LENT 1

Today Father Martin celebrated the Parish Mass, Pamela led us in prayer, and Father Mervyn played the organ and preached. In his sermon Father Mervyn referred to the play by Dennis Potter  “Jesus of Nazareth” In the play Jesus is depicted having doubts about who he was and about his mission. In the temptation the devil says to Jesus “if you are the Son of God”  inviting him to provide proof that he is by turning the stones into bread to satiate his hunger (a sort of divine conjuring trick) Father Mervyn pointed out that Jesus was truly human and experienced the same human doubts we all have. The wording of the temptation has echo’s of the challenge given to Jesus on the cross: "Let him come down from the cross. He said 'I am the Son of God', Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down from the cross. He saved others let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God". When we are plagued by doubts we have the consolation of knowing that Jesus, truly human and truly God, experienced the same dilemmas as we do.

Lent Course

This year the Lent Course is being organised in conjunction with the YMCA on Wednesdays from 1.00 p.m. until 2.00 p.m. This Wednesday 20th February the session is being led by Father Martin. Wednesdat 27th February the session is going to be led by the Bishop of Chelmsford.

Stations of the Cross

• Monday 18th February 7.30 p.m.
• Tuesday 26th February 7.30 p.m.
• Wednesday 6th March 7.30 p.m.

SATURDAY SHOP

Yesterday’s Saturday Shop took a magnificent £225.

CONFIRMATION PREPARATION

Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation has now started and will continue after the Half Term Holiday.

A REMINDER - CHURCH ELECTORAL ROLL

Every 6th year all churches in the CofE are required by law to recompile their Electoral Roll and 2013 is such a year.If you haven’t yet completed your enrolment form and wish to continue to stay on the roll please do so and return it to the Electoral Roll Officer or to Father Martin by 3rd March. If you are not already on the Roll but would like to be please collect a form from Father Martin or Shirley