Dear friends,
This Sunday’s readings meditate upon the need for depth of faith: to trust in God is as if to put down roots to guard against drought; to anchor oneself against the storm, and so to bear fruit for the future.
Following (fingers crossed!) the resolution of some technical glitches, our new contactless donationsterminal is now once more operational, on the welcome table in church: this is a secure, swift and efficient way financially to support our parish’s mission and ministry – and the new machine makes customising the level of your donation much easier, while also allowing for the completion of a Gift Aid Declaration with your gift (increasing its value to us by 25%, by the reclaim of income tax from HMRC, but at no extra cost to you).
Did you know that – as bank branches close, and contemporary society becomes increasingly cashless – our church is charged by our bank for every cash deposit we pay in? Last year in 2024, these charges amounted to a staggering £541 – equivalent to a monthly spend of £45! Would you really wish your generous gift of £10/week to be spent solely on bank charges? Accordingly, this year’s stewardship campaign, about which more will be released in the coming weeks, focuses in large part upon encouraging us all to go digital where our offertory contributions are concerned. No charges are levelled on donations received by Standing Order; our contactless terminal charges a fee per donation of 1.1-1.3%, and we are also signed up to the Parish Giving Scheme, allowing you to donate online (either regularly, or as a one-off gift) without any fees whatsoever! (Our Parish Giving Scheme code is 230623484.) Please therefore consider, where possible, moving away from plate or envelope donations, towards electronic and online gifts – and thank you for your continuing support!
Ash Wednesday this year falls on 5 March, when there will be Masses with the Imposition of Ashes at 9.30am, and 6pm. It is a day of fasting and abstinence, when all should endeavour to refrain from eating meat, and to reduce one’s intake of food to no more than one main meal and one snack. The ashes with which we are marked come from burning the previous year’s palm crosses: please therefore, before Sunday 2 March, bring back last year’s palm crosses to be burned, placing them in the basket at the back of church.
May God grant us all to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and willing to share – in this way laying up treasure in heaven,
Fr Richard