Dear all,
*“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”*
1 Peter 1:3
I appreciate that I am writing this to you on Good Friday – we haven’t yet made it to Easter Day but since this newsletter will take us two weeks into Easter it was important not to be left at the cross!
But I do encourage you all to find a way to enter into the narrative of Good Friday – there really is no resurrection celebration without it. You might like to join us at the cross this afternoon or simply light a candle at home and take a moment to be still, perhaps read the account of Jesus’ crucifixion, and take a moment to sit in the enormity of the day. In the gospel of John the glory is in the cross – not in the resurrection. What God was doing through Jesus climaxed and was accomplished there. The forces and powers prevalent in our world which are in direct opposition to God’s goodness, light and love – they were conquered at the cross. In John’s gospel – the cross is seen as an exorcism of these forces casting them out of God’s perfect creation. Jesus death, his submission to these forces, his innocence and his silent submission, publicly exposes them. And once exposed they lose their power. Jesus’s death on the cross exposed the evils, the violence, the jealousy and hatred that controls, and cast them out – so that those powers no longer have the hold that they did. It is what happens when things are brought out of darkness and into the light.
And the evidence of this victory? That is what we have on Easter Day – the new life, the new way, the way of freedom from those powers – this is the resurrection we celebrate on Sunday. Yes Jesus is alive – alleluia! But because of him so too are we fully alive – alleluia, alleluia!
*News and Upcoming Events*
***Hour at the Cross 3pm today***
*Sunday 28th April – after church - St Philip’s APCM *this is the annual meeting of the church at which we report on the activities of the church through the year, report on our finances and most importantly give thanks for our elected representatives who look after the governance of our church for us. Our church could not function without the voluntary efforts of your PCC – and they are *your* PCC. Elected by the church to make decisions on behalf of the church. If you would like to be elected to join them or if you know someone who you think would be really great to have on this church council - please talk to them, talk to me. We really want to make the PCC as representative of our whole community as possible and it is always good to add fresh eyes to the group so please don’t be shy about coming forward if you’d like to know more. We are particularly looking for someone who would like to become a Deanery Synod Representative which means someone who will take St Philip’s voice to the wider gathering of CofE churches in the area. And if you know this is not for you please pray for God to be encouraging others to step forward - we are all involved in this governance process directly or indirectly!
*Electoral Roll* there is also the opportunity to join the church’s Electoral Roll. This is a sort of register of church members for governance purposes: for example, being on the Electoral Roll means you can nominate someone to join the PCC. You are more than welcome in St Philip’s Church, whether or not you are on the Electoral Roll. But if you would like to join it, please collect an application form from Lucy and return it by April 11th. You need to have been baptised, be at least 16 years of age, and be a resident of Romsey Town or a regular worshipper at St P’s for at least 6 months.
*Romsey Rabbit Trail *- you will notice the next time you come to church that St Philip’s School have created an amazing display of Rabbits as one of the 30 stops on the Romsey Rabbit Trail. If you’d like to join in and have a map to find all the other rabbit displays you can get hold of one at the Post Office for a donation to St Philip’s School PTA
*Friday 5th April – Clare Bigg’s funeral - *A few details from Clare’s daughter Alex. The funeral will be at 2pm - St Mary’s Comberton CB23 7EB. After the funeral, you are warmly invited to join family and friends for refreshments at The Cabin next to St Mary's Church, Hardwick, CB23 7QS. It's a ten minute drive up the road. Parking - There is limited parking at St Mary's Comberton and at the Cabin in Hardwick. Please car share where possible and park on nearby roads. Clothes - Bright colours please! Burial - Mum will be buried in the churchyard at St Mary's Hardwick. It will be close family only for the burial, but after that you are welcome to spend some time by the grave. We would be grateful if you could let us know if you are intending to come to the funeral and/or the Cabin afterwards. Let Alex know at ajbigg@gmail.com
*Saturday 27th April 10am-4pm Listening for Life Course @All Saints Church Hall Cottenham *A course to learn how to listen well to others, to yourself and to God with effective, reflective listening skills. It will be led by trained tutors – Revd Lynda Davies and Revd Natalie Andrews. For more info or to book on the course: Ely events booking https://elydatabase.org/events/view?course=3794
*Eco-Bite – our new green “nugget” each week: *
Find a way to celebrate the new life around you this Holy Weekend!
*Last Week’s sermon*
We are still catching up here but this is the link to our sermon archive: St Philip's sermon archive http://sermons.stphilipschurch.org.uk/
*This Sunday 31st March – Easter Sunday*
*8am – **Sunrise-ish Service (don’t forget the clocks go forward this day) *
*10.30am – All Age Holy Communion Celebration for Easter* – our readings will be Acts 10:34-43 and this year we hear the writer of Mark’s account of the resurrection - Mark 16:1-8.
If you can't attend church in person you can always use this Zoom link:
meeting ID: 976 3739 9129 and Passcode: 330714
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/97637399129?pwd=TGhKWWxOcWF1S242aVhrWDlJdUkxZz09
*Prayers *
If any of you have specific prayers you would like us to include in this newsletter do please get in touch.
*Lisa Gray – *Heather Jacob’s daughter who has breast cancer has had successful surgery, please pray for her healing, for peace and strength for her and the whole family and also for Heather as she supports them all.
*Clare Bigg’s family – *Clare’s funeral will be on Friday 5th April at 2pm in Comberton (see above). Please continue to pray for God’s peace to surround and hold the whole family, and Clare’s church family, in this sudden grief.
*St Philip’s School – *Please continue to pray for our local school – particularly a restful holiday for all the staff.
*Please also pray for our Mission Partner this month:*
*Cambridge Street Pastors* – Laura Leeke and Jane Mann spoke in church last week and asked us to pray for continued provision of people to serve in this capacity but also to give thanks for all the ways God has guided and protected Street Pastors especially in these last months.
*Regular Weekly events to join:*
*Friday 12noon Lunchtime Bible Club *A relaxed look at the bible passage/s for the upcoming Sunday. Bring along a packed lunch and explore scripture whilst eating lunch together.
*Wednesday 12noon Reflective Holy Communion* A quiet time to help find space and peace in the middle of the week.
*Monday & Friday 8.30pm – Compline on zoom *
Meeting ID: 836 5965 9953 Passcode: 749968 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83659659953?pwd=btP5AjGMu1s-dE_2W9T0MMFqnnPKSS.1
*Wednesday 10.30-12noon & Friday 1.30-3.00 –* Wednesday & Friday Friends
*Both are “Warm Spaces” with Tea/coffee, cake/biscuits and chat * Just turn up if you’d like to join us for a cuppa/read the paper/do some of the jigsaw/knit/colour/sit quietly watching the world go by.
*Wednesdays 7.00-7.30pm - Weekly Prayers on zoom*: -
Meeting ID: 852 1105 2733 Password: 397987
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85211052733?pwd=OE52bm9NS1RtQVQ0ZytTc0xBZnVsUT09
*Saturdays 8.15am - Morning Bible Discussion and Prayer on zoom*:
Meeting ID: 143 338 655 Password: 824271
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/143338655?pwd=L1JJTFZJNU9EaFZjaUFjQzVlalpMZz09
With love and prayers
Ruth
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Blessings Ruth
*Revd Ruth Barry* *Vicar, St Philip's Church, Cambridge*
185 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3AN 01223 318315 vicar@stphilipschurch.org.uk *My day off is Tuesday*