Dear all,
We are nearly entering into Holy Week – the long journey of Lent is drawing to a close as we take those final steps to the cross. I wonder how your journey has been this year? As you look back over these last 5 ½ weeks can you see a shape to your progress through Lent? Have there been any highs or any lows? Have there been any patterns or repetitions you identify from previous years? I wonder if you have discovered anything new about God, about yourself, about faith this year? Before we are drawn into the drama and passion of Holy Week it is good to pause and take time to recognise the pilgrimage we have been on since 14th February.
For me, in all honesty, the road has been long and challenging, grey and arduous, heavy with grief.
And yet.
I have never noticed the scent of spring flowers as much as I have this year and I have never heard the birds singing so loudly as I have this year! Considering we live on a busy road which is noisy and full of fumes I have been amazed that the bird song is audible even over the cars zooming over the Romsey Mill crossroads. And the scent of daffodils, hyacinths and winter box has still been discernible and sweet over the traffic fumes.
As a result in these last couple of weeks I have found this verse from Zephaniah looping round and round in my head:
*The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.*
*Zephaniah 3:17*
I wonder what you have noticed about your walk with God this Lent? However your journey has been I pray you will know God with you today. That you will know God’s delight in you. That as we travel into Holy Week and look to the cross, that you will know God’s love for you bringing you freedom. And that this week you too will hear God singing joyfully - louder than any other noise filling your ears.
*News and Upcoming Events*
*Lent Lunches – our last this week, do join us.*
*Lent Book Club will conclude on Wednesday – 7pm at church*
*Friday 22nd March *tonight* 7.30pm - Beer & Hymns* Our occasional Men’s Group is gathering at Eric’s house for a Beer and Hymns evening. A great format to have fun singing loud hymns and having a beer (or other drink). See Eric, David or Martin for more details.
*Saturday 23rd March – 10am- 12noon – Friends International Commissioning Service @ St Matthew’s Church *Friends International in Cambridge will be introducing and praying for Harriet, the new team leader, as well as praying for Max, one of our staff workers who is moving back to the USA.
*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
*Easter Services*
*Thursday 28th March - Maundy Thursday – 7pm – Reflective Service (with optional foot washing)*
*Friday 29th March - Good Friday – 3pm – An hour at the cross*
*Sunday 31st March - Easter Sunday – 8am – Sunrise-ish Service (don’t forget the clocks go forward this day) *
*10.30am – Holy Communion Celebration*
*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: *
Controversial maybe but before you buy all those Easter Eggs with all that packaging to give away this year – consider an alternative – maybe investigating the ones with zero plastic, making your own chocolate eggs or painting hens eggs instead.
*Last Week’s sermon*
Unfortunately we are having trouble with these links at the moment but hopefully they will be back up and running soon.
*This Sunday 22nd March – Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday*
*10.30am – Holy Communion with Explorers *– This Palm Sunday we will be hearing the entirety of Christ’s Passion (with everyone joining in!) If you want to familiarise yourself with it: Mark chapters 14 & 15. This may not be a tradition you are used to but it is a wonderful way to immerse ourselves both in scripture and the drama of this season.
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 and will be having surgery on Saturday, 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 – *Praise God for answers to prayer with 3 candidates interviewed this week – further news will follow.
*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*