Normally, we’d be handing out a Palm Cross for you to take away with you, at our Sunday services this weekend – unfortunately, due to the Coronavirus lockdown, we’re unable to see you in church. Instead, Rachel and Peter, from St Mark’s and St Thomas churches respectively, have some ideas as to how you can make your own for this Sunday!
A first for St Mark’s: service given from the upstairs spare bedroom of the vicarage (can we say an upper room?) Working with our neighbours at St Thomas’ in Lymington, Rachel talks about breathing, change – and her new pet caterpillars…
Knitted and crocheted flowers in response to COVID-19 – the first part of our Easter display along the hedge of St Mark’s, which – in response to the escalating situation with the Coronavirus pandemic – has a clear message for the village of Pennington. Physically separated, we’re still united in spirit and under the loving grace of God.
Our live streamed service from Sunday 22nd March
As St Mark’s #LiveLent, today we focus on water. Central to all life on Earth but we know also that Jesus is a spiritual life through water – a living water – for humanity: through whom we shall never thirst.
Nicodemus ‘came to Jesus by night’: the night and darkness bring fears: for nothing to do we pray the Evening Collect. Some have said that Nicodemus was hiding in the darkness. By day Nicodemus knows who he is. He has an identity. He is a Pharisee. He has a role and a reputation as a leader of the Jews. He is ‘Israel’s teacher’. But by night Nicodemus is confused: and so comes to Jesus to be illuminated.
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! Today is St David’s Day – St David being the patron saint of Wales as well as for poets and vegetarians too! That evening we talked about who St David was, how he had a special skill to recover the sight of others, how some monks didn’t like him especially (to the point they tried to poison him!) – but how ultimately he could prove how through the small things, great changes can occur.
How are St Mark’s marking Lent this year? In sixty seconds, Rachel explains how it starts – with light.
Sometimes it’s easy to get completely overwhelmed in a world that seems to demand easy, quick answers to every situation. The story of Jesus temptations in the wilderness suggests that this is not new: all Jesus temptations were for the quick, instant, easy solution. But each time, he refuses. This is the invitation of Lent: to follow in Christ’s footsteps, to move through the wilderness of self-deception – and to live in the truth of Christ.
Our focus today as we start Lent is on the ash in Ash Wednesday. What is the significance of ashing? Why does it matter that we adorn ourselves in an ash cross? And how can we reflect our faith in Christ with more than a mark on our skin for others to see in the weeks to come?
