The Lent Sermons at St Helen’s Church in Abingdon has the title ‘Spiritual Lessons my Dog taught me.’

Rev’d Dr Charles Miller says

‘Some of you, whether dog-lovers or not, have met my petite Jill Russell, Beth (actually Lambeth, but who would wish to be called that publicly?). She is now ten years old, so that we have begun the second decade of our daily walks together. Those walks certainly, but her behaviours and craving at other times too, have been occasions to observe and reflect. Time and again, in reaction to behaviour either charming or challenging, I’ve been led to ask myself, “Well, am I really that different?” It’s been sobering…’

March 9th – Scent & Sensibility – Is there such a thing as a taste for God (Matthew 4.1-11)?

March 16th – “Sit!” – Dealing with our impulses (John 3.1-17)

March 23rd – Scavenging – Where true joys are to be found (John 4.5-42)

March 30th – Mothering Sunday– the series takes a break

April 6th – Lap Dog – “There’s a place for us…” (John 11.1-45)

See Lent sermon series for more.

Half way through Lent, and Trinity Church was open from Thursday to Saturday for Experience Easter. Over 400 primary-school children and adults attended, making a total of over 2000 visitors since TrinityLearning started the event in 2010.

In The Garden of Gethsemane, children created animals from cold, hard clay

Two girls writing their hopes and dreams on palm crosses.

Trinity Church was transformed for the event. There were six tableaux round a labyrinth, and 20 volunteers from 5 Abingdon churches helping.

Today the United Service of the Church in Abingdon was held at Trinity Church. This is an annual celebration for the 14 member churches.

In the foyer, and round the church, were displays from a number of projects supported or closely connected with the Church in Abingdon, such as the Street Pastors.

Rev’d Richard Bittleston led a short service and also played piano. Richard will be leaving Trinity in the summer, at which point Trinity and All Saints will be getting a new joint minister. The number of ministers are being reduced in these days of declining church attendance in some of the more traditional churches.

The final hymn was to the hymn tune Abingdon. A recording from my phone can be heard here.

It is 50 years since John Robinson’s ground breaking book – Honest to God – was first published.

The next meeting of the The Abingdon Progressive Christianity Network Group, who follow in that tradition, will be held on 3 December, 7.30 pm, at St Michael’s Church. The discussion will consider what a church true to an honest understanding of Jesus might be like.

A few weeks ago the group hosted at Trinity a bigger event, inviting people from further afield, called: Let’s be Honest – Exploring a fresh way forward for Christianity. The picture shows Revd Canon Adrian Alker speaking at that event.