March 2022

10 Buckden Roundabout March 2022 Church News Weekly Prayer Roster Each week during the year the Churches, in their prayers, remember the residents of particular streets in the village, those who work in the parish and village organisations. Those to be remembered this month are: 6th March Park Road, Falcon Way, The Marinas, and those who live and work there 13th March Field Close, Lincoln Close, Silver Street, Beaufort Drive, St Hugh ’ s Road 20th March School Lane, Buckden Primary School (pupils, teachers and teaching assistants, governors, vol- unteers, midday supervisors, all support staff) 27th March Scouts, Cubs and Beavers, Guides, Brownies and Rainbows, Playgroup and Day Nursery, Buck- den out of Schools Scheme, Buckden Towers Youth Retreat Centre Thought for the Month Ash Wednesday which we celebrate this year on 2 nd March, marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain re- demption. We follow the example of Jesus who spent forty days fasting and praying in the desert [cf. Mt 4:1 - 11]. Albeit we cannot say that fasting is a Christian discovery. As the people of the Scrip- ture, we meet its traces already in the Old Testament. We are inspired by the Ninevites, who did penance in sackcloth and ashes, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and remind us that life passes away on Earth [cf. Jonah 3:1 - 10]. This special Wednesday contains the basic orientations of the whole season. And they are expressed in the words accompa- nying the distribution of the ashes. Two sentences are used: one from the Old Testament: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" [Genesis 3:19] and the sentence from the New Testament: “ Repent, and believe in the Gos- pel “ [Mark 1:15] In the first sentence it is reminded to us that our value can be compared to dust which is meaningless. But at the same time, we are God ’ s creatures and this fact changes totally our value – we are precious in His eyes. Being so fragile, we are loved by Him even before our birth. It is worthy to mention also that ashes are a symbol of penance and they help us develop a spir- it of humility and sacrifice. The words: Repent, and believe in the Gospel are a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts. His Divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of Lent, and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance. During the Lent, we are invited to reflect specially on the mys- tery of the Cross with awareness, in the perspective that by Jesus ‘ Cross and his Resurrection, though we are only dust and ashes, we will be made a new creation, redeemed by His love towards us. Fr Krzysztof Stawicki St Hugh ’ s Catholic church, Buckden WORLD DAY OF PRAYER SERVICE 4 th MARCH, 10a.m. ST MARY ’ S CHURCH The annual World Day of Prayer service (a global, ecumenical, women - led movement) is prepared by the women of a different country/ group of countries each year. This year it is the turn of England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the theme the leaders have chosen, to reflect on some of the challenging issues of our time, is a text from Jeremiah: “ I know the plans I have for you. ” Offerings taken at these world - wide services provide grants to support needs and missions across the globe. Please join us at St. Mary ’ s Church on Friday 4 th March for the Buckden service. Afterwards there will be coffee and cakes and a chance chat and share fellowship with friends from all the local churches. All are welcome.