NEWS & VIEWS

Easter is in just six weeks’ time. Lent, the season before Easter that began on Ash Wednesday, draws us into a closer relationship with Christ through the disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving (giving to the poor). We are called to strip away all the things that do not really matter in our lives and focus with greater clarity on Jesus as we follow him on his 40-day journey into the desert of temptation.       

LENT HAS BEGUN Please ensure you have a copy of our Lent, Holy Week & Easter leaflet, detailing our services and other events in this period, which include our weekly Lent course on the sacraments, beginning on Wednesday at 7.45pm the Community Hall.

LENT BOXES to take away are available at the back of church. These are for Lenten alms for the Additional Curates Society. The ACS helps less well-off parishes to afford a curate. They have helped us in the past and we hope they may do so in the future.

VOCATIONS DAY St Margaret’s Barking is hosting a session on Saturday 2 March from 9.45-12.45 for people to explore the nature of God’s calling and what that might mean for their service. More details and booking at http://tinyurl.com/vocationsbkg

CHURCH SPRING CLEAN Thank you indeed to all those who came to help with cleaning last Saturday.

DIOCESAN LENT COURSES Across the Diocese there will be a series of courses open to all - some face to face, and some online. The cost is from £15 for a two-session course to £25 for a five-session course. Subjects include: Romans - Blueprint of the Gospel, Thoughts of God, “The Last Week”, The Place of Grace, Poems and Prayer, The Unknown Bible, I Believe in the Resurrection, The Development of Holy Communion, Church History and Encountering Christ through Art. Further information: tinyurl.com/dofclent2024 or dhardy@chelmsford.anglican.org.

MARGARET QUINNEY, one of our churchwardens, is currently in hospital awaiting heart surgery following a scare. She may be in hospital for some time and will need an extended period of rehabilitation and rest to follow. Margaret sends her best wishes to everyone and says that she has been grateful for the messages and visits she has received. Please keep Margaret in your daily prayers.

MAILING LIST Anyone wishing to receive a weekly e-mail from us with notice of our services and other events/news, should subscribe via stmarysilford.org.uk, or by completing a blue ‘HELLO’ card.

REGULAR GIVING Giving to fund the ministry of the Church is an essential part of our Christian faith. Please, if you don’t already, would you consider giving a regular amount? No amount is too small. Using our parish giving scheme is easy and you are in full control (and Margaret Quinney will be pleased to help you if needed). One-off donations can be made using the Parish Giving Scheme, or with the card machine at the back of church, or by putting cash/cheques in the offering plate. Cheques should be made payable to St Mary’s Ilford PCC.

INTERCESSION

OF YOUR CHARITY, PLEASE PRAY

for the sick, distressed and bereaved
Joan Cassidy, Richard Holland, Lucy Ball, Amberly Crediton, Kathy Valentine, Margaret Harding, Mel Taylor, Bernard Street, Keith Holland, Matthew, Leslie Haigh, Bibi Bacchus, Fr Elwin Cockett, Jeanmarie Morton, Alastair Ogilvie, Paul Zmak, Dawn Roberts, Caroline & Hugo Furzland, Margaret Quinney, HM The King, Tim Holliday; Fr Christopher, Barbara Hope

for the recently departed 

  Jason Philpot, Heidi Dover, Christine Goldsmith

for those whose anniversaries of death fall this week

Sunday

Ethel Hunt

Monday

Florence Hayhoe, Ernest Lovell

Tuesday

Lily Taylor, Grace Jackson, Edith Williams, Jean Halsey

Wednesday

Vera Gowland

Friday

Lydia Redding, Henry Redding, Nellie Hatfield, Maureen Borowski

Saturday

John Rome, Ethel Paskin

please pray especially for

world peace

ORDERS OF SERVICE