WELCOME TO ST MARY'S AND ALL SOULS
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Take a look at the churches in the Benefice from the air |
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St Mary's and All Souls Services We will post any revisions to services here and on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StMarysAndAllSouls |
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St Mary's and All Souls latest Newsletter |
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PCC Papers You can now download minutes and other PCC documents from the PCC page |
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Food Bank latest needs: https://bromleyborough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/ *PLEASE DON'T SEND US FROZEN OR CHILLED ITEMS AS WE DON'T HAVE THE CORRECT STORAGE FOR IT AND IT SPOILS BEFORE WE CAN DISTRIBUTE IT* WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF PASTA, CEREAL & BISCUITS
Thank you!
Judith Simmonds will be taking the Parish contributions towards the end of the month so please drop your donations into our box in the porch before then. |
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The Church Of England Daily Prayer |
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Phillip Southby writes:
The theme of our advent course before Christmas was to look at the lives of four women linked to the nativity, but the thing that stuck in my mind was a question that was left with us towards the end of one of the meetings. Older and wiser?
In one sense, as we go through life, we all accumulate a lot of knowledge. Quite a lot will not be remembered, but some will, and we also learn from life, particularly through our mistakes. So perhaps we do become wiser, at least until the inevitable decline of older faculties. But I do remember a comment on the radio that, after we pass a peak in our mid-thirties, we compensate for declining strength and mental agility by modifying our behaviour. The example given was that of older drivers, who do not have as many accidents as you would expect them to, because they compensate for slower reaction times by sticking to routes that they know and avoiding routes that they don’t feel comfortable with. Wisely, they try to avoid risk. They stay within their comfort zones.
The problem is that as Christians we tend to do the same. We stick with things that we like doing, avoid situations that make us feel uncomfortable and, generally, avoid taking risks.
However, at least for the next few months, with the departure of Rev. Michael, God is giving us all the opportunity to become more involved in maintaining the ministry of the four churches within our benefice. It’s an opportunity for each one of us to leave our comfort zones, to take a risk, and take on something new.
As I write, the weather is a bit cold and gloomy but at least the days are getting longer and there are hints that spring is on the way. If only it was matched by what is going on around the world.
Every day seems to bring news of wars and the threat of wars between nations. One can’t help but be reminded of Jesus’ talk of wars and rumours of wars. The beginning of a bible passage which leads on to talk about the end of the age, when Jesus will return in judgement to bring this age to an end, to establish a new heaven and a new earth, and the work of the church will be over.
We don’t know when this will be, but it’s definitely one day closer today than it was yesterday. The time for us all to get involved in not just maintaining but expanding the ministry of our churches is now, before it is too late
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