THE SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
View from a Pew
“Here begins the wonderful story of Jesus, The Messiah, the Son of God “.
This is how my Bible introduces Mark’s Gospel, which I find intriguing. Mark is the shortest Gospel but its narrative is described as “Urgent, spare and driven”. It is also said to contain ‘The Messianic Secret’ which suggests that Jesus, while always ready to respond to the needy, almost seems to turn aside attempts to identify him as The Messiah. However, Mark clearly shows us ‘Jesus the man,’ emphasising his human qualities of compassion, pity, anger, hunger etc., through the miracles which are described in great detail. Yet above all Jesus is always identified as a person of ‘authority,’ someone who knew his destiny, truly the long-awaited Messiah.
6 in OT (2021)
Lent, Holy Week, and Easter
As you will doubtless appreciate this coming Lent will again be different to normal. We hope that a Lent Group will still be possible in some form (almost certainly online but perhaps using a means other than zoom for those reluctant to use that platform). We will consider the best way to approach other devotions, such as the Stations of the Cross and let you know shortly.
Inquisitive Children
The first of our online sessions for inquisitive (sounds better than curious!) children will be next Sunday afternoon at 3pm. A link will be posted on the Facebook pages in the coming week.
Conqueror Challenge – The Camino
On Ash Wednesday, with the beginning of Lent, Fr Andrew and Fr Glen will also begin their virtual pilgrimage along the fabled Camino, the road to Santiago De Compostela. They are doing this for a variety of reasons, partly a spiritual discipline for Lent, partly a means of keeping active and healthy in lockdown (and encouraging other to do the same), partly to be seen more out and about in the parish, and partly to raise money. The money raised will primarily go towards supporting the work, mission, and administration of the Team Ministry centrally, but a proportion will also be donated to the local charity Ruff and Ruby which seeks to support young people and especially to raise aspirations. The pilgrimage will require the clergy to cover the equivalent of 480miles or 772km, and it is their hope and aim to “reach” Santiago in time for Pentecost. Ever since the Middle Ages this has been a famous and popular pilgrimage route and has been the inspiration for art, film, and television for a long time, we would dearly love to make the journey physically but for now this will have to do. We very much hope you will support us and sponsor us as we make this journey through Lent and Easter and we shall keep you up to date with our progress in church and online.
Lent Devotions
The full programme of Lent devotions will begin next week and details will be published in next week’s sheet.
Fr Andrew will be available to hear confessions in the half hour preceding each weekday mass throughout Lent and at other times by appointment.
THIS WEEK’S DIARY
SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Lectionary Cycle – Sundays Year B – Weekdays Year I
Monday 15th February Feria (G)
for the members of Deanery Synod
7.00pm – Mass (SW)
Tuesday 16th February Feria (G) commonly called Shrove Tuesday
for a desire to put God above all things
10.00am – Mass (HT)
10.30am – Confessions (HT)
12noon – Confessions (SW)
7.00pm – Confessions (SS)
Wednesday 17th February ASH WEDNESDAY (P)
for the sick and those in need
10.00am – MASS WITH SPRINKLING OF ASHES (HT)
12noon – MASS WITH SPRINKLING OF ASHES (SS)
7.00pm – MASS WITH SPRINKLING OF ASHES (SW)
Thursday 18th February Thursday after Ash Wednesday (P)
for the Shrine at Lourdes
10.00am – Mass (SS)
Friday 19th February Friday after Ash Wednesday (P)
for the NHS
12noon – Mass (HT)
Saturday 20th February Saturday after Ash Wednesday (P)
for the hungry and those who need foodbanks
10.00am – Holy Communion (SW)
Sunday 21st February FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (P)
Our Team, mission and outreach
9.30am – SAID PARISH MASS (SW)
10.30am – SAID PARISH MASS (HT)
11.30am – SAID PARISH MASS (SS)
3.00pm – Inquisitive Children (online)
7.00pm – Compline (Zoom)
Morning and Evening Prayer will be celebrated publicly Monday to Friday as usual at 9.00am and 6.00pm respectively:
Monday (SS – both)
Tuesday (HT – both)
Wednesday (SW – both)
Thursday (Morning Prayer – SS, Evening Prayer – SW)
Friday (Morning Prayer – SW, Evening Prayer – HT)
