Life is a gift and precious. May God guide you in the grasping of this special season of Lent. Together may we grow closer to God, be blessed and be a blessing.
Not too late Lent ideas
CIRDIC Coffee Morning Fortunately the atmosphere at the coffee morning held to raise funds for the Churches in Reading Drop-In Centre was not dampened by the atrocious weather and a large number of people enjoyed coffee and cake while chatting with friends in a cosy and dry Morrell Room. Roger brought cheer to the proceedings with his lively background piano playing, and there were plenty of bargains to browse through on the Bring & Buy stall. Organiser Mary said: “It was a happy occasion that couldn’t have happened without the help of everyone who supported it, particularly those who made and served coffee, manned the stall and the raffle, made cakes and donated goods or money. Thank you all so much. I am very pleased to say that we raised £1,209 for CIRDIC, which I know will be put to very good use, and I hope we can do more for them in the future. It is a very worthy cause”. Unsold items from the Bring & Buy stall have been donated to the “Christian Community Action” charity shop in Sonning Common and the Royal Berkshire Hospital. For more information about CIRDIC’s work please visit their website, www.cirdic.org.uk
There are sign up sheets in our churches or please contact the church office to order. We will be placing an order on Monday 25th February as the eggs sell out quickly (the dark ones have already all gone!). £5 milk; £5 fun pack egg box; £10 luxury. Please see https://meaningfulchocolate.co.uk/collections/real-easter-egg for more information.
Piano Recital at St Mary’s this Sunday There will be a recital entitled “A Song of Love” by concert pianist Ikuko Inoguchi this Sunday, February 25th, at 4pm in St Mary's followed by tea afterwards. The programme will feature both Western Classical and Japanese pieces including works by Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann, Debussy and Toru Takemitsu. Tickets are available on the door for £10 full, £9 concessions (cash only please).
This week we are asked to pray
Prayers for this week Trusting God when we don’t understand Lord, there is so much going on in our world that we don’t understand. There are wars and rumours of wars, famine, natural disasters, corrupt leaders, injustice, global warming. The more we pray, the more we could keep adding to this list… Lord, help us to hold on to the fact that you are in control. That, ultimately, you are God. We bring specific areas of concern to you now: Gaza and Israel, Ukraine and Russia….. We pray for your loving hand to be on the people who are suffering. We ask you to bring them comfort and security. Lord, we pray for peace. Lord, even when we don’t understand, help us to keep on trusting you. Lord, there is often so much going on in our neighbourhood that we don’t understand. There are strikes and unrest; waiting lists in our hospitals that seem endless; ambulances stuck outside hospitals; schools with crumbling walls and ceilings. Lord, it seems as if there is never any contentment, and very little joy. And, when we turn to you, we hear you speaking of suffering and rejection. As followers of Jesus, you explain that our true joy comes only from denying ourselves. Sometimes it all seems so confusing and topsy-turvy. Sometimes following you is hard. We admit that there are times when we just do not understand. Yet you love us through all our turmoil. You care for us deeply and long for us to see things from your perspective. Give us insight and wisdom, we pray. Lord, even when we don’t understand, help us to keep on trusting you. Lord, there is so much going on within us that we don’t always understand. We fall sick, some people are cured and some are not, and there often doesn’t seem to be any explanation as to why. We pray now for those, amongst us who are suffering in any way… We remember those who are sad and sorrowful, those who are lonely, anxious or depressed. We pray for those waiting for treatment or a diagnosis. Lord, we don’t understand illness and disease. We pray for those whose faith is tested by their troubles. Give them courage to face their situations. Show us how to be empathisers, how to be good listeners, how to be there when we are needed. But, most of all, we pray for your comfort and love to be felt by all who need your touch today. Lord, even when we don’t understand, help us to keep on trusting you. Lord, we know that to serve you well, we are called to deny ourselves take up our crosses and follow you. But it’s hard. It would be so much simpler to be your followers if you promised us an easy life. Yet, you have promised to be with us. You have promised to uphold us. You have promised your Spirit to help and guide us. So, we offer ourselves to you afresh today. Even when it’s hard. Even when we don’t know where we’re going. Even when we just don’t feel like it. Help us to turn our eyes to you. To look beyond ourselves to those who need our help. To look beyond ourselves and see those who we can serve. To look beyond ourselves and see where we can make a difference in our homes, our communities, our workplaces and schools, yes, even in our world. Go before us, Lord, give us courage. Shine into our dark moments and lead us onward so that we can help spread your kingdom wherever you call us to go. Lord, even when we don’t understand, help us to keep on trusting you and to keep on following you wherever you lead us. Amen.