Sundays 10am –Join St Mary’s for our weekly Church Service. All are welcome. During lockdown we will be on Zoom only, and once the doors open again at Easter we will be both in Zoom and in person.
Evensong is back too, contact the office for the latest timings.
The Chapel Poetry Group invites you to get creative and submit poems reflecting on your memories. All the winning poems will be published in our 2021 poetry collection “Mirror Mind”, and celebrated at a launch event either in person or online, as covid regulations permit.
First Prize for our overall winner is a £30 book voucher, and all winners whose poems are published will receive an author’s copy of the collection with your poem in it. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate local poets and explore treasured memories.
Everyone is welcome to participate, whether you are an established poet or a beginner, young or old. The important thing is, you must write about your own memories and experiences. Here’s how to enter:
Does faith seem hard at the moment? In fact does life seem hard? It is often said that life is a marathon, not a sprint – and there are times in a marathon where it feels almost impossible to take the next step towards the finish. The image of a race is one that is used in Scripture to describe our journey of faith – and in today’s Bible reading, the writer acknowledges that it is an endurance race! Not only that, but Jesus has run it before us…
The writer of this letter highlights three ways in which we can be encouraged during this strange time when all is changing, but sometimes it feels as if nothing has changed. The first of these is set out immediately in v1.
We are surrounded
Whether we live on our own or with others, many have experienced the kindness, neighbourliness and a sense of community that has grown throughout this year. Coming on to our doorsteps to encourage the NHS, or to remember those whose lives have been lost, has somehow bound us together. Who, in particular, does this verse say “surrounds” us (v1)? At St Mary’s, many have known the importance of “fellowship” – that “togetherness” that we experience through the Holy Spirit in our lives – as we have continued to meet and worship, albeit remotely, through the wonderful technology of Zoom. How wonderful that our God is not limited by physical walls and distances! There are times when running a long race when it is only the encouragement of the crowds lining the road – “You can do this!” – that keeps us going. Let us not stop encouraging one another in these (hopefully) last stages of beating the pandemic.
Strip off the weight
For an endurance athlete, the balance between weight and strength is an important one, and it is essential that they are not carrying any unnecessary weight on race day that would slow them down. Whilst God does not mind what physical shape or size we are, he does want us to run this “race” of our Christian life unhindered. What are the things that might slow us down, or even “trip us up” (v1)? As we reflect on the past year, can we use the opportunity to consider what might be preventing us from living life as God intended? We may not have been out much – but are there aspects of our attitudes, relationships and behaviours that we have hidden away, but we know need to change? “Strip off every weight that slows us down” – use this time to commit to change!
Eyes on Jesus
If the challenges just mentioned seem hard, we are now told how to do it (v2) – what is the secret? All successful athletes have a trainer – the one who commits to seeing them succeed, from beginning to end. The athlete can only succeed if they follow the trainer, who will themselves have been a successful athlete who has won many races – a true “champion”. Who do these verses say is our “champion”, and what is his role (v2)? The secret is that we are not meant to run this race alone. The “crown of witnesses” (v1) can support and encourage us, but is it Jesus himself, our champion, who enables and empowers us. Note that he is both the “initiator” (some versions say “author”) and “perfecter” of our faith. We so often feel guilty that we are not trying hard enough to believe, or not trying hard enough to live the right way. The world tells us that we need to rely on our own inner resources. The Bible tells us that it is Jesus himself who, by his Holy Spirit living in us, is our inner resource. He sows the seed of faith within us, he shows us the way forward, and he gives us the strength and ability to live according to what he has shown us – to “run the race”.
We know we can trust him to do this because he has run it before us (v2b). This coming week we will remember how Jesus went to the cross (v2) and died for all our sakes (v4) in order for us to be able to live our present lives in relationship with him, free of all that slows us down (v1). We have this “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow” * because this death was not the end – Easter is a celebration, not a mourning, because Jesus rose again and “is seated in the place of honour beside God’s throne” (v2).
And so, this Easter, if you are tempted to “become weary and give up” (v3), “fix your eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith”!
1Great is Thy Faithfulness. Thomas Obediah Chisolm 1923
Hebrews 12: 1-4 (NLT)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
As we look back over a challenging year, we are contemplating our experiences of God and faith in these times, and collecting psalms written by our church family & community, expressing our despair, fear, hope, love, and all things in between.
(You can see the Psalms already submitted on the Prayer Wall outside church.)
Roots down – into the Gospel… Walls down – into the Community
Sunday Morning 10am Services:
On Zoom for now, and in Person & on Zoom after lockdown
You are welcome to Zoom in to the Sunday Morning service at 10am; simply email the Parish Administrator to receive the link, or find it on Facebook @StMarysAshVale.
Once restrictions lift you will also be able to attend in person, with extra measures to keep everyone safe. On arrival please sign in or scan the QR code on your NHS app, use hand sanitiser, pop on your mask and go directly to your seat and remain seated. We must not mingle, so as to protect all those attending. (Please stay at home and use Zoom if you have COVID-19 symptoms). We look forward to welcoming you.
Evensong Wednesdays 8pm
You can Zoom in to Evensong on Wednesday nights or join us in the car park. Email the Parish Administrator to join our mailing list and receive the link. Keep in touch as arrangements are always evolving!
Monthly Messy Church:
Contact Alex 07730 609446 for details & bookings
– Jan: Wedding at Cana Kits
– Feb: Lost Sheep Trail
– March: Messy Easter kits
– April: Messy Easter Trail
– May: Messy Church indoors if permitted, text to book!
St Mary’s Community Centre
· Large hall & kitchen
· Small hall & sink / coffee making area
· Wheelchair accessible toilet
Bookings: Please contact the Parish Administrator for news. We are following latest Government and CofE guidance.
Editors: Alex Sanderson & Neil Lambert (Alex: 07730 609446)
Advertising: Eileen Monds
Collation: Alison Shewell
Distribution: Caroline Johnson
Contact the Parishioner team: parishioner@ash-vale.org.uk
During the Pandemic we are publishing mainly online, with paper copies on request. Please collect your copy at St Mary’s or text us: 077309 609446 www.ash-vale.org.uk
We are hugely grateful to a small army of willing volunteers who contribute, collate, publish, email, print, bundle and deliver The Parishioner to all our readers!
Once again, a huge thank you Dan Austin for another great Easter cover for the Parishioner Magazine. For those reading this on the web page you get it in glorious Technicolor too! You might remember, last year he took us verse by verse through the chapter in the gospel of Luke 24 and the road to Emmaus. This year, we have a picture of an English hedge row, with a tree that clearly represents the cross.
The painting was inspired by a wounded blackbird that Dan found in the road, and brought home to nurse. With the mother and father blackbird, and the eggs in the nest, it’s almost like a holy family. On the lft, representing our business that we are all involved with is the car, whizzing past. On the opposite side, a field, and the hope of something different. The Sun is shining, like a beautiful pearl.
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who took part in the Sheep Trail! We had a lovely time and we hope you did too. 💕🐑 The trail is now closed, but let us know which was your favourite sheep, we have a little prize for them! 🙂 text 07730609446
Can you find all these sheep? Why not see if you can find them all this half term? We have also hidden 17 sheep in the Parishioner Magazine, you can pick up a paper copy of it at St Mary’s.
Boaz & Ruth – You will find us in Alder Close, Avondale
Lamby – looking out from a window upstairs, Vale Croft, Lysons Avenue, by Ash Vale train station roundabout.
Shawn Minerva gilderoy – 362 Vale Road
Joshua (blue) Alex (red) Lulu (cuddly sheep) – Coverack, Horseshoe Lane GU12 5LL
Shaun – White Lodge, Wentworth crescent. (Private road part. The big old White House as you turn in)
Woody – You’ll find me if you walk along the canal towpath between The Swan and The Admiral, and look across the canal!
Cedric, Cecil & Cyril – 203 Vale Road (Cyril said it was too cold outside so he’s peering out the window). They told us an amazing story, apparently their distant relatives were there with the Shepherds and saw the Angels on THE Christmas Day! Wow!
St Mary’s Flock – St Mary’s Church
Fluff – 14 Wood Street
Herbie (the herbivore! 😁) – 24 Wood Street
Flower and Petal, And one printed picture quoting Psalm 29 – 56 Waverley Drive
Cuddle and Trouble – 52 Firacre Road, Ash Vale
Cedric – 155 Vale Road
Daisy, Minty, Minnie, Herdy 1,2&3 – 91 Vale Road (2 sheep on flower border right of drive. Daisy and Minty. One on Gate post. Minnie.3 in windows. Herdy1, 2 and 3)
Baaaaaa-bara – Ash Hill Road (Near the Phyllis Tuckwell Shop)
Stump House Sheep rocks in the covid snake: Rocky, Stella, Fluff and Lammy
Baaaa-tholowmew – Ash Hill Road (near the Kia garage)
Mike’s Flock – Cobo, Beetons Avenue
Bob the sheep – Murrell Road
2 sheep – Longacre
Shaun & Dawn (beautifully made by the Chapel Craft group) – 1 Grove Villas, Grove Road, GU12 5BD #ChapelCraft (Wednesdays 8pm)
Timmy – Wharf Rd (look up, I’m above Bet Fred!)
Chapel Flock – The Chapel, Wharf Road
Bah – 11 Foxhurst Rd (aptly named by L aged 2 😍)
Valentine – Collins Gardens, Ash
Ramsey, Eugenie and Lambert!- 14 College Road, Ash
Shadow – 2 Potters Crescent GU12 6AY
Zara & Sam Sheep, South Lane, Ash
lots of sheep – 35 Wyke Avenue (2 crafted ones and some cuddly ones!)
Upcycled Sheep – 16 Lincoln close Ash Vale
Mr and Mrs Ramsbottom, Woodland and Yardley- White Lane, Ash Green (go past Hazel Road to find the Ramsbottom flock)
Susie and Geoffrey – Yankari, Hazel Road, Ash Green
Keep them coming – If you’ve got a sheep on display, send us it’s name and location and we will add them to the trail. 07730 609446. The more the merrier, we have all half term to enjoy the hunt for the lost sheep!
Share your photos online with the hashtag #AshValeSheepTrail and tell us who’s your favourite, or why not comment here?
Get ready for the Lost Sheep Trail this Half term!
Put a sheep on display in your window, shop front or garden and let us know, so we can add you to the list, then use the list for a Sheep-spotting walk as part of your daily exercise in half term!
With so much uncertainty we are being very slick and adaptable (otherwise known as making a new plan every time the rules change!) But we do have a plan and we will be putting the mess into Messy Church for you all to enjoy some family friendly church activities in 2021. So what’s on the list?
