A very warm welcome to all
Psalm 30: “You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead.”
Sixth Sunday After Pentecost
Readings: Wisdom of Solomon 1: 13-15; 2: 23-24; 2 Corinthians 8: 7-15
Gospel: Mark 5: 21-43
In our Gospel today
Distress is a part of the human condition. How do we hold together the pain of the world – the wounds of war, poverty of peoples, destruction of species and our own personal trials and losses – with the goodness and ever-present nature of God?
We find expressions of pain and disappointment in lament to God throughout our Scriptures. Lamentation is not faithlessness. It is not the anthesis of faith. There is no failure in honesty. Surely, we are closer to God when we are real with God.
The Wisdom of Solomon is thought to have been written about 100 years before the life of Jesus. The writer offers the hope of justice and eternal life despite the evil and pain of the world around. In this reading we are reminded that God is not the author of evil. Rather, that everything God has made, is good.
The passage from Mark contains both the distress of our human condition and the hope we have in God who is with us and cares for us. We see Jesus surrounded by and immersed within the sorrows and limitations of human life. Here is both despair and hope – we see faith making a difference.
Thursdays @ 7
Would you like to meet mid-week for bible-study, prayer, and encouragement? Thursdays @ 7 will be held in the Crypt. We plan to re-start on 18th July. You’d be very welcome wherever you feel you are in your faith journey. Bring a friend if you wish. We’ll aim to be an hour – longer if you stay for refreshments.
Rectory Lawn Cutting Rota
Thank you very much to all those that have signed up for the lawn cutting rota. There are plenty of weeks available if you’d like to sign up too. Please see the sign-up sheet at the back of church for those that are able to give the lawn a cut during the summer and autumn months. Thank you!
Soap Sunday 30th June
Wondering what Soap Sunday is? Well, it’s a day when we bring soap, shampoo and shower-gels to church so we can donate to a local charitable organisation that helps less fortunate folk. Thank you very much to all who have donated items.
Church Garden Tidy Up (Saturday 6th July)
Many in the congregation will have noticed the surprising number of weeds of all varieties that have sprung up around the church grounds in recent weeks. Our first weeding session is scheduled for Saturday 6th July from 10am to 12 noon. Please sign-up on the sheet at the back of church, if you are able to help. Thank you!
Bake Sale Sunday 7th July
The Fundraising and Social Events Team wanted to give you plenty of notice for our Bake Sale planned for Sunday 7th July. For those good bakers in the congregation please dust off your best recipes and get ready to present your bakes for sale. Please sign up on the sheet at the back of church so we can gauge how many scones and Victoria sponges might be available for sale. Thank you!
Photograph Competition 2024
Just a brief reminder that our Photograph Competition is currently running and there are two more months to go before the deadline for entries. Please send any nice photographs to our webmaster, David Rose. Thank you!
Services and events commencing this Sunday and for the coming week
Sunday 30th June 8am Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Roger Dyer
Sunday 30th June 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Revd Kate Gibson
Tuesday 2nd July No Morning Prayer
Wednesday 3rd July 10am Holy Communion: Revd Kate Gibson
Friday 5th July 6pm Compline: Iain Stewart
Sunday 7th July No 8am Service
Sunday 7th July 10am Service of the Word: Leading Dr Nicola Mills and preaching Revd Ferdinand Von Prondzynski
Next Sunday’s readings: Ezekiel 2: 1-5; Psalm 123; 2 Corinthians 12: 2-10
Gospel: Mark 6: 1-13
“In the novel Pilgrim’s Progress the characters Christian and Hopeful cross a great river. Christian cries out, ‘I sink in deep Waters, the Billows go over my head.’ Hopeful replies, ‘Be of good cheer, my Brother, I feel the bottom, and it is good.’”
(John Bunyan)
For any pastoral matters please contact our Assistant Priest Revd. Roger Dyer on 07719 458571
or revrogdyer@btinternet.com