Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ

It is Valentine’s Day! In the midst of all the whiteness of dazzling snow, I hope you are overflowing with love, and able to share it with those around you and your special ones.  There are so many clichés, but it is good to express what you make of this most used word in the world. By the way, it is used 538 times in the New Revised Standard Version, which Bible translation most of us use! 

It gives me new energy to enter a vital season in our church, together. I think we are going to have a full and engaging 40 day journey of togetherness this Lent. Here are some of our initiatives: 

Our Lent booklets ‘LiveLent’ have arrived!  You will be receiving it, hand delivered by Tuesday. We think you will find it challenging and life-giving.  It has daily reflections so you can spend a little time each day in your personal, prayerful reflection

Together with LiveLent, you’ll be receiving two handouts:

1.   Shrove Tuesday, with a recipe for pancakes, so that you can indulge yourself and your family, enjoying the tradition we would have shared together, had we not been in lockdown. Our Zoom meeting continues at 7pm, for a relaxed virtual feast and open discussion. On Shrove Tuesday. If possible and even it’s a once-off, do try to join us. The link is through MoragAnne Elder https://us02web.coom.us/j/856-1019298

2.       A second handout in your pack will be for Ash Wednesday. It has an activity you can do in your own home. For those who can, do join us on for a Zoom service including a Eucharist at 8pm. The link is through Betty Evans, and it is:

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/2091141378?pwd=c0pJbXNqNWJUUDl4SnJUMXVBVVNEdz09

3.   Throughout Lent, the two Zoom groups will share a new weekly reflection and video in their usual Tuesday and Wednesday slots.  We will send you the link so that you can watch it on your own if you need to.

4.   On Wednesday, our Zoom group got to Chapter 15 of Mark’s Gospel.  We would like to finish reading it by Lent, so we will meet earlier on Tuesday, to read Chapters 15 and 16. We will be receiving a new link for this extra meeting.  If you’d like to come in with us, let us know.

Sunday services in Lent will be pre-recorded and online, from our own community. You will be receiving a link each week to watch the service. It will be comprised of contributions from the churches in Tayport and ourselves in Tayport and Newport. It will be a wonderful gathering of our communities.

World day of prayer is on Friday 5^th March, and we will give you more details closer to the time.

READINGS FOR SUNDAY ARE:

2 Kings 5: 1-14; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27; Mark 1: 40-45

Two men with incurable ailments are cured.  Naaman finds it difficult to simply be obedient and accepting the power of God, being used to receiving the best of attention and indulgence in life.  He learned to trust and obey, as the old chorus says, ‘Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.’ Are we capable of this simplicity in asking Jesus to cure us of our habit or dis-ease? The gospel reading takes us to a fascinating encounter.  Having asked to be cured, the blind man say that if Jesus is willing, he can be cured, as if the power, rightly, rests with Jesus.  Jesus assures him of his willingness, and cleanses him…  Then, friends, should we not be assured that Christ wants us to be aware of what needs healing, name it to him, and be assured that he wants to return us to perfect form and mind.  Let us do just that this Lent: bring our needs to the waiting and expectant Jesus, change our habits and live through 40 days in a new, refreshed and healthy way.

God bless you richly

Kathy Barrable

07552 503859