Dear Friends

At the request of the Church Assembly in 1954 Geoffrey Fisher and Cyril Garbett, archbishops respectively of Canterbury and York, produced A Short Guide to the Duties of Church Membership. It may perhaps be of use to us as we approach Lent together to help us examine our consciences.

All baptized and confirmed members of the Church must play their full part in its life and witness. That you may fulfil this duty we call upon you:

• To follow the example of Christ in home and daily life, and to bear personal witness to Him.
• To be regular in private prayer day by day.
• To read the Bible carefully.
• To come to Church every Sunday.
• To receive the Holy Communion faithfully and regularly.
• To give personal service to Church, neighbours, and community.
• To give money for the work of parish and diocese and for the work of the Church at home and overseas.
• To uphold the standard of marriage entrusted by Christ to His Church.
• To care that children are brought up to love and serve the Lord.

With love and my prayers,

James.

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Storm Eunice damage to roof

There has been some serious damage to the roof of the Church above the South Door – please see picture below. As a precaution David Bird has taped off the garden and the south door and the south side of the memorial garden as there are many tiles caught in the gutters which could still fall. We can use the West Door to enter the church for service tomorrow and the small door on the south side is OK as well but must be approached from the east.

David has also looked at as much roof as he is able, and the rest seems OK apart from one or perhaps two tiles off the north aspect of the nave. The loss adjuster for our insurance company has been to look at the damage. We hope to hear back soon.

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Sunday and weekday Services

Our weekly service times are:
Sunday 10:00am Eucharist
Tuesday 10:00am Morning Prayer (BCP)
Thursday 10:30am Holy Communion (BCP)

The weekly online service is now a livestream of our Sunday Morning Eucharist Service. The link for the livestream page is https://stmarymagdalene.church/livestream-service/ the Service for the coming Sunday is listed on this page on a Friday. The page includes a video that will go live at approximately 9:55am on Sunday, it also has the words to the hymns, collects and readings and has a downloadable service booklet. It will continue to be made available to those who, for whatever reason, are unable to attend church.

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Sunday Services

The PCC has decided to reopen the centre pews, but the two side aisles will continue to be alternate pew seating arrangements should anyone feel uncomfortable with open pews. Although we would prefer face masks to continue to be worn due to hymn singing, this is now optional. We have also reintroduced coffee after the service. We are still monitoring the current situation.

Please do not feel obliged to come to any of the services, you must do what you feel is safest for you. Your well-being is of our paramount interest.

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Coffee and Concerts

The March concert features the Enfield Grammar School Brass Band. Coffee or tea and cake at 11:30 in the Vestry £2.50 and the concert at 12:30 with a retiring collection towards the music at church.

Dates for 2022

March 9th Enfield Grammar School Brass Band
April 13th Roddy Elmer; Susannah Knight; Michael Lovejoy Piano; Oboe; Violin
May 11th Serafini Chamber Ensemble
June 8th Maria Ersoz Piano
July 13th Simon Gregory Organ

No Concert in August

September 14th Catherine Leonard Piano
October 12th Jonathan Marten Organ
November 9th Jonathan Newby Piano
December 14th Bush Hill Recorder Group

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Coffee Mornings

It was so lovely to be able to hold our first coffee morning after such a long interval and many thanks to Kate & Bob for hosting. It was also lovely to welcome 15 people who braved the torrential rain. We had a lovely morning with gorgeous cakes & coffee plus raffle etc. not to mention all the chat & the good news is we raised the lovely sum of £187.50 towards the refurbishment of the Vestry kitchen so huge thanks to all plus others who sent kind donations.

Our next morning is 11a.m. at Maureen (Mo) and Malcolm’s, 62 First Avenue, Enfield EN1 1BN. If you do not have a car, buses 377 and 192 (latter from Palace Gdns.) both go to Bush Hill Park Station. First Avenue runs past the station so alight there & then it’s just a little trot to No. 62. Hope to see lots of you there but if you are unable to come a small donation would be very welcome.

Thank you everyone for your wonderful support throughout the years – please continue to support everyone this year.

Best wishes to you all Rita

15th March – Maureen Lunn
19th April – Alison Reeve
17th May – Josie Andrews
21st June – Gill & David Bird
19th July – Judy and Michael Smith

Vestry fund

Just to follow on from Rita, at the end of January, without Kate and Bob’s Coffee Morning, our Vestry Fund stood at £9,275.00. Thank you to everyone who has so generously donated so far.

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Every breath we take

There was a moment when Moses had asked God what his name is. God was gracious enough to answer, and the name he gave is recorded in the original Hebrew as YHWH.

Over time we’ve arbitrarily added an “a” and an “e” in there to get YaHWeH, presumably because we have a preference for using vowels. But scholars and rabbis have noted that the letters YHWH represent breathing sounds, or aspirated consonants. When pronounced without intervening vowels, it actually sounds like breathing. YH (inhale): WH (exhale).

So, a baby’s first cry, his first breath, speaks the name of God. A deep sigh calls His name – or a groan or gasp that is too heavy for mere words. Even an atheist would speak His name unaware that their very breath is giving constant acknowledgment to God. Likewise, a person leaves this earth with their last breath when God’s name is no longer filing their lungs.

So, when I can’t utter anything else, is my cry calling out His name?

Being alive means I speak His name constantly. Is it heard the loudest when I’m the quietest?

In sadness, we breathe heavy sighs. In joy, our lungs feel almost like they will burst. In fear we hold our breath and must be told to breathe slowly to help us calm down. When we’re about to do something hard, we take a deep breath to find our courage.

When I think about it, breathing is giving him praise. Even in the hardest moments!

This is so beautiful and fills me with emotion every time I grasp the thought. God chose to give himself a name that we can’t help but speak every moment we’re alive. All of us, always, everywhere. Waking, sleeping, breathing, with the name of God on our lips.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Psalms 150:6

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Dates for your diary

March
Tuesday 1st Pancake evening 7:00pm
Wednesday 2nd Ash Wednesday Communion with Ashing 8:00pm
Wednesday 9th Coffee and a concert. 11:30 Coffee and Cake £2.50, 12:30 Concert – Enfield Grammar Brass Band.
Tuesday 15th Coffee Morning 11:00am
Wednesday 16th Fellowship with Mary’s Meals 2:00pm

April
Sunday 10th Palm Sunday Eucharist
Tuesday 12th Agape Meal 7:00pm
Wednesday 13th Coffee and Concerts
Thursday 14th Maundy Thursday Service with Watch 8:00pm
Friday 15th Good Friday Service 12:00noon
Sunday 17th Easter Sunday Eucharist 10:00am
Tuesday 19th Coffee Morning 11:00am
Wednesday 20th Fellowship 2:00pm

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Lent Bible Study

There will be a weekly Bible Study at the Vicarage during Lent. Please see the website or the weekly Bulletin Sheets for an update on details.