Update 21 March

Good afternoon friends,

I hope all is well with you and yours.

I had a conversation with our local MP, Paul Lilburne; he has given me 5 boxes of Rapid Antigen Tests (they are being given to community groups, and also given away at sporting events etc.). So if you are still waiting for your free ones to arrive, or if you need extras- as families may well do- please contact me and I can give you a box. Each box contains 5 tests. It is good for everyone to have some at home so that if we have even the slightest hint of symptoms we can do a test- which will either be reassuring or will tell us we have Covid and need to act accordingly!

Do you remember the Outreach & Events Questionnaire we did last September? It hasn’t been forgotten! It’s just that small detail of a pandemic that has made life a little difficult….  The most popular event ideas were for a social event for St Nic’s Day; a parish dinner; a joint morning tea (for 7:30 & 9:30 congregations to get together) and a Blessing of the Animals. At the moment it would be irresponsible of us to plan large get-togethers, so things like a parish dinner etc. have to be on hold; blessing of pets can happen outside, so that is scheduled for near St Francis’ Day in October; and St Nicolas’ Day is in December so (please God) the situation may well be different by then. Rest assured that your feedback and suggestions have not been forgotten- just put on the back-burner while we get through this time of high infection rates.

The first collection day for St Nic’s Recycling Hub was a great success! Marian and Ruth were almost overwhelmed by the number of people from the local community who came with their recyclables and were so enthusiastic about this terrific initiative. Around 50 people came during the 2 hours on Saturday morning, and parishioners brought more goods with them on Sunday. The next collection day will be on Holy Saturday: April 16th, 9-11. Because the following day is Easter Sunday there will not be a separate collection for parishioners, so you can either bring your goods on Saturday or save them for the following month. It’s all about discovering what we can do to care for our world, safeguarding God’s wonderful creation.

WHAT YOU CAN BRING:

  • plastic lids,
  • bread tags,
  • clean plastic plant pots,
  • toothbrushes & floss containers,
  • household batteries,
  • printer cartridges,
  • e-waste & mobile phones,
  • light globes and
  • Containers for Change- check each container displays the 10c mark and intact barcode; don’t crush cans.

Don’t forget- we can’t store these things so please only bring them on the designated days.

Today the church remembers Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, martyr and liturgist (d. 1556) Thomas Cranmer  (born July 2, 1489, Nottinghamshire, England—died March 21, 1556, Oxford), was the first Protestant archbishop of Canterbury (1533–56) and adviser to the English kings Henry VIII and Edward VI. As archbishop, he put the English Bible in parish churches, drew up the Book of Common Prayer, and composed a litany that remains in use today. Denounced by the Catholic queen Mary I for promoting Protestantism, he was convicted of heresy and burned at the stake.

This is the Collect Prayer for today:

Almighty God,
 who gave to your servant Thomas
 boldness to confess the name of Jesus Christ
 and courage to die for this faith:
 teach us always to be ready
 to give a reason for the hope that is in us,
 and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord and Saviour;
 who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
 one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

God bless,

Lorna

The Reverend Lorna A M Green