Today’s evensong is live on the website now … at last … phew!
https://rawchurch.org.uk/digital-services
Evensong for Pentecost
News & Events
A Service for Pentecost
Today is the Day of Pentecost, or Whit Sunday. A service created for the Ross and Archenfield Deanery by The Revd Ben Bentham is now on the website: https://rawchurch.org.uk/digital-services
Open Gardens – Lockdown Special – Sat 5th & Sun 6th September, 12 noon – 5 pm
The Friends of St Mary’s is making tentative plans to celebrate the hard work that has been going on in gardens around the area during the long lockdown.
At the moment we’d just like to hear from you if you are interested in being a part of it. You will not be committing yourself to anything and plans may well have to change or even be cancelled in the light of lockdown restrictions at the time.
Our intention is not to charge entry for this one but invite donations to local charities. We welcome gardens outside the town as well as in it for this one.
Please contact us by email if you’d be interested in opening your garden.
Lockdown Exhibition is launched
We’ve launched an online exhibition of creativity from the lockdown. It’s open to everyone in South Herefordshire. We’d like you to upload anything you’ve had a hand in creating in the last few weeks.
Visit the gallery https://rosslockdownexhibition.gallery where you can see what’s been exhibited so far and upload your own work.
Lockdown Creativity, a Virtual Gallery
Take a look at our Virtual Gallery and upload your images or videos by submitting the form.
We are collecting poetry, short stories, sound recordings, photographs, or photos of your pictures, sculptures, handicrafts, woodwork, garden or anything else you have created. The only criteria is that you created or completed it during lockdown. We welcome submissions from all ages and from anyone with connections to the Ross-on-Wye area.
There is also the opportunity for visitors to the exhibition to make a donation, ans you will be asked to name a charity of your choice when you upload your exhibit. You may choose St Mary’s Church, but if you have any other charity you wish to support, then please give its name.
At the end of lockdown, we are planning to bring our virtual exhibition to life in St Mary’s Church and are hoping to work with other Ross organisations to display some of the work around the town. We want this to be a community effort supporting the things local people care about.
Sunday 24th May – Eucharist
This morning’s service is now live on the website: https://rawchurch.org.uk/digital-services
Sean’s Pastoral message – Week 9 – 22nd May
Here is this week’s message from Sean on the subject of prayer.
Come Dine With Me is tonight
Look someone’s preparing for Ross does Come Dine With Me. It’s Melanie Mellor. The meal takes place tonight at 7 via Zoom and everyone anywhere is invited to join us for a bit of company while you eat a meal. The Bishop of Hereford and Deborah are coming.
There are three tasty dishes from three Ross TV chefs on the website, but you can eat what you like. Joining instructions and much more at https://rawchurch.org.uk/come-dine.
Come Dine With Me – Dessert
Ross does Come Dine With Me is tomorrow. There’s still time to book your place at the table (or indeed, just turn up at 7pm) we’ll be pleased to have your company. Joining link and info at https://rawchurch.org.uk/come-dine
You can eat what you like, just join in for company. But if you want more inspiration here is a dessert from Lindy Wildsmith.
Ascension Day Service
Here’s a recording of this morning’s live service.
Today is Ascension Day
Today (Thursday 21st May) is Ascension Day, an important day in the Christian calendar.
We have a live service from around our three churches in Zoom at 10.30. Joining link (Zoom) is at https://rawchurch.org.uk/digital-services If you can’t make it there will be a recording of the service on the same page shortly after the service.
Thy Kingdom Come – Each year between Ascension and Pentecost, the Archbishop of Canterbury invites us all to pray for the coming of God’s kingdom on earth as in heaven.
On our website you’ll find some ways to help you pray “thy Kingdom Come” this year. https://rawchurch.org.uk/tkc
Chris Blanchard has been licensed for another year
The Rev’d Canon Christopher Blanchard was licensed as House for Duty Priest of St Michael and All Angels’ Church Walford for another year by Bishop Richard Jackson on Friday.
The Zoom service attended by the Bishop’s Chaplain, Prebendary Brian Chave; Churchwardens Gay Chinn and Murray Alston; Rector the Rev’d Sean Semple, and Mrs Sarah Blanchard. We wish Chris every blessing for the year ahead in his valued ministry at Walford.
This morning’s coffee session
Zoom is not working today, and it looks like the problems persist. That is why our virtual coffee session this morning was a flop and why many were unable to join.
We plan to try again at 7.30 for a virtual drink. Please use the same link as for virtual coffee https://rawchurch.org.uk/digital-services
Today’s service
This morning’s service is live on the website now: https://rawchurch.org.uk/digital-services
Have you booked your place at the Ross does Come Dine With Me table yet? The feast happens on Saturday at 7.
Three videos of three tempting recipes by three local chefs: https://rawchurch.org.uk/come-dine
Sean’s Pastoral Video
Here’s this week’s pastoral video from Sean – Week 8 – Waiting
Have you booked your place at the Come Dine With Me Table? https://rawchurch.org.uk/come-dine
Come Dine With Me – The Starter
Here’s a suggested starter for Ross does Come Dine With Me. If you’ve not booked your place at the table for Saturday 23rd May yet visit https://rawchurch.org.uk/come-dine
Sean’s successful challenge
Sean completed his challenge yesterday. He climbed Table Mountain (with the aid of the Rectory Stairs) in 2 hours and 31 minutes.
Sponsors were invited to make a guess as to how how long it would take him, the closest estimate was Peter Raddenbury (St Mary’s treasurer – with an obvious head for numbers). Here is Sean, in mountain climbing cassock and trainers) presenting Peter with his bottle of South African wine just now. Is that two metres?
There is still time for you to donate to Sean’s fund which is at the moment at £2,500 with the benefit of Gift Aid https://rawchurch.org.uk/table-mountain.
We thank all the generous donors.
Book your place at the table
Here’s a fun idea, Ross-on-Wye’s take on Come Dine With Me! At least a virtual form of it and the only limit on numbers is the number of people we can get in a Zoom meeting.
Saturday 23rd May at 7 pm (Bank Holiday) – Book your place, learn more and find some home grown TV chef menus at https://rawchurch.org.uk/come-dine
Sean’s Table Mountain Challenge
Sean is nearing the top – the end is in sight. There’s still time to sponsor him though, he has raised in the region of £1500 so far.
This morning’s service is live
This morning’s service has been created by the Deanery churches.
