Update ii - September 2024

 

Dear friends.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (Col 3:1)

I came across this verse (again) recently and it has refused to let me go.  It creeps back into my memory at some point most days and so I have been wrestling with it, how it perhaps affects my life and if it might offer any direction to you as individuals or us as Church.

We can appear to be very busy and often this can mean being very busy doing stuff, stuff for the church, stuff for God.  In those days do we ever stop, take a breath and think why we’re busy.  I love the music group at St Marys.  They meet in the week to prepare, they arrive in good time on Sunday to set up and then, in all of the busy-ness they stop, take a breath and pray.  They are setting their sights on things above rather than their ‘performance’ of the worship music.  I could spend from 8am to 5pm every work day being busy, usually answering emails which are (mostly!) of benefit to the church but that is simply looking around me, trying to fix, arrange, set up!!!  How do I spend time and more importantly, how do I spend time with God – how do I set my heart on things above, where Christ is?

 Join us in a service of Daily Prayer (churchofengland.org) is a good way to spend 20 minutes (or you could download the ‘Daily Prayer’ app to your phone or device.

YouTube or Spotify give you access to hours of worship music, ‘ancient’! & modern on your computer.  Also a good way to spend 20 minutes mulling over the questions you have for God, sitting with a brew in your hand.

Obviously, reading the Bible would be seen as a good way to spend time looking to where Christ is.  In October, after the harvest services the Sunday services will be reflecting on the book of Ruth.  I will be offering time in my mid-week church visits to look back at the previous Sunday talk.

Prayer is also an important way to set your heart on things above, where Christ is.  St Marys offer a great group of people who meet to pray in church on Tuesday evenings for an hour, everyone would be most welcome to join.  I am in each church at least once every week (see below) for a time.  If I’m by myself I am able to use the time for my own ‘quiet time’ but I want to invite any and all who are themselves able to come along, even for 20 minutes, to make use of the quiet space.

 

REMAINING SUNDAYS IN SEPTEMBER

 

St Marys

St Johns

15th

10am – Holy Communion

3.30 – Evening Prayer

22nd

Please join us at St Johns

10am – Holy Communion (Joint) / Anna Chaplaincy **

29th

11am – Celebration of Youth Ministry @ St Pauls, Grange

8.30am – Short celebration of HC **

11am – Celebration of Youth Ministry @ St Pauls, Grange

6th Oct

10am – Harvest Service

10am – Harvest Communion

 

MID-WEEK IN SEPTEMBER

·       These are times when you can simply drop in to church.  You may wish to talk with me about something important or just to chat.  You don’t need to stay the whole time (the BCP Communion time is set)

·       These activities may need to be cancelled / re-arranged at short notice.  I will try to let people know or you can phone to check

·       I plan to roll this out beyond September.  The format may change over time

·       None of this is compulsory 😊but do feel free to join me if/when you can.

 

St Marys

St Johns

17th

 

10am – 12 Morning Prayer

18th

10am – 12 BCP Communion (at 11am)

 

24th

 

10am – 12 Morning Prayer

26th

10am – 12 Morning Prayer

 

 

And finally …..

** the ANNA CHAPLAIN for Cumbria is preaching at our Joint Service on the 22nd.  There will be a short service of Holy Communion in St Marys at 8.30 on the 29th BUT PLEASE CAN WE ALL AIM TO SUPPORT THE 11AM SERVICE IN GRANGE?

The need for ongoing Safeguarding training & awareness is now a necessary part of our lives, not least in the church at large.  The CofE is attempting to see how its churches are doing, areas that work well and areas that need improvement.  Would you please consider following the link below and answer the questions in their survey.  Safeguarding is something that impacts us all, even when we don’t notice it, and so, your replies will paint a picture.  Thank you

Church of England – Carlisle - Ineqe Safeguarding Group

 

Until next time, God Bless

 

Mark

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