Good morning everyone,
Are you looking forward to the promised cool change? I certainly am, it’s been a tad too warm for me. Even Albie the Rectory Cat is finding it tough. As I type he is fast asleep on the desk next to me, twitching his paws; I wonder what he’s dreaming about?
Alex, our excellent Admin Assistant, has put the parish diary on the website: here is the link https://stnicolasanglican.wordpress.com/parish-diary/
So if you want to see what’s happening- there it is. Sermons are also available on the website- and a lot of other good stuff.
Tonight at 7:30 is the first Lenten Study; next week the evening group will move to Wednesdays. There is also a study on Wednesday at 10:45am. If you ordered a book and haven’t got one, I do have some photocopies and I’m praying the ones I’ve ordered will arrive very soon. Today, I hope.
Tomorrow, Toddler Jam is on from 9:30am; Craft & Chat from 1:30; and from 5:30 to 7pm there will be Pancakes on the Patio for Shrove Tuesday.
If anyone asks ‘What is Shrove Tuesday?’ here’s your answer: It became traditional to celebrate Shrove Tuesday- the very last day before Lent begins- by eating pancakes, because they contain eggs, milk and butter, and people would fast from dairy during Lent. ‘Mardi Gras’ is French for ‘Fat Tuesday’, a day to feast on the rich food that you might deny yourself during Lent. The word ‘Shrove’ comes from the verb to shrive, or to be shriven, meaning to be forgiven or cleansed of sin; traditionally Christians, when everybody was catholic, would attend Confession to be ready for Lent.
Ash Wednesday services are at 9:15am and 7pm, and all are welcome.
If you are hesitant to be among large numbers of people because of the risk of contracting Covid-19, the Wednesday morning service might be an option for you; we usually have anywhere from 12 to 20 people and there is plenty of room to physically distance.
On Thursday between 6 and 7pm Grahame is starting a Meditation Group in church, and all are welcome.
Friday is the World Day of Prayer, and this year the service is hosted at St Anselm’s, Kingsley, at 10am; next year will be our turn! Everyone is invited.
Saturday at 7:30am the Men’s Breakfast is in the hall: contact Don Rock on 0457 452 961 or donerock@icloud.com
The cables are in place for the live-streaming equipment and next Monday the installation will hopefully be completed. As soon as we all know what we are doing (!) and it is up and running I will let you know.
This is the Collect Prayer of the week until Ash Wednesday:
Almighty God,
you have given your only Son
to be for us both a sacrifice for sin,
and also an example of godly life:
give us grace that we may always thankfully receive
the benefits of his sacrifice,
and also daily endeavour to follow
the blessed steps of his most holy life;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
God bless,
Lorna
The Reverend Lorna A M Green
Rector
St Nicolas Anglican Church 