Food Bank February.

Dear friends,

February is upon us! Things can only get lighter from now on, although I am sure that both the winter weather and Covid will continue to darken things occasionally. Keep snug, and go cautiously; neither can last much longer. Certainly the Rectory Rhubarb has made its mind up about the winter side of things. More ominously on the horizon are the squeezes on living standards now pulling into the station, seemingly at every platform. With that in mind, please don’t forget the Food Bank collection points at all our churches. Jam, and potted meat, and soap, are particularly welcome. With fuel bills doubling in the space of a few months, some families now face the terrible choice of being warm or going hungry. Our local food bank is best placed to make sure that the right help goes to those who really need it.

Worship Services for Sunday 6th February

9.30am Informal Worship at St John’s Stoke Row with Revd Kevin Davies

11am Said service of Morning Prayer at Checkendon Church with Mr Peter Ferguson. A traditional prayer book said service, with a sermon, and coffee afterwards.

6.30pm-7pm. Church 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. Checkendon Church in particular now needs your urgent help. Thank you!

Prayer Requests.

Nothing prayed goes unheard. Please do spend some time this week praying for the healing of those you know who are either in hospital, or receiving treatment of any kind. Put a yellow ribbon for Charlotte Snowdon on the prayer tree in Checkendon Church. Please also remember those in Care Homes, now at last permitted regular visits again after the hiatus. Thank God for teachers, and all those who have given so much to keep schools open. The pandemic has left us with a veritable mountain of prayer; as with all mountain climbs, this begins with a single step. Wait patiently for the Lord; turn to Him, for He will hear your cry. (cf Psalm 40:1)

Your Rector, Kevin Davies