Bexley Team News
St Barnabas, Joydens Wood
St James, North Cray
St John the Evangelist, Bexley
St Mary the Virgin, Bexley
17th January 2021 Issues 44 The Second Sunday of Epiphany
Team Services and Worship material in Lockdown
Saturday 16 January at 5.30 pm Saturday NightWatch Zoom Service
In Jewish understanding, the Sabbath begins as night falls on the Eve of the Sabbath, and for Christians it is an opportunity to put aside the cares and concerns of the Monday to Saturday week of tasks and activity and to prepare ourselves to keep Sunday as ‘a Day of Holy Rest’. This short, informal service will include material to help us to reflect on the week that has past and will be suitable for all ages.
Sunday 17 January at 10.00 am Sunday Zoom Service
A Service of bible reading and prayer. See the final sheet of the BTNews for the songs.
Invitations to the above Zoom services have been emailed. If you haven’t received the Zoom links please contact any member of the Team Clergy. Dial in option is available. Please contact us if you are having problems and we will do what we can to help you.
Sunday 17 January at 10.00 am Livestreamed Holy Communion
A livestreamed service of Holy Communion from St John's. This will be available to view at 10am on St John's Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/stjohnsbexley It is possible to view the stream without having a Facebook profile. The video will remain accessible after the event.
Sunday 17 January Bexley Team Children’s Church
This week's children's church video can be found here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7gE9auQIYM
This week we take a look at the story of Samuel and Eli. Hope you enjoy it!
A Daily Bible Passage and reflection is sent out to those who request in on email, or via a dedicated WhatsApp Group. Please let Rev Ren know if you wish to be included in this.
Bible Readings 1 Samuel 3, 1-10 Revelation 5, 1-10 John 1, 43-51
The Collect: Almighty God, in Christ you make all things new; transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
The Alternative Collect: Eternal God, our beginning and our end: bring us with the whole creation to your glory, hidden through past ages and made known in Jesus Christ our Lord
Rev’d Clive writes-
It is thought that Bartholomew , one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, was this same Nathanael. (Bartholomew would have been his middle name). We hear again of Nathanael after the resurrection of Jesus where he is listed in the disciples to whom Jesus appeared at the Sea of Galilee (John 21 v2)
Some of my favourite passages in scripture are the calling of the first disciples. When things get complicated it is lovely just to reflect on the simplicity of that call to ‘Follow me’. In the end that is what it is all about- following Jesus. In Matthew and Mark there is no dialogue. Jesus calls and without a word they follow him. Luke is a little more complicated and involves a miraculous catch of fish. But the account in John is quite complex with lots of things going on and lots of dialogue. I suspect I have avoided that and not mined its riches, preferring the simpler accounts.
We can reflect on the different ways in which people are called to follow. We can reflect that Jesus knows us through and through. We can reflect on the importance of encouragement, seeing and speaking about what is good in others.
Deanery Confirmations These will be on Sunday 18 April 2021 at 6.30pm at Holy Redeemer, Lamorbey with Bishop James. Please speak with any of the Team clergy if you are interested in being confirmed.
Bexley Winter Shelter New
The trustees of the Bexley Winter Shelter have successfully applied to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for a grant to run the night shelter. This will fund accommodation in B & B and hotels, employ a part-time case worker and provide food and protective clothing. Please pray- that they can find/locate rough sleepers/ that a satisfactory assessment can be made and places offered/ that guests will understand and put into practice all the important safeguards/ for the case worker in this difficult work https://www.bexleywintershelter.org.uk/ for more information
Closer…
A six week course during lockdown to explore and develop your relationship with God through prayer Mondays 6.30-8.15pm on Zoom
25th January What is prayer? 1st February Lectio Divina 8th February Centering Prayer15th February Imaginative prayer22nd February Creative prayer 1st March Discernment and prayer
To book contact Susanne Carlsson and you will be sent a zoom link. Donations are welcome to support the work of spirituality in Rochester Diocese at this time. susannecarlssons@hotmail.co.uk 07795167603
https://www.rochester.anglican.org/ministry/spirituality/
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 c/o C. Lee 11 Holmesdale Road, Bexleyheath, DA7 4TJ. Your continued support is very much appreciated.
St John’s
Giving to St John's: You can give financially to the continuing upkeep and ministry of St John's via our Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/stjohntheevangelist-bexley Sermons are posted each Sunday at fatheredwardbarlow.wordpress.com Social Media - engage with us via Facebook (/stjohnsbexley), Twitter (@stjohnsbexley) and Instagram (@stjohnsbexley )
St James, North Cray
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/
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
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Songs for Zoom worship – Sunday 17th January at 10am.
Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of your holy word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us
All Your purposes, for Your glory.
Teach us Lord full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise, Cause our eyes to see,
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never fail;
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises;
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, 'til your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.
I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard My people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear My light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have born my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them, They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak My word to them
Whom shall I send?
Here I am Lord...
I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them,
My hand will save
Finest bread I will provide,
Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give My life to them,
Whom shall I send?
Here I am Lord...