Welcome to our May catch up here at CHW Churches do read below to find out what is happening in your benefice this month!
Welcome to Revd Jan Shellard-James
It is wonderful that Revd Jan has come to join us here in the Benefice. Here is a short message from her to you all as we start this new time together.
"Thank you for welcoming me and my family to your parishes. It was a lovely surprise to find a wheelbarrow full of gifts and cards when we arrived at the vicarage! We’ve still not got everything unpacked and organised but I’m looking forward to using the garden for get-togethers later this summer. (Photographs of past Vicarage Garden parties look very grand.)
The reading at my licensing was from Ephesians 4 and was about God “equipping the saints.” All of us have gifts so that we can be a blessing to others around us. It can be exciting to for us to keep developing our gifts. As a minister, it’s part of my role to encourage each person to continue growing; a life lived with Christ should not be dull.
If we think about how Jesus was with his friends, he didn’t come to make his followers feel safe but for them to be fully alive. We pray that God will lead us onwards, helping us grow in maturity, growing into the full stature of Christ. Helping us to live life in all its fullness."
Ascension Day
This Thursday is Ascension day when we celebrate Jesus' return to take his place on the heavenly throne and reminds us that our saviour rules over all creation and is our advocate before God the Father. Celebrate this day with us with a service of Holy Communion:
13 May-10:30am-St Matthew's Wookey
If you cannot join us then why not celebrate Ascension day at home using our prayer sheet. Download here.
You could also celebrate Ascension Day online as there is a joint St Cuthbert's and St Thomas' churches Ascension day service which will be broadcast on the St Cuthbert's Facebook page from 6:50pm here: https://www.facebook.com/stcuthbertswells.
You don't need to have a Facebook account to be able to connect to the broadcast. (On arriving at the page, a pop-up may invite you to sign up or log in, but there should be a smaller option somewhere towards the bottom to continue without doing either, which will take you to the St Cuthbert's page.)
This Sunday
This Sunday's service (16 May 21) services are below. We look forward to welcoming you as one of our services!
08:00 - Christ Church Henton, BCP Holy Communion.
10:30 - Christ Church Coxley, Cornerstone
Opportunity Calls!
We are at the start of a new journey with Revd Jan and are looking for new voices on our PCCs to help shape what we do as a church and where we are going.
If you are interested in this exciting opportunity then please talk to Revd Jan or one of your church wardens.
Singers wanted!
Although we are still unable to sing as a congregation inside our church buildings the continued easing of restrictions means we can have an individual sing on our behalf. If you enjoy singing then we are looking for a few people from each church in the benefice who might be willing to lead us in our sung worship during our Sunday services. Please get in touch with Revd Jan (vicar@chwchurches.co.uk) if you are interested.
APCMS
Our churches have their Annual Meetings this month. This is an opportunity to reflect on the year that has just been and to look ahead to what the future holds. It would be great if as many of you as possible could pray for our churches as we continue to move forward after lockdown and join us for these meetings to hear how you can be a part of the future of this benefice!
Christ Church Henton
23 May - 18:30am, Evensong followed by APCM
St Matthew's Wookey
23 May - 10:30am, Holy Communion followed by APCM
Christ Church Coxley
13 May - 7:30pm, APCM
Christian Aid Week
Christian Aid Week is this week from 10th to 16th May.
This year’s Christian Aid Week focuses on the climate crisis. This hurts us all, but people living in poverty fight the worst of it. Watch out for more information and the classic red Christian Aid envelopes. Find out more and donate online here.
Thy Kingdom Come
"Thy Kingdom Come" runs between the celebrations of Ascension and Pentecost, this year that is from 13-23 May. During this time the Archbishops of Canterbury and York invite everyone to:
Deepen their own relationship with Jesus Christ
To pray for 5 friends or family to come to know Jesus better
And pray for power from God’s Spirit
At our services of morning prayer during that time we will be praying these things on behalf of the congregations of our benefice and our communities, so why not join us?
