The Welland-Fosse Benefice: Prayers and Notices

 Sunday 16th May 2021:  Easter VII

 

• Please remember in your prayers those who are sick: Ray Bailey, Sylvia Martin, Margaret and Derek Barker, Suzie Clements, Judith Piggott and Jane Williams. Pray too for the departed, including Peter Bowser.
• Pray too for our PCC’s preparing for their Annual Meetings.
• Zoom Morning Prayer continues on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8.30 am.
• Next Sunday, 23^rd May, we are in church at South Luffenham, 9.30am, Barrowden and Zoom at 11 am.
• Last week, a bucket collection was held for the DEC India Appeal and £72 was raised. Thank you so much!
• ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ Compline Series at 8pm provides an opportunity for quiet prayer together for the development of God’s Kingdom here on earth. Join us and representatives of all 5 parishes at this candlelit service: Monday at Tixover, Tuesday at Barrowden, Wednesday at Duddington, Thursday at South Luffenham, Friday at Morcott and Saturday at Barrowden. Please wear a mask.

 

SOUTH LUFFENHAM:

APCM’s Wednesday 19th May 6.30pm in Church.

Sunday 23rd May 9.30am Communion by Extension (AR).

Church is open daily from 10am-4pm.

 

 

MEDITATION: ‘Line of Duty’

Just before ‘Line of Duty’ falls away from our memories and we can begin to sleep easier in our beds, it’s worth a moment to reflect on some of the qualities to be found in the major characters. All three – Detective Inspector Steve Arnott, Detective Inspector Kate Fleming and Superintendent Ted Hastings – are flawed and yet they are expected to search out and eradicate ‘bent coppers’. That is the responsibility laid upon them by the Home Secretary and society. For us viewers it is quite obvious with spine-chilling intensity that they do their level best to battle the odds against their own temptations and the obstacles thrown in front of them by the villains and sometimes their own colleagues in the force. Broken marriages, money problems, an inappropriate fling or an explosive temper are all part of being human yet add to the frustrations of achieving the goal. No wonder those colourful expletives are sometimes heard: “Jesus, Joseph, Mary and the wee donkey!” The tension all adds to the excitement of life. But there is only tension if we acknowledge our weaknesses and at the same time set ourselves a goal. Like the violin string, the tension creates the attraction, the fun, the exhilaration.

 

No one is perfect. Life involves muddle and compromise even though we have a clearly stated goal, to live as Christ would have us live. And as we try to create the circumstances for a Christian community in our churches, we do well to remember the frailty of our leaders.  My favourite apostle is Peter: always getting it wrong yet it was Peter who was appointed the rock man on which The Church was founded.

 

 

Now is the time to appoint our new wardens and PCC members.  We are not looking for perfection, just the willingness to serve – the service which brings great joy.

 

            “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.” Luke 17.10.

 

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

The Very Rev Christopher Armstrong and the churchwardens