The next planned Design Guidance session planned for Saturday 4 April 2020 has been cancelled. We will update you in due course as to whether the session planned for 2 May 2020 is going ahead.

Dear All,

In light of the Government guidance around non-essential contact, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued guidance that all public worship is suspended until further notice.

This means, that there will not be, for the foreseeable future, any services in Ash church or in any churches across the group that are open to church members or members of the public to attend. 

In accordance with this guidance the group clergy will maintain a rhythm of Morning Prayer and Eucharistic worship throughout each of our churches on a rota basis and I encourage you to join with us from your own homes at 9am each morning in saying Morning Prayer, which can be found daily on the Church of England website https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-service-daily-prayer.

Further prayer and worship resources will be made available through email, on the church website  http://www.ash-church.org.uk/ or through your door as time goes on and as we head into Holy Week and Easter.

The archbishops wrote that,’ Being a part of the church of England is going to look very different in the days ahead. Our life is going to be less characterised by attendance at church on Sunday, and more characterised by the prayer and service we offer each day. We may not be able to pray with people in the ways that we are used to, but we can certainly pray for people. And we can certainly offer practical care and support.’

I, along with the ministry team, churchwardens and members of the Parochial Church Council, will also be working hard to coordinate pastoral care and service at a parish level to ensure no one is alone or in need with nowhere to turn.

This Sunday – Mothering Sunday – 22nd March 2020  

Light a candle of hope: A national call to prayer and action.
This Mothering Sunday, 22 March, the archbishops are calling all churches to a National Day of Prayer and Action. At such a time as this, when so many are fearful and there is great uncertainty, we are reminded of our dependence on our loving Heavenly Father and the future that he holds.
At 7 p.m. this Sunday, light a candle in the windows of your homes as a visible symbol of the light of life, Jesus Christ, our source and hope in prayer.

Please be assured of my prayers at this time and do be in touch if you find yourself in need or anxiety.

“Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5.7

With Every Blessing … Rev. Helen