Mid Week Musings

Dear All

I have managed to catch up with a few sessions online with the Astronomical Society of Cambridge University.  It has been fascinating and mind boggling.  The cosmos is strange, beautiful and bewildering.  Then I came across this from a podcast by Mike McHargue - scientist, author and Christian which I really like:

Earth’s life is fed by a process in which carbon from the air and minerals in the soil are attached together by the energy of photons via photosynthesis in plants. In this process, everything on this planet lives by the constant sacrifice of the nearest star. Every blade of grass, every tree, every bush, every microscopic algae on this planet is a resurrected form of the Sun’s energy. . . .

One day, I will die, and in time my atoms will go back to giving life to something else. Much farther along the arrow of time, our own Sun will explode and spread its essence across the sky. Our Sun’s dust will meet with other stars’ remnants and form new stars and planets of their own. The universe itself exists in an eternal pattern of life, death, and resurrection.

It seems poetically appropriate that the Source of all would have left this divine signature on the fabric of reality. In Jesus, I hope for more than just a God with a face or a uniquely gifted moral teacher. I hope for a resurrection that will one day reach every corner of our universe.'

You will all, no doubt, have heard that the government has announced that from 4th July churches can have services - with appropriate social distancing, etc, and no singing.

Georgina and I have discussed this and we have decided that we will not be starting services in any of our churches again until 2nd August.  There are three main reasons for this:

• We need to plan carefully and prayerfully how we are going to best restart our services with all the appropriate safety measures in places, and we are not going to rush into this.
• Many members of our congregations are still shielding until 31st July, and we would like to find a way from 2nd August to bring them back into church.
• Both of us need a break!  I am going to be taking the week beg. 11th July off, and Georgina the week beg. 25th July.

It is also possible that by 2nd August things will have moved on again and holding services will be a bit easier.

Blessings

Ann 

--

Rev'd Ann Kember

Rector of St Mary's Chard, St Nicholas Combe, St Mary's Wambrook and St Andrew's, Whitestaunton

01460 351521

07490 236179

The First Sunday After Trinity

Wishing you a safe and blessed Sunday

Lord as you have called us, guide us, that we may become the people you have called us to be. Direct us, that we may do what you would have us do.

Amen

We pray for the church throughout the world,

for those who face persecution for their faith,

for those who worship you in the face of opposition and fear.

We pray also for the mission of the church,

remembering especially the work of the Church Missionary Society.

Lord, as you call us, make us worthy of that calling.

Lord, you have called us to work together.

We pray for all who are seeking to find a better path.

We pray for governments around the world, making difficult decisions.

We pray for all who are called to serve their communities and improve the lives of others. We pray for all who are working against violence and prejudice.

Lord, as you call us, make us worthy of that calling.

Lord, we give you thanks for all who have brought us closer to you.

We pray for those who have taught us and inspired us.

We pray for those we love and who love us. We pray for all those who have been an example to us and ask that we may be an example to others.

Lord, as you call us, make us worthy of that calling.

Lord, we give you thanks for all carers, those working in our nursing and care homes, and those helping others in their homes.

We thank you for their dedication and care under difficult circumstances.

May we also show care for others in whatever way we are able.

May we hear you calling us to be the best that we can be.

Lord, as you call us, make us worthy of that calling. Amen

Please pray today for Katharine, as she prepares to move to her new Benefice of Cam Vale.

Our Bible readings for this week:   Romans 5: 1-8

 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

Matthew 9: 35 – 10: 8

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.

Collect

 O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in you, mercifully accept our prayers and, because we can do no good except through you, grant us the help of your grace, so we may please you both in will and deed. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Above all virtues, put love. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts; and the peace of the Lord be always with you.

Blessing

Circle us, Lord.

Keep protection near and danger afar.

Circle us, Lord. Keep hope within.

Keep fear without.

Circle us, Lord.

 Keep light near and darkness afar.

Circle us, Lord.

Keep peace within.

Keep harm without.

May God bless us and all those we love, this day and always.

Amen