THE UNITED BENEFICE OF BLIDWORTH AND

St Mary of the St Simon and PARISH LINK Purification 17th May 2020 St Jude’s Blidworth Rainworth Although our church buildings are currently closed, the church family is still active in prayer, worship and service!

Collect for 6th Sunday of Easter

Risen Christ, by the lakeside you renewed your call to your disciples: help your Church to obey your command and draw the nations to the fire of your love, to the glory of God the Father. Amen Collect for Ascension Day

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens, so we in heart and mind may also ascend and with him continually dwell; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings 1st reading 1Peter 3: 13-end 2nd reading Acts 17: 22-31 Gospel John 14: 15-21

Readings for 21st May ASCENSION DAY 1st reading Daniel 7: 9-14 2nd Reading Acts 1: 1-11 Gospel Luke 24: 44-end Please Pray This Week For:

 Our Service together by ‘Zoom’ this Sunday.  Everyone to Stay Alert and Stay Safe, and think carefully about where they are going.  All those we care for and are not able to meet at the moment.  The 9 Days of Prayer for ‘Thy Kingdom come’.  The good news that a test for Covid 19 antibodies is showing promise.  Those who are returning to work, for their safety, and for their child care concerns.  The schools which are preparing to reopen, and all who work in them.  The children preparing to return to school, their parents and carers, and all who are worrying about it.  All who are worried about financial difficulties, or of losing their jobs.  Those who are not well in body, mind or spirit, or who are in any kind of need, especially any one known to us.  The families and friends of those who have died recently, that they may know God’s love, comfort and strength at this difficult time of bereavement, which is made worse by the current circumstances.

If there is anything you would like to be added to the prayers in the Parish Link, please let Maureen know. (We cannot include names of individuals here.)

Thought for the week John 14 15-21

This past week the Prime Minister announced we are moving on to the next level as we prepare to come out of ‘Lockdown’! As well as ‘keeping safe’ we also need to ‘Stay Alert’. I was reminded of this as I read today’s Gospel reading. How in our spiritual lives we also need to move to the next level. After his death, Jesus told his disciples they would move to amazing levels of responsibility. However, Jesus also assured them that if they asked, the Holy Spirit would help them. When we’re faced with obstacles in our daily Christian living, God also offers us the Holy Spirit to guide us to the next level. By studying God’s word, praying daily and listening to the still small voice of the Spirit in our minds, hearts and will, we can access the ‘help’ that God provides for us. When we choose to ask for help and obey God’s commands, God will show us how to move to the next level of our Christian discipleship. May we continue to look after each other, obey the rules, and walk with the Holy Spirit guiding us to ‘Keep Safe, Stay Alert, and Save Others’! Love and Blessings Sharon xxx

Over the last couple of weeks, some of us have been practising using ‘Zoom’, an on line resource for meeting with others and sharing services. Maureen started by joining with another church group for Morning Prayer, and finding out what to do, then the readers and warden practised together. Last Sunday we had a practice with 10 people from our church family, which went very well. This Sunday at 10 00am we are going live with our ‘Service Together, and we really want as many of you as possible to join in. In order to join us you will need either a Laptop, a tablet, (i Pad, or similar) or a smart phone. You can use a desk top computer if it has a webcam with a microphone. Before joining a meeting or service, you will need to download ‘Zoom’ An email will be sent out by Maureen to church members who have given permission for us to use it for church communication purposes. This will have a link for you click on to join in. There are bound to be hiccups, bear with us! The email will also have a copy of the Service Together for you to print off, or use on another screen, so that you can follow it. Anyone who does not want to be included, should reply saying so to the email, and their details will be removed immediately from the list.

Nigel Beeton, the Editor of Parish Pump writes, “This poem began one recent Sunday morning when I said to my wife, Carol, ‘let's go and worship at St Sofa's’". We worship at St Sofa’s now Our Vicar is a clever chap Since Covid came to stay A Zoom with his IT We don’t dress up or do our hair And so we sit down ev’ry week But still we come to pray! And meet up virtually!

Our Parish Church stands empty The virus is a nasty thing With praise she does not ring; Yet it has helped us see But still her people gather round The church is NOT a building To pray, and praise, and sing! But folk like you and me! By Nigel and Carol Beeton Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement which the Archbishop of Canterbury is inviting people around the world to join.

The wave of prayer will start in May and run for 11 days between the Christian festivals of Ascension and Pentecost from 21st May to 31st May 2020.

It’s not complicated – we’re simply asking people to pray in whatever way they want and with whoever they choose for others to come to know Jesus Christ.

In previous years we have committed to praying the Lord’s Prayer at 12 noon each day wherever we are and whoever we are with, either aloud or in our hearts.

“Jesus prayed at the Last Supper that we, those who follow him, might ‘be one that the world might believe’. We are invited to make a lasting difference in our nations and in our world, by responding to his call to find a deep unity of purpose in prayer.” Archbishop Justin Welby

“In the 11 days of ‘Thy Kingdom come’, will you find 5 people? Pray for them, on the hour, every hour, and go through that routine of 5. You will be surprised that your own prayer life becomes a joy and a delight.” John Sentamu, Archbishop of York

Have you got 5 people you can pray for to come and know the love of Christ during Thy Kingdom Come? Ascension Day Thursday 21st May Rev Tony Evans will be producing a service for Ascension Day which will come out you by email which you can follow yourselves at home.

There will be many live streamed services on You Tube and on Facebook etc, notably from Rev Zoe’s former parish at and Boughton and from Southwell and Diocese. TrafficDo keep light a hats look for out premature for them on babies. our Facebook page.

17th May - Rogation Sunday (Sunday before Ascension)

Rogation means an asking of God - for blessing on the seed and land for the year ahead. It is appropriate in any emergency, war, plague, drought or foul weather.

The practice began with the Romans, who invoked the help of the gods Terminus and Ambarvalia. In those days a crowd moved in procession around the cornfields, singing and dancing, sacrificing animals, and driving away Winter with sticks. They wanted to rid the cornfields of evil.

In about 465 the Western world was suffering from earthquake, storm and epidemic. So Mamertius, Bishop of Vienne, aware of the popular pagan custom, ordered that prayers should be said in the ruined or neglected fields on the days leading up to Ascension. With his decision, ‘beating the bounds’ became a Christian ceremonial.

Rogation-tide arrived in early in the eighth century and became a fixed and perennial asking for help of the Christian God. On Rogation-tide, a little party would set out to trace the boundaries of the parish. At the head marched the bishop or the priest, with a minor official bearing a Cross, and after them the people of the parish, with schoolboys and their master trailing along. Most of them held slender wands of willow. At certain points along the route - at well-known landmarks like a bridge or stile or ancient tree, the Cross halted, the party gathered about the priest, and a litany or rogation is said, imploring God to send seasonable wealth, keep the corn and roots and boughs in good health, and bring them to an ample harvest. At some point beer and cheese would be waiting.

In the days when maps were neither common nor accurate, there was much to be said for ‘beating the bounds.’ It was still very common as late as the reign of Queen Victoria. Certainly, parish boundaries rarely came into dispute, for everyone knew them. (Do you know yours today?) (From Parish Pump May 2020) PARISH FINANCES UPDATE

These are difficult times for all of us and, regrettably, there is a financial cost to the churches. The church building is closed but most of our costs continue. On the income side there are reductions in offertory collections, fund- raising activities and fees for occasional offices (ie funerals and weddings). On the expense side there are reductions in gas and electricity, and service expenses such as wafers, wine and candles, but the overall result is a loss of net income, at a time when we were already facing a difficult year. Fortunately our main source of income comes on a regular basis into our bank account. This is, of course, Planned Giving and we are most grateful to everyone who continues to make gifts by standing order direct into our bank account. We are also very grateful to those who will be saving their envelopes as explained in the Parish Link a few weeks ago. Any one who would like to make any additional donations or would like to change their planned giving from weekly envelopes to standing order (the preferred and safest way is by on-line banking) then please contact Karron Hutson for Rainworth or Stephen Fox for Blidworth or Sue Daunt and we will be able to give you the bank details you need. The Churchwardens would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continuing financial support in these difficult times. Hopefully it will not be too long before we can once again open our churches for Worship and meet up again with our church family, observing social distancing, of course.!!!! Until then take care, be safe and look after yourselves Yours In Christ. Sue and Kath, Churchwardens The following prayer on the coronavirus is found on the Church of England website at: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus- covid-19-liturgy-and-prayer-resources By Barbara Glasson, President of the Methodist Conference. Time of distress Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy in this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. From Parish Pump May 2020 LOOK WHAT HAS MADE US SMILE THIS WEEK. Alleluia, Praise the Lord.

Karron has had a new photo of her grandson Guess who is telling jokes?

Seth. ‘Which insect is terrific at sums?’

VE Day on Pine Close

Joan, 2 hours out of hospital, and

partying!

Stephen. Thanks

ant! account An

VE day on Lake Farm Do keep in touch with each other by phone, email and text while we are not able to get together. Keep up to date via our Facebook page, ‘The United Benefice of Blidworth and Rainworth’, and via the website on http:// www.achurchnearyou.com/ church/17726/benefice and on our Church Chat Group Andy Riley has started a WhatsApp Group, for those who are able to get it on their mobile phones. It is a great way of keeping in touch. If you want to join this, contact Andy on 07716934343, and he will either put you on or send you a link. Contact The Social Action Hub If anyone is Programme Manager Lisa Wilson shopping Social Action Hub, Rainworth Youth & and wants to Community Centre, donate to the Kirklington Road, Rainworth, , Food Bank, NG21 0JR this is what Office : 01623 490498 they need at the moment:- tinned Mobile: 07816 915262 tomatoes, tinned potatoes, tinned Web: www.socialactionhub.com [email protected] spaghetti, tinned cold meat, and to book a time to deliver donations or if you shampoo. need any help for yourself or others. They Monetary donations can be made can deliver food parcels for those who are in directly to need. They are operating a strict delivery Foodbank timetable to ensure appropriate distancing. NatWest Thank you and please take good care of A/C No. 58156747 yourselves and those around you. Sort code 60-14-03

Our website can be accessed via FaceBook http://www.achurchnearyou.com/ The United Benefice of Blidworth and Rainworth church/17726/benefice If you would like anything included Contact telephone number: on this notice sheet, Please use this number to please contact : contact the church for Maureen Garner 07401087007 01623 793232 enquiries or information email: 07561 190983 [email protected]