The Welland-Fosse Benefice: Prayers and Notices

Sunday 28 February 2021:  Lent II

 

• Please remember in your prayers those who are sick: Janette Saunders and Jane Williams. Will Beattie is now out of ICU and doing well.
• 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 to Compline, contact Sally Smith, sally@saltlane.com.
• Studies in St. Mark’s Gospel continue this week: Tuesday 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. It continues on Zoom, 7pm on Monday 1 March. 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 1 March: ‘The Lawyers’. Each session lasts 40 minutes. Join us by emailing our Zoom host Martin Beattie at mfn.beattie@btinternet.com.
• Compline on Sundays in Lent starts at 6pm. This week, Penny Graysmith, a Prison Chaplain on Guernsey, will talk about the virtue of Hope. Martin Beattie is our host. Please contact him if you wish to join the Zoom service.
• ‘Prayers for Patience in Lent 2021’ – available at the back of church or in the porch. Help yourself.

 

SOUTH LUFFENHAM: Our church will be open every day from 10-4.00 pm.

 

MEDITATION:

Life has been difficult for so many during the past year and then we get to Lent! Many people feel that they must give up something which will make life even harder. The chocolate left over from Christmas (if there was any!) has been hastily demolished and no longer figures on the shopping list; chocolate eclairs have also disappeared!

 

The idea of giving things up is to share in the temptations that Jesus suffered in the desert all those years ago and to remember what he gave up for us. But increasingly there is the idea that it is also helpful to take things up rather than give them up. During the lockdowns many people have taken up new activities and many have spent more time helping others. In our own localities there has been a great surge of care for those around us.

 

There is also the giving up which means resignation or despair, and this too has become evident during the last few months. The mental health concerns have increased and the long-lasting effects of being isolated will be apparent for several years to come. The care which has been shown will I hope continue into the future to help those who will find the opening up of life difficult too.

 

We can remember that Jesus took up the cross and carried it after being beaten and scorned. He gave up his life in a horrific way. His taking up and giving up was for us and was cruel in the extreme. Our taking up and giving up is small in comparison but important.

 

God bless.

 

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

The Very Rev Christopher Armstrong and the churchwardens