The Reverend John Murdoch
The Manse of Colvend, Southwick and Kirkbean
Colvend DG5 4QN
07578 558978 : 01556 630358 : jmurdoch@churchofscotland.org.uk
www.colvendchurch.com
Letter for Lent: as Easter beckons
Dear friends
As I write this on a sunny Monday morning in the last week of February, it’s a lovely thought that Spring is just around the corner, with Holy Week now only a five week journey away: the journey through Lent is always a challenge and never easy for any of us.
This poem below was recently read during the Family Service on the first Sunday in Lent, 22nd February, Thinking Day :To Keep a True Lent by Robert Herrick in 1648.
Is this a Fast, to keep the Larder lean? and clean from fat of veals and sheep?
Is it to quit the dish of flesh, and yet still to fill the platter high with fish?
Is it to fast an hour, or ragg’d go, or show a down-cast look and sour?
No: ’tis a Fast to dole thy sheaf of wheat and meat unto the hungry soul.
It is to fast from strife and old debate and hate; to circumcise thy life; to show a heart grief-rent; to starve thy sin, not bin; and that’s to keep thy Lent.
These words sit well with Jesus’ words from St Matthew, also heard in Church on that Sunday which was Thinking Day, for Guides, Scouts and for us all as we think about the journey to the Cross, but always remembering with joy what happened on the Third Day.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he as hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Then the devil took him o the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’
Much to think about. Lent gives us this annual opportunity. Do come to Church as Easter beckons. If you haven’t been for a while, Easter is the perfect time to reconnect, particularly in Holy Week when, with others, you will hear the Gospels [ see overleaf ] read aloud by fellow parishioners in an enriching devotional exercise, coinciding with the first printing in English of the New Testament 500 years ago in 1526 by William Tyndale.
I send my very best wishes to you for a very Happy Easter!
John
*Information about the reading of the Gospels
The Gospels will be read aloud in Colvend and Southwick Churches from 30 March until 3 April. Readings will be from a large print King James Version on the Lectern. Those who have signed as Readers will begin their Reading where the previous Reader has ended. There will be nothing announced as the Scriptures are read. See below for times and dates.
Everyone must feel at ease to come and go and stay for as long or as short a time as wished!
Monday 30 March : 10 am – 12 Noon in Colvend : St Matthew Chapters 1 – 18
Tuesday 31 March : 10 am – 12 Noon in Southwick : St Matthew Ch 19 – St Mark Ch 8
Wednesday 1 April : 9 am – 10 45 am in Colvend : St Mark Ch 9 – St Luke Ch 10
Maundy Thursday 2 April : 4 – 6 pm in Southwick : St Luke Ch 11 – St John Ch 4
Good Friday 3 April : 9 30 am – 11 30 am in Colvend : St John Ch 5 – St John Ch 21
Services in March and April together with Holy Week and Easter Services
Sunday 1st March : Lent 2 : Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am
Sunday 8th March : Lent 3 : Morning Service in Colvend at 11 am
Sunday 15th March : Lent 4 : Mothering Sunday : Family Service in Southwick at 11 am
Sunday 22nd March : Lent 5 : Holy Communion Service in Colvend at 11 am
Sunday 29th March : Palm Sunday Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am
Wednesday 1st April : Short Devotional Service in Colvend at 11 am
Maundy Thursday 2nd April : Holy Communion in Southwick at 6 30 pm
Good Friday 3rd April : The Three Hour Service in Colvend : 12 noon – 3 pm.
Come and go : Stay for as long a time as desired
Sunday 5th April : Easter Day. Easter Morning Service with Holy Communion in Colvend at 11 am
Sunday 12th April : Low Sunday : Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am
Sunday 19th April : The Second Sunday after Easter : Songs of Praise in Colvend at 11 am
Sunday 26th April : The Third Sunday after Easter : Family Service in Southwick at 11 am
Notable events in the near future
The Stated Annual Meeting will take place on a date to be confirmed, by notification on the website and within the Intimations on the weekly Orders of Service.
Christian Aid Lunch in Colvend Church Hall : Saturday 9th May
The Manse of Colvend, Southwick and Kirkbean
Colvend DG5 4QN
07578 558978 : 01556 630358 : jmurdoch@churchofscotland.org.uk
www.colvendchurch.com
Letter for Lent: as Easter beckons
Dear friends
As I write this on a sunny Monday morning in the last week of February, it’s a lovely thought that Spring is just around the corner, with Holy Week now only a five week journey away: the journey through Lent is always a challenge and never easy for any of us.
This poem below was recently read during the Family Service on the first Sunday in Lent, 22nd February, Thinking Day :To Keep a True Lent by Robert Herrick in 1648.
Is this a Fast, to keep the Larder lean? and clean from fat of veals and sheep?
Is it to quit the dish of flesh, and yet still to fill the platter high with fish?
Is it to fast an hour, or ragg’d go, or show a down-cast look and sour?
No: ’tis a Fast to dole thy sheaf of wheat and meat unto the hungry soul.
It is to fast from strife and old debate and hate; to circumcise thy life; to show a heart grief-rent; to starve thy sin, not bin; and that’s to keep thy Lent.
These words sit well with Jesus’ words from St Matthew, also heard in Church on that Sunday which was Thinking Day, for Guides, Scouts and for us all as we think about the journey to the Cross, but always remembering with joy what happened on the Third Day.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he as hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Then the devil took him o the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’
Much to think about. Lent gives us this annual opportunity. Do come to Church as Easter beckons. If you haven’t been for a while, Easter is the perfect time to reconnect, particularly in Holy Week when, with others, you will hear the Gospels [ see overleaf ] read aloud by fellow parishioners in an enriching devotional exercise, coinciding with the first printing in English of the New Testament 500 years ago in 1526 by William Tyndale.
I send my very best wishes to you for a very Happy Easter!
John
*Information about the reading of the Gospels
The Gospels will be read aloud in Colvend and Southwick Churches from 30 March until 3 April. Readings will be from a large print King James Version on the Lectern. Those who have signed as Readers will begin their Reading where the previous Reader has ended. There will be nothing announced as the Scriptures are read. See below for times and dates.
Everyone must feel at ease to come and go and stay for as long or as short a time as wished!
Monday 30 March : 10 am – 12 Noon in Colvend : St Matthew Chapters 1 – 18
Tuesday 31 March : 10 am – 12 Noon in Southwick : St Matthew Ch 19 – St Mark Ch 8
Wednesday 1 April : 9 am – 10 45 am in Colvend : St Mark Ch 9 – St Luke Ch 10
Maundy Thursday 2 April : 4 – 6 pm in Southwick : St Luke Ch 11 – St John Ch 4
Good Friday 3 April : 9 30 am – 11 30 am in Colvend : St John Ch 5 – St John Ch 21
Services in March and April together with Holy Week and Easter Services
Sunday 1st March : Lent 2 : Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am
Sunday 8th March : Lent 3 : Morning Service in Colvend at 11 am
Sunday 15th March : Lent 4 : Mothering Sunday : Family Service in Southwick at 11 am
Sunday 22nd March : Lent 5 : Holy Communion Service in Colvend at 11 am
Sunday 29th March : Palm Sunday Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am
Wednesday 1st April : Short Devotional Service in Colvend at 11 am
Maundy Thursday 2nd April : Holy Communion in Southwick at 6 30 pm
Good Friday 3rd April : The Three Hour Service in Colvend : 12 noon – 3 pm.
Come and go : Stay for as long a time as desired
Sunday 5th April : Easter Day. Easter Morning Service with Holy Communion in Colvend at 11 am
Sunday 12th April : Low Sunday : Morning Service in Southwick at 11 am
Sunday 19th April : The Second Sunday after Easter : Songs of Praise in Colvend at 11 am
Sunday 26th April : The Third Sunday after Easter : Family Service in Southwick at 11 am
Notable events in the near future
The Stated Annual Meeting will take place on a date to be confirmed, by notification on the website and within the Intimations on the weekly Orders of Service.
Christian Aid Lunch in Colvend Church Hall : Saturday 9th May
Colvend, Southwick and Kirkbean Church is a registered Charity, Scottish Charity Number SCO1353