Bexley Team Ministry News for Sunday 7th March 2021

Bexley Team News

St Barnabas, Joydens Wood

St James, North Cray

St John the Evangelist, Bexley

St Mary the Virgin, Bexley

 

7^th March 2021 Issue51                                                                          The Third Sunday of Lent

 

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 (also considering 21^st March).

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

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

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

 

Team Zoom Services and Worship material

 

Saturday 6^th March at 5.30pm                                                         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 7^th March at 10.00 am                                                                                         Sunday Zoom Service

A Service of bible reading 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 7^th March                                                                                                 Bexley Team Children’s Church

Throughout Lent we're going to be thinking a bit about some of the differentparts of God's character. This week will we be exploring rules and fairness. We will be asking is God fair?Do rules help us or not? Here is the link to this week’s Children’s Church   https://youtu.be/6vWLWP0JIG4

The Diocese ofRochester are producingmaterial for children during lockdown.

 All of the Ministry@Homesheetscan 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      Exodus 20, 1-17  1 Corinthians 1, 18-25   John 2, 13-22

 

The Collect: Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; 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: Eternal God, give us insight to discern your will for us, to give up what harms us, and to seek the perfection we are promised in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rev’d Matt writes-

 

‘Paul tries to convey the notion that the message of Christ crucified on the cross... is utterly foolish to those seeking wisdom and reason.’

In September 1960, history was made when John F Kennedy and Richard Nixon took part in the first live political debate to be shown on television. Debates had happened before of course, as candidates would tour the country and give speeches and addresses in order to win vital votes in crucial states. But this was different. Over 70 million people tuned in to watch the two Presidential candidates duel over the economy, foreign policy and public spending. Nixon, the early favourite, had injured his knee in the lead up to the debate and despite being in great pain, he refused to cancel. As he took to the stage he look tired, sweaty, jaded and worn out. His younger, fresher looking opponent however looked fit for the fight. Kennedy had his own make-up team and used his fresh face and calm manner to his advantage. The following day the polls suggested that Kennedy was now the front runner, and although Nixon performed well in the subsequent TV debates it was not enough. The damage to his campaign was done. On the 20^th January 1961, ‘JFK’ was elected as the 35^th President of the United States.

Something about the way that Kennedy looked, sounded and presented himself connected with the voters that year. Whilst it would take someone more familiar with the nuances of American politics to argue whether he was the ‘better’ candidate, there’s no doubting that his charm and good looks played a part. Being impressed by the looks of a presentation of a speaker is nothing new. Corinth was a city famed for its love of sophisticated speakers and dashing debaters. In Corinth, it wasn’t so much about what you said, but the way you said it. Being an eloquent orator was vital and Paul makes it very clear that he was neither sophisticated or dashing. In 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Paul tries to convey the notion that the message of Christ crucified on the cross, the message that he brings to the people of Corinth, is utterly foolish to those who are seeking wisdom and reason. Let’s face it, if you were going to start a religion, you’d hardly kill off the main character before the thing really got going, would you?

To those seeking wisdom and logic the message of the Messiah being killed shamefully on a cross, like a common criminal doesn’t really make sense. But we must understand that God’s wisdom is not our wisdom. To us perhaps it doesn’t make sense, but to the God who says that the last shall be the first, and that we must forgive seventy times seven, the cross makes perfect sense. Paul tells the church in Corinth to be less interested in the way the messenger looks and the see the message behind what they’re saying. The message of the cross, of God’s unending love for each of us and of a gift of grace which we have neither earned nor deserve, is complete foolishness to the wisdom of this world.

Thank God for foolishness, eh! Thank God that we are redeemed and loved by a Saviour whose choice it was togive up His life for ours. Thank God for things that don’t seem to make much sense to us.

 

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-lentWe 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 Line

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

Please can you indicate to a member of the clergy if you intend to engage with this Lent course.

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

 

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 310846St 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.comSocial Media - engage with us via Facebook (/stjohnsbexley), Twitter (@stjohnsbexley) and Instagram (@stjohnsbexley)

St. Mary’s Thanks go to Vicky Poynton for being our DBS Lead Recruiter for some years. Vicky has now stood down from this role. 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     07836644782

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                                          07889873125

 

                    Songs for Zoom Worship – Sunday 7^thMarch at 10.00 am