Nearly Lent. [Ash Wednesday is 17th]. There will be news of Lent Groups in the pewsheets and on the noticeboard shortly. What we do have this month is the list of dates for the year, promised last month and then not quite ready. Good to get the year set out well ahead. You haven�t forgotten the Spring Fair on 24th April, have you?
An exciting venture this Lent is a new set of Stations of the Cross, painted by members of the congregation. This has been quite an undertaking for those of us invited to contribute. Speaking personally I found it exciting, challenging and terrifying by turns and it proved to be quite unlike any art project I�ve ever done. We may be asking for help with extra stewarding during the time the pictures are on display so that the church can be kept open for visitors to look at them. [Preview evening Shrove Tuesday, 16th, at 8pm.] There will be opportunities to pray the Stations on Fridays at 12 o�clock. Father Jim writes more about this project further on in this issue.
On 21st January many of us went to St Paul�s Cathedral for the Installation of Mother Sarah as a Minor Canon – it was a beautiful service but I wonder how many of our congregation realise that Choral Evensong is just as beautifully sung here at the parish church every Sunday in term time – at 4.30 in winter and 6.00pm during British summer time [or is it European summer time now?] Indeed at least one member of our choir was singing at the Cathedral for Sarah�s Installation. During Lent an added attraction will be guest preachers – Father Stephen has more details of some of them and the others will be announced on the pewsheets, so make a note in your diary that what you take up for Lent might be to attend Evensong – and it might well turn out to be far more enjoyable than sacrificial.
Now that the snow has cleared Conservation work in the churchyard is under way again – see the Diary page for dates, and don�t miss the afternoon of Moss Identification on 27th, but don�t forget to book.
Money is never far from anyone�s thoughts these days, in the church as much as anywhere. New Diocesan figures show that the �average� parishioner [is there such a thing?] gives �9 a week. Beryl Dowsett writes in this issue of the financial challenge facing us here at Hampstead as the church, like everyone else, struggles to balance the books.
Issues of the homeless are never far from our thoughts, particularly in such a winter as we�ve had so far and following Bill Risebereo�s article on the Cold Weather Shelters last month in this issue we have one by John Willmer on CARIS Haringey and its work. Both these are charities supported by the parish, along with PSALM which is advertising a series of workshops to help you if you visit or are considering visiting, elderly people in home, hospital or residential accommodation. If you�ve thought of doing it but are unsure how to handle situations that might arise this could be the course for you.
Our support of the Fairtrade movement continues too. Fairtrade Fortnight begins on 22nd February and runs till 7th March which is the day we have chosen for a special coffee stall after the Eucharist. Watch this space! But read about Fairtrade Fortnight and how you might like to help this month with the Big Swap – there�s a web address and more details in the article.
February
Judy East