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I shared with the
congregation a Vision Statement for 2005 on the 23rd
January at the 9-30am service. If you were not able to be there and would
like a print out of the slides then please contact the Parish Office. One
of the slides was headed Responsibilities. By this I meant all the people
who have offered to be on our different rota for reading, offertory party,
servers, side people etc. The churchwardens have brought to my notice that
there has been a little slippage leaving gaps in the provision partly
because people haven’t looked at their rota to see when they were on or have
double booked themselves without letting others know. Please can we look
after one another even better in 2005?
Lent
This season begins on Ash Wednesday which this year is very early on
February 9th. There will be a Parish Sung Eucharist with the
Imposition of Ashes at 8-00pm. I write below about Lent Groups. Lent comes
as a sign of spring ‘lengthening of the days’ and as a season in preparation
for Holy Week and Easter. I hope we can adopt some of the Lenten customs of
fasting and self discipline including membership of a Lent group and a
discipline about attendance at Sunday worship.
Lent
Groups
Merton Park Churches Together is again organising Lent discussion groups,
each consisting of approximately 8 to 10 people meeting weekly over the five
weeks with the week beginning 14th February 2005.
This year’s discussion will be based on the Old and New Testament readings
used in the Sunday services during Lent in our church and other churches.
Copies of the reading will be provided for all members of the groups.
If
you wish to join a group, please complete the forms that will be available
at the back of the church and return it to the box provided. In recent
years it has been difficult to find the requisite number of group leaders:
if you feel able to volunteer this would be appreciated. The sermons on the
Sundays during Lent will relate to the readings
Messiah
What a wonderful evening we all had in church at the performance of the
Messiah on January 15th. We have raised money both for our
charitable giving and also for Amnesty International It was an unforgettable
occasion and our thanks go to those who had the vision and then implemented
that vision with the help of many people. Thanks to everyone who
contributed to the success of this occasion.
Church Heating
I am sorry that there was a cold spell in church after Christmas. I thought
it was human error but in fact there was a fault on the boiler that has now
been rectified.
Sabbatical
Many of you know by now that the Bishop has allowed me have a Sabbatical
during 2005. This means that I will not be undertaking parochial duties
during April, May, June and part of July. I am hoping to undertake a
specific piece of research and if you are interested details will be
appearing on our website in due course.
APCM
In relation to the above the Annual Parochial Church Meeting has been
arranged for 11-15a.m. on Palm Sunday 20th March.
Your priest and friend
Tom Leary
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