KELSALL CHURCHES

TOGETHER “We’re still connected and staying in touch”

7TH March 2021 3RD Sunday of Lent

Please pray for ….

• Martin Tully and Jess Land • Marian and Frank Nicholas • Open Doors; and this week for

Christians in the Middle Belt of Nigeria, where militant Muslim Fulani herdsmen, themselves displaced from further North by the ravages of climate change, kill Christians and take over their farmland.

Today: Live Morning Worship 10.30am Zoom Joining instruction in covering email Wednesday: Celtic Evening Prayer 7.30pm Different Zoom joining instruction in email

Lent Prayer Almighty and everlasting God, You hate nothing that you have made and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting of our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may receive from you, God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; 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.

Readings today Exodus 20:1-7 Psalm 19 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 John 2:13-22

For Children today and this week

Colourful worksheet, Bible readings and quiz https://www.tath.co.uk/sunday-packs

Revd Susan writes: A reminder that next Sunday we celebrate Mothering Sunday and there will be a special Zoom worship service of celebration and thanksgiving at 10.30am. Please do encourage friends and family to join us. March also sees the anniversary of the first lockdown and a National Day of Reflection has been designated for 23rd March to include a national minutes silence at 12 noon to reflect on the past year, as well as the collective loss of life during the pandemic. As Kelsall Churches we will be supporting this day and further details will be available next week of how you can participate. In the meantime, if anyone would like to volunteer to distribute posters around the village noticeboards please contact Andrea Gray, who is coordinating this initiative, by email: agray11@hotmail.co.uk

Prayer for Today 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. Amen

Reflection by Ian Johnson “The Heavens declare the Glory of God” (Psalm 19) There have been three occasion during the last week when I have marvelled at God’s creation. The first was seeing, from the comfort of my armchair, a beautiful sunset over Beeston Castle. The second was one evening, when we were watching television, with the curtains open, and we saw something we thought was a plane. However, as it didn’t seem to be moving, we went to the window to have a better look. What we had seen was a particularly bright star, which was

“twinkling”. On further examination, we could see that the whole night sky seemed to be alive with very many of these extra bright stars. Thirdly, was the following morning, when the frost had turned the landscape a sparkling white. The scene was truly spectacular. “The Law of the Lord is Perfect” Psalm 19) We have lived now for a year with new rules and ever-changing regulations, and sometimes we find these frustrating. Apart from one minor transgression when daughter Lisa and family spent an hour on

our patio on Malen’s big birthday in January, (we both stayed inside the garden room), we have abided by the rules, because, after all, they are for the good of us all. In Tarvin school, one of the rules involved walking perfectly silently, hand in hand, up the High Street to the Public Hall, where we had our lunch. Of course, as an adult, I can see why this rule was in place, but then, I was not convinced that this was at all necessary, and yes, I did receive suitable punishment on more than one occasion! The Ten Commandments, which can be found in Exodus 20, set out God’s Law. If we look at them carefully, by worshipping and honouring God, we can find fulfilment in a relationship with Him, and the majority of the other commandments are about respect and care for other people and their property. What a wonderful world we would have if everyone abided by these. “O Lord, my Rock and Redeemer” In the song “You’re my best friend “, there is a line which says “You’re my bread when I’m hungry, you’re my shelter from stormy wind”. Throughout the pandemic, we have been able to find security in our faith in God, and we can go forward into the future with confidence, knowing that He will meet our every need.

EVENTS IN LENT

DIARY - MARCH 2021 St Philip’s and KMC remain closed for the time being.

Sunday 7th 3rd of Lent

10.30am Morning Worship On-line. Zoom. See email notification for joining reference

Wednesday 10th 7.30pm Lent Evening Prayer Zoom joining details have been emailed (different from Sunday).

Saturday 13th 8.30am

Saturday Prayer meeting Jit.si. Contact Dawn Wisbey

Sunday 14th 4TH of Lent

10.30am Morning Worship Mothering Sunday

On-line. Zoom. See email notification for joining reference

Wednesday 17th 7.30pm 8.00pm

Lent Evening Prayer Open Doors seminar

Zoom joining details have been emailed (different from Sunday). Zoom joining details from Geoff Roberts. Everyone welcome. See notice below.

Saturday 20th 8.30am

Saturday Prayer meeting Jit.si. Contact Dawn Wisbey

Sunday 21st 10.30am Morning Worship On-line. Zoom. See email notification for joining reference

For St Philip’s, please contact churchwarden Jane Pearson before you go in, so that she can monitor entrants

to ensure safe access, and appropriate time spacing. Email: pearsonjane55@gmail.com Tel: 01829 759108

Any dates for inclusion in the diary should be sent to John Diggle or Cathy Rounthwaite

Lent Evening Prayer on Wednesdays 7.30pm Throughout Lent we are holding a short Celtic style Evening Prayer service each Wednesday at 7.30pm on Zoom. It is quiet and contemplative and lasts no longer than 25 minutes. A zoom link is on the email sending this notice – note this is a different link to the Sunday morning service

Sunday Worship on-line Some websites being watched by some of us

• https://mchw.live • https://www.churchofengland.org/more/mediacentre/church-online

Please do tell us of any good services you have found – to share with others. We recommend for weekdays & Sundays: the ‘Dean of Canterbury’s Morning Prayer’ [Google it for the daily YouTube.] Our Methodist churches are closed but you can still worship with us Circuit YouTube https://www.youtube.com/NCMethodist Circuit Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NCMethodists/ Circuit Website https://www.northcheshiremethodists.org.uk/ Methodist Church Website Worship Resources ttps://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/worship/singing-the-faith-plus/seasons-and-themes/worship-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

Lent On-Line Reflections and Environmental Challenge To mark the season of Lent in the Diocese of Chester, 40 individuals from across the diocese, starting with Bishop Keith and finishing on Easter Day with Bishop Mark, have contributed daily reflections with a focus on the environment and creation. Visit www.chester.anglican.org/Lent North Cheshire Methodist circuit – for ideas and opportunities for study guides and courses to follow this Lent. We hope they will resource and deepen your own prayer and reflection as we journey towards Holy Week and Easter. https://www.northcheshiremethodists.org.uk/doc/circuit-lent-D539157.pdf CIRCUIT LENT SERIES: We're using the Methodist Way of Life as a guide, and offering two options via zoom (Wednesdays at 4pm and 8pm) with worship, followed by a reflection leading into simple questions and group led discussion, followed by a short time of prayer. The session (mainly reflection) will also be posted to YouTube after the sessions for people to be able to watch again or catch up if they are unable to make the 4pm and 8pm time slots. Don't worry if you've missed a week you can pop in and join us in any session. Please contact Liz by email at ministersadmin@northcheshiremethodists.org.uk stating which session you would like to join and a Zoom link will be sent to you.

An Evening with Open Doors at 8.00 pm on Wednesday 17/3. There will be an online event with our mission partner, Open Doors,

who support the persecuted church across the world. The meeting will last about an hour and is an opportunity to learn more about the challenges faced by persecuted Christians and the work of Open Doors. If you are interested in joining this please email Geoff Roberts, kroberts18@talktalk.net for details on how to join. Bishop Keith’s Farewell Service. Bishop Keith's final service as Bishop of Birkenhead will be at 3pm on Sunday 7th March. Due to the Coronavirus restrictions, attendance will be online only. Click:- Here's a link to the online service

NOTICES

Ro Cowell writes: Thank you all for your prayers, offers of help and friendship. I am now home with carers calling in 3 times a day, Tesco deliveries organised by my daughter, a crutch to help me hobble around, and a bright yellow plaster on my arm (colour chosen by Lucas!). So am well looked after. With best wishes.

The Parish News will be again available online for the April-May edition. As a result the deadline is extended to Monday 22nd March. Thanks for contributions already received, more are welcome - photos of signs of Spring especially! Kath Roberts kroberts18@talktalk.net .

‘Please keep an eye, or telephone, neighbours during lockdown; and contact any of the below for a chat if you would like one’

Revd Susan: 752639 vicar@kelsallparishchurch.org.uk Ian Johnson: 261421 Revd Karen: 01244 332028 karenmandrews5@gmail.com Janice Aitken: 309281 John Diggle 752608 john.diggle@talk21.com Avis Palmer: 751053 Revd Jo Brown: 741022 jo.brown@methodist.org.uk Ann Barnett: 752576

If you have a family member in the Countess and would like a member of the chaplaincy team to visit them, please let Revd Susan or Revd Karen know and we will pass the details direct to them.