The Rector writes…. To me one of the most moving encounters with Jesus recorded in the Gospels is when a number of Greeks, we are told, approached the disciples in northern Galilee with the words “Sir, we would see Jesus?” What lay behind that? Evidently, the fame of Jesus had spread to their community and they travelled to learn more. They had heard that this man and his message were important and mattered to them. Is the question “Sir, we would see Jesus?” one that we would ask, does the question resonate with us today? Well I hope it does and I am sure it does for anyone reading this editorial! But can Jesus be found and is it possible to know more about him? This coming month March sees the beginning of Lent, rather late this year, it has to be said! Easter Sunday this year is not until 24 April…the latest possible day for Easter is 25 April. For those who like to know these things the next Easter Sunday on 24 April is 2095 and for 25 April 2038! Back to “Sir we would see Jesus?” yes we can see Jesus or at least find out more about him and so meet him better in prayer and meditation. How? Well, as I say, Lent approaches us when we remember Our Lord‟s time in the Wilderness, and, as usual, we will be having Lent Groups which provide a marvelous opportunity to find out more about our faith in Jesus. Ash Wednesday is on Wednesday 9 March so on Wednesday afternoons thereafter there will be a Lent Group meeting in the Rectory, using the new York course “Rich Inheritance: Jesus‟ Legacy of Love” and there will be a Lent course in Churchstoke too (details elsewhere in the Churchstoke section) “Sir we would see Jesus? “can also be answered in the new Bishop of Ludlow‟s course “Marking Lent”, copies of which the Rector has. To be a Christian and have a living faith in the Lord Jesus is the greatest gift possible and I am immensely grateful to my parents, my home village church in south Herefordshire, and all the other influences that made my faith possible ….”Nothing, St Paul, said can take us away from the love of God in Christ Jesus!” Whatever happens in this life God‟s love in Jesus is always there to pull us through! Please be encouraged this Lent to be with those Greeks asking the disciples “Sir we would see Jesus? Let‟s know more about our faith and so increase our confidence to share God‟s love for us all with those around us! SUNDAY SERVICES SUNDAY 6 MARCH QUINQUAGESIMA NEXT BEFORE LENT Transfiguration Sunday 8.00 Holy Communion Lydham 9.15 Holy Communion Hyssington 10.00 Family Worship “Celebrating St David” Churchstoke 10.30 ALL AGE SERVICE & HC Ratlinghope (Canon Julia Francis) 3.00 Memorial Service for Hilda Eustace & Dedication of a new Carpet Norbury 6.30 “Songs of Praise” Wentnor ASH WEDNESDAY & DAY OF PRAYER 9 MARCH 10.00 Holy Communion Norbury 12 Noon Holy Communion Churchstoke SUNDAY 13 MARCH LENT 1 8.30 Holy Communion Wentnor 9.45 Holy Communion Ratlinghope 10.00 Morning Praise Hyssington (Canon Julia Francis) 11.15 Holy Communion Churchstoke 11.15 Family Communion Norbury (David Jelves) 6.30 Choral Evensong More Singers More SUNDAY 20 MARCH LENT 2 8.30 Holy Communion Ratlinghope 10.30 “Yesterday & Today: Three Parishes Special Exhibition” Service Lydham Preacher: Canon Dick France 11.15 Holy Communion Churchstoke (Preb.Michael Pollit) 6.30 Evening Prayer Norbury SUNDAY 27 MARCH LENT 3 (Clocks go forward one hour 2-3am) 8.30 Holy Communion Norbury 9.45 Morning Prayer Ratlinghope (Lay) 9.45 “Spring Lamb Service” Myndtown 11.15 Methodist Holy Communion Churchstoke (Rev.Ian Waugh) 11.15 Holy Communion More (Rev. Jo Evans) 1.00 Christening (Ethan George Morris) Hyssington 2.30 United Service Hyssington 6.30 Evening Prayer Wentnor SUNDAY 3 APRIL LENT 4 MOTHERING SUNDAY 8.00 Holy Communion Lydham 10.00 MOTHERING SUNDAY SERVICE Churchstoke 10.30 MOTHERING SUNDAY SERVICE & Family Communion Ratlinghope Licensing of Canon Julia Francis as Reader Celebrant & Preacher: Bishop of Hereford 6.30 “Spring Lamb Service” & Evening Prayer Wentnor Wednesday Morning Prayer 8.30am All are welcome to this short weekly act of worship from all the parishes. Weds 2 March Churchstoke; Ash Weds 9 March No MP Special services; Weds 16 March More; Weds 23 March Wentnor; Weds 30 March Myndtown; Weds 6 April Snead. AT THE CHURCHES: On Sunday 3 March at 3.00pm a Memorial Service for Hilda Eustace will take place at Norbury Church which will also see the Dedication of new Carpet in her memory. Hilda was a wonderful person who contributed much to the village of Norbury and she continues to be much missed. ASH WEDNESDAY 9 MARCH & DAY OF PRAYER 9 MARCH 10.00 Holy Communion Norbury & 12 Noon at Churchstoke – all churches will be open (Lydham by request) and prayer guidance given in each one. On Sunday 13 March we have a very special occasion when the More Singers will sing a full Choral Evensong at More Church at 6.30pm. Richard Walker will be the organist. The More Singers, based in Church Stretton, take their name from More because one of their leading lights some thirty years ago lived in More. We don‟t often have the chance to experience a fully choral evensong so please support this service and encourage our visitors! Annual Parochial Church Meeting dates (APCM) Very important! All are welcome! Please attend – and we always need new PCC members!! Monday 7 March Ratlinghope APCM 7.30pm Coppice Farm Tuesday 22 March Churchstoke APCM 7.30pm St Nicholas, Churchstoke Friday 25 March Snead APCM 2.30 Snead Mill Friday 1 April Hyssington APCM Cefn Farm 7.30pm Monday 4 April Wentnor APCM The Rectory 7.30pm Wednesday 6 April More APCM 7.30pm The Rectory Thursday 7 April Norbury APCM 7.30pm Lea Farm Friday 8 April Myndtown APCM Handless Farm 7.30pm Thursday 14 April Lydham APCM 7.30pm Upper Broughton Farm The Local Ministry Team runs a Prayer Line which is like the School Snow Line. You phone the first number and we phone several volunteers to pray for any worrying situation you feel you need help with. Prayer request number: contact 0782 7750 665. News of The Local Ministry Team: Members are ; Anita Bright (Wentnor & Myndtown), David Hardham (Ratlinghope), Oliver Goode (Norbury), Trish Macmullan (Snead); Janet Wilcoxon (Lydham & More), David Jelves (Churchstoke), Capt Jon Price, Canon Julia Francis, Margaret Wallsgrove (Hyssington) & Rev Norman Morris. Ann Remfry (Ratlinghope) has retired from the Team but will continue as Convenor. Many thanks Anne for all you have done for the Team and we are glad you are continuing to be active with us! Thanks too to Mary Hardham (Ratlinghope) who has served the Team for five years and has stood down but will continue to be active in the parishes especially in the Ministry of Prayer & Healing. Rev Dr John Daniels is the new Diocesan Local Ministry officer. We always welcome new members, especially at this stage when we are renewing for another four years. “Calling out” is being called for so please look around and if you think someone young or old would be a good potential team member, please put her or his name forward. 'Yesterday & Today: Lydham, More & Snead Celebrating Life in Three Border Villages” This month on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th March we have a special exhibition at Lydham Village Hall - „Yesterday and Today - celebrating Life in three border parishes- Lydham, More and Snead' David and Janet Preshous are kindly putting on this Exhibition in support of the three parishes, especially the Lydham East Window Appeal - Taking place in Lydham Village Hall Saturday 10.00am – 4.00pm & Sunday 11.30am – 4.00pm On Sunday 20 March there will be a special Morning Praise service at Lydham Church at 10.30am, as part of the festivities when the preacher will be Canon Richard France, formerly Rector here, who has strong family connections with these border parishes. Please support this weekend! The Exhibition will be absolutely fascinating and the service will be especially worthwhile if well-supported too! A Youth Alpha course - an exciting development - is being run by run by Captain Jon Price and has just begun, , assisted by the Rector and the Local Ministry team. Many young people have been involved with “Sunday Stars” over the years so we hope that they will join in this Youth Alpha course which may lead onto Confirmation. Young people from all the parishes are invited to join in too! Do talk to the Rector 01588 650244 about this if you wish or know of someone who would like to be involved. Adults who are interested are very welcome to discuss getting confirmed too. WENTNOR FLOWER FESTIVAL JUNE 2012: The next planning meeting will be held on WEDNESDAY MARCH 16 at 2pm in Wentnor Church Good progress has been made in the meetings held to date. Please do continue your support by attending on March 16 if at all possible. If you have not yet had an opportunity to come to the previous 3 meetings, please do come and join us, your support is needed and will be very warmly welcomed. For any further information please call Victoria Cockburn (650454) or Angela Turner (650352) More February Draw: 1 Mr D.E. Lewis 2 Janice Evans 3 More PCC The More PCC is from a subscriber who wants the proceeds to be paid to the PCC.