Bexley Team Ministry News for Sunday 7th February 2021

Bexley Team News

St Barnabas, Joydens Wood

St James, North Cray

St John the Evangelist, Bexley

   St Mary the Virgin, Bexley

 

    7^th February 2021 Issue 47                                          The Second Sunday before Lent

           

                                     Team Services and Worship material in Lockdown

 

Saturday 6^th February 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. Do have a candle ready to light.

Sunday 7^th February at 10.00 am                                                                                       Sunday Zoom Service

A Service of bible reading and prayer. See the final sheet of the BTNews for the songs and some liturgy.

Invitations to the above Zoom services have been 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 7^th February at 10.00 am                                                              Livestreamed Holy Communion

A live streamed 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 7^th February                                                                                        Bexley Team Children’s Church

 

			At last week’s Children’s Church we made Christingles and learning about Jesus, the light of the world. Here is the link for this week’s Children’s Church. We hope you enjoy it.  https://youtu.be/fE5yP0Ee7p0

                              

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   Proverbs 8, 1,22-31   Colossians 1, 15-20   John 1, 1-14

 

The Collect:  Almighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth and made us in your own image: teach us to discern your hand in all your works and your likeness in all your children; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things, now and for ever.

The Additional Collect:  Almighty God, give us reverence for all creation and respect for every person, that we may mirror your likeness in Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Rev’d Sue writes-

The three readings appointed for this Sunday remind us that God was in existence before the world began.

I sometimes find this concept almost too enormous to comprehend- God was there before anything was there- Jesus was there before anything was there! But perhaps our Proverbs reading for today goes some way to help us understand.      Please spend some time reading Proverbs 8

In Proverbs we are introduced to Wisdom.

• The one who was in existence before the world began, “The Lord bought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, before the world began.” Can you imagine being in nothing?
• The one who was present at creation, “I was there when he set the heavens in place…” As the one who works with the creator, Wisdom is excited & energized by God’s creative work that she rejoices in God’s presence, it is such a positive, fresh & vibrant experience of creation. Just imagine being there!
• The one on which the foundation of life is built. Wisdom was a partner in the life and purpose of God, offering knowledge about human life and its ways.

The New Testament writers point to this experience and expression as being found in the life of Jesus- “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created.” Jesus is the new creation, Jesus is God’s delight, and when we meet with him, we also find a life which is full of joy and one which will influence every aspect of our life from beginning to end.

Lent for the Bexley Team

The Season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 17 February.  

We will have a livestreamed communion at 10am and an Ash Wednesday Nightwatch on Zoom at 7.30pm.

During Lent, for those of you who value a daily resource, we encourage you to access the Church of England Live Lent material.  You can sign up to this very simply by following this link #LiveLent: God's Story, Our Story - our Lent reflections | The Church of England  or alternatively you can  use this link which takes you to the same place.  https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/lent-holy-week-and-easter/livelent-gods-story-our-story-our-lent

We will also aim to provide a paper copy of this for those who do not have access to the internet.

Our Lent course for the Bexley Team will be based on material from the Diocese, working with the Clewer Initiative. “Women in the Shadows focuses on the different ways women and girls are exploited in the UK today. Each week during Lent, we explore a particular theme, including the stages of a victim’s experience of exploitation, specific types of modern slavery affecting women and girls and ways that we might bring about change and recovery. During the course, you will discover how women are drawn into modern slavery and exploitative situations; what life can be like for them once they are rescued, and the many challenges they face as they recover from trauma. You will also find out more about sexual exploitation, labour exploitation and county lines and how to recognise signs of modern slavery. The course includes a series of short films and a devotional booklet to guide us. There’s a film for each week, supported by materials to stimulate deeper consideration and reflection. Information about how to join in will be in next week’s Bexley Team News.

 

Deanery Confirmations 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.

 

 

Gent’s Pub Lunch at the Horse and Zoom.  For an invitation to the next of these on 3^rd March please contact

Andrew Melling at amelling700@btinternet.com

 

FINANCIAL GIVING TO THE TEAM CHURCHES

It’s never easy or a good time to ask people to reassess their giving, especially with churches currently being closed for worship. However, the bills still need to be paid and the buildings kept in good repair. So, we are asking… If you give by standing order have you increased your giving over the last few years? If you give using the envelope scheme are you handing in your envelopes or, are they still sitting at home? If your giving is usually via the collection bag or open plate have you considered changing to a regular contribution by standing order?

For St. Barnabas        Any contributions can be dropped off at the Treasurers house (during your daily walk) 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 to 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

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.

St Barnabas has received a letter from the Homestart (North West Kent) charity thanking us for our continued generosity and particularly our financial contribution of £753 towards their work with families under pressure.

 

Prayer Ministry

St Barnabas has a ‘Prayer Chain’. Prayer requests from the congregation and the parish are made to Liz Montague who monitors them and sends out requests on email to a group of ‘Pray-ers’ who have committed to pray regularly for those requesting prayer. The group meet from time to time for mutual support in their work. This scheme has operated for ten years, and is a real source of spiritual comfort to many.

Enquiries, contact Liz Montague on 01322 310846

St James North Cray has just set up a similar scheme. (see below)

St James North Cray. David Stevens, after some helpful discussions with Liz at St Barnabas has initiated the Prayer Wheel Scheme, which operates in a similar way to the Prayer Chain. David has also designed some prayer request cards, which will be placed in the church as soon as we are allowed back into the building. Contact David Stevens on 0208 300 0867

 

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)

St Mary’s We have had a letter of thanks from Church Mission Society following a donation of £250.

 

THE BEXLEY TEAM CLERGY

Team Rector: Rev’d Ren Harding              renharding@hotmail.co.uk          01322 528923     07836 644782

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                                          07889 873125

 

Words and Songs for Zoom Worship – Sunday 7^th February at 10.00 am.

 

Intercessions              Bidding-  ‘Jesus, Light of the world’    Response-  ‘kindle in us a mighty flame’