Sunday Services
Readings
27th December 2014 - First Sunday of Christmas
Bicton
10.30 am Eucharist for all our churches
3rd January - 2nd Sunday of Christmas - Epiphany
Albrighton
9.15 am Eucharist
Isaiah 60.1-6
Bicton
11.00 am Eucharist
Matthew 2.1-12
Bomere Heath 9.00 am Morning Prayer
Fitz
9.30 am Eucharist
Leaton
10.45 am Eucharist
Montford
11.00 am Morning Prayer
Shrawardine 9.30 am Matins
10th January - Baptism of Christ
Bicton
11.00 am Family Service
Bomere Heath 9.00 am Eucharist
Fitz
9.30 am Matins
Leaton
10.45 am Christingle
Montford
9.30 am Eucharist
Shrawardine11.00 am Eucharist
17th January - 2nd Sunday of Epiphany
Albrighton
9.15 am Family Worship
Bicton
11.00 am Eucharist
Bomere Heath 9.00 am Morning Prayer
Fitz
9.30 am Eucharist
Leaton
10.45 am Eucharist
Montford
11.00 am Morning Prayer
Shrawardine 9.30 am Family Worship
Isaiah 43.1-7
Luke 3.15-17, 21-22
1 Corinthians 12.1-11
John 2.1-11
24th January - Conversion of St Paul
Bicton
11.00 am Morning Prayer
1 Corinthians 12.12-31a
Bomere Heath 9.00 am Eucharist
Luke 4.14-21
Fitz
No service
Leaton
10.45 am Family Worship and Baptism
Montford
9.30 am Eucharist
Shrawardine 3.00 pm Christingle
31st January - Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)
Leaton
10.30 am United Eucharist
Hebrews 2.14-end
Luke 2.22-40
January 2016
Keep in the loop with
what’s happening
in your churches
Priest in Charge:
The Revd Mary-Lou Toop
01743 851375
Assistant Priest:
Canon Robert Parsons
01939 291494
Website: www.severnloopparishes.org.uk
Thought for the Month
Rejoice with everyone at Fitz! After many years of worshipping in the
cold, the new heating system is up and running. Thanks are due to
Neil Baly who has done the hard work, negotiating with the Diocesan
Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches and with the contractor
to make it happen. Financially it was made possible by a generous
legacy from John Evans, a farmer at Manor Farm, who died in 2009.
It is important that we keep our buildings in good order. Of course the
true meaning of “Church” is the Christian people, and they can meet
anywhere. But our buildings are significant places in our villages.
They are a big part of our community heritage. In some cases they
have been there for centuries, and all go back for generations.
Important events in the lives of parishioners have been celebrated in
our churches. Baptisms, weddings and funerals are clear examples.
For many, times like Christmas mean a visit to their local church.
The church building can be a sign of the presence of God in the
community. There it stands, reminding everyone that, as Jesus said,
“One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from
the mouth of God.”
So I believe our church buildings are important, not just to those who
go to worship there but as significant places for the whole community.
Let’s appreciate those who work to keep them warm, clean, and
useful for purposes of spiritual and community life.
Robert Parsons
Little Church
Tuesday mornings, 5th and 19th January in Bomere Heath Mission
Church for little children and their parents or carers. We start around
9.30 am. Do you know a family with little children who you could point
in this direction?
Isle Court
Isle Court Nursing Home is within our Severn Loop Parishes. Once a
month the Revd Mary-Lou Toop and Joyce Jagger visit to take a
service of Holy Communion in a sitting room at the nursing home.
These services are well attended – the congregation is a steady 12 –
and we are told how much they value the continuity of the worship
that had been a regular part of their lives. During the service we have
two hymns, a reading, a themed sermon and communion is shared.
We are enjoying building relationships between the residents, the staff
and us. Can we ask that the residents, the staff and the community
are remembered in our prayers in 2016?
O yes it is!
Montford Parish Hall Committee with Montford and Shrawardine
Churches Social Committee present the pantomime Treasure Island
at Montford Parish Hall on Friday 15th January at 7.30 p.m., Saturday
16th January at 2.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. Tickets: Adults £7.00;
Children 16 and under £4, including interval refreshments. Booking
with Tricia Jones on 01743 850810. Raffle to support local charities.
Proceeds in aid of the churches and the Parish Hall.
Burns Night
Burn's Night Supper and Ceilidh at Montford Parish Hall on Saturday
23rd January at 7.00 p.m. 3 course supper. Dancing to the Old
Cuckoo Ale Band. Licensed bar. Highland dress optional. Tickets
£12.50 available from Sal Williams on 07971 802922 or Tricia Jones
on 01743 850810. Proceeds in aid of Montford and Shrawardine
Churches.
Lent Course
We are using the new York Course this year, The Psalms – Prayers
for Today’s Church, with contributors Bishop Stephen Cottrell, Rose
Hudson-Wilkin, John Bell of the Iona Community, Fr Timothy Radcliffe
and Dr Jane Leach. There’ll be at least 2 groups meeting, one at
Leaton and one at Bicton, and we hope a third. Look out for details in
your churches during January! Mary-Lou has copies of the course
booklet available and they cost £3.50 for this 5 session course.
Stepping Out Café
In Bomere Heath Mission Church on Wednesday 28th January, 2.30
to around 4.00 pm. This monthly attraction offers free tea, cake and
good company. Why not join them?
Cleaning Ladies’ Chit Chat (12)
So, how did this business of Henry rejecting the Pope but holding his
beliefs affect the country?
Well, it seems that Henry, who was well known for his lack of
constancy, (think of the wives) was much the same when it came to
his faith. I think Henry’s real driving force was maintaining his hold on
the throne and securing it for future generations. His political needs
however, did see some real changes in the religious practices of the
country, encouraged by his advisers.
Why was this?
Many of his advisers, such as Thomas Cromwell, Hugh Latimer,
Nicholas Shaxton and Edward Fox supported the Protestant cause,
as did his sixth wife, Catherine Parr and influenced Henry in policy
decisions, particularly when Henry needed the support of German
princes who had embraced Lutheranism.
What sort of changes did the ordinary people see in the churches?
Although William Tyndale’s translation into English of the New
Testament had initially been banned in England as heretical,
Cromwell and Cranmer persuaded Henry to allow the publication in
England of a vernacular Bible. This combined Tyndale’s New
Testament with Coverdale’s translation of the Old Testament and was
edited by Thomas Matthews resulting in it becoming known as
Matthew’s Bible in 1537. In 1541 Henry issues a Royal Proclamation
ordering every parish in England to have a copy for public use,
although Henry did try in 1543 to prevent anyone below the rank of
gentry from reading the Bible. It makes you realise, doesn’t it, just
how radical the Bible was seen then? There was a real fear that it
would initiate social change. By the end of Henry’s reign there was
an English Bible and much of the Roman Catholic paraphernalia was
being removed from the churches, but services were still held in Latin
and priests were not yet allowed to marry - a real mish-mash.
What happened after Henry’s death?
I think we should save that until next time.