Red Sky

Dear friends,

I write this as the sky over Checkendon turns from purple to a vibrant orange. The sun is doing his best to lift the mood, peeping over the horizon for a few brief moments at 8am before the rain and drizzle come again. Should we be comforted that there is still light and hope, or wonder what the shepherd’s warning is for today? Something of both, I perceive.

Your churches continue to offer live worship, our schools remain open, and your church councils continue to meet and plan. In this, the light shines. But, also, there are tinges of red; like the country, the church’s “economy” is struggling to find its feet again, but unlike the country we cannot borrow to fill any deficiency. The challenge brings opportunity; a once in a lifetime possibility to reshape what the church is and does. A clean slate. A challenge for the Bishops, perhaps? Yes, but the Bishops will be driven by small decisions made locally in thousands of parish churches, who have proved emphatically throughout the pandemic that it is the local and informal networks which provide the basis for resilience and imaginative faith.

Worship Services for Sunday 16th January.

9.30am Informal Worship at St John’s Stoke Row, led by Revd Angela Linton

11am Family Service at Checkendon Church, led by Revd Kevin Davies. An informal service, with songs and hymns and the music group.

6.30pm-7pm. Together at Home. A short online evening service with Revd Kevin.  Zoom numbers 636 645 195 and passcode 000162. Music, prayers, and a word from Mark’s gospel.

Other service options for elsewhere in the Team can be found on the Langtree Team Ministry Churches website.

You can support Checkendon church and  Stoke Row churches via dedicated and secure online card donation pages. Just click on the link. It is very secure. There is a new option to set your donation to be monthly rather than one off. There is also an option to Gift Aid your donation. Please do this if you can as your church can then reclaim the income tax you have paid on your donation. All your churches have suffered income loss during Covid, and now need your help. Thank you!

Looking Ahead

Do we dare! Of course! There is a Team Service at Stoke John’s Stoke Row on Sunday 30th January at 10.30am. The celebrant will be the Revd Angela Linton, and the preacher will be The Rector. There won’t be any other live services on offer that day, but there will be an evening online option at 6.30pm. Please also note that we’ve relunctantly postponed the planned coffee morning in Checkendon Church on January 15th until the spring.

Thank you all for your support and care for one another. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.

Your Rector, Revd Kevin