Welcome to Churches in the Stanleys

Our Mission Statement

We who worship in this parish try to follow the teachings of our saviour Jesus Christ, to love God and with the help of the Holy Spirt, to love and support our neighbours.

RECTORY RAMBLINGS FOR FEBRUARY

RAMBLINGS….
Dear Everyone,
I am writing these Ramblings with the most beautiful sight outside my study window – snow! Yes, I love it – I enjoy watching it come down especially at night, I enjoy just looking at it, I enjoy walking in it, I enjoy the ‘feeling’ that there is when snow is around. Were I few years younger I most certainly would have been out making a snowman. I was sorely tempted when someone asked if I would like to go sledging – but sense (oh dear!) prevailed. OK I admit, I don’t like the slush that we all have to endure as the snow melts, but I just think it’s lovely. Oh well, back to business….
Although Christmas is only just behind us, in the church we are already looking forward once more to the next season in our liturgical calendar – Lent, which begins this year on February 17th. There will be services in both churches on Ash Wednesday. In the morning at 10am in St Swithun’s Church and 6pm at St George’s Church. Throughout Lent there will be extra services each week on Tuesday evenings in St Swithun’s Church at 7:30pm and on Wednesday evenings at 6pm in St George’s Church. These will be quiet times for reflection and prayer as we prepare ourselves for the next major Festival in our church year.
Also beginning on Ash Wednesday will be Lent lunches in St Swithun’s Church. Do come along enjoy a soup lunch and have a chat with others as well as supporting charity, to which all profits will be given! Every Wednesday from 12noon to 1:30pm.
Lent of course is the season which always brings to mind ‘giving up’ something! Well yes, there is that aspect of discipline to it. However, while there is a very positive side to accepting the challenge of such a discipline, it is not just to prove that one can indeed forgo chocolate for a period of time. For Christians it is a time of looking closely at our own spiritual lives, and taking the time with God to ensure that our relationship with Him is in good order. It is an opportunity for us all - Christians, members of other faiths and for those who adhere to no organised faith system at all, to take time to look at our lives. To look and perhaps question the values which we hold important. To look and perhaps discard things on which we waste time, energy and money.  This could be a time to make changes where we see in our own lives things that may not please or fulfil us.
I wonder if we might all try to use this time of Lent 2010 to ask ourselves some serious questions – and be prepared to hear the answers!

Sue Phillipson-Masters