Dear Friends,

Although Lent has started and maybe you have already begun your Lent discipline may I encourage you still to take up some of the things we have in Church for this Lent.

On Wednesdays we have a Service of Compline or Night Prayer at 7.30pm this is a short time of prayer and contemplation and along with this I will do the Stations of the Cross. Also there is a short service of sung Compline after Evensong each Sunday. Both in S. Anne’s Chapel in church.

On Fridays we have our Lent Lunches at 12.30pm of soup and bread with the money you give instead of your lunch going to the Bishop’s Lent Appeal for charities overseas and at home. These have been very successful with our parish being the largest or one of the largest contributors to the Bishop’s Lent Appeal each year. The soups are very good and so is the company. Do join us.

Or why not try to come to church for one of our mid week services? There is always Holy Communion on Tuesdays at 7pm or Wednesdays at 10.30am with coffee afterwards. Of course you should come to church every Sunday but why not during the week as well? You could even join us for Morning Prayer at 9am (10am Wednesday) except Friday.

You could take up reading the bible regularly; why not ask Lindsay Clarke for one of the daily bible reading notes?

As well as giving up things that are bad for you in Lent why not try to do something that is good for you?

If you are not yet Confirmed why don’t you start our Confirmation Course starting with an open meeting on Sunday 7th March 11.30am. Young people will meet after church each Sunday and adults in the Evening at 7.30pm at the vicarage. The actual Confirmation will be on Sunday 13th June at our main service at 10.15am by the new Bishop of Shrewsbury.

For the PCC we will be meeting on Monday 8th March instead of Tuesday at 7.30pm in S. John’s Room when the Diocesan Stewardship Advisor is coming.

As many may be aware we made over a £5,000 shortfall last year in our finances and probably it will be double that this year unless we do something about our regular giving.

The Women’s World Day of Prayer is at S. Mary’s this year on the first Friday in March 5th at 7.30pm. Everyone welcome!

The Annunciation of our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary is on the 25th March, a Thursday, when we have a special Sung Eucharist at 7.30pm.

My prayers and best wishes,

Fr. Philip Edge - Vicar