Update on Sunday Worship

Sunday 28th June

The Fourth Sunday After Trinity

Thank you for visiting the Tove Benefice website.

We are currently reviewing our approach to communications and would appreciate your feedback.  We would particularly like to know if this is your first visit or you are a regular visitor to the website.  It would also be helpful to understand what it was you were looking to find out.

Please contact us using the Your Comments page, by email to 360musafa@gmail.com, or by contacting the Tove Benefice Office.

Sunday
  9:15 am  Holy Communion (said) at St Lawrence, Towcester
10:15 am  Benefice Sunday Worship via Zoom 
11:15 am  Holy Communion (BCP) at St Bartholomew's, Greens Norton
11:15 am  Holy Communion at St Augustine's, Caldecote


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Our weekly news contains details of services for this and next weekend, as well as daily bible readings, prayer requests and notices for forthcoming events. 

Looking ahead to events and services that are happening please do look at the monthly calendar for June

Copies are available in churches for collecting especially for those who do not have emails. 



Dear all,

Bishops, such as Bishop Debbie, carry a pastoral staff. It represents the pastoral care that is entrusted to them. This care is shared with an incumbent as their licensing when the bishop says, ‘receive the cure of souls which is both yours and mine’. The care is further shared with members of the church whether lay or ordained – who form a ministry team – though caring for each other is what churches do whether formally, with licenses and structure, or informally with people checking in on each other and small acts of kindness.

We’re reminded in the letter to the Ephesians that we all have a part to play according to our gifts. ‘The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.’ (Ephesians 4: 11-13)

A great deal of pastoral care happens in our churches, for instance: Welcomers (a very important ministry as our Welcomers are the first people visitors engage with when entering the church building), catching up with people before and after the service and especially welcoming those who are visitors. Care Homes - where we can show care for residents, staff and families.  Coffee Mornings and our Soup Lunches where people get to know each other and build relationships. Tots Groups, ( again where people get to know, building relationships, and respond to needs), then there are Visits of different types – some are informal, some are in hospital, others are more formal such as funeral visits, or situations of particular spiritual or pastoral need. Members of the Ministry and Pastoral teams take Home Communions, and it’s good when we receive requests, / referrals. I think Worship itself has a pastoral side in how it is lead, the message, and being available at the end, and how we notice and follow up if someone is missing for several weeks.

There are also what are known as the Pastoral offices (baptisms, weddings and funerals) All who are involved communicate how we care not just in our words but in our manner, in our preparation and our follow up.

 We are blessed with a good number of people on the Ministry Team and also a good number who contribute to the Pastoral Team. Work has been going on through Bev, as Benefice safeguarding Officer, to ensure that we are all up to date with the necessary Safeguarding Units and that DBSs have been obtained.
So now I invite suggestions of further possible pastoral visits and, of course, people may request visits or a Home Communion. If you are aware of someone who may value a visit, whether because they are housebound, or someone perhaps who used to attend but now is unable to, then do feel free to let me know. I will seek to match members of the team to those who would like a visit. It would assist if I had some information about the type of visit that may be desired and whether a visit has been requested.
 
With every blessing,
Greg

Scam Emails / Money Requests

A timely reminder that if you get an email from the clergy team or anyone from church that doesn't contain the right email address then it is not from us - even if the name is right.  One came through to the office last week which was Rev'd Paula Challen <chairmaiu@gmail.com> that is NOT my email. 

Also clergy, members of the ministry team, churchwardens, PCC officers will never ask you to either BACS money (bank transfer) to them or to buy Amazon vouchers for them. The scam email often start 'can you help me?' then go on to tell you that either 'unable to phone' or 'in hospital' or 'lost my voice'. If you get a request like that it is NOT from us.

Delete the email and don't engage in dialogue. 
 

St Lawrence Church Fete and Craft Fair

Raffle Tickets are now available inside St Lawrence Church or The Chantry House. Please place your completed ticket stubs in the envelope and post through the Vicarage postbox, Chantry House postbox or bring to the Fete.
 

Worship for this coming week