THE FRIDAY EMAIL Friday 12th February 2021 The Friday Thought from our Lay Reader, Di Kitson A few days ago, I walked down to my greenhouse with the sun shining, marvelling how mild it was and thinking that perhaps spring is just around the corner. Then came the torrential rain and a real drop in the temperature, reminding me that our weather is always very changeable. Now I’m looking out on snow covering the back garden. What a change in a very short time! It reminds me of some words from the Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” That’s certainly true right now. The restrictions caused by the Covid-19 virus continue to be a real challenge to us all. The advent of mass vaccinations across the country may at last bring a sign of light at the end of the tunnel. But we won’t be out of that tunnel any time soon - this week’s debates about booking summer holidays has made that clear. Of course, it’s been a very difficult time for many people. The psychological effects of lockdown, social distancing and the cancellation of celebrations and public activities - even though necessary and hopefully limited in duration - have been very hard to live with. Isolation, loneliness, and depression have taken a toll. Our readings this Sunday (see below) are based on the terrible disease of leprosy - a condition which also continues, in certain parts of our world, to result in isolation, loneliness, and depression - not for just a few months though but often for a lifetime, with sheer poverty an additional result. 1 Over the centuries, many have laboured to bring compassion and emotional support to sufferers, just as Jesus does in this Sunday’s gospel passage, as he stretches out his hand and touches the leper. As I read the passage, it struck me - possibly because we’re living in a time of social- distancing and the prevention of touch - just how long it must have been since someone had touched that leper. Our gentle touch is one of the ways we show another person that we care about them - that we’re concerned about them - that they’re important to us. I wonder how many people living alone during this pandemic are also longing to feel the kind, compassionate touch of a friend or relative. The pain and isolation of those with leprosy must be overwhelming. The pain and isolation of so many individuals in lockdown must be overwhelming too. Be it a welcomed hug or a gentle hand on the shoulder, we can only hope and pray that we can share God’s tactile love again sooner rather that later. Keep warm, safe and well, Di Sunday’s readings The book of Leviticus, chapter 13, verses 1-2 and 45-46: The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a leprous disease on the skin of his body, he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests. The person who has the leprous disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head be dishevelled; and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp. St Mark’s Gospel, chapter 1, verses 40-45: A leper came to [Jesus] begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter. 2 The Collect for the Sunday before Lent Almighty Father, whose Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death upon the cross: give us grace to perceive his glory, that we may be strengthened to suffer with him and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Details of Sunday’s 9.30am service, streamed on our website and Facebook President & Preacher: Fr Simon (Vicar) Reader: Charlotte Vivian Intercessor: Huw Lewis Mass setting: Mass of St Thomas (music: David Thorne) Organ voluntary: Allegretto from Sonata No.4 (music: Felix Mendelssohn) Processional hymn: Love divine, all loves excelling (music: John Stainer) Gradual hymn: Beauty for brokenness (music: Graham Kendrick) Offertory hymn: How sweet the name of Jesus sounds (tune: St Peter) Communion motet: Love one another with a pure heart fervently (music: S.S. Wesley) Recessional hymn: To God be the glory (music: William Doane) Organ voluntary: Sinfonia from Cantata No.29 ‘Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir’ (‘We thank you, God, we thank you’) - BWV 615 (music: JS Bach) Intercessions for this week For the world-wide Church Bishop Alan, Bishop of St Albans Bishop Michael, Suffragan Bishop of Hertford The Venerable Janet Mackenzie, Archdeacon of Hertford Dean Jeffrey John as he moves to Paris Archbishop Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer: for the Anglican Church of Canada In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: for the parish of Christ Church, Little Heath in the Deanery of Barnet In the Deanery Cycle of Prayer: for the parish of All Saints’, Hockerill in Bishops’ Stortford For the congregation and community of Great St Mary’s 3 For the world For those who have died or are suffering in body, mind or spirit For those who are working to relieve suffering. For key-workers, scientists and leaders, and particularly for the NHS, and all medical and care workers For just and peaceful governance throughout the world, particularly at this time in Russia and Myanmar For those worried about their livelihood For those who are being persecuted for their faith For those who have been abused in body, mind or spirit For those struggling with addiction For those who are homeless For the community of Sawbridgeworth For those at our Central Surgery, for the staff and patients of the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow and the Rivers Hospital, and for our local care homes For local businesses and commerce in these uncertain times For the teachers and staff of our local schools including Spellbrook, as they work remotely with their pupils online For parents and carers called upon to balance work and home lives as their children work remotely from home For those feeling isolated and lonely; particularly those living alone For the people of Sunday: Cutforth Road & Barnard Road Monday: The Meadows, Waterside Place & Priors Court Tuesday: Vantorts Road & Alders Walk Wednesday: Greenstead & Vantorts Close Thursday: Hoestock Road & Wimbourne Close Friday: Riverfield Lane, Millfields & April Place Saturday: Atherton End & Stoneleigh For the sick and bereaved including Selina Allen, Linda Bowler, Una Bard, Pam Brown, Frieda Elfick, Pete Emery, Rosemary Jones, Kathy Taylor, Peter White, June Willis, and for those from our parish community mourning the loss of a dear relative or friend For the recently departed Robin Chalcraft Kathleen Hammond Nancy Kemp Peter Mason Daphne Puncher 4 Notices Suspension of public worship and private prayer at GSM For the time being, we continue to be closed for public worship and private prayer at Great St Mary’s but continue to review that decision. In the meantime, Revd Debbie and Fr Simon will continue to preside at a 9.30am Sunday mass each week which may be watched either live from about 9.20am via the church Facebook page or website (www.sawbridgeworthchurch.org.uk) or later, on those two platforms and on our YouTube channel, at a time of your choosing. Zoom Coffee and Chat - Sundays at 10.45am With a drink or more in your hand, do feel free to join the online gathering after our Sunday morning service. The simplest way is to go to the website (www.sawbridgeworthchurch.org.uk) and click on the Zoom Coffee and Chat picture. Alternatively, you could put the recurring link into your computer’s address bar any time from 10.45am: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73298626887?pwd=czNnaVhyejBkQlMvM1lHS0RsOTR5dz09. Lastly, you can go to the Zoom website (https://zoom.us/join) and use meeting ID 732 9862 6887 with passcode NF9T4R. Whichever way you arrive at the digital door, you’ll be let in as soon as possible, where you’ll find a bit of fun, fellowship and banter. See you there! Online Eucharist for Ash Wednesday - 17th February - 8pm - website and Facebook This coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. It marks the first day of the 40 days of Lent - a six-week period - excluding Sundays - which Christians dedicate to prayer, fasting, and reflection in preparation for the great festival of Easter. The late Dutch priest and popular theologian Henri Nouwen described Lent as a time to re-focus and to re-enter a place of truth.