Newsletter 13th March 2022

Second Sunday of Lent

13^th March 2022

'How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings.’  Luke 13.34.  

Art by Revd Jess, see below for details.

We enter our second week of Lent and the study and prayer groups are now underway. If you are not part of a group we hope you can instead follow the course at home. All the details are listed here: Lent 2022 - Diocese of Chichester (anglican.org)  Lent is the perfect time to take on an extra commitment to deepen the spiritual life.

Ukraine Collection

There will be a collection for the crisis in Ukraine this Sunday. The money will go the Disaster’s Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal

Collect

Almighty God,

by the prayer and discipline of Lent

may we enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings,

and by following in his Way

come to share in his glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Readings

Genesis 15.1-12,17-18, Psalm 27,
Philippians 3.17 - 4.1, Luke 13.31-35

Covid Guidelines – an update

The PCC met this week and agreed to relax some of our covid guidance, given that all restrictions have now been lifted and we have moved from pandemic to endemic, yet mindful that we still need caution.

Face coverings – we encourage you to wear a covering during our crowded services, however it is not mandatory.

Sanitiser – this remains available at the door.

Singing – we will reintroduce the offertory hymn at the 10am, sung only by the choir. Otherwise, our congregational singing remains reduced to two hymns, the liturgy, and the choir during communion.

Ventilation – we continue to keep the main door open when the church is crowded.

The Peace – we continue to wave!

Kneeling at the altar for communion – please do this again if you wish.

The Common Cup – this will soon be available by request for any who would like to take the wine. There is no obligation to do so. Please do not intinct (dip) your wafer.

Please remember that our 8am on Sunday and 9.30am on Tuesday are quiet services with lots of space and no singing. We also continue to live- stream the 10am when possible, for those at home. Thank you to everyone for your graciousness in accommodating all the changes we have needed to make during these past two years. Let’s hope for future relaxations if the covid rate continues to fall.

Your Help Needed We urgently need volunteers to help with coffee on Sunday mornings. This is such an important part of our life together and if you feel you could help once a month, it would be much appreciated.

We also need extra help with cleaning the church. If you can spare an hour once a month to dust and vacuum, this would greatly spread the workload. Please contact Revd Jane if you would like to know more.

Quiz Night This raised £488 and the money is being donated to the Disaster’s Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. An amazing result! Thank you to the hardworking team hosting the evening and all who came.

The Way of the Cross An exhibition of pictures showing the stations of the cross is now displayed in church for the season of Lent. The pictures have been created by members of the church community and local people. There is an exhibition guidebook on a table in front of the piano. Thank you to everyone who has contributed, especially Revd Jess.

Flowers for Mothering Sunday If you are able to make a donation for the flowers for Mothering Sunday please see Chris Thompson or leave money in the donation basket at the back of church. Thank you.

Helping Refugees from Ukraine We received this message from Bishop Ruth. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I know that we are united in anguish for the plight of the people of Ukraine, whose country and lives are being devastated by this evil war. The Home Office is working to launch a Humanitarian Sponsorship scheme that will be the main route for Ukrainian refugees to gain entry to the UK. I am writing to you today to ask you to register your churches to be first in line to help, and you can do this through the Sanctuary Foundation, which was launched this weekend. Bishop Martin, Bishop Will and I have registered as individuals, and this is open to churches, business and schools too. It is not​ a scheme to house refugees - that will be the government's responsibility. It is about being willing to be the Community Sponsor for a refugee family; e.g. to meet them at the airport, befriend them, and help them access services and support as they settle in or near your parish. It takes 30 seconds to register, and you can do so here:-www.sanctuaryfoundation.org.uk

Newsletter by email We now have 120 people receiving our weekly news by email, but not everyone opens the PDF and reads it. We decided at the PCC to stop additionally sending the service sheet and readings (which we introduced during lockdown). This gives more prominence to the newsletter attachment and simplifies things. Paper copies are always in the porch. You can sign up for the weekly news by emailing cogsenews@gmail.com

‘Caring for Creation’ is the title of this year’s Lent talks being organised by Churches Together in Shoreham. These will be held on Wed 16th and 23rd March at the Church of the Good Shepherd.  Doors open at 7pm for refreshments with the talks starting at 7.30pm. The meetings are open to all and no signing up is required.

These sessions will help us, both as individuals and churches, make a Christian response to last year’s COP26 conference in Glasgow.

In the first talk, Brother Samuel, Society of Saint Francis, will make the case why we as Christians should care for the environment.  Brother Samuel is co-author of ‘Seeing Differently’ (Canterbury Press 2021) which develops this theme.

In the second, Colin McFarlin, Waste Prevention Adviser for West Sussex Council, will show us how to be better recyclers. He will also touch on the EcoChurch initiative.

After the talks there will be time not only for discussion and but also an opportunity to share what we as churches in Shoreham are already doing in this vitally important area. Come along and find out what we can do together to help safeguard the future of this wonderful planet.

Electoral Roll Revision

We are currently revising our Electoral Roll. If you are not on it but would like to be, please complete an electoral roll form and hand it to either our electoral roll officer Jenny Marshall or Rev Jane by April 10th. 

The forms are available from the church porch or Jenny Marshall - jennymarshall42@gmail.com

This will allow you to vote at the APCM. A full notice is displayed on the church doors in the porch.

Church hall and shed clear out We need to have a good tidy up of our storage in the hall. This is proposed to take place on 20th and 21th April.  Everything from the loft and sheds will be available to view in the church hall during the afternoon on 20th April and morning of 21st April and then anything not claimed or wanted will be put in the skip later. Could anyone wanting to help let Kay Haffenden know so that we can have a working party.  

Email :office@cogschurchwardens.co.uk

Bible Art (See top of newsletter for image)

When my children were small and I had to stand around the school gates in a Norfolk winter, I used to have a very large coat and the children used to stand inside it with me; my friends used to comment that I looked like a mother hen with her brood. That idea stayed with me, and when one of them was in hospital I used to long to get them back under my wings at home.  It was the sense of needing to protect them. In this reading from Luke, Jesus says 'Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!' 

I have tried to express the longing that Jesus was talking about by drawing his hands above the mother hen. I wanted to gather my children who were hurt, or needy under my wings, but Jesus was longing to do the same to those who were spiritually hurting themselves in that they were rejecting him. The mother hen is looking to the right where the chicks are, which should also have been under her wings, but have decided to go their own way. Her desire to gather them in reflects Jesus's desire to do the same for those who reject him.

Revd Jess

And finally…The church looked beautiful lit by many candles for our Taizé for Healing service.

I work half-time and the usual days when I am available are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings. Blessings and prayers for you all this week. Revd Jane

Services this Week

Sunday, 13^th March

8am – Holy Communion with Revd Jane and Sally.

10am – Parish Communion with Revd Jane and Sally.

This service will be live streamed onto our Facebook and You Tube channel.

You Tube page CLICK HERE

Church Facebook page CLICK HERE

Tuesday 15^th March

9.30am - Informal Holy Communion with Revd Jane.

Wednesday 16^th March

6pm – Celtic Evening Prayer on Zoom

CLICK HERE

Meeting ID: 868 1252 3106

Passcode: 960274

Friday 18^th March

8am – Meditation with Morning Prayer at St Mary de Haura and also on Zoom

Meeting ID: 513293120 (No password is needed ) 

Click here LINK  

Saturday 19th March

8am – Morning Meditation at the Good Shepherd and also on Zoom

Meeting ID: 166073397 (no password needed) Click here LINK  

3pm – Messy Church

Evening Prayer This is said at 5.30pm at St Marys and via Zoom on Monday and Wednesday, at 5.30pm. If you want to attend online contact Revd Steve for the link. Email: shorehamcurate@gmail.com

To donate to the Church of the Good Shepherd online CLICK HERE Thank you!

If you are reading this newsletter on a paper copy and would like to receive it each week through email please contact: cogsenews@gmail.com