From Mike 01759 369974:

Central to all traditions of faith and belief is the idea of thankfulness or gratitude. We all too easily go through life missing the miracles of each day. What the writer Zig Zigler calls an “attitude of gratitude” is an antidote to missing each day’s special moments.

A meditation that goes by the name “the three blessings exercise” developed by the psychologist Martin Seligman is a way of cultivating an attitude of gratitude that can be helpful irrespective of our particular spiritual tradition. The idea is to spend a few moments at the end of each day thinking back on the day and being explicitly thankful for three things or people or situations that have happened. After identifying them for each one just spend a moment going a little deeper and become aware of some of the things that make them possible which may include the gifts of other people.

So if you are being thankful for a nice meal it naturally leads to thanksgiving for the people who enabled the food to be on the table and the wider creation. It you think about how special seeing the new moon is, this leads to a thankfulness for all our senses and the time to appreciate looking up in wonder.

For some people actually writing this down in a gratitude journal can deepen the impact of this practice. In studies just doing this for a month can be as effective as a way of tackling feelings of depression. At a time like this when the news can seem overwhelmingly bleak it is all too easy to lose yourself in feelings of negativity and powerlessness, so having something to do that is a reminder of the good and wondrous in each day can make a real difference. It has certainly been something that has helped me “when the going gets tough”.

Linda writes: This issue of the Pump covers Lent and Easter with it being early this year. I hope you have a very Happy Easter and draw hope from the Easter story that is all about light and life overcoming darkness.  There are lots of celebrations for Lent, Holy Week and Easter and all the details are given below. The Mother’s day service at Bishop Wilton and the Easter Egg Hunt at Skirpenbeck are especially child friendly.

Mike

Garrowby Churches Meditation Group

Normally this is the third Thursday at 7.00pm. The next dates are 7.00pm Thursdays 15th February, 21st March and 18h April. The meetings last under an hour and include an introduction to the theme of the evening and a time of quiet and a closing prayer. Even if you would just like to come and enjoy a time of silence in a beautiful building you would be very welcome.

e-mail Newsletter / Sunday Broadcast Services

I still write an e mail most weeks. It has expanded to include news/updates. If you would like to be added to the distribution list please contact Mike K at mikekavanagh@hotmail.co.uk.   We have suspended the broadcast services due to pressure of work in the run up to Christmas but as they continue to be helpful to people, not just in the villages but also further afield, so we will restart them on the first Sunday in Lent, February 18th. They are premiered at 10.00am on a Sunday morning and can be accessed any time after that through www.garrowbychurches.com or via the YouTube channel Linda Munt.

Lent, Holy Week and Easter

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday 14th February. There will be a service at 6.45 pm with the imposition of Ashes at St Andrew’s, Bugthorpe. It will last about half an hour and the Garrowby Singers practice will start at 7.15 so people can attend both.

Mother’s Day 10th March
09.15 Holy Communion Bugthorpe
10.15am Benefice Service for All at Bishop Wilton

Everyone is very welcome to our Mother’s Day celebrations. The Family Service will be a short informal service involving the children on this special day and will be followed by refreshments. So that people can come to church and then go to see family the service is at 10.15am. The 09.15 at Bugthorpe will take the themes of Mothering Sunday but will be geared towards adults.

Post Easter Break

We are taking our post Easter Break on Sunday 7th April and I am grateful to Canon Rodney for taking the 10.00 Service for All at Skirpenbeck and Canon Val the 11.15 at Kirby Underdale. The 08.00 at Bishop Wilton is cancelled.

The Holy Week and Easter Celebrations.

As we have done before the services are shared across all the parishes so if you need a lift to get to any of the services this can be arranged. Just ring the Rectory.

From the Registers

Funerals

8th December 2023 .... Linda Hugill .... York Crematorium
13th December 2023  .... Ann Hepworth  .... St Edith’s, Bishop Wilton

May they rest in peace and rise in glory
Our thoughts and prayers are with Linda’s and Ann’s families


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