Bexley Team Ministry News for Sunday 16th May 2021

 

Bexley Team News

 

St Barnabas, Joydens Wood

St James, North Cray

St John the Evangelist, Bexley

St Mary the Virgin, Bexley

 

16^th May  2021       Issue 61                                                                The Seventh  Sunday of Easter

 

 

The church buildings will have been thoroughly cleaned. As usual, face-masks MUST be worn (unless medically exempt) hand sanitiser will be used and social distancing of 2 Metres MUST be observed at all times. Do not attend if you or a member of your household is shielding or vulnerable.  The church doors will be open for ventilation, so dress accordingly.

St Mary’s             8.30 am    BCP Holy Communion

 

                          10.00 am    Holy Communion

                           11.15 am   Annual Parochial Church Meeting

St James              9.30 am     Holy Communion

                           3.00 pm      Forest Church    

St Barnabas      10.45 am    Holy Communion          

St John’s            8.00 am      Holy Communion

                          10.00 am     Holy Communion

                         Wednesday 10.00 am Holy Communion          

                         Friday 10.00 am  Livestreamed Holy Communion: www.facebook.com/stjohnsbexley

                       

                                                      Team Zoom Services and Worship material

Saturday  15^th  May  at 5.30 pm                                                                 Saturday Nightwatch Zoom Service

 

Sunday 16^th  May at 10.00 am                                                                        Sunday Zoom Service

A Service of bible readings and prayer. See the final sheet of the BTNews for the songs. Invitations to the above Zoom services are being emailed. If you haven’t received the link, or are having problems, please contact any member of the Team Clergy. Dial in option is available.

 

Sunday 16^th  May                                                                    Bexley Team Children’s Church

Children’s Church is available every week on our YouTube Children's Church Playlist or this week is at  https://youtu.be/umI7KH12mlE  At this week's Children's Church we take a look at the story of Jesus' ascension into heaven. Enjoy!

The Diocese of Rochester are producing material for children during lockdown.

All of the Ministry@Home sheets can be found on the main Diocese website under

 (under 18s) or click here. Diocese of Rochester | Family Worship in the Home (anglican.org)

 

Bible Readings  Acts  1, v15-17, 21-26   1 John 5 v9-13    John 17  v6-19                

The Collect: O God the king of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: we beseech you, leave us not comfortless, but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us  and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and  forever. 

 

The Additional Collect Risen, ascended Lord, as we rejoice at your triumph, fill your church on earth with power and compassion, that all who are estranged by sin may find forgiveness and know your peace, to the glory of God the Father.

 

 

 

Rev’d Matt writes-

P

salm 1. In September of 2017 I turned up for my first day at theological college (the place where they train would be priests and deacons). Although I look back on my time training at Ridley Hall in Cambridge with immense fondness, I’d be lying if I said that those first few months weren’t completely bewildering.

Having not been to university before there was a lot to learn, and much of it had to be picked up 'on the go'. Firstly there was the churchy stuff; learning to wear the fancy vestments and walking in a straight line whilst holding a big candle (Incidentally the first time I wore a cassock I fell over, and, in an unrelated incident also set fire to myself with the big candle, but these are stories for future Bexley Team News reflections!) Also it seemed like people were speaking a different language most of the time, muttering things in Greek and using words I’d never heard before like ‘chasuble’ (that’s the fancy outfit Rev Ren and Rev Edward both wear which makes them look some kind of ministerial superhero) and ‘intincting’ (that’s where you dip the bread into the wine at Holy communion) and ‘antiphonally’ (I’m still not entirely sure what that one means!) 

Then finally there were the academic skills to learn. People didn’t offer lots of advice as you generally had to ask for it, but one piece of advice that did come my way was to always write your essays back to front. Work out what  you want to say in the end and write the introduction last. This is because introductions are really important, and it’s crucial that one doesn’t promise something in an introduction that the subsequent text fails to deliver.

Our psalm today is Psalm 1. The very first of 150 beautiful songs, poems and prayers.  Whoever it was that decided to collect the psalms together like this was a skilled editor. Throughout the entire book of psalms we have moments of joy, of fear, exhilaration and despair. But not, it seems in Psalm 1, for Psalm 1 is an introduction (no pressure there then!) Surely the editor knew that in order to grab the attention of the readers and listeners, this would need to be something special. So what does it say? Well, in a rather understated way, the psalmist writes that those who meditate on the laws of the Lord, in other words that read the Bible carefully, are like trees planted by streams of water. They will produce abundant fruit and prosper in all that they do. 

I make no secret of the fact that I love the Psalms. They nourish my soul. They allow me to express feelings that I find it hard to put into words and, if I'm being very honest with you, they often bring tears to my eyes. They are with me in my ups and downs. And, I really love Psalm 1. Like any good introduction, it ought not to promise something which the subsequent 149 can’t deliver. And for me, it certainly doesn’t. For spending time ‘meditating on the laws of the Lord’ is a way in which we can draw closer to God, seeing life in all its richness,  safe in the knowledge of His love for us and all of His creation. 

Perhaps this week we might spend some time being nourished by the scriptures. See for yourself whether Psalm 1 fails in its big introduction.  Who knows, maybe Psalm 2 might be a good place to go next....

Rev Matt

 

Forest Church Come and join us this Sunday (16th) at 3.00 pm down at St James's Church, North Cray for Forest Church. This month we're going to be thinking about God's amazing creation in space! We've got a planet treasure hunt, seed planting and a space parachute design challenge. Everyone is very welcome to come along. Children - make sure you bring a grown up. See you there. Rev Matt

Rosie.  Rosie’s funeral service is at 1.00 pm on Tuesday 25^th May at Woking Crematorium.  If you wish to attend or join the webcast please contact Revd Edward or Revd Clive for further details. The family have asked that any donations in Rosie’s memory be made to the Parkinson’s Society. Rosie Fyfe RIP

Pilgrimage: Clive will be leading a holiday to Austria and Oberammergau including the Passion Play 22-29 June 2022. If you would like a hard or e-copy of the holiday/pilgrimage brochure please let Clive know.

 

FINANCIAL GIVING TO THE TEAM CHURCHES

For St Barnabas Any contributions can be dropped off at the Treasurer’s house or at the Vicarage. Or you can give by BACS transfer. In all cases, if you are a taxpayer please “Gift Aid” your giving.  If you have any questions regarding this please contact, David Peters on 01322 529796 or by email  davidpeters45@hotmail.co.uk

 

For St James, North Cray              Contributions can be dropped off at 91 The Grove, or made by BACS transfer, contact Suzy Higgs on 07799072548.

Please make cheques payable to St James, North Cray PCC.

 

For St John's      You can give to the continuing upkeep and ministry of St John's via our Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/stjohntheevangelist-bexley

 

For St Mary’s     If you ordinarily make your financial contributions in church but, in the present circumstances, wish to contribute by cheque then please make your cheque payable to St Mary’s Bexley PCC and send it c/o C. Lee 11 Holmesdale Road, Bexleyheath, DA7 4TJ. Your continued support is very much appreciated.

 

Each week the musicians at St James North Cray offer links to a selection of songs and music for us to enjoy. These can be found on our website www.stjamesnorthcray.org.uk/welcome/music/

 

St John’s Sermons are posted each Sunday at fatheredwardbarlow.wordpress.com Social Media - engage with us via Facebook (/stjohnsbexley), Twitter (@stjohnsbexley) and Instagram (@stjohnsbexley)

 

THE BEXLEY TEAM CLERGY

Team Rector: Rev’d Ren Harding              renharding@hotmail.co.uk                          01322 528923     07836644782

Associate Priest: Rev’d Sue Twynam      susantwynam@btconnect.com                 01322 559501     07952 468127

Team Vicar: Rev’d Edward Barlow            fr.edwardbarlow@gmail.com                     01322 521786    

Team Vicar: Rev’d Clive Wood                 revclivewood@gmail.com                            01322 270942     07982 392809

Team Curate: Rev’d Matt Hodder            matthodder10@gmail.com                                                          07889873125

 

                       Songs for Zoom Worship – Sunday at 10.00 am.

 

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible, hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might,
thy justice like mountains high soaring above
thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all, life thou givest, to both great and small.
In all life thou livest, the true life of all.
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
and wither and perish, but naught changeth thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight.
All laud we would render; O help us to see
‘tis only the splendour of light hideth thee.