Prayer for the Year of Mercy
Heavenly Father,
as we celebrate this year of mercy:
open the doors of our hearts and minds
that we may show forth in our lives
the mercy and compassion
that we see in the face of your Son Jesus Christ
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit
one God forever and ever. Amen.
Mercy
Mercy is revealed to be God’s nature throughout the Scriptures and God’s mercy is frequently appealed to in our liturgy. This Lent, then, we have the opportunity to grow in our understanding of His mercy and one way would be to undertake the course prepared by the Diocese for this very purpose. We might also reflect on His mercy and forgiveness of us by making our confession or reviewing our spiritual life. One thankful response would be to review your giving to the Church, which all are asked prayerfully to consider this Lent after the Stewardship Sunday of 7 February. And if mercy is something we have known from God, then surely we will want to make it known to others as we go out beyond the safety of our doors to the doors of others who need to hear that message of God’s love and mercy in the sacrifice and compassion of Jesus Christ.
God mercifully bless our keeping of Lent.
Mark Eminson – Vicar
Lent
10th February Ash Wednesday:
10.00am – Holy Communion with Imposition of Ashes
4.00pm – The Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes
8.00pm – Sung Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes
Opportunities this Lent:
• Attend the devotion Stations of the Cross Wednesdays 7.30pm
• Attend a morning prayer (Monday-Thursday & Saturday 9.20am; Friday 8.30am)
• Attend a midweek eucharist (Tuesdays 7.00pm, Wednesdays 10.00am)
• Try out the Diocesan Year of Mercy course “Opening Doors” on a Monday morning, Tuesday afternoon, Tuesday evening or Thursday evening
• Join an ecumenical Lent group
• Read a spiritual book, such as The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book “I Am With You” by Kathryn Greene-McCreight or “Meeting God in Paul” by Rowan Williams
• Make your confession or seek spiritual direction with one of the clergy
• Do the Christian Aid Count your blessings daily challenge
• Consider fasting for a day and money saved can go to a charity
Christian Aid Count Your Blessings 2016
During Lent we would be very pleased if you would consider following the Christian Aid Count your Blessings. Leaflets will be in church from February 14th or you can find out more from http://www.christianaid.org.uk/lent. There will be a children’s version available as well.
Count Your Blessings is a great way of using the discipline of Lent to remind ourselves of just how fortunate we are, and of the very practical ways in which we can share our blessings with those in greatest need. We will be collecting donations for Count your Blessings at the end of Lent.
Other dates this Lent
Friday 4th March 3.00pm – Women’s World Day of Prayer service at St Ninian’s Church, Pagham
Sunday 6th March Mothering Sunday 9.45am – Family Eucharist
Thursday 10th March 12-2pm at the vicarage – Super Soup lunch for Christian Aid
Sunday 13th March 5.00pm – Choral Evensong
Holy Week
Palm Sunday (20th March)
8.00am – Holy Communion
9.45am – Parish Eucharist with blessing of palms, procession &
dramatic reading of the Passion
5.00pm – Taizé
Monday
8.30pm – Compline
Tuesday
12noon – Chrism Eucharist at the Cathedral
7.00pm – Seder (Passover) meal concluding with the Eucharist
Wednesday
10.00am – Holy Communion
7.30pm – Stations of the Cross
Maundy Thursday
8.00pm – The Eucharist with foot-washing, followed by the Watch
of the Passion overnight
Good Friday
10.30am – Ecumenical Walk of Witness
12.00pm – Children’s Way of the Cross
2.30pm – The Liturgy of Good Friday, including veneration of the
cross & dramatic reading of the Passion
Easter Day (27th March)
5.30am – Easter Vigil & Dawn Eucharist, followed by champagne breakfast
8.00am – Holy Communion
9.45am – Family Eucharist
5.00pm – Evening Prayer
Eastertide
Thursday 31st March – Day Pilgrimage to Christchurch Priory
Friday 22nd April – St George’s Eve Social
Thursday 5th May – Ascension Day
Sunday 15th May – Pentecost, followed by Beating the Bounds