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Spring
is approaching with birds singing and bulbs beginning to sprout and the
prospect of the amazing annual display of snowdrops and crocuses in the
churchyard….something that readers should not miss.
But other things are also budding or developing in the life of the parish,
not least Faith Perspectives at which over fifty people attended at
the first meeting on 15th January. Details of this course of
talks and discussions about our faith can be found in the January magazine
and on the posters displayed in church. The meetings are taking place on a
fortnightly basis finishing on 19th March. Ten adults who are to
be confirmed are also attending the course and will be joined by the six
young people who are meeting at separate weekly meetings for the
confirmation service on Sunday 12th March at which Bishop Richard
will preside.
The Praise services
will recommence this month after a break for a review, which took place in
January. The review has resulted in a new approach for this service, which
will be for families with young children. (0-8yrs old) The service is to be
called Children’s Praise and will take place in the Church Hall at
5.00pm
on Sunday 26th February. Future dates will be confirmed but are
expected to be the 19th March and 9th April (Palm
Sunday). Each event will have a theme with the first being TOYS. So if you
would like to come along make sure that your children bring their favourite
toys…..if these include weapons we hope to be able to turn them into
plough-shears, but we shall not be prescriptive!
If you receive this issue before the 1st February you may be
interested to know that we are participating in a Wedding Fayre at
the David Lloyd Centre in Raynes Park on January 29th where we hope to be
able to answer questions about the services that we are able to provide at
St Mary’s, and perhaps attract new members into the church family.
On 25th February the Auction of Promises will take place
in the church hall. This promises to be an exciting event led by our
Magazine Editor, occasional auctioneer and Lay Reader, Dr Alan Morris. You
will find details about this important fund raising event elsewhere in this
edition.
In February we leave he season of Epiphany with Candlemas or the
Presentation of Christ in the
Temple.
This will be celebrated on 5th February rather than 29th
January to avoid a clash with Faith Perspectives. The actual day is 2nd
February and marks the end of the forty days of the Christmas/Epiphany
season. This is an important turning point in the Christian year with the
themes of presentation, purification, meeting and light for the world
running through it. As you would expect it is a service with many candles
and mixture of bittersweet emotions as well as a spirit of celebration. It
is a feast day, which remembers the presentation of the Christ-child in the
temple to be greeted by Simeon and Anna. Their prophetic words look to the
falling and rising of many and the death and resurrection of Jesus……a
service that takes the simplicity and joy that was experienced at Christmas
and looks forward to the passion of Holy week and the Joy of the
resurrection….a service not to be missed! And at the beginning of March
we shall be entering Lent with Ash Wednesday on 1st March; an
important service also in the Christian year as we commence a period of
reflection leading to Holy week and the glory of Easter. More will be
written about Lent in the March magazine.
And so February enables us to move from Christmas and Epiphany into the next
stage of the Christian year…..a time to move on in our faith journey. May
you find time to enjoy this transition in your own journey and in the
approach of warmer weather and the challenges of the year ahead.
John Hillier
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