Greetings from Grant.3
to read Greetings.3 click on the link
Greetings from Grant 2
On Sunday morning, I took the well known opening passage from John’s Gospel and talked about three things:
Through this passage we are welcomed into the story of God personally.
We as the Church are called to be light to the world.
God came to us. To be with us, to be close to us.
There are a wide variety of things that we can do to deepen our relationship with God, even in lockdown. God isn’t limited by social distancing like we are. The crucial thing is that we do something rather than nothing.
Contd…. click link
Pray for our nation
Pray for our nation
The UK's C-19 death toll sadly passed 100,000 people last week.
The bishops of our Diocese, +Steven, +Olivia and +Alan have echoed calls from the Archbishop of York and the Archbishop of Canterbury to join together at 6pm every day to pray for the nation.
Although the Archbishops suggest 6pm, you can pray any time, anywhere.
We recommend following these words based on Psalm 23, written by Bishop Steven. Find a regular time each day when you can spend a moment of quiet casting your fears onto God.
Light candle say a Prayer
Who is Jesus ?
Candlemas (2nd February) is about half way between Christmas and Easter. It’s a pivotal point when we look back at Jesus’ birth and forward to Easter, his suffering, death and resurrection. Here is a meditation on the different reactions to the birth of Jesus that we find in the Christmas story. Based on an idea from Sylvia Penny. Click on the arrow in the image to watch the slideshow.
Same storm, different boats
"Working parents want kids to go back to school because school closures directly impacts them.
Teachers don’t want schools to open because covid spreading round their school directly impacts them.
NHS staff want a full lockdown because sick covid patients directly impacts them.
Business owners want to carry on as normal because lockdown directly impacts them.
People with physical health problems want everyone to stay socially distant because catching covid could kill them.
People with mental health problems want people to spend time with because isolation could kill them.
Some can’t wait for a vaccine because they believe it will bring back some normality.
Some are terrified of a vaccine because they believe it could harm them.
We are all going through this but none of us are going through the same thing.
Some face crippling financial challenges, others face heart break.
We don’t all have to agree with what is best because what’s best for us won’t be best for everyone.
We don’t have to understand what others are going through. But we do need to stick together and keep loving each other no matter our differences.
We need to be mindful when some things go the way we want it to, it could be terrible news to another person. We need to be kind."
Greetings from Grant
Greetings from Grant
Dear friends,
Thank you all for the lovely warm welcome we have received as we have joined this community and taken up the responsibility of being the next Vicar of this wonderful benefice. Our house has been adorned with beautiful flowers, we have enjoyed some wonderful meals, cakes and biscuits, plus a good few bottles of bubbles!
Thank you so much.
Latest News from CIRDIC (drop-in for Reading homeless)
CIRDIC update from Lynn Smith
I dropped the donations left at St Stephens to CIRDIC Monday morning and had a catch up and chat with some of the people outside. Apart from the many “regulars” I speak to I’ve noticed over the last few months that there are more younger people who’ve been using the centre – a sad sign of the times – but how wonderful it is that CIRDIC is there.
I asked the centre manager if they had anything (alongside the usual things they need) that they are in particular need of over the next couple of weeks - and they have a special request for :
men’s spray deodorant (not roll on),
men’s underpants,
large disposable paper coffee cups, and
takeaway containers.
Collation : The Revd Grant Fensome to Basildon w Aldworth and Ashampstead
We are delighted that Grant Fensome’s formal Collation as Vicar, Basildon with Aldworth and Ashampstead within Bradfield Deanery, will take place on Tuesday 2 February at 7pm. Bishop Olivia will license him online via Zoom.
Grant does hope that you will be able to join him: it will be wonderful to welcome him formally to the Benefice and rejoice in the start of his incumbency with us in the Benefice..
Christmas Greetings from the Ministry Team
We would like to wish you all a happy, peaceful and above all safe Christmas. We know it is a very different Christmas to the one we were hoping to have – particularly in our churches.
The churchwardens of Aldworth and Ashampstead have felt that in the light of the danger of the mutating virus and Tier 4 restrictions that they should close St Mary’s and St Clement’s for services over Christmas but we are so fortunate in the benefice in having a modern church at Basildon which is more flexible and safe.
So we are delighted that, as well as the many virtual services on offer, we are able to have two 'in-person' services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Please make sure you contact 01491 672442 if you would like to come to these as numbers regrettably have to be restricted.
We do hope we shall see you, either virtually, or in person over the Christmas season – all services and links are listed