PARISH OF KIDDERMINSTER ISMERE WEEKLY BULLETIN – 18th April 2021
Our Gospel passage this week tells Luke’s account of the risen Jesus revealing himself to his disciples following the encounter on the road to Emmaus. It tells of their fear, their joy, and their disbelief.
After eating with them, he reminds them of the words he had spoken to them concerning the fulfilling of the scriptures, and then he opened their minds to believe. And after recounting from scripture that “the Messiah is to suffer and rise from he dead on the third day”, he says to them “You are witnesses of these things.”
Throughout the ‘Resurrection stories’ we hear of people coming to faith by meeting Jesus and then going on to witness to others.
Perhaps this week we could take time to think about how we witness to those around us.
Services for the week commencing Sunday 18th April 2021
Sunday 18th April St Mary and All Saints 11:00 Eucharist
St Peter Upper Arley 11:00 Eucharist
St Peter Cookley 09:30 Service of the Word
St Barnabas Franche 09:30 Eucharist
Monday 19th to Friday 23rd April at 08:00 Morning prayer – via Zoom
Monday 19th to Friday 23rd April at 20:00 Night Prayer – online
Monday 19th April ‘Why Do We Do That?’ Discover more about the Communion service with Fr. Simon Archer via Zoom at 19:00 (Link available by request from team.vicar@ismere.co.uk)
Wednesday 21st April at 10:00 Eucharist at St John the Baptist Wolverley
Wednesday 21st April at 18:45 Ismere@Prayer via Zoom (Link available by request from team.rector@ismere.co.uk)
Thursday 22nd April at 10:30 Eucharist at St Peter Cookley
Saturday 24th April at 10.00 Bible Lyte with Revd. Nigel Taylor via Zoom
(Link available by request from team.rector@ismere.co.uk)
Readings for Sunday 18th April – 3rd Sunday of Easter
Acts 3.12-19
Psalm 4
1 John 3.1-7
Luke 24.36b-48
Collect
Almighty Father,
who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples with the sight of
the risen Lord:
give us such knowledge of his presence with us,
that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life
and serve you continually in righteousness and truth;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Notices
COVID 19 Reminder
We continue in difficult times where the risk of the COVID 19 virus is lessening but not gone. We must remain as safe as possible. This means we should wear masks unless exempt, social distance at all times and this, I am afraid, means we cannot offer lifts to the friends and congregation members at this current time. Please keep to the guidelines and Love your neighbour as you love yourself.
Nigel
‘Why do we do that?’
Have you, or anyone you know, ever asked why we say the words we do in our worship when we gather together?
If so, here’s a great opportunity for you – and someone you might like to invite to join you in finding out – to discover more in a new series we will be running in the Kidderminster Ismere Team.
‘Gathered – Fed – Sent’ will follow the pattern of the Lent Conversations that so many of us have enjoyed, with a series of talks during worship and follow-up conversations.
Over four weeks we will look at different parts of the Holy Communion service and discover why we say certain prayers together, and how they sustain us in living out our Christian faith every day:
18th April: Gathered.
25th April: Fed by the Word.
2nd May: Fed by the Sacrament.
9th May: Sent
As in the Lent Conversations, there will be follow-up groups in the week afterwards to explore more together.
This would be a great way to learn more about how we worship together, to be a ‘refresher’ for anyone who’s been coming to church for a long time, and to invite someone who doesn’t come to church but might think: ‘I wonder what they do in church?’ Or: ‘Why do they do that?’
Look out for more details in the Bulletin, and on the ismere.co.uk website. Or contact one of our clergy team - Nigel, Simon or Hayward – whose details you will find at the end of this Bulletin.
Annual Church Meetings taking place
After last year’s Covid disruption for Annual Church Meetings, we are back to the normal pattern for 2021. Each District Church has its Annual Meeting, when the past year is reviewed, financial reports given and Church Council members are elected. Following these the Parish as a whole has its Annual Meeting of Parishioners (when churchwardens are formally appointed) and its Annual Parochial Church Meeting (which formally appoints members of the Parochial Church Council).
Church Council members are elected for three years, so some are continuing in post but there are also vacancies to fill.
Last week we publicised the dates of the meetings but unfortunately, following advice on meeting, it is clear that we cannot meet in person until after the third stage of the Government’s road map takes effect on 17th May. Therefore, the DCC AGMs and also the PCC meeting to approve the accounts will have to take place via Zoom, though we realise this is not an ideal situation.
Each Annual District Meeting will also recommend two churchwardens (or deputy churchwardens) and one lay person to be formally appointed to serve on the Parochial Church Council. St Mary’s and Trimpley Annual Meeting, responsible for the two churches, recommends two lay representatives.
And finally, the Annual Meeting for the whole parish with its two parts takes place on Thursday 20th May at 7 pm a St Mary and All Saints Church, Kidderminster.
The Electoral Roll is the list of church members who are entitled to vote at the relevant meetings. The updating of the Electoral Roll has to be completed two weeks before the relevant meeting – so now is the time to check that your name is on it. Baptised people aged 16 or over who are parishioners or have been worshipping with us for at least six months can have their names added, and vote at the meetings.
Do attend your Annual Meeting if you are able to do so. If we want our churches to grow and develop, this is the moment to choose the people of faith and imagination who can help steer things forward.
Our parish funeral ministry
We commend to God those parishioners who have recently died, with our clergy approached to conduct the funerals.
Funeral on:
April 22ndJohn Thirlwall (service at Wyre Forest Crematorium)
We pray for those who mourn, and for those offering a ministry of care and compassion at this time.
Clergy contact details
Team Rector Revd. Nigel Taylor 01562 851744 team.rector@ismere.co.uk
Team Vicar Revd. Simon Archer 01562 66262 revsimonarcher@gmail.com
Associate Priest The Ven. Hayward Osborne 01562 745638hs.osborne@btinternet.com
The clergy and other congregation members are available for you at times of pastoral need. Please do not hesitate to get in touch.
