The Welland Foss Group of Parishes

THE WELLAND – FOSS GROUP OF PARISHES

The power of words. the Absolution and the Invitation to Communion thus interrupting the movement to the altar. Do we not believe that we are forgiven? Can A tsunami of words will hit us this month as the final election we not accept the invitation to the feast? Can we not trust the words of predictions are cast, the results analysed and the recriminations the service? Do we not believe that we are forgiven? Can we not thrown. This is to say nothing about the column inches required to accept the invitation to the feast? Can we not trust the words of the accompany the start of the Lions’ Tour or the cricket test series. service? There is much here for clergy to comment upon –and rightly so for Is this beautiful prayer in the wrong position? What is your opinion? no element of our lives is beyond the caress of God. Important and relevant though all this is, I want to strike a different note, Christopher Armstrong namely our intimate relationship with God.

In all our Communion books we find the very beautiful Prayer of The Oberammergau Passion Play is due to be performed next in the early Humble Access (‘We do not presume to come to this thy table’…) summer of 2020. It is an amazing experience set in sumptuous village written by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer at the height of the surroundings in the Bavarian Alps. I imagine that there are many people in reformation in 1549. Cranmer was strongly encouraged by the Benefice who would value the opportunity to travel in a small group for Edward VI to translate more of the Communion Service into a definite aim. If you would be at all interested in such a venture, please English so he crafted a number of devotional prayers and pressed have a word with your churchwardens to help us gauge the viability of such them into the Latin Service. The Prayer of Humble Access was a holiday. one of these but did he put it in the wrong place? The Benefice Confirmation Service (22 October) was mentioned last month This prayer lies at the heart of Anglican spirituality. It contains which elicited further enquiries. We already have enough adults to form a elements of scripture, the German reformation and orthodox useful group. More are welcome. A young Peoples’ Group (10 – 15 years) is spirituality. It expresses our unworthiness and dependence on still a possibility. Groups begin in September. Please enquire via my email: God. But there is an inbuilt tension within the prayer, typical of [email protected]. There are also information cards in each of st Anglicanism. On the one hand is our unworthiness writ large; on our churches. The latest sign-up date is 1 September. the other hand we can’t quite believe that we are accepted. Wakerley Church has the first of its few permitted services this month: the Patronal Festival on 18th June at 3 pm. What an intoxicating atmosphere is Cranmer - pressed by the reforming king and influenced by to be found in that church. The air there is very thin between heaven and European movements – has crafted a beautiful prayer full of doubt earth! If you’ve never been to the church or its setting, give yourself a treat! and anxiety which would fit better at the start of the service. We All our welcome at 3 pm. could use it best as a form of preparation! Rather, it comes after St Mary the Virgin FORTHCOMING EVENTS South Luffenham

Opera in Morcott CHURCH CALENDAR AND Saturday 17 June 2017 SERVICES FOR SOUTH LUFFENHAM 7pm for 7.30pm ‘curtain up’ Morcott Church JUNE 2017

Opera lovers have a treat in store on Saturday 17 June when a Sunday 4th Evening Prayer 6.00pm group of musical friends – Amici – present Gilbert & Sullivan’s ‘Trial by Jury’ and a mix of operatic hits including a show- stopping ‘Nessun Dorma’ and memorable choral pieces, some of Sunday 11th Family Communion 9.30am which have been arranged specially for the concert by choir members in the beautiful setting of Morcott Church. Saturday 17th Concert in Morcott Church 7 for 7.30pm Sunday 18th Morning Praise 9.30am Amici has performed the length and breadth of the UK, from Manchester’s concert halls to National Trust stately homes, and on Patronal Service TV for Songs of Praise. The 18-strong choir is boosted by at Wakerley 3.00pm professional soloists Nick Hardy (Opera North), Joanne Rondel and Judith Lomax who all perform under the leadership of George Saturday 24th Concert in Barrowden Church 7.00pm Robey. Sunday 25th Holy Communion 9.30am Unreserved seating and interval refreshments available. Proceeds to church funds. Very Rev’d Christopher Armstrong Telephone 01572 748634 Tickets £12.50 from Alison Johnson on 01572 747381 Email: [email protected] [email protected] ------Concert in Barrowden Church on Saturday 24th June at 7.00pm. Music See www.morcott.wordpress.com for further information. for a Summer’s Evening, to include popular classics and songs from the musicals, will be performed by voice, piano and flute. Admission is On Sunday 25th at 11am in Barrowden Church this same group of free, Pimms will be served during the interval and donations are musicians will bring sublime music to the church in the form of a invited for the new organ. More details from Alison Tebbit, 01572 Sung Eucharist. It will be one not to be missed! 747608.