News, events, and other happenings wk beg 11 Feb

CHURCH NEWS
Wed 14 Feb. 
2pm: The Guild meets in the church hall. We will be hearing about the work of the Salvation Army.
7pm: Ash Wednesday service. A short service marking the beginning of the season of Lent, as we make the symbolic journey towards Jerusalem with Jesus to the Cross and resurrection.

Sat 17 Feb. 10am: Lent Study Group meets in the Church Hall. We will be using the booklet ‘Glimpses of God’ which can be ordered from Nikki for £4. For ordering purposes, please let her know by Sun 11th, morning tea.

Sun 18 Feb. 10.30: Morning worship – Week 3 of our series on Psalm 23. 
This week: ‘He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.’
Grateful thanks to Carol Taylor and Dee Yates for the use of work from their collaboration ‘Living on the Land’, which will accompany our worship and reflections.

Minister’s day off: Monday
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Food for the journey: bite-sized spiritual nourishment for the week ahead:
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month - what do you turn to?
When you are overwhelmed or exhausted by life, what helps you to relax?
We probably all have several things we turn to, to help us unwind or get back onto an even keel.
I wonder where God is on our list of things we turn to?
Or do we keep God in reserve, for emergency use only?
Do we have to be in a crisis before we ask God for help?
The Psalmist says "God restores my soul", because he recognises that he cannot restore himself - and neither can we. However hard we try, however reluctant we may be to admit it, there are some things we cannot do ourselves. Although we may temporarily hide from problems, deaden pain, or ignore a situation, for lasting help, for true restoration and renewal, we need God, because only God can restore us.