11 March 2018 Mothering Sunday (Lent 4)

Transcription

1 PARTNERS weekly newsletter 11 March 2018 Mothering Sunday (Lent 4) St Mary s Fordingbridge SP6 1BB Today is one of the two pink Sundays in the liturgical calendar! The vestments and the liturgy lighten up for a week during Advent and Lent. The traditional sentence that would begin the service today started with the word Laetare - Latin for rejoice - so this Sunday is sometimes known as Laetare Sunday. (And one of the few occasions for clergy to wear pink vestments!) We rejoice today as we gather for Mothering Sunday, a day filled with so many hopes and expectations. Our readings today give us two different glimpses of mothers. Mary, watching as her son Jesus is about to die - a tenderness and yet such pain shown in these two verses. And Hannah, willing to dedicate her much longed for son back to God. But it can also be a difficult day - there are a lot of different expectations on today, and families come in lots of different shapes. Some of us are mothers, some are not, all of us have or have had mothers, for some this may be a source of love and joy, for others this may be painful or difficult. We bring all these emotions and experiences with us today, as we think about Mothering Sunday. St Mary s Breamore SP6 2DF Holy Ascension Hyde SP6 2QJ St Giles Godshill SP6 2JJ St Boniface Woodgreen SP6 2AJ St Mary s Hale SP6 2RF Rev Rachel Noel Sandleheath Uniting Church SP6 1PT We welcome all, especially visitors and those attending for the first time. If you need gluten free wafers at Communion, please speak to someone at the door before the service. Please take this newsletter home with you for the week ahead. Please stay after the morning service for tea and coffee, to meet folk and ask any questions. God Bless

2 READINGS - for you to use today and during the week 11 March 2018 Mothering Sunday (Lent 4) COLLECT: God of love, passionate and strong, tender and careful: watch over us and hold us all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN. Psalm 127:1-4 (For Morning Prayer) 1 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. 2 Unless the Lord keeps the city, the guard keeps watch in vain. 3 It is in vain that you hasten to rise up early and go so late to rest, eating the bread of toil, for he gives his beloved sleep. 4 Children are a heritage from the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his gift.

3 A Reading from the First Book of Samuel 1 Samuel 1:20-28 Hannah gives birth in answer to prayer, and dedicates her son, Samuel, to God's service as she had promised. 20 Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, I have asked him of the LORD. 21 The man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the LORD, and remain there for ever; I will offer him as a nazirite for all time. 23 Her husband Elkanah said to her, Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only - may the LORD establish his word. So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him. 24 When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh; and the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD. 27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD has granted me the petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he is given to the LORD. She left him there for the LORD. At the end, the Reader says: For the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. THE GOSPEL READING Please stand and turn to face the Gospel Reader When the Gospel is announced, the Reader says: Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John Glory to you, O Lord. (Glory be to thee, O Lord.)

4 John 19:25-27 Before his death on the cross, Jesus commends his mother to John's care. 25 Standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, Woman, here is your son. 27 Then he said to the disciple, Here is your mother. And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. At the end, the Reader says: This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. (At the end, the Reader says: This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise be to thee, O Christ.) (c) New Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible. POST COMMUNION PRAYER: Loving God, as a mother feeds her children at the breast you feed us in this sacrament with the food and drink of eternal life: help us who have tasted your goodness to grow in grace within the household of faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN. EMERGENCY PRAYER CHAIN : Please send all requests for prayer to prayer@avp-benefice.org.uk. If you feel able to commit to regular prayer for those on the list and wish to become a prayer partner, please make contact via the above address.

5 GARY OUT AND ABOUT : Monday, Partnership Benefice of the Future Group lunch, to review our last day away and plan for the next one. Then Messy Church at Hyde, and the Deanery Kinkiizi Action Group in Ringwood. Tuesday, Fordingbridge Wardens' Meeting in the morning, meeting new clergy to the Diocese at the Cathedral in the afternoon, and Music and Arts Festival Planning in the evening. Wednesday, Lent Group in the morning, the meeting the candidates for the Diocesan 'Rural Mission Enabler' post - who will be helping us with Benefice of the Future, Breamore School visit to the Church in the afternoon, and Deanery Synod in the evening. Thursday, Air Training Corps Chaplains' Training Day in Winchester, and Staff Team Meeting in the evening. Saturday, Hale Food Market and Breamore Brunch in the morning, and St Patrick's Supper at Fordingbridge in the evening. PALM SUNDAY AND HOLY WEEK - The Benefice Palm Sunday Service is at Hyde, starting at the School at 9.30a.m. - an all-age Family Communion, with Bishop Jonathan. The programme for Holy Week is on the website, and in Church - do have a look at it, and put the dates in your diary. HOLY WEEK ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS: From the Monday to Wednesday of Holy Week, we will be working with hundreds of children in schools and churches across the four Parishes of the Benefice. We need help! The children go from one workshop to another, everything is provided, it is really your presence we need. There are sign-up sheets in Church, or contact the Office to offer, or any of the Staff Team. Thank you. Monday, March 26th, Hyde School in Church; Fordingbridge Infant School at the school. Tuesday 27th, Breamore School in Church; Fordingbridge Junior School at the school. Wednesday 28th, Hale School in Church. Also, on March 15th and 19th, at Fordingbridge Junior School, Rachel is leading sessions for the children, painting Easter Eggs as part of the town Decorations. Help would be appreciated. Please speak to the office or to Rachel. Thank you - these are wonderful opportunities to work with our children, and to share the Easter Story with them. LENT & HOLY WEEK LEAFLET: The Leaflet detailing all of the Services and events in lent and Holy Week is available in Church, or in the Parish Magazines, or by for those who receive Partners that way. Bishop Jonathan of Southampton will be with us from Palm Sunday to Easter Day, and there are lots of opportunities to meet him during the week. LENT LUNCHES 2018 : The Lent Lunches continue on Wednesdays until Wednesday 28 th March, in Holy Week, from 12.15pm 1.30pm. Please put these dates in your diary to come along to the church hall and enjoy home-made soup etc. As ever, help is needed (serving soup, making coffee/tea and washing up) so please sign up on the rota on the church noticeboard. Funds raised will be shared between St Mary s Church and The Children s Society. Thank you, Martin and Jane Calver (656189). HYDE MESSY CHURCH : Please join us on Monday 12th March at 3.30pm

6 FORDINGBRIDGE ELECTORAL ROLL ANNUAL REVISION: The Church Electoral Roll is being revised prior to the APCM on Thursday 12 April New applications and notice of changes are invited from those parishioners and worshippers who are not already on the roll or if your personal details have changed. If you are not sure if you are on the Roll please call the Office and ask Fiona. If you are on the Roll and nothing has changed then you do not need to complete a form this year. The deadline for applications is Friday 23 March Any applications received after this date will be held until after the APCM when the Electoral Roll is open again. Copies of Form B: Application for Enrolment on the Church Electoral Roll are available in St Mary s, St Giles, Sandleheath Uniting Church or from the AVP Church Office. Following Friday 23 March a copy of names on the Roll will be displayed. Thank you. Fiona Gover Electoral Roll Officer BREAMORE ELECTORAL ROLL ANNUAL REVISION: If you wish to be on the Roll and are not yet on it, please see the Electoral Roll Officer, Lynette Stanford. HYDE ELECTORAL ROLL ANNUAL REVISION : The Church Electoral Roll is being revised prior to the ACPM on Tuesday 24th April. If you are already on the Roll no action is needed this year. You do not need to complete a new form. If there are any changes to personal information or new applications to join the Roll please contact Sheilah Collis, Hyde Electoral Roll Officer by April 9th Tel or sheilah.collis@doctors.org.uk FOUNDATION GOVERNOR - Could you be a Foundation Governor for Breamore and Hale Schools? We have a vacancy. Foundation Governors are normal governors, but appointed by the Church (as Breamore is a Church School). It's a great way to be involved with schools, which are such an important part of our local community. If you'd like to know more, talk to Gary or Nicky. CONFIRMATION (AND BAPTISM) : Bishop Jonathan of Southampton will be joining us for the whole of Holy Week, and there will be a Confirmation Service (including Baptisms of adults or children) on Saturday, March 31 st (Easter Eve), St Mary s, Fordingbridge, 7.30p.m. Please speak to any of the Staff Team to find out more. BISHOP'S COMMISSION FOR MISSION : BCM is a suite of training programmes (run by the Diocese of Winchester) focused on enabling church members to live missionally in every part of their lives. It is designed for lay parish members who would like input for their existing ministry or for a developing vocational path. BCM Pastoral equips those with a pastoral heart to be pastoral in all contexts; and BCM Disciple Maker nurture existing disciples and growing new disciples in today s world. Sessions are being held at St Paul s Throop, Bournemouth from 21 April 14 July Full details are available at If you are interested, speak to one of the Ministry Team, and we can let you have an application form, which then is approved by the Incumbent on behalf of the PCC.

7 FORDINGBRIDGE TELLS THE EASTER STORY : Good Friday, 30th March We need your help! We are looking for volunteers to help make the Easter Story a success. Marshal or Steward - We need help to make the road closure happen. The Rotary Club are kindly supporting us, but we need some more people to make this possible. Are you able to volunteer from 11-11:30am, or 11-12:30, to look after a road closure point, or help out at the locations? No prior experience needed! Please contact Mike French: michael.french@salvationarmy.org.uk Recreation Ground - Could you help us on the day at the Recreation Ground from 10-11am, to give out hot cross buns or help children with headdresses? Please contact Rachel Noël: rachel@avp-benefice.org.uk ST PATRICK's NIGHT. This event on Saturday 17th March at 7pm in the Church Hall is very nearly sold out and we will start a wait-list, so please contact me if you're hoping to get a ticket ( includes welcome drink, three-course dinner and Irish amusements). Jane Calver or janecalver@btinternet.com. "Twelve Good St. Patrick's Evening on March 17th : In preparation for our performance at this event, we will have our last singing practice in Church on Tuesdays, on March 13th, all at 7-8 pm. Please let Barry know if you are not available on March 17th. FORDINGBRIDGE MOTHERS UNION : We meet on Wednesday March 14th at 2.30pm,when Liz Halley will give an Armchair Tour of Ramsey Abbey. HYDE MOTHER S UNION : The next meeting is Tuesday 13th March at 7.30pm at Hyde Church Centre. The speakers will be Jenny and Martin Rice, their talk is entitled Antartic, a Penguins Paradise? REFLECTION : "Praised be You, my Lord/through our Sister Mother Earth/who sustains and governs us/ and produces varied fruit/with coloured flowers and herbs." This prayer of St. Francis of Assisi directs our gaze this Mothering Sunday to the sacredness of Mother Earth and to our responsibility as sisters and brothers to treat the earth with love, compassion and respect. The BBC Blue Planet 2 series highlighted the destructive nature of plastic which finds its way into our rivers and oceans. Eight million metric tons of plastic waste enters the oceans and beaches threatening marine life as nurdles and plastic beads. When making our confession of the sin of humanity, recall that we share in the destruction of this beautiful planet. For too long humankind has abrogated to itself dominion over Mother Earth as a right-we are quite the most destructive animal in the world! Let Mother Earth-all plants and animals, teach us something of their dance of interdependence in the balance of nature. For all is of God and the love with which She imbues the whole of creation. Let the prayer of St Francis become a living reality for each one of us. John Towler, on behalf of Daphne Himmel

8 This Week-11 March 2018 Mothering Sunday (Lent 4) Sunday 11 Mar 8.00am Holy Communion Fordingbridge 9.00am 9.30am Mothering Sunday Family Communion Godshill Mothering Sunday Family Communion Hyde 10.00am Mothering Sunday Morning Service 10.30am Mothering Sunday Allsorts Service 10.45am Mothering Sunday C of E Holy Comm am Mothering Sunday Morning Prayer Monday am Morning Prayer Fordingbridge 2.00pm Lent Group, Outwick Cottages Breamore 3.30pm Messy Church Hyde Tuesday pm Mothers Union Hyde Wednesday am Morning Prayer Fordingbridge 10.00am Lent Group, The Rectory Fordingbridge 10.00am Prayer Meeting Frogham Chapel 11.30am Holy Communion Fordingbridge 12.15pm Lent Lunch Fordingbridge 7.45pm Meditation Drop-In Fordingbridge Thursday pm Lent Group, Frogham Chapel Hyde 7.30pm Bell Ringing Fordingbridge Friday pm Friendship Group Hyde Woodgreen Fordingbridge Sandleheath Breamore 6.20pm Choir Practice Fordingbridge Sunday am Holy Communion Fordingbridge March 8.30am Holy Communion Hyde 9.30am Sung Eucharist Fordingbridge 10.00am Worship for All 10.00am Morning Service Hyde Hale 10.45am Uniting Service - C of E Communion Sandleheath 11.00am Holy Communion Breamore 4.00pm Baptism meeting Fordingbridge 6.30pm Evensong Fordingbridge Contact: Fiona Gover or Gail Newell, Church Office, The Rainbow Centre, 39 Salisbury Street, Fordingbridge SP6 1AB Tel church.office@fordingbridge.com CHURCH OFFICE OPEN MONDAY 3.30pm to 5pm, TUESDAY TO FRIDAY 10.30am to 12 noon