Vicar's Bit For February
In Praise of Lovers
Saint Valentine was an early Christian martyr from 3rd-century Rome. Emperor Claudius II banned marriages to strengthen his army, believing single men made better soldiers, but Valentine believed in the sanctity of marriage. Valentine, a priest, secretly married soldiers despite Emperor Claudius II's ban, leading to his execution on February 14th, hence the association with love and Valentine's Day. Valentine's is the patron saint of lovers; also incidentally of beekeepers, and those with epilepsy.
I can recommend a February wedding. Olive and I were married close to Valentine’s Day on a snowy day. Weddings in our Benefice are mostly later in the year; this year mainly on Saturdays in August and September. With wedding receptions availability being less flexible than churches availability, a high proportion of our weddings are planned two years in advance. About 70% of Christian weddings in England are Church of England wedding. There are about 23,000 Anglican weddings this year. Incidentally, this is the same figure as in 1830, when there was a fraction of our current population. We are holding seven weddings in four of our churches this year.
On Sunday February 15th at 11am we are holding our annual Valentine’s Service in Ashleworth Church, do join us. Some couples to be married this year will be joining us. Can you remember a day you promised “to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part”? The Valentine’s Service is also an opportunity to informally renew your wedding vows. And to thank God for being loved in good times and challenging times. For some of us also to remember a partner who has died, or one’s parents.
Paul told his friends in Rome that love is about giving yourself “as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God… to live God’ way… that is, doing what is good and acceptable”. He encourages us all to “Love one another with affection, rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer”. I wonder whether Valentine, the Roman priest, pointed to this passage from Romans 12, to the soldiers he married? Committing oneself to anther in marriage not only replicates Christ’s patient and lasting love for the church, it is the foundation of the commitment we make to our family too, and is greatly honoured by society. Yes, it is a joy and a Valentine romance to come to church to witness a wedding.
Lent Course on the Lord’s Prayer
We reflect this Lent on the Lord’s Prayer. Our relationship with God the Father, exploring his kingdom, reflecting on how God feeds us, the central place of forgiveness in our faith, asking ourself ‘how does God protect us? and exploring the ways that prayer and praise brings faith to life.
The course on the Lord’s Prayer will be held at ‘The Upper Room’ of the Old Forge next to Hartpury Church from Thursday 19th February 3-5pm, and then weekly on Thursdays in Lent. It is lovely to use this recently rebuilt venue.
Special Service at Hasfield Church
On Sunday 22nd February at 6pm at Hasfield we have a sung BCP Evensong service. The music for this service is led by the Evensong Singers. They are a choir of beautiful voices made up of semi-professional singers from Cheltenham. Do come and join us for one of our six festival services this year.