Bexley Team Ministry News for Mothering Sunday 2021

 

Bexley Team News   

 

St Barnabas, Joydens Wood            

St James, North Cray

St John the Evangelist, Bexley

   St Mary the Virgin, Bexley

 

14^th March 2021 Issue 52                               The Fourth Sunday of Lent/ Mothering Sunday

 

                                                Team Churches re-opening for worship

The churches of the Bexley Team Ministry are looking at the best way to re-open safely for ‘in-person’ worship. There are obviously many factors to take into consideration, not least the possibility of local covid cases rising again, as schools go back. We are monitoring all the guidance that is available to us. Government guidelines for places of worship are expected to be issued toward the end of March.

Each of the four parish churches is in a different context, and so it is right that we make these decisions in a way that reflects that. We are also committed to providing alternatives to in-person worship for those who do not yet feel comfortable to return to the church buildings. 

Our provisional plans are as follows: -

There will be Team Zoom Services for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday evening, Good Friday at 10am and an Easter Zoom Service at 10am on Easter Sunday.

St Mary’s are hoping to be open for Palm Sunday, Good Friday & Easter Day.

St James North Cray hope to be open for 9.30am Easter Communion on Easter Day.

St Barnabas hope to be open for 10.45am Easter Communion on Easter Day.

St John's, Bexley has yet to confirm plans for reopening. Watch this space for more news.

 

Team Zoom Services and Worship material

 

Saturday 13^th  March at 5.30 pm                                                     Saturday NightWatch Zoom Service

In Jewish understanding, the Sabbath begins as night falls on the Eve of the Sabbath, and for Christians it is an opportunity to put aside the cares and concerns of the Monday to Saturday week of tasks and activity and to prepare ourselves to keep Sunday as ‘a Day of Holy Rest’.  This short, informal service will include material to help us to reflect on the week that has past and will be suitable for all ages. Do have a candle ready to light.

Sunday 14^th March at 10.00 am                                                                                         Sunday Zoom Service

A Service of bible readings and prayer. See the final sheet of the BTNews for the songs and any liturgy.

Invitations to the above Zoom services are being emailed. If you haven’t received the link, or are having problems, please contact any member of the Team Clergy. Dial in option is available.

Sunday 14^th March                                                                                          

Bexley Team Children’s Church

Throughout Lent we're going to be thinking a bit about some of the different parts of God's character.

Below is the link for Children's Church on Mothering Sunday. https://youtu.be/WQvku-xp43E

The Diocese of Rochester are producing material for children during lockdown.

All of the Ministry@Home sheets can be found on the main Diocese website under

 (under 18s) or click here.  Diocese of Rochester | Family Worship in the Home (anglican.org)

 

Bible Readings specially chosen for today Isaiah 40 v11 ‘He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep’ and Ephesians 3 v14-19

 

The Collect for Mothering Sunday: God of compassion, whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary, shared the life of a home in Nazareth, and on the cross drew the whole human family to himself: strengthen us in our daily living that in joy and in sorrow we may know the power of your presence to bind together and to heal; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

The Additional Collect: God of love, passionate and strong: tender and careful: watch over us and hold us all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Rev’d Clive  writes-

The fallout from the pandemic will no doubt be long and hard. I was saddened to hear of one particular instance of this. At the Spending Review the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, announced a planned cut in the UK’s foreign aid budget from 0.7% of national income to 0.5%. In real money terms this would mean an annual  reduction of some  £4.5 billion in spending on foreign aid. The Chancellor did however say that the aid level would return to 0.7% ‘when the fiscal situation allows’.  There has been some backlash against this planned reduction, with David Cameron involved. It was he who when PM brought in a legal commitment to 0.7%. No doubt we can point to all sorts of needs on the home front. Nevertheless I believe that the UK should demonstrate a more generous spirit towards the most impoverished. After all we  have the sixth largest economy  in the world together with a history of enrichment through empire. I’m sure that being more generous would benefit the most needy and increase our national standing and influence in the world- don’t let’s be little Britainers! 

To focus on the effects of this cut consider Yemen, a country that is subject to a brutal proxy war where aid/hunger is a weapon. The UK is proposing to cut aid to the Yemen, a desperately  poor, hungry and struggling country, by a massive 50%. This must inevitably mean that there will be more             people suffering from acute malnutrition and its consequences.

There is currently a petition called ‘stop the proposed reduction of foreign aid to Yemen’ to see the petition and sign up to it go to  https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions?q=+yemen&state=open  We know that government is influenced by the flux of public opinion and the more who speak up about aid cuts the more it will listen.  

   

Lent for the Bexley Team

During Lent, for those who value a daily resource, we encourage you to access the Church of England Live Lent material.  You can sign up to this very simply by following this link #LiveLent: God's Story, Our Story - our Lent reflections | The Church of England  or alternatively you can  use this link which takes you to the same place.  https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/lent-holy-week-and-easter/livelent-gods-story-our-story-our-lent We have aimed to provide a paper copy of this for those who do not have access to the internet. WE STILL HAVE A FEW OF THESE – CONTACT REN IF YOU WOULD LIKE ONE.

 

Weekly Lent Course – Women in the Shadows  

Each week covers a different form of exploitation through a short video followed by a guided bible study, reflections and prayers. Please download the course material, watch the video and engage with the material at a time which is convenient to you. We will then all come together on Thursday evenings at 7.30 pm to discuss the issues it raises for us. Zoom login details have been circulated.

How to download the material Go onto -theclewerinitiative.org  Click onto the course – women in the shadows Scroll down until you reach the “download for the complete course” click onto this and save the course onto your device. There is material for 5 weeks which we will cover in the following programme

Week 3 11^th March 7.30pm – Labour Exploitation                      

Week 4. 18^th March 7.30pm – County Lines

Week 5. 25^th March 7.30pm – Beyond Survival

The material and in particular the videos will contain some hard hitting and upsetting material so please contact a member of the clergy if you wish to privately discuss any issues it raises for you.

A prayer for women in the shadows- Holy God, who called Elizabeth and Mary to be bearers of new life, and key partners in the unveiling of your coming kingdom, we pray for women and girls who are receiving false promises and facing degrading exploitation. Inspire your church to discover how best to bring healing, help and hope wherever women and girls are demeaned, so that your call to fulfilment may be heard and your desire for human flourishing may be more fully pursued. Give us insight, wisdom, courage and grace – to be bearers of your new life amidst so much suffering and despair. We make our prayer through Jesus, our Saviour. Amen (from theclewerinitative.org)

 

Gent’s Pub Lunch at the Horse and Zoom.  For an invitation to the next of these 12.15 pm on 7^th April please contact Andrew Melling at amelling700@btinternet.com Some light relief on Budget Day!

Clive will be leading a holiday to Austria and Oberammergau including the Passion Play 22-29 June 2022. If you would like a hard or e-copy of the holiday/pilgrimage brochure please let Clive know.

 

FINANCIAL GIVING TO THE TEAM CHURCHES

It’s never easy or a good time to ask people to reassess their giving, especially with churches currently being closed for worship. However, the bills still need to be paid and the buildings kept in good repair. So, we are asking… If you give by standing order have you increased your giving over the last few years? If you give using the envelope scheme are you handing in your envelopes or, are they still sitting at home? If your giving is usually via the collection bag or open plate have you considered changing to a regular contribution by standing order?

For St. Barnabas Any contributions can be dropped off at the Treasurers house (during your daily walk) or at the Vicarage. Or you can give by BACS transfer. In all cases, if you are a taxpayer please “Gift Aid” your giving.  If you have any questions regarding this please contact, David Peters on 01322 529796 or by email to davidpeters45@hotmail.co.uk

For St. James, North Cray     Contributions can be dropped off at 91 The Grove, or made by BACS transfer, contact Suzy Higgs on 07799072548

For St John's   You can give to the continuing upkeep and ministry of St John's via our Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/stjohntheevangelist-bexley

For St Mary’s  If you ordinarily make your financial contributions in church but, in the present circumstances, wish to contribute by cheque then please make your cheque payable to St Mary’s Bexley PCC and send it c/o C. Lee 11 Holmesdale Road, Bexleyheath, DA7 4TJ. Your continued support is very much appreciated.

 

Prayer Ministry

St Barnabas has a ‘Prayer Chain’. Prayer requests from the congregation and the parish are made to Liz Montague who monitors them and sends out requests on email to a group of ‘Pray-ers’ who have committed to pray regularly for those requesting prayer. The group meet from time to time for mutual support in their work. This scheme has operated for ten years and is a real source of spiritual comfort to many.

Enquiries - Liz Montague on 01322 310846 St James North Cray has just set up a similar scheme. (see below)

 

St James North Cray. David Stevens, after some helpful discussions with Liz at St Barnabas has initiated the Prayer Wheel Scheme, which operates in a similar way to the Prayer Chain. David has also designed some prayer request cards, which will be placed in the church as soon as we are allowed back into the building. Contact David Stevens on 0208 300 0867

 

Each week the musicians at St James North Cray offer links to a selection of songs and music for us to enjoy. These can be found on our website www.stjamesnorthcray.org.uk/welcome/music/

 

St John’s Sermons are posted each Sunday at fatheredwardbarlow.wordpress.com  Social Media - engage with us via Facebook (/stjohnsbexley), Twitter (@stjohnsbexley) and Instagram (@stjohnsbexley)

 

St. Mary’s  200 Club winners March 1st. Mrs E. Kirby,  2nd. Mr N. Pearson, 3rd. R. Kingham
A reminder that several people have not renewed yet. Cheques to 200 Club. Post to Ann Whatson,43 Teal House DA5 1BF.

We are in need of a DBS Lead Recruiter. This isn’t onerous-  If this is something you might like to take up please contact Clive for further information.

 

 

 

 

 

THE BEXLEY TEAM CLERGY

Team Rector: Rev’d Ren Harding              renharding@hotmail.co.uk          01322 528923     07836 644782

Associate Priest: Rev’d Sue Twynam      susantwynam@btconnect.com 01322 559501     07952 468127

Team Vicar: Rev’d Edward Barlow            fr.edwardbarlow@gmail.com     01322 521786    

Team Vicar: Rev’d Clive Wood                 revclivewood@gmail.com            01322 270942     07982 392809

Team Curate: Rev’d Matt Hodder            matthodder10@gmail.com                                          07889 873125

                       

              Songs for Zoom Worship – Sunday 14^th  March  at 10.00 am.