Dearest friends,
St Joseph stands quietly in the pages of the Gospel, and yet his silence speaks volumes. He is not recorded as saying a single word, but his life is full of faithful action. In a world that often celebrates noise, recognition, and self-assertion, Joseph shows us another way: the way of humble obedience.
When the angel spoke to him in a dream, Joseph did not argue or delay. He simply rose and did what the Lord asked. He took Mary as his wife, welcomed the mystery entrusted to her, and accepted the responsibility of caring for the child who was not his by nature but was given to him by God.
In this we see a man whose life was shaped by trust. Joseph reminds us that holiness is often found in the ordinary duties of life, the ordinary that we talked about at the well last Sunday.
He was a worker, a protector, a husband, and a father. He loved faithfully, guarded what was entrusted to him, and placed God’s will before his own comfort or reputation.
For us, Joseph offers a model of Christian living that is deeply practical. He teaches us to listen for God’s voice, to act with courage when it is heard, and to be faithful in the quiet responsibilities of daily life.
In following Joseph’s example, we learn that greatness in God’s kingdom is often hidden, but never unnoticed by Him.
In love,
Fr. Matthew
Notices
Lent on the BBC
Over Lent the BBC has produced six Lent Talks. It’s aired on Sundays at 19:45 on BBC Radio Four you can also listen online at www.slsj.co.uk/bbclent
Years Mind
Many of you know we keep a list of the souls of the dead in a ‘Year’s Mind’ list. It appears on the pew sheet and in the chapel of Our Lady at St. Luke’s. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that it’s somewhat out of date, and even with my manual additions, there are many people not remembered. I’m going to update the list over Lent and publish a new one in Holy Week. If you’d like the soul of your departed loved one to be on the list, please let me have their details (name and date of death) before Holy Week, people already on the list will not be removed.
Good Friday ‘Come & Sing’
John Maunder’s sacred cantata ‘ Olivet to Calvary’ St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Kingswear. 4.30 pm rehearsal (music provided). Light refreshments for singers 6.30 pm service ALL ARE WELCOME
Dates for the diary
Looking further ahead a few dates for your diary.
- 10th April, Bingo at St. Luke’s – eyes down 7pm.
- 2nd May, Quiz with fish & chips, 7pm, St. Luke’s.
- 5th September, Glastonbury Pilgrimage
Lent Course
Our Lent Course this year will be “Bread of Life’ – a six-week look at the Eucharist and why it forms the model of a good Christian Life.
If you’ve signed up and missed an evening, you can get a recording emailed to you each week. You can still sign up at www.slsj.co.uk/bread
Adventure Motorbike Talk
Join Sam Manicom and Stace Martin for epic stories from their round-the-world motorbike trips. Sam is a veteran round-the-world traveller, and Stace has just started. What wisdom can Sam impart in this fascinating talk and Q&A. March 19th, 7pm, Wickham Hall SIGN UP NOW
Today
Sunday 15th March
4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare / Mothering Sunday)
9am – BCP Parish Mass [SJ]
11:15am – Sung Parish Mass [SL]
6pm – Solemn Evensong with Adoration &
Benediction, 6pm [SJ]
Psalter Week 4, A(II), Lent 4
Upcoming Dates
March
12th – St. John’s PCC Meeting, 5:30pm [WH]
Lent Course, Bread of Life, 7pm [WH]
15th – Solemn Evensong with Adoration & Benediction, 6pm [SJ]
19th – Stations of the Cross, 6pm [SJ]
Motorbike Adventure Talk, 7pm [WH]
21st – Table Top Sale, 10am [WH]
Rosary Group, 10:30am [SL]
22nd – Stations of the Cross, Adoration & Benediction, 4pm [SL]
26th – Oswestry Chrism Mass, Exeter Cathedral, 11am – 3pm
Lent Course, Bread of Life, 7pm [WH]
28th – Easter LIVE!, 2pm [SL]
29th – Palm Sunday Processions 10am [SL & SJ]
Evensong, St. Bart’s
Joint Evensong with PPT
April
2nd – Maundy Thursday, 6pm Joint Mass [SL]
Watch at both churches until 10pm
Light arrives and Watch begins at St. John’s, 8:30pm
3rd – Liturgy of Good Friday, 3pm [SL & SJ]
4th – Vigil Mass of Easter, 7:30pm [SJ]
5th – Dawn Mass of Easter & Breakfast, 5:30am [SL]
Easter Sunday Mass, 10am [SL & SJ]
18th – Table Top Sale, 10am [WH]
25th – Oswestry Regional Festival, Truro Cathedral
[SJ] St. John’s | [SL] St. Luke’s | [WH] Wickham Hall
[SC] St. Catherine’s School