St Mary’s news

St Mary’s church has re-opened for private prayer twice a week. From 10am on Sundays and 11am on Wednesdays.  There are some restriction s in place to ensure everyone is kept safe, and it is a delight to be able to offer a quiet space for prayer again.

To keep everyone safe please abide by the following guidelines:

If you have a high temperature or any symptoms, we kindly ask that you do not come in to church

Please use the hand sanitiser as you enter the church and again when you leave

Please maintain a physical distance of 2 metres between you and other people

There are no prayer books or bibles available in the church at this time so please bring your own

For details of our online services please email united.benefice@outlook.com

Contact details for further information:

Church warden Anthony Matthew 782082, Sarah Chandler 7822451, Rev Ann Fielden 782509

Photo credit Alan Miles Tyghe

 


Alpha Online

We have just run a very successful online Alpha and are looking to start the next course. If you are interested in finding out more about faith then read on and get in touch 🙂

What is Alpha?

Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith, typically run over eleven weeks. Each talk looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation. Alpha is run all around the globe, and everyone is welcome.

A chance to connect

Usually, Alpha starts with a meal together but during this time of social distancing we’ve needed to adapt. Each session still kicks off with a chance to meet new people and connect over video chat!

If you want to know more about Jesus and the Christian faith then please get in touch with us.

Use the contact form below to get in touch OR

Email: united.benefice@outlook.com  or phone 01225 782717

To meet the course leaders and hear more you can watch our YouTube video here:


Life in Lockdown – view from the Bible

I’ve been reading of folk isolating

From accounts in God’s wonderful Book

It’s been an interesting discovery

I recommend you take a look

 

In great fear Moses isolated himself

Elijah became thoroughly depressed

2 Emmaus walkers in deep disappointment

And Jonah in rebelliousness.

John was forced onto Patmos,

Daniel used his time to pray

The exiles in Babylon couldn’t sing

They just did not want to stay.

 

But Moses met God in the burning bush

Elijah encountered God’s care

Jesus himself joined the travellers

and Jonah repented in prayer.

John glimpsed something of heaven

Daniel was protected from harm

God kept His promise to the exiles

in His time He brought them back home

 

So how are we doing in lockdown?

Is this isolation really so bad?

Are we fearful, depressed, disappointed,

feeling angry, deprived or sad?

These people weren’t perfect or patient

or positive and prayerful throughout

But God knew each detail about them

and met them in all of their doubt.

 

Let’s not lock Him out of our Lock-down

We might miss something special from Him.

A vision, encounter, experience, prayer,

a scripture or words of a hymn.

Let Lock-down be changed to Look-up

seek His presence, His purpose, His way

Let’s trust Him, His plans and His timing

and live life to the full every day.

 

Rachael Loescher