Dear Friends in the Northwest
This Sunday is the first Sunday in Lent; there will be services in Ullapool and Achiltibuie. Next weekend, the second Sunday in Lent, there will be services in Kinlochbervie on Saturday, and in Ullapool and Lochinver on Sunday. Next weekend, we will be joined by Maureen Farquhar, a third-year ordinand from Elgin, who is visiting us to learn about ‘rural ministry’. She will also be with us for Palm Sunday weekend next month.
Our Lent course this year, entitled A Christian Look at the Environment, comes from The John Rae Initiative. We will be meeting on Sundays 18th and 25th February, 3rd, 10th and 17th March at 11.30 a.m. in St Mary’s. This time seemed to work quite well for people last year and there will be time for the usual gathering for refreshments after the morning service before we start. We will finish by 12.30 p.m. If you are unable to attend but would like to receive the materials, please let me know.
Looking ahead, Friday 1st March is World Day of Prayer. This year’s service has been prepared by the Christian women of Palestine. The theme they chose, well before the current conflict, is ‘I beg you…bear with one another in love’, based on Ephesians 4:1-3. The Ullapool service is at 2.30p.m. that day in St Mary’s – please join us if you can to pray with and for the people of the Middle East. If you know of services for World Day of Prayer in other communities across the Charge, please let me know as I am happy to include details in the next newsletter.
On Saturday 2nd March, the Diocesan Synod meets in Inverness. Your prayers for Bishop Mark, and the clergy and lay representatives of the diocese as we meet would be appreciated.
On Sunday 3rd March, there will be a service of sung Evensong in St Mary’s at the ‘winter’ time of 3.00 p.m.
With love and prayers
Rev’d Clare
Please click the link below for this week’s reflection