Weekly email w/b 22nd March 2021

March 22, 2021

Anniversaries resonate with us, and so a year of lockdown has inevitably provided an abundance of material reflecting on the last 365 days. I’ve particularly appreciated Laura Kuenssberg’s podcast, ‘Covid Confidential’, with people at the heart of government identifying and describing the defining moments of the crisis. It’s a fascinating listen.

I wonder what your defining events of the last 52 weeks would be? Making sourdough? Mastering facetime or zoom? The first online church service? Loneliness? Cancelled plans? For many of us there are some achingly sad moments as we remember the loss of someone we love and the challenge and heartache of grief at this time.

As Christians, we are preparing to remember the defining events of a week that took place 2,000 years ago. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is THE defining moment in all of history and eternity. It’s a truth that remains unchanged in whatever circumstances we as Christians have found ourselves over two millennia. The events of Holy Week give us a lens through we both reflect and look forward. Easter tells us that death is defeated and love has won because of Jesus. We can’t wait to celebrate this amazing truth together.

Fi Iddon
Associate Vicar of Trinity Churches

Today (Tuesday) is a national day of reflection, when we’re invited to remember and reflect back something of our journey this last twelve months since the announcement of the first lockdown. There will be a minute’s silence at midday, and then the church bells will be rung. Six o’clock live too will have a time to join in….

Talking about reflection, we’re putting finishing touches to the new Easter prayers booklet, which has four pages of really helpful and practical ways of looking back over the last year with thanksgiving / lament / learning / praying. We hope that will be a gift to you and many from the local community, and we as a staff team would be very happy to be a ‘listening ear’ for those who’d rather do that with other people.

Join us for six o’clock live

We’re really looking forward to Easter Day, and a number of different opportunities to be gathering outdoors and in across the parish.

To help with our planning – and operate really well within COVID guidelines – we are asking people to let us know that they are coming. Our Easter 2021 ‘site’ will go live at 10am on Wednesday 24th March, and you will receive an email at that time with further details. Whilst we’re trying not to use the language of “tickets”, we are asking you to book in as early as you can. Alternatively you can contact the Church Office and let us know you’ll be coming that way. And a reminder that we will also be online at our 9am and 11am gathering at Holy Trinity, so look forward to welcoming people both in person and online.

Thanks so much to those who have already completed our own “Trinity Churches 2021 Census.” Much appreciated. We’re going to keep this open for another fortnight, and whilst there’s no government find if you don’t complete it we know how helpful it is as we enter what feels a new season of recovery. There’s also a question on how you’re doing spiritually, and ways in which we might support you in your life with God.

Take part in Trinity 2021 Census

Saturday 27th March is our final online prayer meet-up. Each week we’ll be reflecting around a particular theme or approach to prayer, including unanswered prayer, being creative in prayer, and finding that “still small place.” This week Caroline Cox will be leading a guided meditation, inviting us to mix our own lives with the prayer of a psalm.

Let us know you’re coming this Saturday to pray

It’s been amazing to see the churchyard so well used in recent months. Did you know that we have an amazing team of people on the lawn-mowing team, and are looking for a few more! You’ll be on the rota every five weeks or so through spring and summer. Takes about two hours, and mow when suits you! Contact the Church Office and we’ll pass your details on.

Contact the Church Office

These are tough days for many people, and lots of us find ourselves in need of help and support. As a local church we pray regularly for the local community we serve, and we would love to pray for you, your family or friends. Do please let us know what we might be praying for you, or make this link available to others as appropriate.

Let us know what we might be praying for you