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Your daily bible quotation

From Fr Bernard

Dear All, 

This weekend is the last call for palm crosses from last year. If you have left, please bring them into church to be burnt for Ash Wednesday, which is this week. Lent is coming, a bit like winter in the Game of Thrones books, but with more prayer, and less murder! 

On the subject of Lent, there will be a Parish Lent Discussion Group this year, providing up to eight opportunities to meet and discuss any aspects of the Christian faith that you want, and so that you can ask any questions you might have. Half of the sessions will be on Tuesday evenings at 8 or 8:30 pm in the Saunders Room, on the south side of the Church Hall. The other half will be after the 10 am Eucharist in the Lady Chapel on Thursday mornings, beginning at about 10:40 am. 

You are welcome to come to as many or as few of these as you want to! I am not expecting anyone to come to all eight (though you can if you really want!!). If no-one comes with questions to discuss, we will have a think about the words of the Creed that we say in Church most Sundays. The group will meet on Tuesday 24th February (8 pm); Thursday 26th February; Tuesday 3rd March (8:30 pm); Thursday 5th March; Thursday 12th March; Tuesday 17th March (8 pm); Tuesday 24th March; and Thursday 26th March.     

Also on a Lenten theme: the Lent lunch will follow the main Sunday Eucharist next week, on the 22nd of February. There is a sign-up list at the back of church to say that you are planning to come. Also at the back of church, we are already collecting for the spring Jumble Sale which will be at 2 pm on the 7th of March in the hall. 

Because this week is half term, as well as the start of Lent, I will take some leave during the week. This means that the Church will only be open on Wednesday and Thursday this week, and there will be a reduced number of Morning and Evening Prayers. 

Given all this talk about Lent, you will not be surprised that tomorrow is Quinquagesima, the Sunday before Lent. Our main 10 am Eucharist will be an All-Age service, and we will – as usual – be hiding alleluias during it. I attach an Order of Service for Sunday to this email, along with an Order of Service for Ash Wednesday, and the Cross and Crown for the week. 

I conclude with two items relating to our Annual Meetings in April. Firstly, I give notice that the Church Electoral Roll (our membership list) will be revised between the 28th of February and the 28th of March, and after that point it will be closed until after the Annual Meetings on the 19th of April. If you need to make a revision, or want to be added to the Roll, you have until the 28th of March to apply. 

Secondly, if you write a report for the Annual Church Meetings, I need it by the end of February at the latest, please, ready for inclusion in the Booklet. 
Thank you and God bless,

Fr Bernard

The Rev'd Dr B Minton
Team Vicar of Linslade
Ouzel Valley Team

Ouzel Valley Team Ministry Website