Another Peugeot Car/Getting Ready for Sunday [205]
Excitingly, I get a bit of a lie-in on Sunday because this week’s Parish Service is from Woosehill so it starts at 10am. Do enjoy those extra precious minutes in bed- I know that I will. I will set my alarm for the normal time, and then wait for it to go off, and then grin to myself and roll over again and go straight back to sleep…
Oh, and before I go any further, I need to pass on this note from Sally Dowling-
“Dear Bertie, if I bribe you with some mousetrap cheddar, sorry that probably wasn’t the best word to use, could I ask you to pass on my heartfelt thanks to my wonderful Church family for all their cards and messages of love and sympathy following the death of my wonderful husband Michael. Their prayers are sustaining myself and my family through this very difficult time. Hopefully at some time in the future we can all come together to celebrate his life.”
And also I’m attaching a letter I got from Soulscape (one of the main parish charities we support) describing how they have managed to carry on doing such good work in local Schools, even during this term of lockdown, by doing things online.
How to find the service at 10am
Home (stpauls-wokingham.org.uk)
Content of the Service
The OoS is attached- the music will be live from Woosehill Church, and the Notices will be slightly fuller than usual because they will include the swearing in of John and Steve as Wardens/ Stewards of Woosehill and the renewal of wedding vows, followed by a really super hymn. Do come along- it will be great to see you. Jane Kraft has recorded the Sermon and Richard is taking the service. The readings are 2 Kings 2.1-12 and Mark 9.2-9 and the hymns are He who would valiant be, The Lord’s my Shepherd (I will trust), Faithful one and How great thou art.
Some of my favourites are in there- which is not a surprise because I have kept whistling He who would valiant be whenever Richard has been in Church so, bless him, he thinks he has thought of it all on his own whereas, really, I have ben playing him like a bongo.
After the Service
Just one Zoom coffee this week so we can all talk together…
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85155759369
Meeting ID: 851 5575 9369 Password: 662208
And into Lent…
I know Richard said this yesterday, but I know as well that you all listen to me a lot more than you listen to Richard because I’m far more dashing and debonair and, well, just better really in every single way. I’m probably the person Richard dreams of being- able to eat cheese and crackers all day long with no ill-effects and no bad dreams. Sad, really… anyway, back to the point- I need to remind you to read email 204 really carefully because it tells you pretty much everything you need to know about the start to Lent. Pancakes! Taking new things up! Pancakes! Care for creation! Pancakes! Come and See! Pancakes! Pancakes! Pancakes! Pancakes! And did I mention… Pancakes?
As Kingfishers Catch Fire by Gerard Manley Hopkins
As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell’s
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves — goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,
Crying Whát I dó is me: for that I came.
I say móre: the just man justices;
Keeps grace: thát keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God’s eye what in God’s eye he is —
Chríst — for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men’s faces.
