Dearest friends,
At the well in Samaria, Jesus asks a simple question: “Give me a drink.” What begins as an ordinary encounter becomes a moment of transformation. The woman arrives carrying her water jar, expecting a routine task, but leaves with something far greater — the promise of “living water.”
Lent invites us to recognise our own thirst. We often draw from wells that cannot truly satisfy: success, approval, comfort, or distraction. Yet Christ meets us in the ordinary places of life, just as he met the woman at the well, and offers the deeper gift of God’s grace.
He speaks honestly to her life, yet with compassion, opening a new future rather than dwelling on the past.
What is striking is how the story ends. The woman leaves her jar behind and goes to tell others about Jesus. Having encountered the living water, she cannot keep the good news to herself.
The same invitation is offered to us today. As we journey through Lent, we are called to pause at the well with Christ, to allow him to reveal our deeper needs, and to receive again the life that only he can give — a life that overflows in faith, hope, and love.
In love,
Fr. Matthew
Notices
Lent on the BBC
Over Lent the BBC has produced six Lent Talks. It’s aired at 05:45 on Saturday mornings on BBC Radio Four – but if that’s a touch early, even in Lent, you can 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on the pew sheet and in the chapel of Our Lady at St. Luke’s. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that it’s somewhat out of date, and even with my manual additions, there are many people not remembered.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.
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
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 REGISTER HERE.
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
Sunday 8th March
3rd Sunday of Lent
9am – Sung Parish Mass [SJ]
11:15am – Sung Parish Mass [SL]
3pm – 5pm – Explorers [SC]
4pm – Stations of the Cross, EP, Benediction [SL]
Psalter Week 3, A(II), Lent 3
Upcoming Dates
March
8th – Explorers, 3pm [SC]
Stations of the Cross, Adoration & Benediction
with Evening Prayer, 4pm [SL]
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
with Evening Prayer, 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