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.