† St Andrews
Proclaiming Christ in Clewer
Pews News: March 2017
Welcome, in the name of Jesus Christ, to this house of prayer.
Rector’s Ramblings
As we entered into Lent, we are reminded of the theme of ‘journey’ and the time Jesus spent in the wilderness. Lent is a journey towards the Cross, the Cross of Holy Week and then the joy of Easter. Getting there is always a challenge. We try too hard to ‘give things up’ and it always fails in my opinion! You never know what Lent will bring and every year something happens that makes me think I have been prevented from being ‘holy’, and when am I ever going to get some ‘timeout with God’? But of course that is the challenge, we don’t know what each day will bring, however hard we think we have planned, it very rarely works out that way. That is the ‘wilderness’, finding yourself in a situation that is out of your comfort zone, not the ‘norm’, one that you would rather not experience and would rather run in the opposite direction from. As you journey towards Easter enter each day with an open heart and mind, pray some more, learn some more about Jesus, ask the neighbour in for a coffee and chat. Each new day has endless possibilities if we enter it willingly and prayerfully.
On Ash Wednesday we received the ashes on our forehead, to mark the beginning of Lent and, to remind us that we are dust, and to dust we shall return. The time in-between is for us to use to grow in faith and build our relationship with God and Lent is the best time to work on that.
This year at St Andrews, we have taken the Stations of the Cross out into the community, to act as a witness that we are in Lent. They are positioned in front gardens, driveways, gate posts etc for all to see as they go about their daily lives. Please pick up a leaflet, or look on the website about the Stations and try to join us in a public act of worship, yes, out there in the open for all to join in. Not your comfort zone? Step out and join us. You can even make it into a pilgrimage, a holy journey, one which changes us, transforms us, renews us and enriches our lives and relationship with God. Everyday places and paths can be holy ground and places of discovery.
Take up the journey, enter the wilderness and follow Jesus.
Prayer for our journey
In all our travelling through the wilderness, in our journeying to school/work and returning, within our homes and families, in our leisure time together, as we stumble on the way, in the travelling of our faith, as we place our trust in you, Lord, may your footsteps guide us. In all our travelling through the wilderness, Lord, may it be your footsteps in which we place our feet. Amen.
Every blessing
Revd Rosie
Services for the Month of March
1st Sunday – 5 March – Lent 1
10.30am All Age Family Eucharist – Gospel Matthew 4.1-11
5pm BCP Evening Prayer
readings Psalm 50; Deut6.4-9; Luke 15.1-10
2nd Sunday – 12 March – Lent 2
10.30am Parish Eucharist
Readings Genesis 12.1-4a; Romans 4.1-5,13-17; John 3.1-17
5pm BCP Evensong
readings Psalm 135; Numbers 21.4-9; Luke 14.27-33
3rd Sunday – 19 March – Lent 3
10.30am Parish Eucharist
readings Exodus 17.1-7; Romans 5.1-11; John 4.5-42
3pm Children’s Church (Child-centred Holy Communion)Theme: Emergency Services
5pm – BCP Evening Prayer
readings:Psalm 40, Joshua 1.1-9; Ephesians 6.10-20
4th Sunday – 26 March – Mothering Sunday
10.30am All Age Family Eucharist -Gospel
readings: 1 Samuel 1.20-28; Luke 2.33-35
5pm BCP Evensong
readings:Psalm 31, Micha 7, James 5
Midweek Worship
Wednesday Evenings – At the Stations of the Cross – see separate leaflet
Fridays 9.30am Prayers & Bears in Church
For your prayers
Healing Prayers: Peter Dennis, Jack Trigwell, Blake, Jim Allen, Jasmine, Pheobe, Sam Evans, Rueben, Alfred Tardif, Margaret Andrews, Al Brewer, Joan Bull, Susan Hines, Julie. The Homeless, Refugees and Prisoners and all who mourn.
Those who have died:
Parish Cycle of Prayer: Please pray for all those who work in all retail premises, Mill Stream Houseboats, Mill Stream Garage, the Boatyard, Windsor Race Course, Forest House Veterinary Group, Petworth Court, the Windsor Club, Helston Lane, and in the following Care Homes: Winton House, Sandown Park, and Queens Court.
Community Prayers: for our church school Clewer Green First School, Martin Tinsley the Head teacher and the school governors. For our Church @ school Project.
Notices
Choir Practice – Tuesday evenings at 6pm in church
Bell ringing – Tuesday and Friday evenings
Church@School Project commences again at the start of Lent- Friday 3 March, then Tuesdays for 4 weeks. Volunteers needed please to help with refreshments and activities. See the Rector.
This year’s APCM will be held on 23 April following our Eucharist service. The annual report will be printed two weeks prior to the meeting, please ensure you have read it. If you haven’t already completed an Electoral Roll form, please do so as you will have no voting voice in church affairs otherwise.
Giving for February amounted to £1382.32 against a budget of £1917. Total for 2017 so far is £2750.47
Windsor Sleep Out 2017 – 10 March
Windsor Homeless Project are running their annual fundraising sleep out. If you would like to get involved please talk to Mulle. If you can’t ‘sleep out’ yourself then why not sponsor someone –Revd Rosie!
Importance of Being Ernest –Jorvik Theatre Company
3rd and 4th March at St Andrews. Tickets are £12, you can pay on the door or you can reserve by emailing jorviktheatre2@gmail.com or calling 07808236202
Church yard tidy: Please see Bob Lester for the next event, with all this wind and rain there is a lot to clear up. We’d appreciate the help. Thank you.
The roof! The roofers move arrive in March to fix the valley gutters at long last
Living, Loving, Learning in Lent
Wednesday evenings starting 3rd March, 7.30pm at the Rectory.
Pilgrim – a course for the Christian Journey, exploring The Beatitudes. Books are available, see Jane Cockman if you’d like one.
Experience Easter –an interactive way to explore the Easter Story. Prayer stations will be set up around the church ready for the week of the 27th March and the school will be visiting to take part in the experience. Helpers are needed to welcome the children and serve drinks. The stations will remain up on the 1st April for Lent Lunchers and visitors to enjoy.
Lent Lunches on Saturdays during Lent at St Andrews (due to drain issues and building work at St Agnes). This will be part of our hospitality/Living aspect of our part in God’s mission here in Clewer. It is a chance to meet for lunch, talk about life and raise funds for our designated charities for this year. If you would like to join one of the ‘Lent Lunch Teams’ please see the Rector or Church warden Heather. Lunch will comprise of homemade soup, bread, cheese and fruit. Lunch contributions is £5, £2.50 for children. Please join in this venture in sharing the hospitality of God and enjoy the opportunity to serve.