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Dear All,
I attach the Cross and Crown for the week to come, hoping that everyone is well. But I was told some sad news this week, which I will share with you at the start of this greeting: apparently, Jo Sharplin has died - this was a sudden death, since she was in Church on Sunday as usual. Jo may not be familiar to everyone, but she was a very faithful and regular worshipper, who mostly came to Evensong on Sunday, and will be much missed by all who knew her. I don't know any more details than that, and will of course let everyone know if I hear more. For the moment, I would ask you please to pray for her and for her family. That is of course a sad way to begin, but it reminds us of the core of the Easter message, which is that while the grave is a reality, the new life of Easter cannot be imprisoned. God's love and joy spring forth in unexpected and indefatigable ways. Those ways may even include our Annual Meetings, which will take place in the hall on Sunday after our 10 am Eucharist! The meetings will begin once everyone has had a chance to get themselves a drink and perhaps a biscuit, at around 11:15 or 11:20 am. The first meeting is the Parish Meeting, at which we will elect two Churchwardens for the coming year. The second meeting is the Parochial Church Meeting, at which we will elect members of the PCC and discuss the Parish's finances and the reports included in the APCM booklet I sent out by email a few weeks ago. I will attach that report to this email as well, in case it is helpful. Please come to the meetings, and please print out all those pages that you think you will need beforehand: there will not be paper copies available on the day.On Sunday Evening, our service will be Evensong and Benediction, when we end our usual Evensong by praying in front of the Sacrament of the Altar, and receiving the blessing of God's sacrificial love. Next Sunday, the 5th of May, is Rogation Sunday. There will be the usual services in the morning, and in the afternoon, we will meet outside Tesco's on the towpath at about 2:30 pm, to walk up to St Mary's for Evensong there at 4:30 pm. At All Saints, they will be celebrating the Wilkes Walk in the morning on this day. Both these seemingly unrelated things are actually linked: we ask for God's blessing and protection for our daily lives and for the bread and butter reality of our homes and money. Before then, on Saturday the 4th, there will be the usual working party at St Mary's in the morning. There will also be Morning Prayer and the Eucharist at St Mary's, beginning at 9 am. I must also let you know about Christian Aid week, which runs from the 12th to the 18th of May. The envelopes are at the back of the church now. Please take one for your own donation, and please take one or two to give to friends and neighbours also. We have 200, so there should be enough to go round! I also need to remind you about the forthcoming Summer Fair on the 8th of June. Please put the date in your diaries, because we will need lots of help to get things ready on the day, and beforehand. Lastly, a reminder about the 19th of May. That is the Feast of Pentecost, and Bishop Alan of St Albans will be coming to celebrate it with us, and to confirm 6 or 7 candidates from the Team. This is the first Confirmation we have had in St Barnabas herself in my time as Vicar, so it is very exciting! Please come if you can, and remember to pray for Bishop Alan, for the candidates and their families, and for us all. God bless Fr Bernard The Rev'd Dr B Minton Team Vicar of Linslade Ouzel Valley Team |