April is almost on us and Spring is definitely here, with gardens looking colourful and blossom trees in flower, plus the days are drawing out, so all positive.
Lent has been quite busy with Circuit Lent groups, and invited speakers, on a different evening each week. KMC Lent groups have been on Thursday evenings, using Roots material, Here and There, and have been well attended and have provoked some interesting discussions. Paul’s Sunday morning services on zoom have given food for thought. There has been time for prayer and a gospel reading, before going into smaller groups to discuss the reading, which always brings out new ways of seeing things in a passage which might be very familiar. These services also give us the opportunity to see and discuss with our friends from Woodstock and Tackley, and each service ends with music.
In addition, there is always the on-line Circuit Sunday service, led by a minister or a local preacher.
Messy Church helpers delivered bags with card and craft materials for children to make cards for Mothering Sunday, and these were well received. We had intended to deliver bags for Easter, but plans were changed, and we are now going to do an Easter trail around the church premises on Easter Saturday, using an idea from Scripture Union. Families will be invited to come at different times, so we don’t have too many people there together. They will follow clues to find the 6 stands, where there will be pictures and some questions to answer. A Messy Church helper will be on hand to help out if need be. There will still be bags for the members to take home, with a card, book or comic, plus chocolate of course.
We are also looking to open the church for worship on Palm Sunday, and hopefully it can then remain open for the future. It will be so good to gather together (with restrictions of course) on Easter Sunday to celebrate the risen Christ. We couldn’t meet last Easter, so it will be a real blessing to be able to celebrate together this year.
Janet Makepeace