Worship
Dear friends,
When we think of the word 'worship' it will mean something different to each of us but a common modern perception is something like the picture above: everyone with their arms raised and singing a song of praise along to a band. And that is one form of worship but worship can be so much bigger than that.
Each week I have been fortunate enough during term time to spend Friday mornings with our Pebbles at Hurley. This is a small group of (mostly) under 5s and we play for a bit then sing some songs, have a short story and say our Pebbles Prayer. Our little 20 minute slot at the end has all the elements of a regular Sunday service but just arranged a little differently and delivered in a different way. Through our singing, our hearing a story and our prayer we are spending time appreciating all that God has done for us.
I was reflecting this morning on my own understanding of worship and thinking this is what worship should be about. It is not about a particular style of church or a particular genre of music; not about a particular way of praying or a particular exploration of the Bible. It is about our genuine response to our feelings about God. Sometimes that might mean we sit in quiet, feeling a sense of absence perhaps and not feeling particularly connected to God. Sometimes we might want to sing or dance about - perhaps even in church! But it should be an authentic response to where we are. We should never feel we are just going through the motions or behaving in a certain way because we think that is what is expected.
And we don't have to just worship on a Sunday morning! it can be something for us to do throughout the week. Perhaps alone, perhaps with others. However we do it, let's make sure we are doing it in a way which means something to us. Sometimes we may need to make more of an effort than others but let us keep trying to respond authentically to where we find ourselves in our journey with God. And as we do so on our journeys, let us keep the faith.
July Services
Sunday 16th July
9:15am - Holy Communion @ St. John the Evangelist, Littlewick Green
10:30am - God in Quiet @ St. Mary the Virgin, Hurley
11am - Holy Communion (BCP) @ St. James-the-Less, Stubbings
Sunday 23rd July
9am - Come to the Table @ St. James-the-Less, Stubbings
10:30am - Holy Communion @ St. Mary the Virgin, Hurley
Sunday 30th July
10am - Parish Communion @ St. Mary the Virgin, Hurley
August Services
During August we have some different services in our churches. Do please join us as we celebrate the life of our parish in slightly different ways:
6th August - 10am @ St. John the Evangelist, Littlewick Green
Parish Communion - a gathering of everyone in our parish to share in our Communion together with some traditional hymns and familiar prayers.
13th August - 11:30am @ St. James-the-Less, Stubbings
Pimms and Hymns - an opportunity to sing some of our favourite songs, to hear a bit about them and to share in some Pimms! Please send us your hymn/song requests along with why you would like it.
20th August - 10am @ St. Mary the Virgin, Hurley
Riverside Service - We gather on the Riverside to worship in the great outdoors. Come and join with us to celebrate the beauty of our world as we join in Communion.
27th August - 10am @ St. John the Evangelist, Littlewick Green
Summer Communion - As we approach the Bank Holiday, we celebrate the Great British Summer with a Communion service in a slightly different way. Come along on 27th to find out more and to share in the feast together.
Soltau Centre Works
As many of you will know, we have been having some issues with the toilets in the Soltau Centre. This has now all been investigated and a plan of works has been drawn up. Works will commence in mid-August to replace the toilets, strip out the kitchen and replace all of that. Do please contact myself or Claire in the office if you have any questions while we carry these works out.
Morning Prayer at 9:15am
Wednesday St. James-the-Less, Stubbings
Thursday St. John the Evangelist, Littlewick Green
Friday St. Mary the Virgin
Our churches are open for private prayer:
Littlewick Green – open every day 11am – 4pm
Hurley – open every day 8am – 4pm
Stubbings – open Monday to Friday 9am – 12 noon
Parish Office
Please get in touch with Claire via the office e-mail (office@burchettsgreenparish.org). She is there on Monday-Friday mornings and can be contacted on 01628 820077 as well. For anything which you need I can also be contacted on vicar@burchettsgreenparish.org and 01628 822974, - please note my day off is usually Tuesday.
Blessings to you all,
Tom