ALL SAINTS', STONE WITH WOODFORD

No services in Stone during lockdown

Our two church wardens, Andy and Naomi, feel it is unsafe to continue with services at this time, but hope they can resume as soon as the national situation improves.
In the meantime have a look online and see what you can find!
If you click the following link you can find out more about the services at Gloucester Cathedral:
https://www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk/worship/services/services-live-stream/

'Thought for the Day'
Sunday, 17th January 2021

Called or Collared?
This is the title of a book about calling, or if you prefer, vocation. In the Christian or church context, talk of calling is too often taken to mean exploring steps to becoming a priest, and thus wearing a collar, so we can downplay the fact that God is constantly reaching out, calling out to everyone, whether “religious” or not. If people do choose to hear that call, it will eventually result in undertaking certain (very possibly not “churchy”) things, and very possibly changing direction, but God’s prime wish is for everyone to experience “life, and life in all its fullness.” (John 10.10). It’s a shame that “calling” can sometimes feel like a weary and rather cheerless sense of “bounden duty and service” in our thinking and experience, a sense of being collared.
So it is good that all the Scripture readings set for this Sunday give a far bigger, more glorious and appealing vision and context of God at work. In our dark and locked-down situation, a bigger view and wider vistas are essential to our mental and spiritual health. For example, if you have been thinking recently of and yearning for sunnier weather, better news and the next holiday, you will know the value of wider perspectives. Perhaps in spiritual matters, we tend to become a bit like Eli in today’s Old Testament reading. The first thing we discover about Eli is that “his eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see.” Before this, we read that in the nation generally “there were not many visions.” Things have become dull and visionless: Eli is just mechanically maintaining the status quo.
So how to maintain and nurture our personal and collective inner spiritual vision in closed-down times? Curiously, I would say, by letting go and letting God. Ask him, seek. Do look at the other readings for today: particularly in the case of David (Psalm 139) and Nathaniel (John 1.43ff) you will see true joy and inspiration as they experience an insight into God’s love and power (David) or answer God’s calling (Nathaniel). This reality can be ours too, and as we explore it begin to see what is uniquely ours to do.
David Frith

Private prayer

If you would like to enter the church for a moment of private prayer, please contact Naomi (details below). She will arrange for the church to be unlocked for you.

Should you need someone to talk to, or you'd like someone to pray for you (or with you), contact Naomi (details below).

At the moment All Saints' doesn't have a vicar, so for general enquiries please contact the churchwarden, Naomi Sargent: 01454 260376

For enquiries about weddings and funerals, please contact David Bainbridge: 01453 810049

Recycled Christmas cards

In previous years old Christmas cards could be left inside the church and a volunteer would take them to Cheltenham for recycling. Covid restrictions mean we can’t do so this year, but we hope to be offering this service again in January 2022. More information about the Cobalt ‘Big Sort’ can be found here:
www.cobalthealth.co.uk/support-us/the-big-sort-2021-recycle-your-cards-for-cobalt/

A call to prayer for the nation

www.gloucester.anglican.org/2020/a-call-to-prayer-for-the-nation/

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Upcoming Events:
Colour Key:
Berkeley Benefice St Mary's - Berkeley
All Saints' - Stone   St Michael's - Hill

Benefice Services
During the next few months (depending on Covid restrictions) there will be a 10.30 am Sunday service each week in one of our three churches. Our Lay Readers, the ‘Eleven’ team and the Stone Leading Worship team have stepped into action to take the majority of these services, and we have priests booked for Parish Communion services. Risk assessments and careful planning to manage services have been done for each of our very different churches. It is a good idea to arrive early for a service so you have enough time to ‘check in’ - hand sanitising and finding a socially distanced seat mean it could take longer to settle in. You'll be asked for a name and contact number from each ‘bubble’ so we can assist ‘Track and Trace’ if need be. Don't forget to bring a face covering.