14th May2023

As mentioned last week, this weekend we celebrate Rogation – derived from the Latin verb ‘rogare’ – to ask. It’s a traditional agricultural festival in which we ‘ask’ (pray) God’s blessing on the land in our parish, that it might be fruitful and bring forth a good harvest later in the year. 

Our worship is going wild with a 10am outdoor service in Barrow Gurney churchyard and picnic brunch afterwards. Everyone’s invited, from all three of our villages and indeed from anywhere else as well, for this community celebration. During the service a new bench in memory of Phil and Ali Lowe will also be dedicated.  Bible readings will be Deuteronomy 8: 1-10 and Matthew 6: 1-15

• Please bring a chair or rug to sit on, and don’t forget your picnic. 
• Please dress for the weather, especially sturdy footwear for damp/uneven terrain (we will go into the church if it rains)
• Also this week, we will be marking Ascension Day on Thursday 18th May with an evening Communion service at 7.30pm at Keedwell Church, Long Ashton (also known as the Church of the Ascension!). All are welcome from across the benefice as we remember Jesus’ ascension to this throne in Heaven, from where he sends his Holy Spirit on the earth and constantly prays for us to God the Father. 

7th May 2023

10.00am Family Communion for the Coronation

The King has chosen themes of community, faith and service to characterise his Coronation service.

All are welcome to join in a Communion service to mark the Coronation, including music, readings, a talk and prayers as we focus on the call to serve one another and build community. 

Also a heads-up that next Sunday 14th May will be our annual rogation service, outdoors at Barrow Gurney (inside if wet!). Please bring a chair or a rug and a picnic lunch, so that we can eat together afterwards. During the service a new bench in memory of Phil and Ali Lowe will also be dedicated. 

You may like to know that our Silent Meditation, a monthly gathering takes place next Thursday 11th May at 2pm in Flax Bourton church – a short introduction followed by a time of silence to pray, listen and reflect. 

30th April 2023

Our Sunday worship will be at Barrow Gurney church at 10am, including Holy Communion and with refreshments to follow, after which we are holding a short information session for anyone who would like to help us prepare our church for worship each week. Some “Service warden” duties include setting out the communion table and lighting the candles. If you might be interested in helping occasionally in this way, do stay on for our meeting.

Readings this week are Acts 2: 42-47 and John 10: 1-10

After a short week with Bank Holiday on Monday (including the North Somerset Show) we will be celebrating the Coronation of King Charles lll next weekend. On Sunday 7th May we will have a Coronation Festival Service at All Saints Church, Long Ashton where the whole community will come together to celebrate.

At 1pm there will be a Big Lunch on Barrow Gurney village green and tickets are available from the Princes’ Motto. Watch out too for other smaller events being organised at street level.

23rd April 2023

This Sunday (the 3rd Sunday of the Easter season) we have 10.00am Cafe Church for Earth Day. We start with refreshments and continue into our service, reflecting on the themes of our exhibition from 10am till 4pm on Saturday. Bible readings this week are: Acts 2: 14a, 36-41 and Luke 24: 13-35

Do come along to Flax Bourton church on Saturday between 10am – 4pm for a jam-packed eco-programme to mark Earth Day: exhibitions, information, activities and refreshments. Join in and see what is being done to make our world a better place in Flax Bourton.

Easter!

Join in worship and commitment as we walk with Jesus on the road through failure and forgiveness, dust and glory, life, death and new life. 

Good Friday (7th April)

10.30am – 12noon – ‘Explore Easter’ – at Barrow Gurney Village Hall

Come and join us for refreshments and creative crafts and activities for all ages to explore the meaning of Easter, ending with a short time of reflection and an Easter Egg Hunt. 

2.00pm – Meditations for the Last Hour – at Barrow Gurney Church. 

A more thoughtful and reflective time of prayer and music as we ponder the mystery of the Crucifixion. 

For our 8.00pm Easter Vigil and Celebration of Light -on Saturday evening at All Saints, Long Ashton- as the sun sets on a day of emptiness and uncertainty, the first glimmers of new light and life are seen. Our service begins outdoors with a bonfire from which the first light of Easter is lit. Processing into a dark church, the candlelight gradually grows until the moment the Resurrection is proclaimed with fanfare and alleluias. It is a truly uplifting service and we look forward to seeing you there.

And finally, on Sunday for Easter we meet at Flax Bourton church at 10.00am for Family Celebration with Easter Communion.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! Come and join the celebration, and discover Easter treats! 

We hope to be able to livestream the service.

2nd April 2023

For Palm Sunday at Barrow Gurney at 10am we will bless our palm crosses and start the journey of Holy Week.

There is something hugely powerful about following in the steps of Jesus through the events and experiences of the last few days of his earthly life. 

The church’s worship during these days is a dramatic and multi-sensory combination of music, silence, light and dark – even fire! – as well as some of the most ancient and beautiful texts and liturgies.  

Join Jesus on the road through failure and forgiveness, dust and glory, life, death and new life. 

On Maundy Thursday we meet at Flax Bourton at 8pm to remember Jesus’ last meal with his disciples and his betrayal by one of his friends. After our service, the altars are stripped of all decoration to signify his abandonment and a silent prayer vigil is held as we remember his ordeal in the Garden of Gethsemane: stay for as long as you’re able. 

Good Friday

10.30am – 12noon – ‘Explore Easter’ – at Barrow Gurney Village Hall

Refreshments and creative crafts and activities for all ages to explore the meaning of Easter, ending with a short time of reflection and an Easter Egg Hunt. 

2.00pm – Meditations for the Last Hour – at Barrow Gurney Church. Quiet meditation and prayer as we ponder the mystery of the Crucifixion. 

Saturday 8th April

8.00pm Easter Vigil and Celebration of Light – at All Saints, Long Ashton

Jesus is dead and buried but, as the sun sets on a day of emptiness and uncertainty, the first glimmers of new light and life are seen. Our service begins outdoors with a bonfire from which the first light of Easter is lit. Processing into a dark church, the candlelight gradually grows until the moment the Resurrection is proclaimed with fanfare and alleluias. We renew our baptismal vows and share the first Communion of Easter. 

And then be with us at 10am in Flax Bourton on Easter Day for the celebration of the resurrection and new life for all.

Plus a note for your diary:

26th March 2023

For the 5th Sunday of Lent, we are at Barrow Gurney at 10am for our now very popular cafe church. Arrive a few minutes early and have a warm cup and a pastry before our informal service looking at the role of the village Bethany in the life of Jesus.

Readings are from Ezekiel 37: 1-14 and John 11: 1-45.

And also this Sunday it’s our Annual Meeting, where we look back over 2022 and marvel at what has been possible. We meet at Keedwell church in Long Ashton at 3pm. All are welcome.

19th March 2023

Mothering Sunday

10.00am Family Communion in Flax Bourton
We gather as God’s family of all ages to give thanks for the love and nurture we receive in our families, our communities and our churches; from God, from mothers and those who are like mothers to us. 

Readings are 1 Samuel 1: 20-28 and John 19: 25-27

Annual Meetings and Celebration

2022 was a significant year in the life of our churches with lots of new growth springing up after the challenges of the lockdowns. 

Come and celebrate with us as we review the year, give thanks to God for his faithfulness and renew our trust for all that lies ahead. 

Our combined annual meeting of both Long Ashton and Barrow Gurney & Flax Bourton parishes will take place on Sunday 26th March at 3.00pm at Keedwell Church, Long Ashton, followed by worship and refreshments. 

12th March 2023

The third Sunday of Lent sees us at Barrow Gurney church at 10am to make the time and space for God’s life-giving Spirit to blow through us as we reconsider what is really important and necessary amid the clutter we so easily accumulate in life and to celebrate communion together.

Readings are Paul’s letter to the Romans 5: 1-11 and the Gospel of John 4: 5-42.

And a reminder that our annual parochial church council meeting will be held at Keedwell church, Long Ashton on Sunday 26th March at 3pm.

5th March 2023

This promises to be a busy week!

For the second sunday of Lent we gather at Flax Bourton church at 10am as God’s family of all ages and stages of faith to commit ourselves afresh to God’s ways and to receive God’s sustenance for our pilgrimage through Lent in scripture, song, prayer and sacrament. 

Please note: this service will be live-streamed and available to join via the Flax Bourton YouTube channel in real time, or to watch afterwards

Readings are from Genesis 12: 1-4a and John 3: 1-17

Also this week, we have Souperlunch on Tuesday 7th March in Flax Bourton church from 12 noon to 1.30pm, followed by a short session of our popular cafe. Come and enjoy home-made soup with bread, cheese and fruit; a warm welcome and plenty of friendly chat.

Then on Thursday 9th March is our next Silent Meditation meeting at Flax Bourton Church at the revised time of 11.00am. The meeting begins with a short introduction followed by an extended time of silence to think, pray and reflect. 

Last call for Electoral Roll

This year, we will be joining together for a combined annual meeting of both Long Ashton and Barrow Gurney & Flax Bourton parishes. This will take place on Sunday 26th March at 3.00pm at Keedwell Church, Long Ashton, followed by refreshments. 

All are welcome to come along and hear what’s said, but, in order to vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meetings, you will need to be a member of the Electoral Roll of the relevant parish.

The Rolls will be open for new additions for one more week until 10th March. If you would like to join the Roll, or are not sure whether you are already on it, please contact the Electoral Roll Officer for your parish: Carolyn Conolly (Long Ashton) or Pat Leighton (Barrow Gurney & Flax Bourton).