…reaching out in love and faith
by St. Peter's
We kindly ask that if you are attending the church, please follow social distancing and the guidelines given to you by our hosts.
If you aren’t able to attend the church for private prayer, you can still pray at home – God will meet with you wherever you are.
At present we are not opening for Sunday Services.
by St. Peter's
Many if not all of us will have had to come to terms with some very different circumstances in which to operate in both our family, school and work settings and within the community. St. Peter’s, Yaxley were able to move very quickly on to the internet for our services and while it is not the same, we are worshipping together through weekly services on our YouTube Channel. We also have children’s work videos on here and a virtual Messy Church – please do come and have a look and see what is on there. We are also really aware that some people do not have access to social media for many reasons and we are sending out a weekly service sheet to these people to ensure that they still feel part of our church community. If you would like to receive this, then please do give me a ring and I will happily add you to the list.
It has been wonderful to see how our community of Yaxley has come together in so many different ways to support each other through the Yaxley and Farcet Coronavirus support network, to seeing neighbours caring for each other, to the good humour that people have had at some of the weird circumstances we have found ourselves living within. Thank you to all those who have continued to work during this time in many different places in our community and beyond to keep us safe and ensure that we have the things that we need. I would also like to say thank you for everyone that has contributed to making this community what it is including the lovely posters and bears that I have seen as I have walked around the village – what a great place to be in a difficult time.
Thank you also to the many people who have continued to keep our Foodbank stocked up over these last few weeks. You will not be surprised to know that demand is increasing, and we expect this to continue. We know that some of the usual places to donate are not operational at the moment so feel free to leave any donations on the Vicarage doorstep and we promise not to eat it and to get it to Foodbank asap!
You, like us, might be asking some really big questions about what is going on in our world at this time. We know that people are seeking and asking questions and if we can help at all, then please do get in touch or have a look at some of the things on our YouTube Channel. What I do believe very much is, that in the middle of this awful virus, good is happening and God is at work in our world. Do join in our services on YouTube as we think about some of these big questions together.
Jesus said “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” John 20: 19
With every blessing in this coming month.
Rev Sarah Hare
01733 248690 / 07498 230858
by St. Peter's
I am writing this after our sixth Sunday of lockdown when the church left the building due to the Coronavirus pandemic. A strange place for a new Incumbent to be as a virtual Priest in a new Parish! It is however so encouraging to see the Holy Spirit working through the people of God, not just in the building.
Read the full report HERE
by St. Peter's
Written at the beginning of March
Dear Friends,
I have lived in lots of different places in my lifetime. All of them have been in this country but all of them have had very different scenery around them from outer London to the Shropshire Hills, Salisbury Plains to the Fens. I am always amazed by the variety and diversity around us in this country let alone the world.
I love this time of year and the beauty around us which I think shows something of the extravagance of God. We might see this in the spring flowers, in the sunset or sunrise (depending if you are a morning person or not!). We might experience it in love and care from friends and family.
Fear is building in our country and our world at the moment, yet our Easter story is one where life overcomes death, where light comes through the dark as Jesus overcomes death and the grave. As we enter April this year, April 12th is Easter Day, when we think about the ultimate new life – the new life that we have received because of the life, the death and the resurrection of Jesus.
Our Easter story of Jesus sharing The Last Supper, going to the cross and rising on that first Easter Day was I am sure a time of so much uncertainty for those first disciples as they saw what their friend went through. Even they thought it was the end, but on that first Easter Day we find those women going to the tomb to find that it was empty – Jesus was not there. They are met by angels telling them “Do not be afraid” and they go and tell Jesus’s friends the message that Jesus was alive. Jesus then came among the disciples and his words to them were “peace be with you”. Jesus ate with them, he talked to them and he walked with them. Jesus had overcome death; he had beaten the darkness and made a new relationship with God for us that we could live with him forever.
Whatever is happening in your life today, whatever fear or worry you might have, I pray that you know again these words of do not be afraid and peace be with you. As we journey through Lent and into Holy Week and await the sunrise on Easter Sunday, I pray you will know this story is for you and for me and for a world full of worry and fear. Jesus overcame the grave to show God’s love, God’s life and God’s light for each one of us. As you look around at the beauty around us, may you feel the joy and the wonder of that first Easter morning, of the hope that Easter brings to us and may you know the blessings and the extravagance of God who loves you, with you this Easter time and always. Join us in our Holy Week preparations and our Easter celebrations.
With every blessing
Rev Sarah
01733 248690 / 07498 230858 / vicar@saintpeters.co.uk
by St. Peter's
If we come across anything that may be of help, we will post a link in here. This is a working document and will continue to grow. You can help grow this document too; if you see anything that you think may be useful to others, please send us the link.
Here is the latest Government & NHS advice on Coronavirus.
Click here for the Cambridgeshire County Council & Peterborough City Councils Community Support
Please see our COVID-19 page for all that we are doing as a church during this time.
St. Peter’s Church Platforms of Communication
Church Office (Laura): 07939 449255 / email
Rev Sarah: 07498 230858 / 01733 248690 / email
Sign up to the weekly e-newsletter on our home page – we will keep you updated with online service details and church news
Our Facebook Community Group – Our virtual community, a place we can come together, chat, ask for prayer, watch videos together and connect
Our Facebook & Instagram Pages– A place of encouragement & hope
Our YouTube Channel – The place to go for all our Sunday Services and other videos. If you subscribe to the channel you should receive notifications on new videos as they are posted.
Service Sheets – Sunday 22nd March, Sunday 29th March Sunday 5th April, Sunday 12th April – Easter Sunday, Sunday 26th April, Sunday 10th May, Sunday 17th May
Zoom – You can sign up for zoom for free, using your email address. This allows you to make video calls via your phone, tablet, laptop, PC, with lots of other people.
Regular Services, Devotionals, Reflections and Teaching
The Diocese of Ely will be posting regular reflections on their YouTube Channel.
Other local churches, such as CSK, Chatteris and the Stilton group all have YouTube Channels & Facebook pages too and are posting regular content.
The Church of England are posting regular services on their YouTube channel & Facebook page too.
The Leprosy Mission are posting devotionals and services on their YouTube channel
On the Spring Harvest YouTube Channel, between 13th-17th April, you will be able to virtually attend their conference!
A new Facebook group has been launched, Arts with God. The aim of the group is to build a community of people who want to discover more of God through the arts.
Reflections: The River – recorded last September when friends of Rev Sarah visited for her licensing.
Hope in Uncertain Times – During Holy Week Hope Together will be posting daily reflections on the social media platforms.
Where is God in the Coronavirus – Article from Tearfund
An online retreat for Holy Week – from Launde Abbey
Mothers’ Union Resources to support us in difficult times
What is God’s message to us in this troublesome time – Charles Stanley In Touch Ministries
Daily Hope – A freephone number for daily hymns, reflections and prayer. Please make those without internet aware of this service – More details coming soon.
Premier on Demand YouTube Channel
Podcasts
Mike Pilavachi & Andy Croft from Soul Survivor are doing a Daily Podcast
Encouraging Videos
Psalm 23 by Mike Pilavachi
Prayer
Prayer Stations at home – Look up, look in, look out Facebook Group
Thy Kingdom Come Family Prayer Adventure
Prayer for deliverance from the Coronavirus
An Hour of Prayer for the Coronavirus Pandemic
Christian Aid Prayers for Coronavirus
Call to Prayer (Prayer Points)
How to Pray video from Yemi Adedeji, Hope Together
The Prayer Room – Rev Rhona Knight
Worship Music
Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God
Family Resources
Click HERE to access all our Junior Church videos and Activity Sheets
Messy Church resources for activities at home
Mothers’ Union Faith in the Family activities
Little Worship Company – Family Devotionals
Church at Home – Diocese of Bristol
Coronavirus Social Story for SEN
Ways to help others
Tap Twinning
Yaxley & Farcet Covid-19 Support Network Facebook Group
Support Number 01733 794513 & email
Do you know someone who has been bereaved? – COVID-19 Bereavement Support Video from Hope Together
Support for Mental Health
Coping When All is Loss – Article by Martyn Payne
BBC’s How to protect your mental health
Supporting Children with Bereavement – Child Bereavement UK
Miscellaneous
If you are currently pregnant The Birthing Hub Facebook Group are answering all sorts of questions. They are providing an online community for local women to chat and get advice. The group is led by Lisa-Marie, an independent midwife, who has a pool of professionals that she is drawing on for advice in all areas.
Government support for victims of Domestic Abuse
Make Yourself Heard – What to do if you need urgent help from 999, but can’t speak
There has been a significant rise in Bible sales, online searches for ‘How to pray’ and people attending online church. Is there someone you would like to share the Gospel with? Click Here to get a copy of Marks Gospel for £1, which you could send to someone you’re praying for.
by St. Peter's
Talks are now located within the news section of the website due to technical difficulties with the Talks webpage.
Sunday 8th March 2020
Reading: Genesis 17:15-18:15
Click Here for the talk
Sunday 15th March 2020
Reading: Matthew 25:31-46
Click Here for the talk
Click Here for the video shown
Sunday 22nd March 2020 – Mothering Sunday
Readings: Exodus 2:1-10 & John 19:25-27
Click Here to listen to the talk or watch the service on our new YouTube Channel!
by St. Peter's
Please use this prayer diary to help us unite together in praying for our local community, the country, and the World.
Click here for the prayer diary.
by St. Peter's
Dear Friends
I cannot imagine what it must be like for people to have had to spend all of today trying to find shelter, let alone overnight. The people I have met here in both the volunteers and the guests have been people with such interesting stories and some of them, so sad.
It seems such a right use of our churches to open the doors in many different ways to welcome people in, to offer hospitality and host those in need of this. Jesus spent most of his ministry working with people at the margins of society. We hope in time that St Peter’s, Yaxley will be able to host the night shelter. Building work is planned and approved, we are just in the process of fundraising and grant application before we can go forward with any work which might be 2021 or 2022. Many of you will have been in to our beautiful church and know that one of the downsides is the fact that we only have 1 toilet and that will need to be changed before we could offer accommodation.
Hopefully as you read this, the weather will be brighter and spring really will have sprung. The night shelter project will be coming to an end for another year and the church will be in the season of Lent – hopefully you enjoyed your pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?! Lent for Christians is a season of preparation, a time when we think about the journey that Jesus took to the cross on that first Good Friday over 2000 years ago. We remember that Jesus went into the desert for 40 days and Christians may give up something that they love and give that money to charity or some will take on something such as reading a specific book or a project and aim to create space and time to spend with God.
Mothering Sunday this year is the 22nd March and for some this will be a joyful day and for others a harder day. We will have a service of Holy Communion at 9am and an All Age Service at 11am. Do come and join us for these or for any of our services, you will be very welcome.
Stay safe in our weird weather!
With every blessing
Rev Sarah (Vicar)
01733 248690/07498 230858/vicar@saintpeters.co.uk
by St. Peter's
Talks will temporarily be located within the news section of the website due to technical difficulties with the Talks webpage.
Sunday 12th January
Readings: Isaiah 42:1-9 & Matthew 3:13-17
Click Here for the Talk
Sunday 19th January
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5
Click Here for the Talk
Click Here for The Power of Encouragement Video
Sunday 26th January
Readings: 1 Samuel 3:1-11 & John 6:5-15
Click Here for the Talk
Click Here for CROPS Slides
by St. Peter's
Reading: Romans 12
In today’s talk we think about Romans 12, the passage that Sarah chose for her licensing and how that may apply to us individually and collectively. The passage calls us to be renewed, be genuine and live our lives for God’s glory and in service of others. We think about this passage and the letter written to the angel of the church in Yaxley when the church was going in to vacancy. How can we focus on this and those areas for ourselves and for our church and community.
Click Here for the Talk