CHASE SERVICE ON SUNDAYS IS NOW LATER TIME OF 6PM

LENT 2025

SEE BELOW OR CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR TODAY'S REFLECTION: 
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/12HDnFyTk13/?mibextid=wwXIfrFOR 

Noticing in the present

Week 4: Thursday


Reading
1 Kings 18.1,41-44
After many days the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year of the drought, saying, ‘Go, present yourself to Ahab; I will send rain on the earth.’

Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of rushing rain.’ So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; there he bowed himself down upon the earth and put his face between his knees. He said to his servant, ‘Go up now, look towards the sea.’ He went up and looked, and said, ‘There is nothing.’ Then he said, ‘Go again seven times.’ At the seventh time he said, ‘Look, a little cloud no bigger than a person’s hand is rising out of the sea.’ Then he said, ‘Go and say to Ahab, “Harness your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.” ’


Reflection
Elijah has been waiting, and hoping, for rain.

Seven times he and his servant have looked to the skies and seen nothing, but on the seventh time, they see a cloud – the thing is, it’s tiny. But, for Elijah, that doesn’t seem to matter, it’s enough for him to expect imminent and heavy rainfall.

Don’t despise the small beginnings, that’s what the Bible tells us. Don’t disqualify the seemingly tiny developments, don’t assume that God isn’t working in the ordinary or moving in the mundane.

Hope can feel tough when we’re continually overlooking the things that God is doing in our everyday experiences. We must learn to see our daily lives – as familiar as we are with them – as the backdrop against which God is doing wonderful things.

Challenge
Today let’s pray that we will be given eyes to see the things that God is doing, giving our attention to even the smallest and most ordinary-looking developments.

Dear Friends - here's news about the Scarecrow Trail starting this Sunday at 9am

Our annual Tutshill Scarecrow trail runs from the 6 - 27 April 2025. £3 entry forms will be available from the Lifestyle Express Shop in Tutshill NP16 7DJ, where you can start the trail and  see the creative scarecrows in front gardens. This year the money raised will go to Tidenham Parish Churches with donations to SARA (Severn Valley Rescue Association) and The Wye Valley Greenway.

THIS YEAR ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE FROM 13 APRIL
This year we are additionally making the scarecrow trail available online from the 13 - 27 April 2025 for people who find it difficult to walk around or live just too far away. The online trail FROM LAST YEAR can be found on the Just Giving website - just type in "Tidenham Parish Church" or alternatively click on this link which will be updated on 13 April with this year's.


JustGiving for Tutshill ScareCrow Trail 2025

https://www.justgiving.com/page/tutshill-scarecrows-2025?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

There you will find a link to a form with all the photos of the 2025 Scarecrows with a box above each one to name it. The form can be submitted back to us to mark.

MAKING A DONATION
We invite you to make a £3 donation (or more please!) to enter the competition and be eligible to win the special online prize. PLEASE BE AWARE that JustGiving will automatically add a £1 tip which will go to JustGiving. If you would like to alter this amount then you can click on 'Enter Custom Amount' and reduce this to any amount.
If you are eligible to tick the Gift Aid box that would be great. Thank You!
PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AFTER 13 APRIL so they can join in online.

Thank you and enjoy guessing the Favourite Book Scarecrows 2025 - Scarecrow Committee March 2025

Link Magazine 

Click here for our latest Spring magazine.

OUR NEW VICAR

We are currently advertising for a new Vicar for Tidenham Parish with Beachley and Lancaut, who will also be Vicar in Charge at the parishes of St Briavels with Hewelsfield and Brockweir.  Click here for the Profile which was produced by all three PCCs in preparation for this post.  Advertisements will appear in the Church Times on Friday 9 May, 16 May, 23 May and 30 May with a Closing Date of 9.00am Wednesday 4 June, shortlisting Monday 9 June 2025 at 7.30pm and interviews Monday 23 June 2025.  Please pray for a successful outcome.

NEW PARISH ELECTORAL ROLL 2025 - GENTLE REMINDER!

As Churchwarden Brian has said, “Being a church member is much more than being able to vote at the annual church meeting or standing for Churchwarden or our Church Council (The PCC). It’s really important that we know that you are part of our local church community”. 

If you haven’t yet sent in your application form, please don’t delay! Time is running out. 15 April deadline.  There are forms at the back of church or you can complete a fillable pdf form HERE. 

If you need any help or have any questions, please do contact Iain:

Iain Gardiner, 01291 624868 or email me at iain706gardiner@btinternet.com.
Church Electoral Roll Officer, Tidenham Parish

Here are more exciting news items:

  • Please look at our new Welcome Pack
  • Also our latest LINK MAGAZINE is now in!
  • GARAS Certificate of Donation
  • We were recently visited by a pilgrim: click here for her fascinating newsletter about her physical and spiritual journey
  • And our Wellbeing Ministry has been awarded a grant from the Benefact Trust!

We are an eclectic Church of England parish in the most south westerly corner of the Diocese of Gloucester, on the Welsh border with Chepstow, between the rivers Severn and Wye; our Parish covers Tutshill, Beachley, Sedbury, Tidenham, Tidenham Chase, Boughspring, Stroat, Woodcroft or Llancaut.  There are three church buildings at Tutshill, Tidenham and Tidenham Chase, offering Sunday worship services ranging with traditional Eucharistic worship, Common Worship and the Book of Common Prayer and more informal modern worship. We are also active during the week and we are proud to say our churches support Fairtrade!  Please come and join us, whether you live in the Parish or further afield  - we offer fellowship, support and fun!

Please take a look at our News section to find out up to date information - the briefing, sermons and upcoming events.

Click here for the Tidenham Parish online Worship You-tube link

Our Parish motto ‘where the river flows everything will live’ (Ezekiel 47:9) reflects our vision within the local and global environment. Our Parish vision of ‘Living Life Together in the Flow of God’s Love’ complements the Gloucester Diocesan LIFE vision and we have a strong emphasis on 'doing relationship well' through transforming worship, authentic discipleship, building up capacity, loving community and engaging mission. This is embedded into our lay ministry, pastoral care and engagement within the community.

Feel free to get in touch with us via email or phone, or visit us in person.

Tidenham Parish Church is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders and volunteers are expected to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to acceptable pre-appointment checks, including a satisfactory DBS Check where applicable.