Vicar's Blog

February Blog

January was marked with Plough Sunday and thank you to John Price for bringing down a plough from the Day House Farm for our Plough Blessing Service. It was the day of the Tractor Run organised by Teme Valley YFC and the lead tractor was also blessed and the work of all those in this area who farm. God speed the Plough!

Thank you too to the Mortimer’s Cross Singers who sang their 12 days of Christmas Programme on 11th Jan ( a week later than originally planned …. Snow!!) and to those who provided superb refreshments – a feast, and to those who came. £950 was raised towards the Admin costs of the parishes.

In 2025 Easter falls to one of the latest dates it could be – April 20th, which means that Lent doesn’t start until March this year. (it’s all to do with phases of the moon). So February remains clear apart from St Valentine’s Day and the Village Pantomime.

There is one church service that falls on Sunday February 16th this year that I hope you may come along to. For the last 12 years the churches here have been in suspension which means that the Bishop has been legally responsible and I have been the priest in charge. Parishes are put into suspension for various reasons – and a difficult relationship with a previous vicar was part of it, along with wondering whether the parishes might join with another to make the finances easier. After a long period with no movement on groupings of parishes, the bishop has decided to lift the suspension and the parishes are entitled to a Vicar or Rector, and there will be a service to transfer my title to Rector on the 16th February at 10.30am for a joint service with all the parishes in this group at Kingsland Church. I am glad that in my time we have moved to a more stable position and I hope that you will come and enjoy some celebration.

The whole detail of the Church of England is something that I don’t often worry about, titles and positions, enough that I am a priest serving God in this place, and perhaps that is how you feel about your Christian Faith, enough to serve God in your lives without fuss, but there is great help and encouragement by coming together and being part of a Christian Family, whether that is Messy Church, or Sunday Holy Communion, or by being visited by the Church and receiving communion at home, or Youth Group, or Church Choir, Church School Services or by coming to one of the groups that meets (Bible Study, Book Group etc….. or the brass cleaners or church cleaners in the peace of the church). In 2025 (as happens every 6 years) the church electoral roll is remade. This is your opportunity to say that Kingsland Church is your church, and the place where you find help for your faith and friendship and a place to worship. You do need to be baptised/christened and 16 or over, but it would be good if you signed up and acknowledged that Kingsland is your church.

We will be having a time to say thank you to all those who have given to the church through volunteering, through financial contribution and for all their work in being the church, and the opportunity to for all to join the electoral roll afresh and affirm their part in being the church in this place. Being on the electoral roll is a sign of belonging and it does entitle you to vote at the annual meeting for those to represent you on the Church Council.

I have had one person come forward and ask to be confirmed, and wonder if there are any others out there who would like to be confirmed in the summer. There will be classes after Easter to explore the Christian Faith if any are interested. Please speak to myself or to Revd Rosie or Wendy if you are interested.