THE OTHER SIDE8th March 2020 2nd Sunday of Lent

08.00 Holy Communion (said) Dave Bull09.15 Holy Communion (sung) Sarah Fitzgerald & Graeme Slocombe10.59 Informal Service Sarah Fitzgerald & Graeme Slocombe17.30 Be Still Roland Slade19.00 Informal Evening Service Roland Slade

We are ordinary people led by an extraordinary God, whose love inspires us to welcome everyone, serve our communities and grow as we follow Jesus together

Coronavirus: advice for Sunday servicesFor the sake of our whole community, please take care to take extra precautions, including using a tissue to catch coughs & sneezes and binning the tissue, washing and sanitizing hands frequently and avoiding touching your eyes and nose with unwashed hands.While in church - if you have a cold or flu symptoms, please refrain from shaking hands (including during The Peace) and, if you receive communion, please take the bread only and not the wine. At present, there is no Government advice that suggests that sharing a cup at Holy Communion should be suspended altogether.Out of a particular concern for our older members, please bear in mind that others (especially those for whom the virus is more dangerous) may wish to avoid personal contact - even if you have no symptoms at all. If anyone at any of our services chooses to refrain from shaking your hand or taking communion - please treat them with compassionate understanding and without judgement.Hand-sanitisers are available for everyone to use available at the back of church. Priests will use these before serving at Communion. Please refrain from dipping the communion wafer in the cup (sometimes called 'intinction') as this represents an infection transmission route as well as a risk to those with certain allergies.Thank you for showing your love for our church family by following these guidelines.

Church LunchWe are very sorry, but there will be no church lunch this month.

NEXT SUNDAY: YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR ANNUAL CELEBRATION SUNDAY SERVICE ON 15TH MARCH.There will be a joint morning service at 10.30am when we can thank God for the good things that have happened in our church over the last year (the 8.00am service will go ahead as usual, but there will not be individual 9.15am and 10.59 services ). A joint kids’ group will run during the service, in the Church Hall – we will be showing a film and doing crafts and games. Children should be dropped-off at the Church Hall before the service starts at 10.30am; & then collected after the service (CHILDREN WILL NOT BE COLLECTED OR RETURNED TO THE CHURCH). Any volunteers willing to help facilitate this joint group are very welcome and should talk to Matt Clark.The Celebration Service will include the Annual Church Council Meeting (ACCM) where we elect Churchwardens & members of the Church Council, 4U Team Council and Deanery Synod – if you want to be nominated for any of these roles, there is now a sheet at the back of the church, to write your name plus proposer & seconder. If you would like to hear more about the various elected roles, please speak to one of the Service Wardens or Churchwardens – we would love to hear from you.

WELCOME LUNCH If you are new to All Saints Marlow, we would like to invite you to our Welcome Lunch on Sunday 29th March, 12.30-2.30pm in the main church building after the 10.59 service. This is our way of saying "Welcome to All Saints". Come and meet members of the clergy and staff team, the welcome team and other newcomers over a light buffet lunch. Children are welcome, and we will have a creche. Please let us know if you can join us by contacting Ruth Scott welcometeam@4u-team.org

Footprints: A service of remembrance Friday 13 March, 7.30pm, Holy Trinity Church, Lane End. Footprints is an annual service for anyone who has lost a child during pregnancy or at any stage of life or has been affected by such a loss.

Churchyard Maintenance (Grass cutting)Two of our volunteers are unable to continue to help with maintaining the churchyard so we are looking for two people to join the team with responsibility for cutting the grass in an agreed area. Mowers & equipment are provided with work carried out at a time to suit yourself. If you are able to help in this way and/or would like more information about what the task involves please contact Steve Pearson - stevepearson1@sky.com or call on 07717 610733. If you would like to help but only have limited availability why not 'job share' and team up with someone else?Baptism Ministry. There have recently been some changes in our team who help care for families coming to us for christenings/baptisms and thanksgivings. After many years of sterling service Caroline Wesson has stepped down as co-ordinator and Angela Baldwin, from Little Marlow has moved away. Our thanks to both of them for everything they have done. Initial enquiries will now go to the Parish Office. Glynis will book in requests for All Saints, Marlow and pass on requests for Little Marlow to Wendy Osborn, and for Bisham to Janet Portergill. Roland Slade will help manage the ones at ASM and deal with any logistical issues re services etc. there. Sarah Fitzgerald will continue to have oversight for our Baptism ministry in the team, deal with questions of principle and take the preparation sessions. The baptism visitors will continue to support families. This is an important aspect of our ministry and we are very grateful to all those have helped in the past and do so currently.

Lighthouse Marlow will run from 3-7 August at Holy Trinity School. Registration for volunteers to help is now open! If you have helped in the last two years you should have received an email with a link to register for this year. Please use the link – it makes the process easier for you and prevents a duplicate record being created! If you are a new volunteer please register by going to https://lighthousecentral.org/get-involved. There are roles for anyone able to help for a day or more, for mornings only or for helping set up and clear the site (evenings and weekend for the week or so before and weekend after Lighthouse). More information on the different roles can be found at https://lighthousecentral.org/lighthouses/marlow/roles . Any questions email marlow@lighthousecentral.org We need around 300 volunteers – please consider

Staff team changes: This week, Harriet Miles stepped down from her role as Rector's PA and Deanery Administrator.  It has been an absolute joy working with Harriet for the past 4 years and she has served us all with huge enthusiasm, faith and love.  It's no exaggeration to say that she has been an important part of many of the good things we have seen the Lord doing in our parish.  I'm sure you will want to join me in thanking Harriet and in praying for her and her husband Chris as they commence the next chapter of their lives. Taking over from Harriet on a temporary basis is Charlie Brown (like Harriet, a member of this church).  Charlie brings with her a wealth of experience and organisational ability and a vibrant faith.  Her email address is charlie.brown@4u-team.org.  Welcome to the team Charlie!  From now on, please address all enquiries to Charlie and please pray for her as she takes on this new role.  Please also bear with us if there are any glitches in the transition process!  Dave

Thames Valley Hub Open Evening Tuesday 31stMarch 7-9pm at Kerith Centre in Bracknell. For anyone interested in studying theology. For more information see postcards at the back of the church.

Concerts in aid of The Music TrustSunday 8th March 3.00pm. "Nevertheless, She Sang"  Songs and operatic arias for International Women's Day sung by gifted local soprano, Fran Stafford, accompanied by Matthew Stanley, piano.   Admission free, retiring collection and tea served after the concerts.  Not to be missed!Sunday 5 April at 3pm, at All Saints’ Parish Church, Marlow.As a very fitting start to Holy Week, Jeremy and Geraldine Rowe (counter-tenor and soprano) will perform Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater , accompanied by organist Rhidian Jones , with projected images, and poetry read by Roger Deats.Free entry with retiring collection for the All Saints’ Music Trust. Coffee and tea available after the concert.CONCERT DATES FOR YOUR DIARYSun 8th March 3.00pm Fran Stafford (soprano)Sat 21st March 7.30pm Chiltern Music Academy in aid of Rotary charitiesSat 28th March 7.30pm Chiltern Concert Band

helping. Thanks!

Copies of Pathways, the Diocesan magazine, are available at the back of the church.

Church Cleaning & Brasses - volunteers neededA few of our volunteers are unable to continue to help with cleaning the church and polish the brasses, so we are looking for people to join the team.Brasses - this is on a rota basis and we are currently looking for people to clean for an hour each week for a month or two. The months that need covering are January, June, October and December.Cleaning - we are looking for volunteers to help with four areas of the church. Some areas require an hour's clean each week, whilst others can be done fortnightly.  If you are able to help but only have limited availability, then you could 'job share' with someone else.Charlie Brown is also stepping down as the Cleaning team leader, so we are looking for someone to take on this role.  If you are able to help and/or would like more information, please contact either Charlie Brown - charlie.brown@4u-team.org or 07540286662 or Richard Powell - richard.powell@4u-team.org or 07718126668.

Marlow Refugee ActionWelcome to Britain? We invite you to an event which explores the reality facing refugees arriving in the UK. Monday 9th March 7:30-9pm at Christ Church URC.

Inspiring speakers, stories and information that will help to dispel the myths. All welcome! If you wish to know more please contact  vanessa.faulkner2@gmail.com.Convoy to Calais. There’s another team going out on Tues 24th March to work on the following 3 days. If you would like to come, you will need to book your travel & accommodation. We will meet on the Tuesday night for a briefing (30mins), then again about 9am on Wednesday at the warehouse where we will be working.There will be the chance to take breaks and do what you are able. If you can’t come but want to support this project, there is a big need for new small size men’s boxer shorts. Rev. David Downing 079675 02710 revmandm@gmail.com Copies of our latest Newsletterat rear of the church, or if you would like join the mailing list please email info@marlowrefugee.org.uk

There will be a Special Collection for the Greek Island Emergency at each of the services this morning. The money will be donated to Marlow Refugee Action to provide essential aid to the refugees and migrants trapped in this this tragic situation through the

Healing RoomsThe next session will be on Saturday 14th March.As usual we will be at Christ Church URC on Oxford Road from 10 am to 12 noon.

Christian Aid Week in MarlowAs it has been increasingly difficult to recruit house-to-house collectors, the Marlow group has decided to compensate for the fall-off by introducing an ‘envelope drop’ scheme on a trial basis. Envelopes will be distributed to some homes with a note explaining that they will no longer be collected but donations can be made online or toone of several collection points in Marlow or Marlow Bottom. We will try to monitor the effectiveness of this trial, & continue to support existing collectors who wish tocontinue collecting house-to-house. The sponsored walk from Bix will take place on Saturday 16 May. together with a daytime street collection in central Marlow. For these new ventures to be successful lots of volunteers are needed, especially for the envelope drop & the street collection. Can you help to raise funds for Christian Aid’s work with some of the world’s poorest people affected by climate change. We would like to know now in order to make the necessary preparations. Forms are available in church indicating how you could help. Please return asap to Tony Threlfall, 61 Cambridge Road, Marlow (tony.threlfall@live.co.uk, Tel. 471610) or to Jean Ashford, 24 Squirrel Rise, Marlow Bottom (jeanashford@yahoo.com, Tel. 486227).

Christian Climate Response - All Saints MarlowMany of us are troubled by the unfolding climate emergency and struggling to identify the correct Christian response. It’s encouraging to see growing signs of action and awareness not only in the mainstream news but also from the Churches and Christian organisations including the NGO’s and even the Church of England General Synod announcement recently. 2020 is being seen as a critical year for our planet, and in the run up to the International COP26 Climate Summit being hosted in Glasgow inNovember, Christian Aid, CAFOD and Tearfund have joined together to encourage a year of passionate prayer for justice and for climate solutions. Alongside these corporate signs we are also facing up to the individual lifestyle changes necessary, and we can often feel bombarded with advice and conflicting opinions. As we embark on the season of Lent which in itself gives us the opportunity to step back, re-evaluate and reflect on our lives, if you would like to navigate this particular strand of our faith alongside others from our church we are offering a few ideas and suggestions:

meet to pray with others for the climate each Friday of Lent at 8:30am in the prayer chapel

follow the Church of England’s #LiveLent campaign (available as an app or by email https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/l

volunteer groups established on Samos and continuing their work despite the very challenging conditions.

A Lent Quiet Day 'Encountering the Desert' led by Revd Joanna and Nick Gallanton Saturday 14th March 10am to 4pm at St Francis Church Terriers. (See poster)

Lent Lunches every Friday until the 3rd April at the Pugin Rooms, St. Peter’s RC Church 12 – 2pm. Home-made soup etc. £5

meet to pray with other Christians in Marlow on the first Monday evening of each month between now and the November summit

iving-out-our-faith/lent-holy-week-and-easter/livelent-care-gods-creation, and I have a few copies of the booklet)

join a small team to look at renewing our church commitment to the Eco Church programme over the coming months

If you would like to take up any of these suggestions please contact Vanessa.faulkner2@gmail.com or just turn up on Friday mornings.

Please do join us for coffee in the Church Hall after the 9.15 service.The Hall is just past the George & Dragon and is fully accessible.

SERVICES FOR THE COMING WEEK

Services for coming weekTuesday: 10.30 Holy CommunionWednesday: 08.15 Morning PrayersFriday: 19.00 Evening Prayers

Readings for next week:Exodus 17:1-7 John 4:5-29

Next Sunday 15th March – 3rd Sunday of Lent08.00 Holy Communion (said)10.30 Celebration Sunday with ACCM17.30 Evensong

www.4u-team.org

TOGETHER IN AT ALL SAINTSWeek beginning 8th March 2020

A Prayer for Lent You, Lord Jesus, knew great power, to heal, to transform, to proclaim the reign of God; so you met great temptations. The wrong way, glittering and possible, was open; you could rule if you chose, in majesty and wonder, more victorious than Alexander, more imperial than Caesar. But you said No, simply, decisively, forever, for us. Holy Spirit of God, enable us to respond to temptation with the strength of your word within us, so that we may hold firm to our calling and take your better way in faithfulness. Amen

Pray for honest and respectful discussion as we revue our values and plan for an exciting and inclusive future direction for our church, pray that all will feel involved and their views valued, may we keep God at the centre of all we do.

Pray that all who take time this Lent to reflect on their spiritual path with honesty and an open heart and mind to discern God’s will in their lives, may feel renewed and empowered.

Pray for the hundreds affected by the floods in parts of our country, for loss of homes and businesses as they wait for the waters to recede to start clearing up and rebuilding

Pray especially for the homeless and displaced, the unwanted and persecuted: refugees the lost and abandoned Pray for those who support and care wherever they are able, to offer prayer, hope and practical support. Remember the many places where Christians are persecuted for their faith, their churches burnt and destroyed, and their lives threatened. Pray for tolerance, protection and acceptance, a time of new hope and new beginnings, a renewal of faith in God’s love and protection

Pray that all coming into our church may find a safe place to share and discuss, a calm oasis in a busy and complicated life. Give thanks for the blessings each one of us has received this week.

Pray for all those at home and abroad whose lives have been altered by violence, terrorist acts, severe weather and tragic accidents. Pray for the thousands already affected by the coronavirus outbreak those in quarantine and those who have lost their lives. Pray for the carers, doctors and nurses, technicians and researchers preparing for a possible outbreak in the UK.

Pray for all those in government and positions of authority that they will make wise and good decisions in the interests of those they have sworn responsibility for and put aside personal ambition and self interest in the name of peace, respect and prosperity for the world and its needs. Pray for calm and respect as we leave the EU and move to a new future of independence.

Pray for those who are sick in body mind or spirit and all those who struggle to make sense of their lives and are facing times of personal crisis. Pray for those who are elderly and housebound, or living in residential homes with few friends or visitors. Pray for those recovering in hospital or at home, those waiting for treatment; those coming to terms with serious illness, disability or changed lifestyles.

PRAYER

Pray for those who have recently died and for those who mourn them. May all know the peace of Christ. Pray for those named on the Prayer Board in our church and all who request our prayers.