Dear Friends,

Candlemas, or the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, which is celebrated on the second of February is a wonderful, bittersweet, festival. It recalls the revelation of the child Jesus in the Temple and his greeting by old Simeon and Anna. Candlemas is a kind of pivot in the Christian year. It marks the real end of the Christmas season and turns our thoughts towards Lent. Simeon’s words when he saw the infant Jesus and recognised in him the promised Messiah are what we now know as the Nunc Dimittis. In this ‘song’ Simeon talks of the rising and falling of many and the sword that will pierce, it is a real look forward to the events of the passion and to Easter.

This year, Candlemas and Lent are only a week apart. Ash Wednesday is on 9^th February and we shall have our usual evening Eucharist with ashing at 8.00pm. We also need to think how we can keep Lent well, to prepare ourselves for the great Easter Festival. Perhaps you will want to give up some luxury that you enjoy; if you do, what about giving the cash that you save to your favourite charity? Would you like to read a Lent book? – I will try to make some available at the back of church. There will be our usual Bible Studies with the community and congregation of the Abbey, details also at the back of church, if you haven’t tried it yet do come. Could we work together to make the start of our worship more contemplative? Perhaps by arriving two or three minutes earlier for a time of quiet before the service starts – and perhaps those of us who have business to discuss, or just want to catch up with the chat could wait until after the service, so we all have time before the service for quiet prayer.

Whatever you decide, I wish you a good and holy Lent

Yours in Christ

Jo

Grace to keep Lent well

The people and the government of Iraq

The village walk, and those who care for the land where we walk

There will again be a joint Lent Bible Study shared with our friends at Turvey Abbey. We shall meet on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday afternoons. Details are at the back of church and in the Abbey or telephone 881312.

There will be a Eucharist with ashing at 8.00pm on Ash Wednesday, 9^th February in church.

23 January 2005

Dear Dom Gregory, Mother Prioress and Jo

There will be lots of people to be thanked individually (in time!) for all they did for Martin’s funeral on Friday, but this is just a general thanks addressed to all of you, and to the communities of the Abbey and of All Saints. I am deeply grateful for all the help and support I have received from all of you and from both communities in so many ways.

I think the funeral was a truly ecumenical celebration, fitting for the Week of Prayer, and what pleased me most, and would delight Martin, was the spontaneous co-operation of the communities working together to honour Martin and to offer pastoral care to me and the family. Martin has been so pleased by the growing and deepening relationship between All Saints and the Abbey, particularly since the coming of Jo, and this celebration has been magnificent evidence of it. People will not easily forget the sight of the All Saints choir and the sisters and brothers all mixed up together!

And no less the splendid refreshments offered to all who came – I was immensely relieved that this was all taken off my hands in such a kindly and efficient way, and again, with such co-operation between All Saints and the Abbey.

So thank you to everyone, and above all to God who brings us together and holds us together as we grow in our longing for that unity for which Christ prayed.

Yours very sincerely

Ruth.

The next Coffee Morning in aid of church funds will be at 10:15 am on Saturday 12^th February at Holmwood House, Turvey, hosted by Richard and Judith Bray. There will be a raffle and bring-and-buy stall for which contributions especially of cakes would be greatly appreciated. Please do come and support us.

Last month's coffee morning raised £658 towards the Tsunami Appeal, and this amount was matched by Turvey businessman Colin Bootman. A huge thank you to everyone who helped with and supported the event - a truly great effort!

A meeting will be held on Thursday 17^th February at 2:30 pm in the Manor Room - "Favourite Hymns".