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Pew News for w/b Sunday 22nd Feb Lent 1

Dear All

I hope this finds you keeping well and have some plans for observing Lent this year. Do look at the resources and prayers included below for some ideas.

Yesterday we gathered in church to give thanks for the life of Barrie, our Churchwarden, which was full of rousing hymns (his favourites) and lots of fond memories. Our prayers continue for Mary and the family.

The readings chosen for the service were all about resurrection hope and reminded me again that Lent has a real and positive purpose if we are to truly celebrate the message of Easter.

This Sunday is about the testing of Jesus in the wilderness for forty days and nights by the enemy of God. The devil didn’t deny the identity, authority and power of Jesus as the Son of God, but rather tested him to see if He would use them for his own ends…

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Our Lord stood firm with a very real opportunity to sin and, after being tested physically, emotionally and spiritually, He was ministered to by God’s angels and begins his ministry in earnest.

What we call temptation is not meant to make us sin: it is meant to enable us to conquer sin, to make us emerge stronger in faith and more like Jesus.

As Jesus stood firmly in his identity as the Son of God, so we can be challenged in our identity as followers of Christ and children of God in our daily lives.

Lent is a time to draw close to God, to know His immense love for us and to stand firm in our identity in Him.

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7

Romans 5:12-19

Matthew 4:1-11

THIS WEEK

Sunday 22nd Feb Lent 1

8am Holy Communion (traditional language)

10am Parish Communion- with coffee afterwards

Weds 25th

9am Parish Prayer

10.30am School Worship

2.30-4pm Journeys and Resting Places Lent Study group at the Rectory 1/6. Please sign up/speak to Revd Gaenor.

7pm PCC meeting at the Rectory.

Fri 27th

12pm Churches Together weekly Friday Lent Talk at Marnhull Methodist Church, Burton St.

2/6 Theme: Exploring the meaning of the hymns we love to sing. 12.30pm Soup lunch- no need to book. Donations welcome.

Sat 28th

9am-11am Church and churchyard working party. Coffee and bacon rolls provided.

NEXT WEEK

Sunday 1st March Lent 2

8am Holy Communion (traditional language)

10am Parish Communion- with coffee afterwards

Weds 4th March

9am Parish Prayer

11am Monthly Holy Communion

2.30-4pm Journeys and Resting Places Lent Study group at the Rectory 2/6.

Fri 6th

12pm Churches Together weekly Friday Lent Talk at Marnhull Methodist Church, Burton St.

3/6 Theme: Exploring the meaning of the hymns we love to sing.

NB No soup lunch as there is Community Lunch Club

2pm Funeral Service for Joan Gaddes, followed by refreshments in church.

Sat 7th

7pm Music at St Gregs 2026: our first event will be a live organ improvisation to the classic silent movie The Phantom of the Opera (1925), presented by David Bednall (Organist & Choral Director at Clifton Cathedral). Appropriate costume is optional! Tickets (£12) can be ordered via Gordon or online at: https://wegottickets.com/event/689597

LOOKING AHEAD

Thurs 12th

2pm Funeral Service for Ann Persson

Fri 13th

Distribution of posies for both primary schools’ mums. Please sign up on sheet in church if you can make posies.

Sun 15th

10am All Age Mothering Sunday Service with posies. All welcome!

Tues 17th

12pm Music for Lent: A 30 minute lunchtime organ recital given by Stephen Binnington. Admission is free- donations to church funds are very welcome.

OTHER NEWS

Please consider leaving a legacy to St Greg’s.There are new leaflets from the PCC explaining what difference a legacy can make.
Do you have any unused children’s fancy dress? The school are looking for costumes in advance of their World Book Day on Thursday 5th March. Please drop off at the school office.Thank you.
Lent Bible study group If you can’t make the afternoons you can download the material for personal use: https://www.salisbury.anglican.org/whoweare/making-jesus-known-/journeys-and-resting-places/journeys-and-resting-places-lent-2026

PRAYERS

Please pray that Christians worldwide would heed Pope Leo’s Lent words: to “begin by disarming our language, avoiding harsh words and rash judgment, refraining from slander and speaking ill of those who are not present and cannot defend themselves,”
Pray that Christians would “strive to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in our families, among our friends, at work, on social media, in political debates, in the media and in Christian communities.”
Pray for the millions of people who are internally displaced in their own countries because of war and violence- for governments to shoulder responsibility for the welfare of their people.
Give thanks for the blessing of music in our lives- in church, at home and in our community
Pray for our PCC meeting as we prepare for the APCM on April 26th- for clarity and unity
Please pray for all in or from our parish who are currently ill in body, mind or spirit- for healing and wholeness

Every blessing this Lent

Gaenor

CONTACT US

Rector Revd Gaenor Hockey

01258 821605 [email protected]

Judith our LLM is on holiday until March 24th

Parish Safeguarding Officer Miriam Gaston

01258 821573 [email protected]

Organist and Music Season Gordon Amery

07817 379006 [email protected]

Singing Group Louise Cousins [email protected]

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