You are herePewsheet Archive / January 2019
January 2019
3rd February 2019
The Parish Churches of
St Michael & St Wulfad, Stone, with
St Saviour Aston by Stone
XXVI. [The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.] But certainly the Feast of the Purification is celebrated here with the greatest honour. On this day there is a procession to the Anastasis; all go in procession, and all things are done in order with great joy, just as at Easter. All the priests preach, and also the bishop, always treating of that passage of the Gospel where, on the fortieth day, Joseph and Mary brought the Lord into the Temple, and Simeon and Anna the prophetess, the daughter of Famuhel, saw Him, and of the words which they said when they saw the Lord, and of the offerings which the parents presented. And when all things have been celebrated in order as is customary, the sacrament is administered, and so the people are dismissed
So wrote the Nun Egeria, in the Fourth Century, when she went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. She is, of course, speaking about Candlemas Day, the 40th day after Christmas. To this day, some Christians still treat the time we call Epiphany as part of the Christmas season – and some have their houses decorated up to this time!
A significant day for us for two reasons: first it shows Jesus as fulfilling the Old Testament Law. Later Jesus says of himself that he came not to abolish the Law, but to fulfil it. But the second reason is that Candlemas is also the time when we see God fulfil his promises to us. After the Second Temple was completed, post the Exile, there was always an uneasy feeling that God’s presence was somehow missing. Prophets such as Malachi promise that the day would come when God’s presence would return – and today that is wonderfully fulfilled in Jesus. Thank God that he keeps his promises!
Ian Cardinal
Hymns for today
Aston Stone
426 426
Ps 8 118
118 148
288 543/288
388 33
Please pray for the sick in the benefice:
Mary Townsend, Noelle Emery, Dianne Harvey, Elsie Richardson, Roy & Barbara Ball, Vera Tomkinson, Neil & Pat Wynne, Gary Kelsall, Emily Franks, John Richardson, Annette McMullen, Peter Bowler, Howard Boswell, Catherine Ritchie, Sarah Taylor, Graham Baker, Jackie Finnemore, Wendy Gee, James Astle, Miles Brain, Joan Lazonby, John & Ann Shuttleworth, Richard Kempa, Joyce Crowther, Evelyn Cotterill, Margaret Wright
And for the departed:
Pat Mitchell, William Jackson, Frank Crowther, Val Howard
Remembering their families and friends at this time
This week:
Tuesday 5th 11.45am – 1pm Drop Inn café– St Michael’s Hall
Thursday 7th 10.30am Holy Communion – St M&W
HOT POT SUPPER– Aston Village Hall 23rd February. More details to come. Tickets will be available from any member of Aston Social Committee. Please note the change of date
LADIES GROUPNames and money are needed ASAP for our visit to Middleport Pottery on Thursday 14th March. See mary at Aston and Nichola at Stone
HOLY DUSTERS NEEDEDAT St M&W. Currently a very small band meet once per month on a Thursday at 9am. Not everyone can attend at that time and age is catching up with some of us:- Can you help? Please see Glenda or Jean
ELECTORAL ROLL2019 is the year when our roll is legally started over again. Forms for every member of our Church to be registered will be available soon. Please see Glenda at St M&W and Mary at St Saviour’s
27th January 2019
The Parish Churches of
St Michael & St Wulfad, Stone, with
St Saviour Aston by Stone
In today’s reading from Luke's Gospel, we hear that Jesus is in his hometown of Nazareth, attending the synagogue on the Sabbath, which is said to be his custom.
As Jesus stands in the synagogue, he reads from the scroll handed to him; it contains the words of the prophet Isaiah. At this early moment in his ministry, Jesus announces his mission in continuity with Israel's prophetic tradition. This reading from Isaiah defines Jesus' ministry. Jesus' ministry will include bringing glad tidings to the poor, liberty to captives, healing to the sick, freedom to the oppressed, and proclaiming a year acceptable to the Lord.
In Isaiah, Jesus announces God's salvation. The “year acceptable to the Lord” is a reference to the Jewish tradition of Sabbath years and jubilee. The Sabbath year was observed every seventh year. It was a year of rest when land was left fallow and food stores were to be shared equally with all. A year of Jubilee was celebrated every fiftieth year, the conclusion of seven cycles of Sabbath years. It was a year of renewal in which debts were forgiven and slaves were freed.
in Jesus, something new begins. Jesus not only announces God's salvation, he brings this salvation about in his person. Jesus is God’s Anointed One, filled with the Spirit of God. The Kingdom of God is now at hand. It is made present in Jesus, in his life, death, and Resurrection. Jesus will send the Holy Spirit so that the Kingdom of God can be fulfilled.
The Holy Spirit is Jesus' gift to the Church. The Holy Spirit enables the Church to continue the mission of Jesus. When we do what Jesus did—bring glad tidings to the poor, liberty to captives, healing to the sick, and freedom to the oppressed—we serve the Kingdom of God.
Nichola Abbott
Hymns for today
Aston Stone
82 70
527 5
531 531
341/404 386/394
513 513
Please pray for the sick in the benefice:
Mary Townsend, Noelle Emery, Dianne Harvey, Elsie Richardson, Roy & Barbara Ball, Vera Tomkinson, Neil & Pat Wynne, Gary Kelsall, Emily Franks, John Richardson, Annette McMullen, Peter Bowler, Howard Boswell, Catherine Ritchie, Sarah Taylor, Graham Baker, Jackie Finnemore, James Astle, Miles Brain, Joan Lazonby, John & Ann Shuttleworth, Richard Kempa, Joyce Crowther, Evelyn Cotterill, Margaret Wright
And for the departed:
Pat Mitchell, William Jackson and Frank Crowther, Val Howard
Remembering their families and friends at this time
This week:
Tuesday 29th 11.45am – 1pm Drop Inn café– St Michael’s Hall
Thursday 31st 10.30am Holy Communion – St M&W
HOT POT SUPPER– Aston Village Hall 23rd February. More details to come. Tickets will be available from any member of Aston Social Committee. Please note the change of date
CHURCH CLEANING– CAN YOU HELP? We have a very small band of ladies who clean the church once a month. However, they could do with some assistance. They meet at 9am on one Thursday a month. Not everyone is able to attend each time and most of our ladies are more mature (sorry ladies!) and would appreciate some extra help, particularly with cleaning the brasses. If you can help, please have a word with Glenda or Jean.
20th january 2019
The Parish Churches of
St Michael & St Wulfad, Stone, with
St Saviour Aston by Stone
Churches Together in Stone
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Friday 18th to Thursday 24th January 2019
Saturday 19th Christ Church at 8.30am
Ecumenical Prayer Meeting
Followed by Breakfast
Sunday 20th
United Service Hosted Christ Church At 6.00pm
Monday 21st
St Saviour’s Church, Aston 12 Noon
Short act of worship together followed by simple lunch
Tuesday 22nd
Christ Church 10.00am Coffee Followed at 10.30am
by Holy Communion
Wednesday 23rd
St Dominic’s Church at 7.30pm Taize Worship
Thursday 24th
St Michael’s Church at 10.30am Holy Communion
Followed by Coffee
Walton Community Centre
2.00pm to 4.00pm
CAMEO (come and meet each other)
Tea, Coffee and Cakes
Hymns for today
Aston Stone
174 122
71 375
41 41
127/10 342/10
532 532
Please pray for the sick in the benefice:
Mary Townsend, Noelle Emery, Dianne Harvey, Elsie Richardson, Roy & Barbara Ball, Vera Tomkinson, Neil & Pat Wynne, Gary Kelsall, Emily Franks, John Richardson, Annette McMullen, Peter Bowler, Howard Boswell, Catherine Ritchie, Sarah Taylor, Graham Baker, Jackie Finnemore, Wendy Gee, James Astle, Miles Brain, Joan Lazonby, John & Ann Shuttleworth, Richard Kempa, Frank & Joyce Crowther, Evelyn Cotterill, Margaret Wright
And for the departed:
Pat Mitchell, William Jackson
Remembering their families and friends at this time
This week:
Monday 21st 12 Noon Unity service & light lunch – Aston St Saviour
Tuesday 22nd 11.45am – 1pm Drop Inn café– St Michael’s Hall
Thursday 24th 10.30am Holy Communion – St M&W
7pm Evaluation & Strategy meeting – St Michael’s school Governors
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITYOnce again the week runs from 18th – 25th January. On Sunday evening (20th) there is a United service at Christ Church Stone to which all Christians are invited
Also there is the United service and light lunch (Soup and bread) at St Saviour’s Aston at 12 Noon on Monday 21st. All other activities are detailed opposite
HOT POT SUPPER– Aston Village Hall 23rd February. More details to come. Tickets will be available from any member of Aston Social Committee. Please note the change of date
14th january 2019
The Parish Churches of
St Michael & St Wulfad, Stone, with
St Saviour Aston by Stone
So this Sunday has the readings for the Baptism of Christ – and I wonder how many of you think very much about baptism? In fact we do a lot of baptisms each year in this benefice – usually about 60 each year. For most of the time in our congregations they remain hidden:- we do them around lunchtime after the main Sunday services – and yet I would like to suggest to you that they are some of the most important moments of our life! Do you remember your own baptism? For most of us I guess not.
When Jesus was baptised, it was a hugely significant moment. According to the gospels, it was at this moment that the Holy Spirit descended upon him – and it was at this moment that John the Baptist recognised him to be the “lamb of God.” But, just as it is today, I also think that most of the people around on the occasion didn’t recognise what was happening! In the same way that people were blind to him at the resurrection, for most of the bystanders, this was just another person being dipped into the Jordan. They missed the moment!
And what a moment to miss – because this was God’s moment! When we read about baptism in St Paul’s letter to the Romans, it is very clear that this is the moment that God does something wonderful in our lives. This is the moment when we start our new life in Christ – this is when we are sealed for being people of God and not just belonging to ourselves. God touches our lives.
I tell the story of how, as a small boy, a Sunday School teacher encouraged me to ask God what he wanted of me. I thought I heard the answer “Go and be a Missionary” – which at aged 7 I thought meant snakes and cannibals! I often reflect that I slightly misheard that voice – and my real vocation was to be a Priest. Thank God that he marked me out at my baptism, when I was just 3 months old!
Ian Cardinal
Hymns for today
Aston Stone
113 113
464 69
193 209
491/367 287/367
394 71
Please pray for the sick in the benefice:
Mary Townsend, Noelle Emery, Dianne Harvey, Elsie Richardson, Roy & Barbara Ball, Vera Tomkinson, Neil & Pat Wynne, Gary Kelsall, Emily Franks, John Richardson, Annette McMullen, Peter Bowler, Howard Boswell, Catherine Ritchie, Sarah Taylor, Graham Baker, Jackie Finnemore, Wendy Gee, James Astle, Miles Brain, Joan Lazonby, John & Ann Shuttleworth, Richard Kempa, Frank & Joyce Crowther, Evelyn Cotterill, Margaret Wright
And for the departed:
Peter Harvey, Mirella Mason, Valerie Roycroft
Remembering their families and friends at this time
This week:
Monday 14th 7.30pm Aston PCC meeting – Church
Tuesday 15th 11.45am – 1pm Drop Inn café resumes – St Michael’s Hall
Thursday 17th 10.30am Holy Communion – St M&W
LADIES GROUPPut Thursday 14th March 2019 into your diaries – further details to come!
HOT POT SUPPER– Aston Village Hall 23rd February. More details to come. Tickets will be available from any member of Aston Social Committee. Please note the change of date
5th January 2019
The Parish Churches of
St Michael & St Wulfad, Stone, with
St Saviour Aston by Stone
LADIES GROUPPut Thursday 14th March 2019 into your diaries – further details to come!
Epiphany
It might have been just someone else’s story,
Some chosen people get a special king.
We leave them to their own peculiar glory,
We don’t belong, it doesn’t mean a thing.
But when these three arrive they bring us with them,
Gentiles like us, their wisdom might be ours;
A steady step that finds an inner rhythm,
A pilgrim’s eye that sees beyond the stars.
They did not know his name but still they sought him,
They came from otherwhere but still they found;
In temples they found those who sold and bought him,
But in the filthy stable, hallowed ground.
Their courage gives our questing hearts a voice
To seek, to find, to worship, to rejoice.
Malcolm Guite
Postscript:
Now the Feast of the Epiphany is both the end of Christmas and the beginning of the Church’s Epiphany Season which she keeps until the Feast of the Presentation (or Candlemas), on February 2nd. On the Sundays of this Epiphany season it is traditional to move from the this first great ‘epiphany’ or manifestation of glory to the Gentiles, to contemplate the other ‘epiphanies’ that mark the beginning of Christ’s Ministry; the Heaven’s opening at his baptism, the Calling of his disciples, especially the ‘epiphany moment’ granted to Nathanael, and promised to all of us, and then finally the first of his miracles, his ‘signs whereby he manifested his glory’; the Miracle at Cana in Galilee
Hymns for today
Aston Stone
71 451
Ps 72 1-9 118
113 sheet
514 320/542
394 394
Please pray for the sick in the benefice:
Mary Townsend, Noelle Emery, Dianne Harvey, Elsie Richardson, Roy & Barbara Ball, Vera Tomkinson, Neil & Pat Wynne, Gary Kelsall, Emily Franks, John Richardson, Annette McMullen, Peter Bowler, Howard Boswell, Catherine Ritchie, Sarah Taylor, Graham Baker, Jackie Finnemore, Wendy Gee, James Astle, Miles Brain, Joan Lazonby, John & Ann Shuttleworth, Sheila Howells, Richard Kempa, Frank & Joyce Crowther, Evelyn Cotterill, Margaret Wright
And for the departed:
Brenda York, Peter Harvey, Mirella Mason, Valerie Roycroft
Remembering their families and friends at this time
This week:
Monday 7th 10.30am Peter Harvey’s funeral – St M&W
Wednesday 9th 7.30pm STONE PCC meeting - Church
Thursday 10th 10.30am Holy Communion – St M&W
Friday 11th 11am Valerie Roycroft’s funeral – St M&W
PARISH DIARIES Please buy a diary.We still have 45 to sell!!
SUNDAY LUNCH AT STONE GOLF CLUB – JANUARY 13TH 2019.All welcome. Please sign the sheets at the back of both churches, or see a member of Aston Social Committee
DEFIBRILATOR TRAINING. Although it is simple to use, a date has been set – Jan 12th from 10am in St Michael’s Hall. More information is available from Dennis Abbott on 07866 341111. Members of all congregations are welcome
SUNDAY 6TH January 4pm Healing and meditation service at St M&W – all welcome