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The repainting and cleaning work on the chancel
walls and ceiling is making fair progress, and we are very hopeful that we
shall have full use of the church again in time for Easter. Thank you to
everyone who has borne the added difficulties bravely, and those who have
been patient amid the contraints upon our Sunday and midweek worship.
On Sunday 2nd March we celebrate Mothering Sunday in St Helen’s
with an all-age service at 9.30am and the orchestra leading our music. It
may be a bit of a squash but we will welcome one and all.
The following weekend (9th), that same service will see a visit from
representatives of Mission Aviation Fellowship, presenting details
of their work and vision in a lively and engaging way. There will be
plenty for the Junior Church members that morning. 16th
March is, of course, Palm Sunday, and we shall follow a dramatic
reading of the Passion Gospel in the mid-morning service. That is the
beginning of Holy Week, and there are daily acts of worship through
to Good Friday, as listed elsewhere. Easter Sunday
is the most important of dates for the Christian Church and we are
offering a great variety of services (five!) that morning. Do make sure
you join in worship in one of the churches of the village that day. An
additional service at St Helen’s this year, is an 11.15 Easter Praise with
youngsters in mind. Throughout the month, and the ongoing
season of Lent there are also a number of events shared with other
churches, including our Lenten Quiet Day, 1st March at St Thomas
More; the Women’s World Day of Prayer service, 7th March at the
United church, and a special evening service in Holy Week, Monday
17th at St Helen’s. These events are advertised elsewhere. And, outside of
this village, I continue to remind you of the excellent series of Lenten
lectures at 6.30 on Sunday evening at St John’s Lemsford: the last two are
on 2nd and 9th March (no prior booking needed). I am
pleased to report that Louise Edwards has accepted the PCC’s
invitation to take up the role of a Pastoral Assistant in the parish. She
will be a wonderful asset to our pastoral work in the parish, alongside
Ann Hayes, and also becomes a very welcome addition to our ministerial
team. Louise will have been commissioned with a short act of prayer in our
service on 24 February. Finally, the time of our annual
parish meetings is drawing near again, so please mark the date of
Tuesday 22nd April in your diaries. There will be a report on the
work and witness of our churches over the past year and the presentation
of a particular item of importance and interest. It is also the occasion
on which we elect representatives for the Deanery Synod and the Parochial
Church Council. In all, I am expecting nine places to be up for election,
and I know we shall need several new members of both bodies. If you are
interested to play a greater role in the life of parish or deanery, and to
offer yourself for election, please indicate to secretary Chris Callow or
myself, or talk with us first to understand a little more of what is
involved. We always hope that the PCC can be a varied group, broadly
representative of our congregations as a whole. Please don’t be shy in
coming forward.
AndrewDoye
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