Saint Paul's Church, Landkey

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Lent Lunches and Easter services

With Easter approaching, we have arranged a number of lunches to take place during Lent as a social means of preparing for this important time in the Christian calendar.

The lunches will be hosted on Wednesdays at several locations in Landkey and will begin at 12:30pm. In a break with previous arrangements, two lunches will be held in Landkey Village Hall. It is suggested that a small donation be given, with proceeds going to Water Aid.

Lunches will be held on these dates:

• 18th March at West Hayes
• 25th March at The Ingle
• 1st April in the village hall

If possible, please let the host know a by at least a day or so beforehand if you hope to come along.

Our main Easter services will be held on:

• 15th March - Stations of the Cross service
• 5th April - Palm Sunday service
• 12th April - Easter Sunday service

As always, all are welcome to come along to all or some of our Easter events and services.

Coronavirus procedures

With the number of cases of coronavirus rising in the country, St Paul's is adopting procedures to minimise the risk of passing on infection.

These procedures are in line with guidance issued by the Church of England (see link below) and involve the avoidance of person-to-person contact during the sharing of the Peace and the withdrawal of the use of a common cup for Holy Communion.

The sacrament offered at Holy Communion will now just be the bread but worshippers can be reassured that this can be regarded as having the same value as both the bread and the wine.

Congregation members are advised to adhere to the government's hygiene advice concerning thorough hand washing and containing coughs and sneezes.

At this time when parishioners will understandably be anxious about the threat from coronavirus, St Paul's will endeavour to hold services as normally as possible to provide a place where concerns can be shared.

Church of England advice:

http://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches

Ash Wednesday service

With Lent almost upon us, we will be holding an Ash Wednesday service on 26th February at 6:30 in the evening.

This service includes, for anyone who would like this to be done, the marking of the forehead with a cross using ashes as a sign of repentance. It is an especially meaningful service as it signals the start of Lent, 46 days before Easter.

All are welcome to join us.

Candlemas Family Service

Our Family Service on 2nd February 2020 fell on the exact day when Candlemas falls, 40 days after Christmas, and provided the opportunity for this important event to be celebrated at what proved to be an enjoyable occasion.

Candlemas is the time in the Christian calendar when the Presentation of Christ at the temple is recalled. Forty days after Jesus's birth, his parents brought him to the temple in Jerusalem in accordance with the law of Moses that this act should be carried out for all new-born children. The ritual would have involved the offering of a sacrifice which might have been in the form of a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons (Luke 2, v24).

Angela Bellamy gave a talk to the assembled young people on the meaning of Candlemas and also told them that candles are traditionally lit at this time in the Christian calendar, to mark the birth of Jesus as the "light in a world of darkness". She told them, as well, that Candlemas takes place at a time in the calendar when the days are noticeably getting longer. In some countries, she said, Christmas decorations are left up until Candlemas.

At the end of the service, the members of the congregation processed to the font, bearing candles, where the "Nunc Dimittis", which is associated with Simeon, a man of faith who waited at the temple in Jerusalem for the day when Jesus would be presented, was sung. Candles were then extinguished as thoughts were turned towards Lent and the approach of Easter.

Candlemas

At our Family Service on Sunday 2nd February we will be celebrating Candlemas. 

Candlemas is the time in the Christian calendar when the Presentation of Christ at the temple in Jerusalem is recalled. Forty days after Jesus's birth, his parents brought him to the temple in Jerusalem in accordance with the law of Moses that this act should be carried out for all new-born children. The ritual would have involved the offering of a sacrifice which might have been in the form of a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons (Luke 2, v24).

Candlemas is also noteworthy for falling midway between Christmas and the arrival of spring. In Eastern Orthodox churches, this is the time when Christmas decorations are finally taken down!

As always, all will be welcome to join us at this service. 

Birthdays galore!

January is a busy month for birthdays at St Paul's and Angela Bellamy went to a great deal of trouble to make two cakes to celebrate the occasions after our service on 19th January 2020.

Wendy Steggel was shortly to reach her 70th birthday while organist Bob Loveridge, churchwarden Hazel Price and Emma Waldron's birthdays were imminent. Church members Chris James and Michael Gee also celebrate in this month but were not present for the cake cutting!

Thank you, Angela, for making such delicious and attractive cakes! It made for a very enjoyable occasion!