This week’s Worship
Last Sunday before Lent 27th February (4th Sun.)
9:15 am Holy Communion, Croston
9:30 am Family Worship, Mawdesley
11:00 am Holy Communion, Bretherton
Ash Wednesday 10:00 am Holy Communion, Croston
2:00 pm Holy Communion, Mawdesley
Friday 9:00 am Morning prayer, Mawdesley
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Whilst the world is trying to find ways to live with Coronavirus we now face a new challenge that is perhaps even more unpredictable than the spread of Covid. We are living in very worrying and uncertain times following the outbreak of war in Ukraine who have been invaded by the Russian forces who are following the orders of Vladimir Putin. The horrors of this act of aggression, which is a flagrant disregard of the Ukrainian people’s legitimate right to self-determination, are only just beginning to unfold, but many innocent people will lose their lives. I am fearful about where all this will lead.
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell said in a House of Lords debate “The horrors being visited on Ukraine must be a wake-up call for us that peace is something you need to work at. We must use all our diplomatic muscle and energy, stringent economic sanctions, and focused political will to force Russia to step back from this aggression, withdraw its troops and silence the guns, not least because effective sanctions will mean many innocent Russians suffer as well. Our actions must be swift and cohesive if they are to be decisive.” Lasting peace “requires a new commitment to international instruments of law and order, accountability and investment so that we make peace and choose peace, not just hope to keep it.”
My hope is that the Russian people will rise up and this will be the beginning of the end for this evil, ruthless, brutal dictator who has for far too long put down any opposition he faces in Russia and across the world including here in the UK. We are beginning to see signs that these actions are unifying opposition against Putin, throughout Europe and across the world.
Archbishop Cottrell has called us to make Sunday “a day of prayer for peace”. This is something we can all do in the hope that prayer will shape our will and our resolve, we must not let fear or weariness veil our vision of glory, we pray for a deeper faith and a clearer understanding of what we can do to bring about peace in our time.
How apt is our Bishops bible memory verse this week following the invasion of Ukraine. Joshua 1.9 ‘I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.’
A prayer for Ukraine:
Almighty God, seated above all the affairs of humankind
and sovereign over nations and leaders,
hear our prayer for Ukraine at this time of war,
that lives may be spared,
that national boundaries be respected
and that forces of aggression be restrained.
Grant, Lord God, peace in your world in our time.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Also pray for the people of Russia
that they may be freed from this ruthless dictator.
With love & prayers. Michael (Rector)
Tel: 01772 600548, email: revmwoods@gmail.com
Next Sunday – 1st Sunday of Lent 6th March (1st Sun.)
9:00 am Family Worship, Bretherton
9:15 am Holy Communion, Croston
11:00 am Holy Communion, Mawdesley
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Please pray for the family and friends of the recently departed:
Norman Highfield, Mildred Hitchon, Tom Taylor
Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord may light perpetual
shine upon them, may they rest in peace and rise in glory.
Dates for funerals
Tom Taylor 2:30 pm Tuesday 1st March, Mawdesley
Mildred Hitchon 12 noon Wednesday 2nd March, Croston
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Lent begins on Ash Wednesday -Daily Lenten devotions
Signs of Life – Follow us online each day during lent as we journey with Jesus through Johns Gospel, booklets are also available in church.
Google – #LiveLent 2022: Embracing Justice
Offers a daily Bible reading, a short reflection and a prayer, as well as a practical challenge linked to the week’s theme. An accompanying child’s version is also available to help children and their families explore how we can live well together.
Exciting News at St. Michael & All Angels!
Starting again on Sunday 6th March is our Childrens Sunday Club. Please see the below poster for more details.
Confirmations 2022 at St. Michael’s Church, Croston
Saturday evening 14th May with Bishop Jill of Lancaster
Young people must be year 6 or above – no upper age limit!
Lists at back of Church or contact the Rector for further details
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Covid Guidance Thankfully the high infection rates are receding but:
- Do not come to church if you are feeling unwell or have experienced any COVID-19 symptoms in the past seven days
- We are no longer required to wear face masks but please be mindful of those who may be less confident and choose to wear a mask.
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Please do continue your support of the Food Bank
Thank you for your support throughout 2021 but as we all hear in the news financial pressures are increasing and more families are struggle with the basic necessities, your donations are so important and will continue to make a real difference to people’s lives
Please be Vigilant
Flagstone thefts from churches in the Northwest
Please keep an extra watch over the churches
and report any suspicious activity to the police
immediately, also take a note of number plates.
Facebook & YouTube Online Worship
An Act of Worship from Blackburn Cathedral will be available every Sunday from 9am. You can view this on the Cathedral YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4GsctW6SLc or on their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BlackburnCathedral
This week Church of England worship features Rev Robb Sutherland, from Holy Nativity Church, Mixenden and Illingworth, North Halifax, who leads the service and preaches about The Transfiguration.
You can view this from 9am on Sunday at https://www.facebook.com/thechurchofengland or via
Mawdesley Tea Party 8-10th July 2022
Thanks to all who supported the very positive meeting and planning is now well under way to organise this year’s event once again. There are extensive notes on the facebook page of David J Reynolds.
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Mawdesley Prayer Group, Tues. 1st March 10:45 for 11am start.
Meet at Robin Hood Cottage (Bluestone Lane, opposite Nook Lane)
We hope you can come and pray alongside us for our community.
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Mawdesley MU Ash Wednesday service at 2pm in St. Peter’s Church Mawdesley – all welcome.
The Collect
Almighty Father, whose Son was revealed in majesty
before he suffered death upon the cross: give us grace to perceive his glory, that we may be strengthened to suffer with him and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
First Reading
Moses has spent forty days and nights with God on Mount Sinai receiving the Law. Now he returns to his people with God’s commandments.
Exodus 34.29-35
Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them.
Afterwards all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; but whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Second Reading
Paul has been arguing that the new covenant brought in by Christ supersedes the old Mosaic one and that the ministry of the Spirit has greater glory than that of the Law.
2 Corinthians 3.12-4.2
Since we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.
We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practise cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.
The Gospel
Jesus has been teaching his disciples that he must suffer, die and rise again. Now some of them get a taste of the glory that will be Christ’s once his suffering is complete. When the Gospel is announced.
Luke 9.28-36(37-43)
Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.
Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ Peter did not know what he said.
While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And the disciples kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’
Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’ While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God. Everyone was amazed at all that he was doing.
Prayer after Communion
Holy God, we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ: may we who are partakers at his table reflect his life in word and deed, that all the world may know his power to change and save. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
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