Dear Friends,

As most of you probably now know, I have decided to take early retirement, and my final service will be on May 31st, 10am at Haresfield Church. I do hope you will be able to come.  

Although I’m not 100% sure of where Angela and I will be moving to, it looks hopeful that it will be a new-build house in Quedgeley, just up the Bristol Road from the roundabout and the junction with Fieldcourt Drive and Naas Lane – two previous ones have fallen through for different reasons – so fingers crossed for 3rd time lucky!

I have been asked what might happen to the benefice after I leave, and when will a new incumbent be appointed – the answer is that I don’t know. It would be wrong for me to speculate, but I’m sure that the 6 Parochial Church Councils will manage to keep everything on an even keel until those kind of decisions are made.

As the time for the churches in our benefice to hold their annual meetings draws near, the electoral rolls for each church are revised to take account of people who have joined, and those who have left. If you don’t think your name is on the roll for one of our churches, and you think it should be, please contact me at the Rectory by Sunday 8th March. Application forms will be at the back of each church, and on our website.

Please remember members of our PCC in prayer as they plan for the future. They are due to meet together on Saturday 7th February with other PCCs in the benefice to share what is happening in their churches, and how they can work together to be more relevant in our local communities, and I am grateful to the Revd. Cate Williams for agreeing to come and facilitate the day in Standish Village Hall, from 10am to 4pm. Cate is a fairly recent addition to the diocesan team, leading on Outreach and Evangelism. I’m sure she will be good.

Yours in Christ, (Rector)

Revd. Richard Amys |The Rectory, Millend Lane, Eastington, GL10 3SG.

            richardjramys@aol.com Tel/fax 01453 822437 | Day off–Saturday | Mobile 07796 956050

Benefice Website: www.cotswoldedgeparishes.org.uk

Holy Week and Easter Services in the benefice

Holy Monday        7.30 pm BCP Holy Communion at Frocester

Holy Tuesday       7.30 pm BCP Holy Communion at Moreton Valence

Holy Wednesday   11 am         Holy Communion at Moreton Hill Care Centre (no Agape service this year)

Maundy Thursday 7.30 pm       Holy Communion at Eastington (no Vigil this year)

Good Friday         10 am         Holy Communion at Haresfield

                         2-3 pm       Reflective Service at Whitminster

Easter Day          8am BCP      Communion at Frocester,

                         9.15 am      Communion at Haresfield     and at Standish (trad)

                        10.45 am     Holy Communion at Eastington, 11am at Whitminster

                        6pm           Easter Songs of Praise at Moreton Valence