Worship
Church Services are suspended until further notice in order to comply with Covid 19 lockdown regulations
Please see below for Details of Worship by Zoom
Sunday 29th November Morning Worship at 11am
A Joint Service for Advent with Beccles Parish
Meeting ID: 839 0933 9325
Passcode: 769 278
Some churches will be open for private prayer only on the days shown below:-
Sotterley - daily during daylight hours
Weston - daily from 9.00am until dusk
Ilketshall St Andrew - Wednesdays (10.00am - Noon)
Shadingfield - daily during daylight hours.
Redisham - daily from 9.00am until dusk
Ringsfield - daily from 9.00am until dusk
Westhall - closed for roof repairs until February 2021
The Benefice YouTube Channel continues and you will find worship, songs and readings there together with other items of general interest. Please go to:-
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZRnb801h63ezGW0vXu8VXQ
The weekly Pew Sheet is being distributed by email, if you would like a copy please contact the Rector - revphilm@btinternet.com
Reflections
REFLECTION FOR ADVENT
The first candle on the Advent wreath is for Hope. And, boy, do we need some hope at this time.
2020 has been a difficult year for everyone; lockdown, bubbles, rule of six, stay at home, work from home etc etc and so forth. We’re all feeling tired, bedraggled, fed up, confused about which tier we’re in and what it means. Some of us are Zoomed out, drowning in guidelines and advice from Government and Bishops, trying to plan for all circumstances, and failing to please all the people all the time.
As Boris put it, the sound of the hooves of the cavalry can be heard in the distance with the promise of a vaccine or vaccines in the New Year. With the vaccine comes the hope that we might move out of restrictions by the second half of 2021. This sort of hope is loaded with caveats, quid pro quo’s, addendum, conditional clauses. The hope that the first Advent candle represents is without all of these. Peter describes it as a ‘living hope’:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. 1 Peter 1:3-4 (ANIV)
It is a hope based not on what might happen in the future, but on what God has already done, and is doing, for us.
He loved, and continues, and will continue, to love us.
He sent His Son for us. Jesus died and rose again for us.
He is always with us; yesterday, today, forever.
Paul says that: I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord
Romans 8:38-39 (ANIV)
May we know and understand this hope this Advent and carry it in our hearts wherever God may lead us.
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
but wholly trust in Jesus' name.
Rev Phil
Benefice Notice Board
Roving Coffee Morning
Roving Coffee Morning
Roving Coffee Morning
The monthly coffee mornings are suspended until we can safely meet again
Safeguarding
Roving Coffee Morning
Roving Coffee Morning
The Parishes within the Benefice have adopted the House of Bishops' "Promoting a Safer Church" document, and have signed onto a Safeguarding Policy Statement.
Should you have any concerns regarding Safeguarding issues, please refer to:-
The Reverend Philip Miller on 01502 714786, or
Mrs Ann Hastings-Payne on 01502 711621 or Mr George Fisher on
01502 714534
You may also refer to the Diocesan web link shown below:-
www.cofesuffolk.org/concerns-and-contacts
Waveney and Blyth Deanery Synod
Waveney and Blyth Deanery Synod
Waveney and Blyth Deanery Synod
The next Deanery Synod will be on Wednesday 3rd March 2021 at 7.30pm.
The venue or Zoom joining details will be published nearer the time.
Benefice Council
Waveney and Blyth Deanery Synod
Waveney and Blyth Deanery Synod
Date of next meeting to be advised