A message from our Vicar
Dear All,
We continue to observe the season of Epiphany as we continue to live with grim 3rd lockdown and facing a higher challenge with the new variants of Covid-19. Epiphany means "unveiling", assuming that there is much artificiality in business-as-usual life around us. Interestingly, the Bible tells us that "pulling back the veil" is sometimes done through dramatic events such as the one we live in at the moment.
One of the things is to be unveiled in us is the voices that shape our identity and behaviours. This Sunday, we reflect on the story of Jesus Baptism, where the Father's voice from heaven is heard and revealed. The voice full of gracious love and unconditional acceptance is possible to be heard only when the heaven is opened, and the veil of the grumpy, resentful and aloof religious God is pulled back. Only then, we can listen to these words to Jesus and to all of us "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Mat 3:17)
May this Epiphany with this challenging time will be an opportunity for all of us to come in touch with "unveiling" reality. To have the courage to fire our loyal voices that kept feeding our life for a long time with lies that we are not good enough to be loved and accepted. To be able by the grace of God to pull the veil back in our times of prayer, to begin to live under an opened heaven to hear the voice of love, grace and healing.
News about opening the church
After discussion with Churchwardens and the PCC members, we have decided to continue to offer a service from the Parish Church on Sunday mornings for the moment. From this Sunday (10th) it will be a service of Morning Prayer instead of Holy Communion. The service will be broadcast over Zoom, and we anticipate that many members of our regular congregation will prefer to stay at home and log-in on-line. For those who would feel strongly like to come along to church, we will, of course, be pleased to see you, but even if there is no congregation. The church will be open from 10.00 am for private prayer, and the Morning Prayer service will begin at 10.30 am. It is expected to last about 30-40 minutes. Please find below the Zoom link.
Old Windsor Parish Church is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Sunday Morning Prayer Service
Time: Sunday 10: 30 am
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83158988948?pwd=Q1ZCcVE0UzkzN2Z5WEtaTndlUkZLZz09
Meeting ID: 831 5898 8948
Passcode: 274808
Prayer
Walk with us, O God,
through all that threatens to overwhelm;
deliver all held captive by sin
and living under the shadow of destruction,
that we might hear again your voice
calling us and taking away our fear,
and rising to new life in Christ;
and rejoice again in your power to save.
the light of Christ reveals the path to God,
we travel in the way by the Spirit’s grace.
Peace and greace,
Adel Shokralla
We continue to observe the season of Epiphany as we continue to live with grim 3rd lockdown and facing a higher challenge with the new variants of Covid-19. Epiphany means "unveiling", assuming that there is much artificiality in business-as-usual life around us. Interestingly, the Bible tells us that "pulling back the veil" is sometimes done through dramatic events such as the one we live in at the moment.
One of the things is to be unveiled in us is the voices that shape our identity and behaviours. This Sunday, we reflect on the story of Jesus Baptism, where the Father's voice from heaven is heard and revealed. The voice full of gracious love and unconditional acceptance is possible to be heard only when the heaven is opened, and the veil of the grumpy, resentful and aloof religious God is pulled back. Only then, we can listen to these words to Jesus and to all of us "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Mat 3:17)
May this Epiphany with this challenging time will be an opportunity for all of us to come in touch with "unveiling" reality. To have the courage to fire our loyal voices that kept feeding our life for a long time with lies that we are not good enough to be loved and accepted. To be able by the grace of God to pull the veil back in our times of prayer, to begin to live under an opened heaven to hear the voice of love, grace and healing.
News about opening the church
After discussion with Churchwardens and the PCC members, we have decided to continue to offer a service from the Parish Church on Sunday mornings for the moment. From this Sunday (10th) it will be a service of Morning Prayer instead of Holy Communion. The service will be broadcast over Zoom, and we anticipate that many members of our regular congregation will prefer to stay at home and log-in on-line. For those who would feel strongly like to come along to church, we will, of course, be pleased to see you, but even if there is no congregation. The church will be open from 10.00 am for private prayer, and the Morning Prayer service will begin at 10.30 am. It is expected to last about 30-40 minutes. Please find below the Zoom link.
Old Windsor Parish Church is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Sunday Morning Prayer Service
Time: Sunday 10: 30 am
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83158988948?pwd=Q1ZCcVE0UzkzN2Z5WEtaTndlUkZLZz09
Meeting ID: 831 5898 8948
Passcode: 274808
Prayer
Walk with us, O God,
through all that threatens to overwhelm;
deliver all held captive by sin
and living under the shadow of destruction,
that we might hear again your voice
calling us and taking away our fear,
and rising to new life in Christ;
and rejoice again in your power to save.
the light of Christ reveals the path to God,
we travel in the way by the Spirit’s grace.
Peace and greace,
Adel Shokralla
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