Holy Communion Service – Sunday 9th March

Today’s Collect Prayer

O God,
you know us to be set
in the midst of so many and great dangers,
that by reason of the frailty of our nature
we cannot always stand upright:
grant to us such strength and protection
as may support us in all dangers
and carry us through all temptations;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Today is the first Sunday since Ash Wednesday and first in Lent – (See our previous Sunday worship post). It’s been two weeks since we were last together and the little snowdrops have been superseded by a host of golden daffodils – to quote from Wordsworth.

Prayers for Ukraine – Lighting of the Candle

The service opened with our customary prayers and candle lighting for the people of Ukraine. We began this ritual when the war first began and have prayed consistently for the country and its people at the start of every service since. However, since last October, we now include prayers for peace in Gaza – and today we also remembered the anniversary of the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020.

Covid Pandemic Remembrance and Day of Reflection

Today, 9th March, is the day of Remembrance and Reflection on the fifth anniversary of the start of the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020.

During that first year, our small village lost seven people and several members of our community were seriously ill with the virus. In their memory, the church council planted a Memorial Tree and plaque with the names of the villagers who died and to remember the people who suffered worldwide. The council chose the amalanchier tree because it comes to life in spring, when our first village members passed, but goes on to show beautiful leaf colour in the summer and autumn, which marks the subsequent losses of our friends which happened right through until November 2020. It was one of the saddest times in recent memory for our small community. The little tree also produces fruit that is much loved by blackbirds and other species that live in the churchyard. Here is a photograph of the Memorial Tree, which is growing strongly and just in blossom. The plaque is in the foreground. We haven’t shown the names on the plaque in respect of the families who continue to live here and mourn the loss of their loved ones still.

Themes and thoughts

Today’s service was the first one in St Peter’s since Ash Wednesday, so the service we followed today was a slightly adapted Ashes Service – without the ashing itself but much of the prayers and readings.

The Gospel was Luke 4:1-13 which tells of Jesus’s time in the desert – Forty days and nights where he fasted, prayed and prepared for his ministry.

Forty Days and Forty Nights

The first hymn was of course, ‘Forty Days and Forty Nights’ written by George Hunt Smyttan and published in 1856. George Hunt Smyttan studied at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and graduated B.A. 1845. He was ordained Deacon in 1848, Priest in 1849, and appointed Rector of Hawksworth in 1850.

1. Forty days and forty nights
You were fasting in the wild;
Forty days and forty nights
Tempted, and yet undefiled.

2. Sunbeams scorching all the day;
Chilly dew-drops nightly shed;
Prowling beasts about your way;
Stones your pillow; earth your bed.

3. Shall not we your sorrow share,
And from earthly joys abstain,
Fasting with unceasing prayer,
Glad with you to suffer pain?

4. And if Satan, vexing sore,
Flesh or spirit should assail,
Christ, his vanquisher before,
Grant we may not faint or fail.

5. So shall we have peace divine;
Holier gladness ours be due;
Round us, too, shall angels shine,
Such as ministered to you.

6. Keep, oh, keep us, Saviour dear,
Ever constant at your side;
That we may with you appear
In your resurrection-tide.

Prayers

Prayers were said on confession, repentance, observing and keeping Lent.

Coffee and warm up afterwards

We followed the service with a good cup of hot coffee or tea. Thanks to our service team for a warm and thought provoking service. Upon leaving, we enjoyed the tiny daffodils in planters by the church door. Photos by Maxine Dodd.

Lent 2025

Ash Wednesday – 5th March and this year’s Lent course which begins on 11th March were announced and details will be published here shortly.

Donations

Donations can be made to St Peter’s at any time from the secure payment site here. Donations go towards maintenance of the building, day to day service bills and supports our work in our small community. Donations can be made as one-offs or regular payments.

We thank you for your kind and continued support.