Easter 2021
In light of the Government’s recent announcement to gradually ease the lockdown, we’re currently reviewing what this will mean for our Easter plans. We’re also aware that there have been reports of Covid-19 infection rates rising in the Leicestershire area. With all this in mind we hope to be able to provide you with a clearer picture in the next week or two as to what our Easter plans will be, so please do watch this space.
Lent 2021 – The Wellbeing Journey
Lent this year begins on Ash Wednesday 17th February running through to Ash Wednesday on 31st March. Lent tends to be a time for reflection, self-examination, and preparation ahead of celebrating Easter. This past year, during which we’ve experience the Covid-19 pandemic, has been very trying on our wellbeing.
So, for our Lent Course in 2021 we are going to be running The Wellbeing Journey via Zoom. We will meet each Wednesday on Zoom at 7:30pm, starting from 17th Feb, and watch a short (20mins) video clip and then break into small groups for discussion. The subjects we’ll be covering include…
Physical wellbeing, Emotional wellbeing
Spiritual wellbeing, Relational wellbeing
Financial wellbeing, Vocational wellbeing
We will be looking at these from a Christian viewpoint, but the course is open to and accessible for all, so please do feel welcome to invite others. If you want a preview, here is a short video clip that may help… https://vimeo.com/481288953
Here is the Zoom link for the course, starting 7:30pm 17th Feb, every Wednesday…
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84484039544?pwd=N2NwcEZNUk4vTXNMWCtESGVIL0Nldz09
Meeting ID: 844 8403 9544
Passcode: 252011
If you know someone who doesn’t have internet access but you think may find this useful, there is a book available that the course is based upon which they could read… https://hopetogether.org.uk/Shop/Products/500841/Hope_Together/Books/_God_s.aspx
Shaped by God Together – Our Diocese
We are living in a time of both exciting opportunities and significant constraints upon us as a Church as we seek to be ‘Shaped by God Together.' In response to this we are seeking to gather information and involve our whole diocese in discerning the way ahead.
We are inviting anyone from the diocese to be a part of the Conversation about the future shape of our Ministry, our care for and use of our Church Buildings, and the principles that guide how we raise and best use our diocesan Finance.
This invitation is extended to everyone, for more information on what’s going on and how you can join in the conversation, please visiting the diocese website here and book to go along… https://www.leicester.anglican.org/about-us/sbgt/shaped-by-god-together-conversations-.php
National Lockdown
Tuesday Morning BCP services and our Sunday Services in the church building will not be taking place. We anticipate that this will be the case until there is a significant change in the current situation (for example a lifting of the Lockdown), but will continue to review things as time goes on. We will be holding our online Sunday service via our YouTube channel and we will also have a Kids Online Service. Both of these online services will be available from first thing (by 1am) Sunday morning, so please do join us for worship in this way.
Link to our YouTube channel
Finally, we would like to encourage you to continue to keep in contact with others, to take time to ask God if there is anyone who may need a phone call, and to hold on to the words of John 1:5…
‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’
Saturday Private Prayer
St Martin’s (Desford) will be open from 10:30am to 12:00pm (mid-day) on Saturday 16th January for Private Prayer. This will be an opportunity for a person, or single household, to enter the church and pray on their own. Please be aware that due to current Lockdown restrictions aimed to stopping the spread of Covid-19, facemasks will be required and we are not able to pause of socially ‘mingle’ in the church.
Online Weekly Monday Night Prayers 7.30pm (20-30min)
This is a chance to come together to pray for our communities and for those further afield. Please do join Gareth and Rob as we gather to pray. This will be hosted on Zoom, which is a free videocall platform, so if you’ve not used Zoom before please do let Rob or Gareth know and they’ll be happy to offer some advice.
These are the login details…
Meeting ID: 881 9851 0430
Password: eveprayers
Wednesday Prayer During The Day
Each Wednesday at 12:00pm (mid-day) we will be hosting Prayer During The Day, which is a more liturgical style of prayer (similar to Anglican Morning Prayer). These will be hosted on Zoom live at 12:00, you don’t need to bring anything, just come yourself via the following link…
Meeting ID: 846 4970 9272
Passcode: 967799
A recording of these prayers will then be available on our YouTube Channel on Wednesday by 1pm for anyone who wants to take time to pray with us but cannot make the live service. Here’s the link to our YouTube Channel where the recording will be available…
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_B0Evb69xYeevGbVtX5tBA
This recording will only show the ‘leader’ (i.e myself or Rob) so if you’re planning to come along to the live service on Zoom, don’t worry you won’t be recorded.
Thursday Social
Join us on Zoom at 7:30pm with your own drink and nibbles and we’ll do the rest (no need to arrange a team or anything). Here’s the link…
Thursday Social Link
Meeting ID: 869 9998 1971
Passcode: 072086
Sunday Service
Our online Sunday services will continue via the Benifice YouTube Channel. These will be available from first thing Sunday Morning (before 1am), and can be accessed by visiting our YouTube channel on the following link…
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_B0Evb69xYeevGbVtX5tBA
Keep watching this space for further updates!
St Mart’s & St Bart’s KIDS ONLINE 
We will be doing a bi-weekly Kids Online service. As with our regular online service, this will be found on our YouTube channel
When? Every other week on Sunday…
What is it? a 10-minute, child-oriented service, with worship, story and activity
Please do spread the word and let us know what you think.
Parish News
As we are unable to get the Parish News sent out to people in the usual way a copy can be
found here free of charge for all on the link below.
January 2021 Parish News
February 2021 Parish News
Users of the Church Hall 2021
(Times may vary due to changing Covid-19 rules)
Monday:
Pre Diabetic Clinic every Monday 9am – 1.30pm (except bank hols)
Table Tennis – January – March 7.00pm – 10.00pm
Tuesday:
Coffee & Chat: weekly 10.30am – 12 noon
Lunches: 2nd Tuesday in month 12.30 – 2.00pm
Loving Hands: 4th Tuesday 1pm – 4pm
Rainbows (5 – 7 year olds) 4.45pm – 5.45pm term time
Brownies (7 – 10 year olds) 6pm – 7.30pm term time
Guides (10 – 14 year olds) 7.30pm – 9pm term time
Wednesday:
Rainbows (weekly Mums & Toddlers) 9.30am – 11.30am term time
Living Sober 6pm
Thursday:
Forget me Not - 4th Thursday 10.30am – 12 noon
Community House craft/cooking weekly 12noon – 3pm (term time)
Friday:
Saturday:
Occasional bookings for parties etc
Sunday:
Messy Church: 4th Sunday in month 4pm
Awesome Youff in church 4pm
Online Giving – Just Giving
Since the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in lockdown back in March, it has been harder for St Martin’s to receive funds via fund-raising activities or collections during services. This has had quite an impact upon the finances of the churches and so we wanted to setup a temporary giving page for each church on Just Giving. These Just Giving pages will remain active from now through to the end of December…
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/stmartinsdesford
Important Notice, all material on St. Martin’s Website is Copyright © of St. Martin’s Church Desford and may not be used on other sites without express permission. If you would like to use any images then please email me so I can give you a high resolution copy.
P.Stokes (Website Editor)
Email: webmaster@stmartinsdesford.org.uk
www.stmartinsdesford.org.uk