St Mary's Bishops Lydeard
The Rector Writes
Service details follow the Rector's Letter
When I go to say Morning Prayer or Evensong it is much
lighter now than it was a few weeks ago which means that
Spring is not far away. Nevertheless, it's a cold, grey
February afternoon and writing about things in March is not
easy, when there are things from this month that I have yet
to mention.
We had an appeal for the Haitian Earthquake disaster and
we wanted to support "Shelter Box", the Cornish charity
which provides tents, food, utensils, blankets and so on, all compressed into a
box: enough for 10 people to survive. I'm sure you all know about "Shelter Box".
Anyway the hope was that we would raise enough money for one box but the
appeal raised £1500, enough for three boxes. So a very hearty "Well done" to
everyone who contributed. There is absolutely nothing wrong in supporting the
main charities but I think that when we see such devastation on our television
screens, the urge is to help and with "Shelter Box" monies donated go straight
to the people in need. Perhaps our boxes are already in Haiti helping to make
someone's life a little easier.
I had hoped to be able to report on the progress of the English Heritage grant
for St Mary's tower, but that we won't hear until the end of February. We have
had permission to start the work in St Thomas', Cothelstone which includes the
conversion of the old boiler house into a lavatory, the installation of a ringing
platform and re-ordering the base of the tower to allow galley and new storage
facilities to be installed. This will enable St Thomas' to be used for things other
than services i.e. concerts, talks, even plays and by people who may not be
associated with the church. If we are going to renovate our buildings they may
as well be available to as wide a section of the community as possible. Now all
we have to do is to get the funding!
St Pancras, West Bagborough has already had permission to carry out work,
some of which has already been done, but here too, funding is required before
we can move forward. It has been applied for, so we are waiting to hear if we
have been successful or not - fingers crossed!
Right, let's move on to March. It begins with St David's Day and what he would
have made of the Welsh performance at Twickenham last Saturday I dread to
think! I have a great joke about St David and rugby but it's too long for inclusion
here. His day will be observed, as will St Patrick's (see List of Services).
The 4th Sunday in Lent is also Mothering Sunday, not Mother's Day which is an
American invention shipped across the Atlantic to cause confusion. Mothering
Sunday is when people, because of the readings in the Prayer Book, would
think of our Mother the Church and, traditionally, those in service would be allowed
to go home with gifts for their mothers. So, it is a chance to make a fuss
of our mums and I hope that you will do so.
One of the ways that we mark Lent as a special period is by self sacrifice and
study so, as I wrote last month, we have a Lent study course on Thursday
evenings. However, the last Thursday of the month, being 25th March, is the
Feast of the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told
her that she was to be the mother of God's Son (see List of Services). It was a
supreme moment of challenge - what if she had said "No?" but she didn't, she
accepted God's challenge. We all face challenges of one sort or another in our
lives but not on a cosmic scale. Perhaps Mary's response and attitude can help
us face our challenges in the right way?
Then, right at the end of the month, Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday.
Weather permitting there will be the usual procession from the village hall in
Bishops Lydeard and the service this year is one of All Age, so we hope the
children will have a greater part to play. Holy Week itself will also have the
usual pattern of a short service and meditation each evening at 7.30pm for
about half an hour and then on Maundy Thursday there will be evening celebrations
of Holy Communion, washing feet and stripping the altar in readiness for
Good Friday.
On Good Friday the usual services will take place with the 10am Children's
Service; 12 noon at Bagborough and at 2pm The Last Hour, at St Mary's. The
church will then be locked and decorated on Holy Saturday in readiness for the
greatest of Christian festivals, Easter. In preparation for that each home in the
benefice will have leaflets delivered, which will have details of all the services at
each of the churches. Easter is also the time when the Church looks to its administration
through the AGM's or the Easter Vestry meetings, although they do
not have to be held at Easter-time and can be held before. So it is that
Bagborough have their AGM on the 5th March at 7pm in the Popham Hall.
These are public meetings and if you want to know how the church is being run
please do come along.
Wednesday Morning Service
For those unable
to get to Church on Sundays or for those who wish an extra time of worship,
there is a celebration of Holy Communion on Wednesday mornings in St Mary's
at 10.30 followed by coffee in the Church Centre.
All Welcome
St Mary's Sunday Club
There is a Sunday
Club for children of all ages at St Mary's which takes place in term time
during the 9.30 am service. New members are always welcome - please ask to
be shown through to the Sunday Club.
If Sunday Club is not taking place,
there are activity bags for children to enjoy. Please ask for one at the
Church door.
The toilets are also in the Church Centre
Transport
Would you like to be able to attend
more services either at St Mary's or within the Benefice but do not have
transport?
If so, please contact Mike Hansford on 433190 as lifts are
always available for Sundays, Wednesdays and joint Benefice and Deanery services.