The Churches of the Ridgeway Benefice Childrey: Kingston Lisle: Letcombe Regis: Letcombe Bassett: Sparsholt: West Challow FEBRUARY 2021 Revd Leonora Hill Rector of the Ridgeway Benefice [email protected] 01235 760112 Rest Day: Saturday Revd Andrea Colbrook [email protected] Tel: 01367 820553 Rest Day: Friday Study Day: Tuesday Dear Friends, Our theme for Lent is ‘God’s Story Our Story’. The Church of England has produced this little booklet along similar lines to the ‘Comfort and Joy’ one that we made available for Christmas. Thanks to Deanery funding we would also like to gift this ‘Live Lent’ booklet to you. Inside you will find a short Bible passage, a reflection and a prayer for the forty days of Lent. These daily reflections follow weekly themes, each with an accompanying action, drawn from the Archbishop of Canterbury’s choice of Lent Book for 2021, ‘Living His Story’ written by Hannah Steele, which shares the extraordinary love of God in ordinary ways. Our Lent study group will be an opportunity to share our daily reflections from ‘God’s Story Our Story’ and some of us may want to supplement our reading by purchasing Hannah Steele’s book. The Prayer Stations in our churches will also follow the same theme: ‘God’s Story Our Story’ and one or two people will be sharing their stories in our Zoom services. If you would like to receive a copy of ‘God’s Story Our Story’ then please contact the Pastoral Friend for your village. If you live outside the benefice then do get in touch with myself or Andrea. Love and prayers, Leonora PS I recently attended an evening hosted by the Bishop of Oxford and he asked us all a question. What has your faith meant to you during this pandemic? A single word popped into my head: Everything. ******************************************************************************************* Our Pastoral Friends Miranda Marsh (Childrey) 01235 751377 [email protected] Ann Brown (West Challow 01235 762358 [email protected] Debbie Webb (Letcombe Regis 01235 760973 [email protected] Gill Thompson (Letcombe Bassett & 01235 770933 [email protected] Richmond Village) Revd Mary Harwood (Richmond Village) 01235 769257 [email protected] Denise Elliott (Letcombe Regis) 01235 767471 [email protected] Janey Nelson (Kingston Lisle) 01367 820392 [email protected] Helena French (Sparsholt) 01235 751992 [email protected] ******************************************************************************************* This year Candlemas will Drop in Coffee on be celebrated on Sunday Zoom! st 31 January and will have Join us at 11am on special resonance as we Tuesday mornings for give thanks for Gill’s natter and chatter! Meet ministry as our Anna old friends and make Chaplain. The name Anna Chaplain is based on the some new ones!! gospel story of Anna that is Zoom details from always read at Candlemas Andrea! From the Parish Registers FUNERAL Suzanne Penny Doig (nee Noviss) 6th January 2021 Childrey BURIAL OF ASHES Denis John Andrews 9th January 2021 Letcombe Regis ************************************************************************************** Apparently flowers have a secret language. Who knew? Snowdrops, also known as Galanthus, can mean innocence, purity, sympathy and most importantly hope. They are the first flowers to bloom at the end of the winter and many of us look forward to the superb display in Letcombe Regis. Whilst we may still have NHS Rainbows in our windows let’s place pictures, sketches, drawings of Snowdrops alongside or even plant some in our gardens as we hope for a better year. RIDGEWAY BENEFICE MINISTRY TEAM The Ministry Team is a focus group, drawn from our six churches, all of whom have some form of ministry in the benefice. It includes the clergy, others who have authority to preach and lead some services and, the whole team helps to chair our study groups. The team generally meets once a month (currently on Zoom) to pray and discuss the shape of worship and fellowship for the coming church seasons and festivals. Members of the Ministry Team have been behind the many images and initiatives that have helped to encourage, support and delight us during COVID19. I am enormously grateful to them and all who give so much time and energy to support our churches and communities and I know they would appreciate your ongoing prayers as together we continue to make plans for the future. Celebrate Pancake Day 2021 Stamps Update Thanks to those who have Join our online Pancake Party contacted me, or left stamps in Shrove Tuesday envelopes in our Churches. I th have already sent one envelope, 16 February! We’re weighing 1lb or 500 grams off to planning to start around the Royal National Institute for 5.30 and finish by 7pm. the Blind. Some of you have Share your favourite fillings friends in very exotic parts of the And are you brave enough world. Please keep supporting this. The current tag line the to flip your pancake on screen? charity uses is See Differently- something we are all having to Zoom login details and final timings from do. Sue Worth 07951065141 Sue 07951065141 Promises to be a lot of fun! Ridgeway Church Services All Services will be on Zoom until further notice. February 2021 Sunday Lectionary 8:30am 10:00am 7th February The Second Sunday n/a Holy Communion before Lent 14th February The Sunday next Holy Communion Family/Worship Together before Lent 21st February The First Sunday of Lent n/a Holy Communion 28th February The Second Sunday of Holy Communion Family/Worship Together Lent Ash Wednesday Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays th 17 February Morning Prayer: 9:30am /Evening Prayer: 4:30pm 11:00am Holy Communion N.B. Friday Evening Prayer is from on Zoom The Book of Common Prayer. Any prayer requests then please get in touch with Leonora or Andrea. To access all our services on Zoom please sign up for our weekly email bulletin by contacting [email protected] Tel: 01367 820553 Lent 2021 Live Lent: God’s Story Our Story Beginning 8:00pm Wednesday 24th February on Zoom Come and join us for an hour every Wednesday evening during Lent. The daily reflections begin on Ash Wednesday and our first book group will be the following Wednesday evening 24th February. To find out how you can obtain a copy of the booklet please see the Rector’s letter. You may like to complement your reading by purchasing a copy of The Archbishop of Canterbury’s choice of Lent Book 2021, Living His Story: written by Hannah Steele, which shares the extraordinary love of God in ordinary ways. For Zoom details please get in touch with Leonora. Loving God, We pray for all those who are suffering because of the coronavirus, may they know your healing power.When we are afraid for ourselves and our loved ones, give us your strength and courage. When we feel alone and isolated, reassure us The last meeting of the Book Group with a sense of your presence. reading ’A Christian Guide to Give wisdom to those in authority and may our Environmental Issues’ will be on 3rd community work together for the good of all. February at 7.45. Caring for the We give thanks for those who care for others and environment and the impact of climate ask you to bless them in all they do. change are such important issues, we’ll We ask this in the name of Jesus, healer and be wanting to keep in mind all that we’ve physician. learnt and shared. Please do contact us Amen if you have ideas to add to the conversation! .