Letter no 50, February 27th 2021
Benefice of Farleigh, Candover and Wield
e-mail: davidchattell172@btinternet.com e-mail:- stevemourant@btinternet.com
01256 389474 01256 381217
Living the life...telling the story....visit us at http://www.farleighcandoverandwield.org.uk
Dear friends,
The daffodils have burst into their yellow splendour in the gardens and churchyards locally, and we are almost in March – spring is arriving, birds are nesting, and the warmer times are soon to be with us.
As each day the sun rises and sets, so does the presence of the Living God surround us if we have ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts open to Him. We suggested last week some simple things to try in Lent - choosing to do something different – pray privately for 15 minutes daily in five minute chunks –to read our Bibles, and to think how to apply some truth we’ve not thought about before, - for instance, how can I feed the hungry, or how can I bless someone in my village?
How are we doing?
The Lent Course has begun on Zoom Wednesdays 7.15 p.m. for 7.30 to about 8.45 p.m.,– you are still welcome to join in – click on the link here to Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88538862923?pwd=YkhtY05jemRtYmZ4M1owZzAwYnNSZz09
Meeting ID: 885 3886 2923 Passcode: 750883
Sunday services are in process of recording: David’s will be on the benefice website later today and Stephen’s can be found here: https://youtu.be/Ou0c1GoS0Ls
Today (Saturday) is our Marriage Preparation Day, which prepares all the couples getting married locally for their lifetime together: please pray for David and Stephen, Bruce and Tricia Williamson from St. Mary’s Eastrop as we teach today.
The current exploring faith course on Tuesday evenings has gone well so far - still room for more! We are also looking for anyone who would like to be interviewed for the online service briefly – 4 minutes – about something God has shown you, helped you with or a word of encouragement for others - email and let us know so we can set it up in time for inclusion in the following week’s service.
Opening for services: we have been allowed to hold services since November, but locally congregations preferred to stay away from early January until viral risks diminished considerably. So Ellisfield is the first church to decide to re-start services from next Sunday 7th March, with an 8.00 a.m. Holy Communion (BCP). Other villages are still considering their restarts, so we will inform you all week by week. 14 March is Mothering Sunday so we want to do something special at Ellisfield. Usual current rules apply – social distancing, masks, and no congregational singing inside, but you can be sung to.
As always, David and Stephen are available on the phone, email, Zoom and in person at a social distance – do get in touch with us.
With our prayers for each of you to be sustained and encouraged as “normality“ is coming soon,
Every blessing,
David and Stephen
Stephen Mourant,
Associate Rector
Benefice of Farleigh, Candover and Wield,
Hampshire
The Rectory, Church Lane, Ellisfield,
RG25 2QR 01256-381217
Living the Life... Telling the story... visit us at
http://www.farleighcandoverandwield.org.uk
Please note my rest day is Friday so e-mails sent Thursday evenings may not be viewed till Saturday.