Dear Church Family,
The traditional church calendar is always good for giving us things to look forward to. Even in the midst of a frustrating and slow lockdown at the beginning of this new year, we are already able to lift our eyes to the upcoming feast of Candlemas on the 2nd February (which we will celebrate on Sunday 31st Jan). Candlemas marks 40 days since Christmas as we remember the Presentation of Christ in the Temple as an infant. Beyond Candlemas is of course the great season of Lent – another 40 days – which, in turn, guides us into the greatest celebration of all, Easter.
Personally, I need to have these times of celebration and penitence in my diary as it helps me look beyond not just our present situation, but beyond myself and even my role here as Rector, to the bigger truths found in the Christian faith about God’s great plan for His world, His people and the redemption of all things.
With these things in mind, I’d like to share with you some information about Lent as well as some other plans we have to keep us as connected as possible while public worship remains suspended.
After Church Zoom Coffee
Like so many of you, I miss the conversations and fellowship we enjoy after our Sunday morning worship has finished. Therefore, from this weekend we will be hosting an open Zoom meeting for anyone who wants to come along for a cuppa, some conversation, and some fellowship. The Zoom meeting will open immediately after the Facebook Livestream finishes (usually around 10.30am). All you need is the login details below (these will be the same every week) and the drink of your choice!
The details to enter the Zoom meeting are:
Meeting ID: 838 5492 4560
Password: nicecuppa
I look forward to seeing you after church!
Daily Bread Church Family Meals
One of the great traditions of the church is to gather around the table to eat together – not just socially of course, but in the Eucharist each week. This regular pattern of gathering has been disrupted for so long now, many of you haven’t been able to share table fellowship with others for almost a year now. The team at Daily Bread are now offering a weekly cooked meal delivery for church family members. Although we cannot gather in the same place, the team wanted to bless those who would like to opt-in, a chance to share in the same home-cooked meal as other people. All you need to do is heat the meal up in your own home. You could also pray for the other people around the parish enjoying the same meal whilst you eat. Unlike a lot of our food ministry, this is not about a lack of food, or needing a little help with shopping – this is simply a matter of Christian fellowship and unity. Anyone can request a meal and let’s be honest: some days it’s nice not to have to cook!
To sign up for this wonderful gift, simply contact Lisa Whymark (details below) and she will arrange this for you.
Lent Course
During Lent this year, we will be reading the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book for 2021. “Living His Story” has been written by Reverend Dr. Hannah Steele, Director of St Mellitus College London. As we journey through the book, we will unpack liberating and practical ways of sharing the gospel story afresh. Through the course, we will consider how we can live Jesus’ story in our own lives simply by being the people God made us to be and allowing people to be drawn to him through our natural gifts. The book has been divided into 6 weekly sessions with discussion questions and accompanying videos.
We would like anyone who wants to join the course to be able to do so without cost. Therefore the church will be offering the book to you completely free of charge – although you can make a donation of up to £8 to cover the cost if you’d like to. Please contact the church office (details below) to book your place on the course, so we can order the correct number of books.
The course will begin on Wednesday 24th February at 7.30pm using our Zoom platform and will run for 6 consecutive weeks, concluding on the Wednesday of Holy Week, the 31st March. I look forward to hearing from you!
The Lent Course Zoom information is:
Meeting ID: 863 7968 1721
Password: steele
To get in touch with us about anything covered in this letter, or indeed any other pastoral matter, you can contact us on the following numbers and email addresses:
andy@huttonparish.com / 01277 514896 for pastoral matters
office@huttonparish.com / 01277 262864 for general enquiries, finance, and Lent Course bookings
lisa@huttonparish.com / 07795 966453 for Daily Bread related queries and for Parish Family Meal information
Please do try and join us on Facebook for our Sunday Eucharist at 9.30am and for Morning Prayer at 9am, Tuesdays to Fridays. We also offer Evening Prayer at 6pm on Thursday Evenings. Go to www.facebook.com/huttonparish to join in.
You can download this week's pew sheet here:
With every blessing,
