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St Mary’s News – The Wake-up Edition

St Mary’s News – A Spiritual Wake-up

After Revd. Heather’s reflections around her personal Wake-Up call, this editions includes:

A Spiritual ‘Wake-up call’.

Back in September, I was sent a letter from my GP. Following some routine blood tests, I was being encouraged to sign up for a pre-diabetes course, which would run over 9 months, a course, which I knew, as my father was already 6 months into it, took up a lot of time. Mindful of the time commitment, I was reluctant at first to even attempt to join a course, but having logged in to sign up, I found I could opt for a virtual course via an app, meaning I could fit it around my other commitments.

Reluctance to change

My other reluctance to join the course, was probably a reluctance to have to change some of my lifestyle habits. I knew that I would have to examine what I was eating, particularly the carbohydrates and sugary treats, and look at ways of cutting some of my favourite foods out of my diet and I wasn’t really sure I wanted to do that!

In the end, I signed up, downloaded the app and am feeling the health benefits. Yes, I have had to cut down on some foods, almost fasting completely from some, and I have also been encouraged to take on more exercise, joining a gym and walking more.

Healthier future

Healthier

In many ways it has been a wake-up call, to do something now, and hopefully I will be able to have a healthier, diabetes free, future, alongside the other benefits that will be reaped through having a healthier lifestyle.

On the 14th February, Valentine’s Day, it is also Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent. For many lent is a time when we might consider what we want to fast from, or indeed, take on, as we seek a healthier spiritual life.

Lent – A Spiritual wake-up call

Lent is, if you like, a spiritual wake-up call, a time when we are called to examine our walk with Jesus, either through the discipline of fasting, when we can use our fast as an opportunity to spend more time with God through prayer and bible reading; or through taking something on, like a daily act of kindness, or weekly environmental pledge, through which we are encouraged to grow in faith.

We might be reluctant to give up anything, or take anything on this Lent, but when we do, the spiritual benefits may far outweigh the challenges.

May God Bless you
Heather 

Food in School Holiday Club

Food in School Holidays

Looking for things to do with your children during school holidays?  Come along to FiSH, (Food in School Holidays), and enjoy a hot meal and lots of fun craft activities and games. The sessions are free, and open to all families, but for catering it is helpful if you book with the parish office (01206 243683 or [email protected]). Children must be accompanied by an adult please.

Our next session will be on Monday 19th February @ 11.30am-2pm.

Lent

Pancakes English style with lemon

All are welcome to the following events.

Pancake Party at the Rectory

Join us at The Rectory, for a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Party, on Tuesday 13th February, 7.30 – 9.00pm. Everyone is very welcome and special dietary requirements will be catered for.

 This is primarily about having fun together, but there is also a suggested donation of £3 per person, which will go to the Korban charity.

Lent Lunches

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 20 Feb—West Bergholt Church
  • Tuesday 27 Feb—Little Horkesley Church
  • Tuesday 5 March—Mount Bures Church
  • Tuesday 12 March—Boxted Church
  • Tuesday 19 March—St John’s, Gt Horkesley

Compline for Lent on Zoom

Join us on Zoom for quiet prayer and reflection at 9pm every Thursday in Lent, starting on 15 Feb. Meeting ID 816 1375 0048, passcode 402669.        

World Day of Prayer

World day of prayer logo

This year’s World Day of Prayer Service will be held at St Mary’s on Friday 1st March.  Starting with a soup lunch at 12:15 pm and a service at 1:30 pm , the theme is ‘Bearing with one another in love.’ It has been prepared by an ecumenical group of Christian women from Palestine, the land where the Christian faith is rooted.

All are welcome to join us for the soup lunch and the service. It would be helpful to have an idea of numbers for the soup lunch, so if you would like to join in the lunch, please could you contact Kate Penrose: [email protected] or 07973 421306.

Services & Other Dates

3 February10:00 amCafé @ St Mary’s
4 February2:30 pmHoly Communion
11th February9:30 amMessy Church
13th February7:30 pmPancake Party at the Rectory
14th February8:00 pmAsh Wednesday Communion at St Mary’s
15th February –
28th March		9:00 pmCompline for Lent every Thursday during Lent
18th February9:30 amHoly Communion
20th February –
19th March		11:45 amLent Lunches on Tuesdays
25th February9:30 amCafé Church

Our Team at St Mary’s

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