Leigh Lines Sunday Services for All Saints LeighSunday 3rd February 11.00 am Holy Communion: Sunday next before LentWednesday 6th February 7.30 pm Ash Wednesday Service at Checkley for all congregations of the Uttoxeter Area.
Sunday 10th February 11.00 am Holy Communion: Lent 1
12.30 pm Baptism of Oliver James Smith
Sunday 17th February 11.00 am Holy Communion: Lent 2
Sunday 24th February 8.00 am Prayerbook Communion: Lent 3
4.00 pm Family Praise Service –“Look before you leap”
Sunday 2nd March 11.00 am Mothering Sunday –
United Family Service with All Saints School children leading the worship.All Saints Church reordering
We expect that the long-awaited vestry extension will be built in church during February which will give us much needed storage in the church and stop some of the unsightly and unsafe clutter in the side aisles. The extension is to be built from oak panelling similar to that enclosing the organ and toilet which will look beautiful and fitting. At the same time some final repairs to the chancel screen and to the floor of the nave will be undertaken.
We have now been given permission in principle (called “liberty to apply” in church jargon) for the nave reordering scheme and a detailed scheme has been prepared which we hope will be given final approval early in February. This will see the complete rebuilding of the raised dais in the nave in its existing position but with the choir stalls adjusted and made easily movable, a new position for the clergy stalls, and a new oak altar being built. The floor design is a beautiful timber marquetry scheme picking up the detail of the tiled floor beneath with carpet either side. New oak panels to match those at the bottom of the chancel screen will be installed for a background to this area with a single step down into the crossing. We hope that this work will be carried out in the summer months. A plan is available in church if you would like to see the full details of this scheme.
We have also been given permission to extend the churchyard paths into the new burial ground at the bottom of the churchyard and to link it fully into the existing path network. This work is being carried out in the spring by Derek Stubbs and family in memory of Ann Stubbs which is enormously generous and a lovely way to remember her very practical contributions to the life of both church and wider community.
The overriding principle in all of this is to make the church and churchyard well maintained,
Safe and usable by all, whilst doing things to the highest possible quality. The church belongs to us all and we all have a duty to use it and care for it well.
Happiness is only half of it
I wonder what Lent means to you? For most people I suspect that it has now lost any real meaning at all as a period which feels any different to the rest of the year. We may perhaps be vaguely aware of it’s starting with Pancake Day the day before, and of it’s ending on Easter Day, but do we honestly feel any different about the time in-between? For over 80% of us the answer will be “no”.
Why is this the case? I suspect that there are a number of reasons. As a society we are increasingly disconnected from our Christian roots which have so powerfully formed our identity and national culture and institutions. The sense even of the significance of Christian attitudes and values being an important thing to learn and live by; of the structure of the Christian year with its festivals and fasts giving an important pattern to the passing year has now all but gone - and with it is going our national and local identity and community - for those were the things that in the past united us and brought us together as a community regularly through the year.
I suspect it also has a lot to do with our preoccupation with avoiding any encounter with the darker side of life. We now live cocooned lives into which we allow no sense of sin or sorrow or self-examination. We live lives in which old age and the inevitability of death are avoided at all costs and compartmentalised away as long as we can. All we want is fun and happiness in our lives - we want to be entertained and enjoy ourselves, we want jam today with little concern for tomorrow, and we don’t want to look too deeply into ourselves to see if there is any ultimate purpose, or truth in our lives - indeed if you now speak to the younger generation about the purpose of their lives - about why they exist and what they must do - you discover that the new “religion” has simply become happiness - the shallow pursuit of personal happiness has become all that matters.
I have nothing against happiness and fun - I enjoy them as much as the next person - but they somehow lack any meaning and depth without the necessary contrast being there. Celebrating Christmas without the darkness and fasting of Advent is a far flatter occasion. Celebrating Lent only by encountering Pancake day, Mother’s Day and Easter Sunday leaves out all the contrast of Lenten fasting, Passiontide and Holy Week - which gives both a necessary contrast and helps makes sense of the journey. It also gives us the opportunity to look honestly at ourselves and make real improvements; to discover a far deeper meaning and purpose to our lives than just the bubble and froth of unalloyed happiness - and which brings us back together as a community which recognises and supports one another far better in times of darkness and death - for we know that it is not something to be feared and avoided, but something that is a necessary part of the human journey and one in which we can that discover God there too.
So why not rediscover the lost side of Lent this year? Start it with an Ash Wednesday Service - always a quiet and a deeply moving experience. Why not make this Lent feel different by deliberately giving up something that you enjoy and making the time during Lent feel distinctive and different to the rest of the year. Why not try coming to church for the Sundays of Lent where you will encounter some of the readings, hymns and prayers of the season which have so formed our Christian identity for centuries past? Why not make a note in your diary of Holy Week - the week between Palm Sunday and Easter and make time on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday to observe a quiet time away from the business of daily life to reflect upon the suffering of Christ and what it means - to deliberately enter into and not to avoid what suffering can be - redemptive, healing, forgiving, consoling, and deeply meaningful in the context of our shared faith. And then rediscover the real joy and happiness of Easter Day as the fast ends and the feast starts.
It will probably be one of the most difficult journeys that you have taken - but it is one that lies deep in the fabric of our national and cultural identity. It is one that we should all try to experience and may just change us in all sorts of positive and deeply fulfilling ways. Are you up to the challenge?
With every blessing whatever your own chosen Lenten journey this year, and with a warm invitation to join in with any of the advertised Lent and Holy Week services. Dominic.
Dominic Stone
The Vicarage
13 Moisty Lane
Marchington
Uttoxeter
ST14 8JX
01283 820030
dominicstone@btinternet.com
Lent Lunches in Leigh for the Bishop’s Lent Appeal
An additional way to support your Lenten journey this year, might be to come for fellowship, friendship and a “simple home made soup and a roll” lunch at Nicky’s house on the following dates throughout lent and donations will go towards the Bishop of Lichfield’s special appeal to raise funds for projects at home and overseas. (We will tell you about these projects at the lunches)
Wednesday 13th February
Wednesday 20th February
Wednesday 27th February
Wednesday 5th March
Wednesday 12th March
Wednesday 19th March (Holy Week)
The lunches will start at 1pm and finish about 2.30pm having sung one or two traditional hymns and said some special prayers for Lenten tide. You will be most welcome, with young children too.
Nicky Grey
(Contact Nicky Grey, Scarista House, Church Leigh 01889 502243 if you do need more information)
£40 for 40 days
Challenge for Lent
Do you want to get your finances in order this year? You can get some serious support and ideas on line via Church of England Website details below. But to get you kick started here’s a light-hearted challenge. At Start the start of Lent February the 6th put £40 in your wallet pocket or purse. That’s what you’ve got for luxuries; knickknacks, hobbies, indulgences, meals out, haircuts, fripperies and whatever else you can’t live without for the next 40 days. The fact is we all, myself very much included could do with reviewing how and where we spend our surplus money. The challenge could be seen as an adventure find out if it’s possible to have fun without spending money and if you succeed treat yourself to a cream egg for Easter with your last bit of change. Why not involve all the family and that way we can teach our young people a valuable lesson in money management in the process.
Catherine Lewis Area Youth Minister
Debt advice from the Church of England
The Church of England has compiled a post-Christmas debt check for consumers worried about how much their wallets have been hit by Christmas and New Year spending. It has also published a range of prayers for people living with debt. Coming at a time when 18 per cent of adults in the UK have £10,000 or more of unsecured debt, the release of the 10-point checklist coincides with the launch of a new section of the Church of England website, called Matter of Life and Debt, dedicated to helping people escape from debt problems - and containing sound advice, real-life case studies, useful resources, and helpful prayers. The new resources can be accessed at cofe.anglican.org/debt.
Collections and fundraising before and during Christmas
Harvest for ‘Small miracles’ £364.50
Remembrance Service for Royal British Legion £101.60
Christingle for the Children’s Society £131.00
Carol Service for the Salvation Army (Local Brigade) £130.40
Carol Singing for Mcmillan Cancer
The money raised was £177.83 this included a generous £25 donation through Sarah, Paul and their friends, previously entertaining the W.I. with their singing and playing. Thank you again to the Bradburys for their generous hospitality and generous guests and also to the Farmers Arms and The Star for allowing us to sing, play and collect for this worthwhile charity. An enjoyable evening was had by all.
REVIEW OF RENEW –HOPE 2008 –Churches together in Leigh
We were blessed with a sunny day for the Coffee morning in the Village Hall – this was very well attended with some wonderful cakes on offer! Everyone seemed to enjoy the opportunity to just chat in a relaxed atmosphere and browse through the books and fair trade stall.
In the afternoon a few teenagers came and viewed the Cross and the Switchblade film – we had some really interesting discussions afterwards about this true story of a pastor from the countryside who felt called by God to New York, to a very challenging and special ministry with gangs and drug addicts. In particular, his encouragement in supporting the conversion to Christian faith of Nicky Cruz- a hardened gang leader with much hatred in his heart. Although this is a really old film and story –it is as powerful now, as it was in the 70’s when the film was first produced.
A good crowd of all ages came to the evening in the Village Hall and had the privilege in hearing Rev Kesh Govan, Vicar of Rocester speak about being raised as a Hindhu, his extremely fascinating life and his amazing calling to Christian faith and ministry. The tale of his journey so far, was put across in such a way that his story and his message were accessible and audible to all who were listening.
The band (still with no name) played fantastically on Saturday night – many of us felt it was the best we had heard them play –apparently the village hall carpet helps with the acoustics!
Anyway this was just a taster day for our four day event in May –which will have many more interesting speakers and activities –please keep these dates free in your diaries – it does promise to offer a diverse tapestry of both traditional and modern ways to explore Christian faith in a safe environment and a Church without the barrier of walls.
RENEW…
Gathering in Leigh – 23rd – 26TH May 2008
This event is being brought to you by:
The INSIDE – OUT group formed from the 3 Churches in the Village of Leigh.
We are working together to host another festival of music, worship bands, visiting speakers, children’s workshops and lots to join in with for all ages.
WHY NOT MAKE A NOTE OF THESE DATES IN YOUR DIARIES NOW!
Everyone will be very welcome and we expect it to be a weekend to remember!
a up, ow at.
