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Shellrock Ramblings - 10th January
My Dear Friends
When I was quite young and out on a long walk with someone, I often used to get very tired. One way of keeping going was to say to myself “only as far as the next tree ------only as far as the next lamp post ------- only as far as that green gate ------" until I arrived home with great relief. It feels a bit like that now, with the way we are managing time. I remember last year when we didn’t have Easter in church thinking, well there’s always Pentecost and then ------ it will surely be OK by Harvest -------. Now into 2021; are we going to be back to normal by the summer?
In my reflections for this Sunday’s service at St James, inspired as I was by the story of the Magi and their visit to the infant Jesus, I speak about journeys. I guess we all had hoped that a journey into relative normality would have been rather shorter than it clearly is going to be. Hearing our prime minister last evening speaking about the third lock down and the rising incidence of the infection, I recognised that he was probably preparing us for a rather long way still to go.
This morning I received a pastoral letter from Bishop Graham and in it he writes: “ ------ On this eve of the Epiphany, I was drawn during my morning prayers to travel alongside the Magi on their long journey of hope. Their guiding light led them forward until it stopped over a house in Bethlehem and they were ‘overwhelmed with joy’. My prayer is that we will be guided through what may feel a long Epiphany journey, travelling hopefully, and holding the overwhelming joy of Christ in our hearts.”
Everyone without doubt is doing their best in their different ways and although we can no longer meet face to face, we can think of each other, be in touch by telephone, or e-mail, and always to continue to care.
My love to you
Christina
Sunday Service
The Shellrock Sunday Service reflection and prayers are here
Sunday 10th January
Readings: Genesis 1 v 1-5. Psalm 29, Acts 19 v 1-7, Mark 1 v 4-11
Collect: Almighty God, in Christ you make all things new: transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory: 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. Amen
10.30am St James Great Ellingham - Morning Service
Sunday 17th January
Readings: 1 Samuel 3 v 1-20, Psalm 139 v 1-5, 12-18, Revelation 5 v 1-10, John 1 v 43-end
10.30am St James Great Ellingham - Morning Service
There will be no ‘Open Church’ in Little and Great Ellingham churches until further notice.
Broadcasted religious programs this Sunday
8.10am Radio 4 - Sunday Worship with Martin Palmer, CEO Faithinvest
* 12.25pm BBC1 - Songs of Praise, with Claire McCollum
3.00pm Radio 3 - Choral Evensong, from Ely Cathedral
* moved to accommodate football!!
Diocesan News
The Diocese emails out regular eNews items. Here is one about the leaving service for Bishop Jonathan:
Join us online for Bishop Jonathan's leaving service
On Sunday 24 January at 3.30pm, as a diocese we will bid farewell to Bishop Jonathan. Bishop Jonathan will preach at a service which will be live streamed from Norwich Cathedral. Gathering together online we will give thanks for the many gifts Bishop Jonathan has shared with us during his time here as Bishop of Lynn and during his extensive and varied ministry in the Church. We will also send Bishop Jonathan and Rebecca away with our love and prayers and with God’s blessing for their next adventure together.
Due to the current restrictions, numbers in the Cathedral are very limited and so we have to restrict them to those who are taking part in leading the service. However, wherever you are in the diocese, country, or even the world, we invite you to join us online as we will live stream the service on the Cathedral’s YouTube channel. Click here to join or you can search ‘Norwich Cathedral Services’ on YouTube.
For more eNews and other information relating to the Diocese, including live streams, go to their website:
https://www.dioceseofnorwich.org
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