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St Mary’s News – The Lambing Edition

Revd. Emma Barr is used to lambing - seen here with one of her lambs
Revd. Emma Barr & Lamb

St Mary’s News – Lambing & Flocks

This Lambing edition of St Mary’s News starts with Revd. Emma Bar’s seasonal message about God’s Beloved Flock and then continues with:

Message from Revd. Emma Barr

God’s Beloved Flock

Spring is making an attack on winter with the now lighter mornings and drawn out evenings, something I always rejoice at as we are in the middle of lambing and it makes it so much easier and cheerier having light.

This year with 103 ewes scanned in lamb we were set for a busy time. It is always a time of waiting and watching, with excitement and anticipation knowing there will be the amazing success stories of lambs being adopted to other mothers and little ones making it against all the odds, but as with all things there are also the sad stories of loss.

Lambing is a time of reflection

Lambing is a time of reflection as we spend more time than usual looking at the sheep and really paying attention to their characters. When the sheep are in the fields I find it difficult to see many distinguishing features between one sheep and the next but when in the barn at lambing time you really get to know them and their individual characters.

The Good Shepherd

Jesus says of Himself that He is the Good Shepherd and that He knows His sheep (John 10:14). God, who created all things and each person and each sheep, knows each one by name. How incredible it is that God knows the intimate details of all that He has created! In Psalm 139 David says;

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb… I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

So we can have confidence in a God who knows us and treasures each one of us, knowing our individual personalities, gifts, strengths and weaknesses, and being able to tell us apart from everything else He has created.

Stories of Loss & Success

As we come to the end of lambing for 2024 we have had the stories of loss and others of success but above all we have been privileged enough to have witnessed creation at its best.

We now watch the lambs play out in the field with their huge skips of joy and the comfort that we are their shepherds just as Jesus was a special baby sent from God to be a loving shepherd to look after us.

And out of love He laid down his life for every one of us, his beloved sheep.

May God Bless you,
Emma

The Bible Course

The Bible Course is an 8 week course that offers a superb overview of the Bible, using short videos by Dr. Andrew Ollerton, which gives plenty of time for discussion. It will take place on Thursday evenings at the Rectory starting from 7:30 pm on 18th April.

To ensure we have enough handbooks for every participant, please let Heather know if you are planning on attending via [email protected] or 01206 240906.

Run-in to Easter

Lent Lunches—Tuesdays in March

Following the success of the Lent soup lunches last year that moved around the 6 parishes, they are returning again this year, with the money raised going to Korban, a local Christian Charity providing supported housing for 16-25 year olds who have found themselves in crisis. Dates and venues are as follows, all at 11.45am-1.15pm:

  • Tuesday 5 March—Wormingford Church
  • Tuesday 12 March—Boxted Church
  • Tuesday 19 March—St John’s, Gt Horkesley

Taizé Service for Lent—Weds 6 March @ 7.45pm

Croix de Taizé By Surfnico - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25243958

Join us for this quiet, reflective service, using the chants of the Taize community.         

Compline for Lent on Zoom

 Join us on Zoom for quiet prayer and reflection at 9pm on Thursday in Lent on 7,14 & 21 March. Meeting ID 816 1375 0048, passcode 402669.

Mothering Sunday Messy Church

Messy Church

Join us for an informal, all-age Mothering Sunday Service with a Bible story, fun activities, crafts and refreshments after the service. This is on 10th March starting at 9:30 am.

Services

3rd March9:30 amHoly Communion
5th March11:45 am – 1:15 pmLent Lunch – Wormingford Church
6th March7:45 pmTaize Service
7th March9:00 pmCompline by Zoom
10th March9:30 amMessy Church Mothering Sunday—see below
12th March11:45 am – 1:15 pmLent Lunch – Boxted Church
14th March9:00 pmCompline by Zoom
17th March9:30 amHoly Communion
19th March11:45 am – 1:15 pmLent Lunch – St John’s Great Horkesley
21st March9:00 pmCompline by Zoom
24th March9:30 amPalm Sunday Café Church
28th March8:00 pmMaundy Thursday Agape Meal
29th March10:00 amGood Friday Meditation at St John’s Great Horkesley
31st March9.30 amEaster Day Celebration Service, with shortened Communion
 18th April7:30 pm  First session of The Bible Course

Our Team at St Mary’s

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