From the Vicar's Desk - 19 February
Whenever the rainbow is in the clouds ...
Remember the Covenant
First, a heartfelt "thank you" to the crane driver who took this photo yesterday. I'm sorry I can't credit you by name, but it's so amazing I couldn't resist: especially as our Old Testament reading this coming Sunday is of God and Noah talking about the rainbow as the everlasting covenant established between the Creator and all creation to confirm and ensure that God's love is creative not destructive and (to pick up on Paul's letter to the Romans) that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord". Whichever way we look at it, God's love for us is assured.
Lent: A journey of prayer
Each week in Lent, throughout the week, we will be sharing reflections, prayers and other resources for our shared Journey of Prayer here on our website.
Prayer Laboratory
The Prayer Laboratory will be taking place each Sunday in Lent at 4pm and there will be different breakout rooms with a choice of creative and interactive prayers for all the senses. Some prayer activities will require some resources - but this week all you need is an item of food from your cupboard! Read more here ...
Heart Garlands
We had a very encouraging 'turn out' to our two Ash Wednesday services this week. At the earlier service, we spoke about Sharing God's Love, using heart shaped objects around us. Liz shared her artistic talents to produce a video and guide for us on how to make a heart garland with recycled materials. We are being encouraged to engage with this during Lent, as a symbol of our love for all God's creation. How many hearts we can collectively make between now and Easter??
Sunday Evening Service
Throughout Lent, as well as Morning Prayer and the main Sunday service, we are holding a service of Night Prayer which you can download here. The service will be held on Zoom and you can join by clicking here here just before the service starts at 6.30pm
Covid-19 Vaccine
As you no doubt know, all those over 70 and those on the clinically vulnerable list should have been invited to have their Covid job by now. If you are in one of those groups, or know someone who is, who has not yet been vaccinated I would like to encourage you to make an appointment by clicking here or ringing 119.
Constructing the church building
If you're interested in dundry stone, how mortar cures and the deviation / settlement of SMR you might be interested to read more ...
Standing Orders request
Thank you to all those who have set up standing orders in the last few months: it is great to know that we have such a committed group of people seeking to maintain the church and build the kingdom. To all those who have a standing order, we have a little problem ... many of the donations come in without your name attached so we don't know if we're missing out on additional Gift Aid funds. Can I ask if you have a standing order set up for SMR please click here to provide some information to help us out. Thank you.
Send on / Contact me
Please forward this email on those who might be interested in SMR and contact me here (rather than using reply please)
With my best wishes
Dan
Canon D F Tyndall
Vicar, St Mary Redcliffe
