 Lent can be intense, can’t it. A little austere. A little searching. Some days luminous, some days just grey and damp and full of unfinished to do lists. And somewhere in the middle of all that, we need a table.
Not a grand one. Not one groaning under silverware and spectacle. Just a simple church table. Soup. Bread. Maybe something gently sweet. Mugs that don’t quite match. The soft scrape of chairs on the floor. On Friday 20th March, from 12 pm until 2 pm, we’re gathering for a Lent Lunch. Nothing fancy. No performance. Just fellowship. The old fashioned kind. The kind that actually feeds you. There is something deeply subversive about sitting down together in a season that tells us to examine ourselves. We discover we are not alone in the examining. We are not the only ones wrestling, hoping, waiting. We pass salt. We pass stories. We pass grace between us without even noticing. It will be quiet in places. A bit wittery in others. Someone will laugh too loudly. Someone will say something profound by accident. Someone will pour tea like it is a sacrament. And somehow, mysteriously, it will be beautiful. Ruth, dear wise Ruth, is very kindly curating this again. She does it with such understated devotion. If you can help, chopping, serving, setting up, clearing away, please let her know. Lent is always lovelier when shared labour turns into shared joy. Everyone is invited. Truly. Not just the confident. Not just the “sorted”. Not just the ones who feel they’ve done Lent properly. Come if your prayers are fiery. Come if they are barely embers. Come if you simply need to sit down for a while and be among friends. This is not about impressing anyone. It is about presence. It is about bread. It is about belonging. And in a small, radiant way, it is about Christ in our midst, unshowy and utterly real. We would love to see you there.
0 Comments
 Saturday 14th February– not just Valentine’s Day, but the date of the next Paulinus concert at St John’s Church, Sharow, 7pm. Rehearsals are in full swing for a programme of stunning a cappella pieces from the 16th century to the 21st, interwoven with beautiful harp music performed by local harpist, Lucinda Taylor.
Come and join us! Tickets £15, or £20 if you’d like to mark St Valentine’s Day by joining us for a light supper afterwards (pre-booked). December gathers pace quickly. The lights brighten, the streets fill, and every moment seems to ask something of us. In the midst of this swirl, the soul begins to ache for quiet. Stillness becomes a rare gift. At the Magdalen Fellowship of Healing and Prayer, that gift is offered with care. Here, December is not only busy, it is sacred. Here, the heart is invited to rest. We will gather each week for prayer and fellowship, seeking peace rather than pressure. Simple moments. Deep attention. Space to breathe again. Our highlight will be a candlelit evening meditation, shaped by the tenderness and mystery of Christmas. Soft light, long shadows, and silence that speaks. It is a setting where the mind clears, the spirit lifts, and the presence of God becomes almost tangible. Contemplative prayer holds its own quiet intelligence. It teaches us to listen, not react. It draws us into wisdom rather than urgency. As Thomas Merton wrote, “Silence is the language of God, and all else is poor translation.” In stillness, the truth of that settles beautifully. We begin to perceive grace not as an idea but as a living atmosphere. Whether you are seasoned in contemplation or simply curious, the Magdalen Fellowship welcomes you. Come with joy. Come with fatigue. Come with longing. Let this December be more than busy. Let it be luminous. Join us, and discover the peace that waits beneath the noise, patient and profound. Your Magdalen Fellowship Christmas peace :  The Holy Innocents at Copt Hewick are having a glorious festive evening on December 20th ! lease do come along HG45BY. Judith writes: "We are having our carol singing in the village hall at 6.00pm on Saturday the 20th December, which is also the village pub night. There will be a small group of musicians, to accompany our carols. The hall has also kindly offered mince pies and mulled wine. "  All are invited to a joyous Christmas Eve celebration. Come alone, with family, with friends. Come in fancy dress! We'll have an unrehearsed, informal and impromptu nativity story with audience participation and plenty of laughs. Along with all your favourite carols and readings. 4pm on Wednesday 24th December AKA Christmas Eve At St Johns Sharow. We've plenty of parking but please arrive early.  |
NewsBlog Submissions are always very welcome. Share anything you like ! Please send news, articles of interest and events to CommsStJohn'[email protected] Events DiaryCategories
All
Archives
June 2026
|
RSS Feed
Come as you are. You'll find a welcome face.
Typically, the church is open 10am-4pm, seven days per week. Our Facebook Page is never left unattended for long, so please don't hesitate to pop in, join a service or just message 'hello'.
|
