, but deep, everlasting love. Perhaps we need to reach out a hand to let people know this!

See wellandfosse.org for much more information, including contact details for The Very Rev Christopher Armstrong and the churchwardens