Author: ChurchesTogetherinCrowthorne

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Lent and Self denial redefined… deep spiritual roots will see us through.

On behalf of all the Churches in Crowthorne, the Vicar of St John the Baptist, Revd Dr Lisa Cornwell observes how Coronavirus has redefined the practice of self denial in the season of Lent and how it is vital that we establish rhythms of prayer/mediation to ensure our spiritual roots go deep.

“The season of Lent has taken an unexpected and unprecedented turn, with self-denial taking on a whole new meaning. Social contact and corporate worship are not on the traditional list of things to give up for Lent but foregoing these things has now become an integral part of our journey to the cross and beyond.

The really difficult thing is that we do not know how far beyond Easter this will go on. At least with normal Lenten disciplines there is an end point in sight.

The unpredictability and accelerated pace of this crisis is hard to adjust to. Coronavirus has not been in our vocabulary that long and now it has overridden our angst over the climate crisis, which of course, we must not forget either.

As we hunker down in all the panic, fear and confusion, we need to ensure our spiritual roots go deep. Many are finding it vital to establish rhythms of prayer/meditation to sustain us and routines in general for that matter.

I was struck by the #LiveLent bible passage for last Tuesday: “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord… They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious”. (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

If you are someone who prays, you may already have a daily prayer routine that works for you but if you would like further ideas we have been uploading some prayer and worship resources onto St John’s church website, so do have a browse.

May we permit God’s strength and peace to permeate our anxieties and nourish our sense of compassion towards others.

Revd Dr Lisa Cornwell, Vicar St John the Baptist, on behalf of the Churches together in Crowthorne.

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Lent 2020 Programme

Lent Courses 2020
Further details from Ken Perrett, ken@theperrets.net

Crowthorne CTC is pleased to provide you with details of our Lent 2020 Programme.

We start with a Taize service together (1st March) and culminates in an ‘Agape’ supper on 6th April. In between there are a wide variety of options:

  • Ecumenical House Groups using “Lenten Reflections”, a Lent course from the Iona Community.
  • St James Church centre will again be hosting their excellent series of ‘Inspired by…’ Lent Lectures on Tuesday evenings
  • Weekly stations of the Cross Service at Holy Ghost

Further details from Ken Perrett, ken@theperrets.net

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Taizé service

Taizé service for the beginning of LENT 6 pm Sunday 1st March 2020, @ St John the Baptist Church, Waterloo Rd, Crowthorne.

The ecumenical community of brothers based at Taizé in France, has become well known for its contemplative style of sung prayer. It is a fitting style of worship as we gather together as ecumenical brothers and sisters.

Singing – There is a lot of this! It is “a singing which goes on and on and continues afterwards in the silence of our hearts.” It reminds us that the worship of heaven has no beginning or end and in which we join. If the printed music doesn’t help you, just pick up the tunes and harmonies by ear and use the words to help you.

Languages – There are often a lot of these too! The worship of Taizé arises out of a truly international community and reminds us that we belong to a world-wide family. For this reason, Latin is also sometimes used as an ancient universal language which is the common heritage of the church in many parts of the world.

Silence – There’s a fair bit of this as well. The simplicity of the worship is intended to lead us to a place of stillness in the presence of God. For this reason, a period of silence is at the heart of all Taizé prayer. During the silence, you may wish to focus on the candles or images before you, on the words of scripture, or to close your eyes. Enjoy the space and the chance to be open to God.

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Week of Prayer – Day 8

Love
Love

Generosity: Receiving and giving

Acts 28:8-10“The father of Publius lay sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and cured him by praying and putting his hands on him. After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. They bestowed many honours on us, and when we were about to sail, they put on board all the provisions we needed”

Prayer

God, giver of life, we thank You for the gift of Your compassionate love which soothes and strengthens us.

We pray that our churches may be always open to receive Your gifts from one another.Grant us a spirit of generosity to all as we journey together in the path of Christian unity.

We ask this in the name of Your Son who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Source: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2020 Resources

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Week of Prayer – Day 7

Acts 28:3-6 “Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, ‘This man must be a murderer; though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.’ He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They were expecting him to swell up or drop dead, but after they had waited a long time and saw that nothing unusual had happened to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.”

Monster!
The headlines tear like shards of glass through ripped reputations and tainted talents, to be heard no more.

Hordes!
Names, stories, lives, compacted into an anonymised mass.
Contempt for care, rejection made righteous.

When will we turn and dare to see the sister in the surge of displaced existence, and the brother in the monster’s shame?

Face

Go and Do (see www.ctbi.org.uk/goanddo)

Global: Find inspiration from stories of inclusion and overcoming prejudice in India.

Local: How are you as churches working with those on the fringes of society? Find out how you could be supported to do more.

Personal: Take steps to tackle prejudice or exclusion in your life and community.

Source: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2020 Resources.

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Week of Prayer – Day 6

Hospitality

Acts 28:1-2,7 “After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us round it …Now in the neighbourhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days”

Well done for sticking with these reflections until Day 6 – you are rewarded with the discovery of the source of the phrase “unusual kindness”!

Fire!

Reflection

I open my door and welcome the newness of  uncertainty.

The presence of possibility resides in the unfamiliar received with outstretched, vulnerable arms.

The gifts brought are for sharing among us, not trading equity.

This stranger and I, we resolve to put warmth in the cold places, compassion in the hard places, hope in the dark places, and peace deep within.

We kindle the fire together and gather for warmth, before the next pilgrim, brings gifts for us all.

Source: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2020 Resources.