-
Dear Friends,
Please find attached copy of the June Benefice Magazine -
Hope this finds you well and having been able to enjoy something of this lovely weather.
Take care and hope to see you soon,
Nick
N P Heron
Rector of Wem, Lee Brockhurst and Weston-
01939 232550
-
Dear Friends,
I really hope you have been able to enjoy some of this week's glorious weather, somehow it seems to give most of us a spring in the step even though we have some way to go in our covid response it does tend to bring out the positive in us. May this find you in good spirits and the best health possible.
UPDATE
All our local church and national Church guidance and direction remain as previous weeks so I will not trouble you with these. However, should you wish for a 'refresher' previous emails and details may as always be found at: www.wemcofe.co.uk
Again up to date information may be found at Church of England website and latest updates on guidance are also on our diocesan website. Equally as and when more guidance emerges it will be sent to all.
SUNDAY PUBLIC WORSHIP -
Wem Parish Church: 08:00. -
09:45 -
Weston Parish Church: 09:30. Holy Eucharist (with homily and hymn music)
Lee Parish Church: 11:15 -
Our essential precautions we are now so accustomed to continue, of course, to apply:-
* Always sanitise hands on entry, after touching anything 'communal' and before Communion
* Wear your mask whenever attending worship
* At all times keep to physical distancing -
* As you would expect Communion will remain in 'one kind' and as yet we are not able to sing
* Follow any other guidance of the church wardens or sidespeople
Please continue to leave directly after the service and not 'mingle' in church and outside adhere to governmental guidelines, especially with regard to keeping appropriate distances apart irrespective of being outside 'space' is still a virtue of the day.
I cannot stress too strongly that it is, very clearly, absolutely fine and in order for any not to resume just yet if we feel individually that the time is not quite right and no one should feel under any pressure to do so; hopefully these continued emails will allow you to feel connected, they will continue providing details of on-
THIS SUNDAY: FIRST after TRINITY/ENVIRONMENT SUNDAY
You may follow our Cathedral services for this Sunday by clicking of the above and following the necessary links -
08:00 -
10:30 -
17:30 -
OR
Access the C of E website to find details of this week's service which you can also watch during the week, it is available from 09:00. Do visit the site.
As I wrote last week Corpus Christi is the ancient and revered day in our year to remember with thanksgiving the gift of the Blessed Sacrament, always celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, it is good to see this acknowledged this Sunday:-
09:00 -
THIS SUNDAY on BBC
Radio Four 08:10 -
BBC ONE 10:30 -
13:15 -
Please find attached the readings, 'Live the Word' and Homily for this Sun (courtesy of Redemptorist Publications) with my thanks again to Mike for separating these out from a bulk email. Also find attached our Local Prayer Diary and Diocesan Prayer Diary.
NEXT SUNDAY
Next Sunday, 13 Jun, is The Second after Trinity when once again our services will be at their usual times and place.
Wem Parish Church 08:00 and 09:45
Weston Parish Church 09:30
Lee Parish Church 11:15
BREAD OF LIFE
A series of teaching sessions from the bishops who serve in and are linked to our diocese, these are available, with a precis of the series, from 10:00 on the Tuesday of each week on the Bread Of Life webpage and will remain posted on the website through the summer. Where written texts of the presentations are provided, these will also be available with the talk. This week we can hear from +Sarah our own Area Bishop on the relationship between the Eucharist and Mission and Justice Our zoom study group this week, as always at 19:30 on Tuesday, will be playing catch-
WEM PARISH DAY OF PRAYER 26 JUN 0700 TO 1900
Acts 1:14 ‘They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers’
On our annual prayer day we aim to create a continuous 12 hour chain of prayer. Inspirations will be provided on-
To sign up, please contact Thelma Pugh: 01939 232273 or email at: thelmapugh0@gmail.com
PRAYERS TO USE ON ENVIRONMENT SUNDAY
Environment Sunday is a day for Christians to align themselves with Environment Day, 5th June, the United Nations day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment.
Heavenly Father,
You have taught us, through your servant St Francis,
That all creation is your handiwork.
Grant us your grace that we may
Exercise wise stewardship of this Earth;
Tread lightly upon it;
And cherish its resources;
That our children may enjoy its riches, throughout all generations,
And your name be glorified through all that you have made.
Amen.
God of creation, who loves all he has made and all that has evolved,
open the eyes of your people,
that your love might be reflected in our care for the planet.
Through Jesus Christ, who walked this earth and calls us by name.
Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
With the importance of Environment Sunday in mind:
“Twenty-
From the UN website for Environment Day, a hopeful, positive note, one to align with in thought prayer and our own small (but all together cumulative) intent and actions. For as the Psalmist wrote: 'The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein;' -
REIMAGINE. RECREATE. RESTORE.
This is our moment.
We cannot turn back time. But we can grow trees, green our cities, rewild our gardens, change our diets and clean up rivers and coasts. We are the generation that can make peace with nature.
Let’s get active, not anxious. Let’s be bold, not timid.
Please remember to keep taking care and staying safe -
Nick
N P Heron
Rector of Wem, Lee Brockhurst and Weston-
01939 232550
-
Dear Friends,
With a warm weekend in prospect I hope this finds you able to look forward to some seasonal sun and in the best possible spirits.
UPDATE
For the third week in a row (possibly a record in the many months I have been sending these emails) there is nothing to add to either our national of local Church updates. Clearly matters may change over the next few days and should you wish for a 'refresher' previous emails and details may as always be found at: www.wemcofe.co.uk
Again up to date information may be found at Church of England website and latest updates on guidance are also on our diocesan website. Equally as and when more guidance emerges it will be sent to all.
SUNDAY PUBLIC WORSHIP -
Wem: 08:00 -
09:45 -
Weston: 09:30 -
Lee: 11:15 -
Our essential precautions we are now so accustomed to continue, of course, to apply:-
* Always sanitise hands on entry, after touching anything 'communal' and before Communion
* Wear your mask whenever attending worship
* At all times keep to physical distancing -
* As you would expect Communion will remain in 'one kind' and as yet we are not able to sing
* Follow any other guidance of the church wardens or sidespeople
Please continue to leave directly after the service and not 'mingle' in church and outside adhere to governmental guidelines, especially with regard to keeping appropriate distances apart irrespective of being outside 'space' is still a virtue of the day.
I cannot stress too strongly that it is, very clearly, absolutely fine and in order for any not to resume just yet if we feel individually that the time is not quite right and no one should feel under any pressure to do so; hopefully these continued emails will allow you to feel connected, they will continue providing details of on-
THIS SUNDAY: SECOND after TRINITY
You may follow our Cathedral services for this Sun by clicking of the above and following the necessary links -
08:00 -
10:30 -
17:30 -
OR
Access the C of E website to find details of this week's service which you can also watch during the week, it is available from 09:00. Do visit the site as these services are excellent and well worth watching, last week's was a superb celebration and reflection of Corpus Christi. This week:
09:00 -
Led by Rev Gareth Wardell, the service comes from St Clement and St James Church, and includes a sermon from the Rt Rev Dr Graham Tomlin, Bishop of Kensington.
THIS SUNDAY on BBC
Radio Four: 08:10 -
BBC ONE: 11:30 -
BBC TWO: 13:15 -
Please find attached the readings, 'Live the Word' and Homily for this Sun (courtesy of Redemptorist Publications). Also find attached our Local Prayer Diary and Diocesan Prayer Diary.
NEXT SUNDAY
Next Sunday, 20 Jun, is The Third after Trinity (also World Refugee Day) once again our services will be at their usual times and place.
Wem: 08:00 and 09:45
Weston: 09:30
Lee: 11:15
WEM PARISH DAY OF PRAYER 26 JUN 0700 TO 1900
Acts 1:14 ‘They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers’
On our annual prayer day we aim to create a continuous 12 hour chain of prayer. Inspirations will be provided on-
There are some excellent aids to prayer throughout this day which will be available on-
BREAD OF LIFE
A series of teaching sessions from the bishops who serve in and are linked to our diocese, these are available, with a precis of the series, from 1000 on the Tuesday of each week on the Bread Of Life webpage at www.lichfield.anglican.org/bread-
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Evelyn Underhill was a renowned and influential writer on faith and worship of the last century, since 2000 she has been commemorated by the C of E, and other parts of our communion, on 15 June (the day of her death in 1941). In the week that our Church commemorates her life and work two phrases of hers which may illuminate our coming week: -
'For the want of attention a thousand forms of loveliness elude us every day.'
'Deliberately seek opportunities for kindness, sympathy, and patience.
Having just listened to the R4 news it seems apposite to end on a note of caution, do please keep taking care of yourself and those around you -
Nick
N P Heron
Rector of Wem, Lee Brockhurst and Weston-
01939 232550
-
Dear Friends,
I sometimes wonder where a week goes.....anyway, once again, my absolute best wishes to you and hope that this finds you in both the best health possible and good spirits
UPDATE
We now have updates on covid-
Weddings: The biggest change and the one most if not all will have heard of, namely: the number attending is now dependent on the safe capacity of the church
Face masks remain mandatory for all (except the bride and groom....as if?) and 'people should avoid singing, shouting, raising voices and/or playing music at a volume that makes normal conversation difficult or that may encourage shouting. This is important to mitigate the potential for increased risk of transmission -
Funerals: The limit for these is dependent on the safe capacity of the specific church (this is as it has been so since 17 May)
(Curiously I can find no updates for Baptisms so must assume for now these remain as was at a 30 limit, if not in the main Sun service, even though this doesn't make a lot of sense to me).
For all the above, and all our other services: 'In step 3 groups of 6, or larger groups where everyone present is from the same two households (or linked support bubble), can sit together. Everyone else will need to observe appropriate physical distancing at all times.'
For all services the guidance is that services 'should be kept concise while still consistent with the nature of the occasion,' I can't imagine too many grumbles about that! Shouldn't they always be?
Again up to date information may be found on the Church of England website and latest updates on guidance are also on our diocesan website. Equally as and when more guidance emerges it will be sent to all.
SUNDAY PUBLIC WORSHIP -
Wem: 08:00 -
09:45 -
Weston: 11:00 -
Lee: 11:15 -
Our essential precautions we are now so accustomed to continue, of course, to apply:-
* Always sanitise hands on entry, after touching anything 'communal' and before Communion
* Wear your mask whenever attending worship
* At all times keep to physical distancing -
* As you would expect Communion will remain in 'one kind' and as yet we are not able to sing
* Follow any other guidance of the church wardens or sidespeople
Please continue to leave directly after the service and not 'mingle' in church and when outside adhere to governmental guidelines, especially with regard to keeping appropriate distances apart irrespective of being outside 'space' is still a virtue of the day.
I cannot stress too strongly that it is, very clearly, absolutely fine and in order for any not to resume just yet if we feel individually that the time is not quite right and no one should feel under any pressure to do so; hopefully these continued emails will allow you to feel connected, they will continue providing details of on-
THIS SUNDAY: THIRD after TRINITY
You may follow our Cathedral services for this Sun by clicking of the above and following the necessary links -
08:00 -
10:30 -
17:30 -
OR
Access the C of E website to find details of this week's service which you can also watch during the week, it is available from 09:00. Do visit the site as these services are excellent and well worth watching, this has been especially so for the past few weeks so do consider a catch up -
09:00 -
THIS SUNDAY on BBC
Radio Four: 08:10 -
BBC TWO: 13:15 -
Please find attached the readings, 'Live the Word' and Homily for this Sun (courtesy of Redemptorist Publications). Also find attached our Local Prayer Diary and Diocesan Prayer Diary.
NEXT SUNDAY
Next Sunday, 27 June, is The Fourth after Trinity our services will be:.
Wem: 08:00 and 09:45
Weston: 11:00
Lee: 11:15
WEM PARISH DAY OF PRAYER 26 JUN 0700 TO 1900
Acts 1:14 ‘They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers’
On our annual prayer day we aim to create a continuous 12 hour chain of prayer. Inspirations will be provided on-
Please contact Thelma Pugh to take a place on the rota for prayer, it would be so good and symbolic to keep this continuous chain through the day:
There are some excellent aids to prayer throughout this day which will be available on-
BENEFICE MAGAZINE
Yes it is the time of the month to ask for any inputs for our Benefice Mag'. Articles, reflections, prose, poetry -
BREAD OF LIFE
A series of teaching sessions from the bishops who serve in and are linked to our diocese, these are available, with a both a recording and text of their talk on the Bread Of Life webpage and will remain posted on the website through the summer. This is the basis of a zoom discussion to which all are welcome (just let me know) at 19:30 every Tuesday. This week the discussion group will be looking at our own Area Bishop's gift. It is on 'Mission and Justice' and I strongly encourage you to watch or read +Sarah's words, not only full of so much to reflect on...but also the shortest of the presentations(!).
LEE BROCKHURST STRAWBERRY TEA
Advance notice that the Lee Strawberry Tea originally scheduled for 10 Jul has been moved to Sat 24 Jul due to the change in moving from stage 3. Please see attached notice.
REFUGEE SUNDAY/THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
May I encourage you to visit any of the websites for Refugee Sunday (just google) there you will find a host of thought, prayer and action encouraging facts, information and other materials. The following, with regrets (🦖) for the shaded area is from: refugeesunday.org
There are more displaced people in the world today than at any other point in history. Around the world, millions of people live in squalid poverty and intense vulnerability, forced to flee their homes for unknown lands and uncertain futures. As Christians, we are called to always come alongside and act to aid those who are in need. The great 20th-
Refugee Sunday exists to provide resources for the church to respond to the worldwide refugee crisis. It is an opportunity for Christ’s body to reflect on God’s heart for refugees, and to pray and provide for the millions of struggling refugees and displaced people around the globe. This website serves as a guide for further action and understanding. It is a resource for those who desire to answer Jesus’ call to come beside and help “the least of these.”
“He loves the foreigner, sojourner, stranger, refugee…”
– Deuteronomy 10:18
May we all join in the following wonderful prayer, from our Church resources, on this Sunday:
Almighty and merciful God,
whose Son became a refugee and had no place to call his own;
look with mercy on those who today are fleeing from danger,
homeless and hungry.
Bless those who work to bring them relief;
inspire generosity and compassion in all our hearts;
and guide the nations of the world towards that day when all will rejoice in your Kingdom of justice and of peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Do have the very best week you can and be mindful of how we still need to exercise caution, take care and stay safe. Every good wish,
Nick
N P Heron
Rector of Wem, Lee Brockhurst and Weston-
01939 232550
-
Dear Friends,
I hope this finds you in good spirits and all is as well as possible for you and those closest to you, do please keep taking care as things progress. Underneath, as always, an update/refresher of where we are as a Church re the pandemic alongside some supplementary or alternative devotion and worship. May you find this helpful.
UPDATE
In addition to the changes announced or reiterated last week our latest Church guidance includes the assurance that PCC meetings may now take place (yippee! I can hear you all shouting across the benefice) in person -
For all our services: 'In step 3 groups of 6, or larger groups where everyone present is from the same two households (or linked support bubble), can sit together. Everyone else will need to observe appropriate physical distancing at all times.'
Equally the guidance is that services 'should be kept concise while still consistent with the nature of the occasion,' A principle for all good liturgy in my book! ;-
Again up to date information may be found at Church of England website and latest updates on guidance are also on our diocesan website. Equally as and when more guidance emerges it will be sent to all.
SUNDAY PUBLIC WORSHIP -
Wem Parish Church: 08:00 -
09:45 -
Weston Parish Church: 11:00 Holy Eucharist (with homily and hymn music) Please note the change in time due to clergy availability.
Lee Parish Church: 11:15 -
Our essential precautions we are now so accustomed to continue, of course, to apply:-
* Always sanitise hands on entry, after touching anything 'communal' and before Communion
* Wear your mask whenever attending worship
* At all times keep to physical distancing -
* As you would expect Communion will remain in 'one kind' and as yet we are not able to sing
* Follow any other guidance of the church wardens or sidespeople
Please continue to leave directly after the service and not 'mingle' in church and when outside adhere to governmental guidelines, especially with regard to keeping appropriate distances apart irrespective of being outside 'space' is still a virtue of the day.
I cannot stress too strongly that it is, very clearly, absolutely fine and in order for any not to resume just yet if we feel individually that the time is not quite right and no one should feel under any pressure to do so; hopefully these continued emails will allow you to feel connected, they will continue providing details of on-
THIS SUNDAY: FOURTH after TRINITY
You may follow our Cathedral services for this Sun by clicking of the above and following the necessary links -
08:00 -
17:30 -
OR
Access the C of E website to find details of this week's service which you can also watch during the week, it is available from 0900. This week:
09:00 -
THIS SUNDAY on BBC
Radio Four: 08:10 -
BBC ONE: 13:15 -
Please find attached the readings, 'Live the Word' and Homily for this Sunday (courtesy of Redemptorist Publications). Also find attached our Local Prayer Diary and Diocesan Prayer Diary.
NEXT SUNDAY
Next Sunday, 4th July, is The Fifth after Trinity our services will be:.
Wem: 08:00 and 09:45
Weston: 11:00
Lee: Joint with Weston
WEM PARISH DAY OF PRAYER 26 JUN 0700 TO 1900
On this annual prayer day when it is hoped there will be a continuous 12 hour chain of prayer inspirations can be found on-
St Peter and St Paul Prayer Day 2021 online material here you can download the “St P and P prayer day guide booklet 2021” as a pdf file and access a short audio-
(If you are curious about labyrinths ref to please follow these Youtube links here (about 2½ mins) and here (about 15 mins).
BENEFICE MAGAZINE
Any articles, reflections, prose, poetry -
BREAD OF LIFE
A series of teaching sessions from the bishops who serve in and are linked to our diocese, these are available, with a both a recording and text of their talk on the Bread Of Life webpage and will remain posted on the website through the summer. This is the basis of a zoom discussion to which all are welcome -
SAINT'S DAYS THIS WEEK
It is unusual to have two Festival days to commemorate Apostles in one diary week. This week we celebrate SS Peter and St Paul on Tuesday (29 Jun) and St Thomas on Saturday (3 Jul). the former being of course the Patronal Festival for two of the churches in our benefice. The Wem church bell ringers will celebrate with an hour peal of the bells at 19:30 on Tuesday and the Eucharist will be celebrated for the whole benefice at 09:30 on Tuesday (in Lee) and 09:30 (in Wem) on Saturday. Please find time to join in the collects for the day on each of these major days in our calender.
Collect for the Feast of St Peter & St Paul
Almighty God,
whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul
glorified you in their death and in their life:
grant that your Church,
inspired by their teaching and example,
and made one by your Spirit,
may ever stand firm upon the one foundation,
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Collect for the Feast of St Thomas Apostle
Almighty and eternal God,
who, for the firmer foundation of our faith,
allowed your holy Apostle Thomas
to doubt the resurrection of your Son
till word and sight convinced him:
grant to us who have not seen, that we also may believe
and so confess Christ as our Lord and our God
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
If we think of St Thomas then it is very likely that the word doubt or doubting will soon spring to mind, I've often reflected on Alfred Tennyson's aphorism -
'There lives more faith in honest doubt, believe me, than in half the creeds'
Do have the very best week you can and be mindful of how we still need to exercise caution, take care and stay safe.🌈 Every good wish,
Nick
N P Heron
Rector of Wem, Lee Brockhurst and Weston-
01939 232550