Dear all
This Sunday we celebrate the Pentecost; the arrival of the Holy Spirit on and in the disciples gathered in Jerusalem, where they had been waiting and praying since Jesus' Ascension to heaven 10 days earlier. The Acts of the Apostles describes it as:
"Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them" Acts 2:2-4
They could not have known what they were waiting for; what they were expecting; but I am fairly sure it wasn't what transpired! It is not meek and mild; it is dramatic and sudden - and no doubt initially terrifying before becoming something of great joy.
The poet T S Eliot uses the experience of Pentecost as a central theme in his major poem, Little Gidding, and particularly in part 4 below:
The dove descending breaks the air
With flame of incandescent terror
Of which the tongues declare
The one dischage from sin and error.
The only hope, or else despair
Lies in the choice of pyre of pyre-
To be redeemed from fire by fire.
Who then devised the torment? Love.
Love is the unfamiliar Name
Behind the hands that wove
The intolerable shirt of flame
Which human power cannot remove.
We only live, only suspire
Consumed by either fire or fire.
Like the scripture; there is nowhere to hide with the text, and it sets out a stark choice - literally described as a choice of pyre or pyre! Not exactly comforting words...
And yet, on deeper exploration we do find comfort - indeed hope and love. The Spirit of Pentecost is a spirit of enabling; of equipping; of having the strength, faith and courage to live lives in faith even in the most difficult of times. Jerusalem was not a safe place at all for those earliest Christians - it would need something dramatic to inspire them as they faced great personal danger. And indeed as we will discover as the story unfolds, they are so inspired that they go out with boldness and with joy.
We all find ourselves troubled on a regular basis, and we are often faced with making difficult decisions for ourselves, for others, or in relation to things we have a responsibility for. Eliot boils our turmoils down to an existential choice where we stand at the crossroads of those moments and can find hope and love, rather than despair. Both ways may appear like fire, but one is the fire of new life and possibility - the other the fire of destruction.
Jesus promised the disciples that they would never be alone, and he makes the same promise to us. We do receive the Holy Spirit - who fills us all with the fire of love and hope wherever we find ourselves. Let that fire burn and sustain you in new life.
SERVICES
Pentecost Sunday - 28th May
8am - Said Holy Communion; St John's Tatworth; Rev'd Michelle
10am - Holy Communion; St Mary's, Thorncombe; Rev'd Philip
6:30pm - Hymns & Pimms! A Songs of Praise service for the Chaffcombe Flower Festival; St Michael's & All Angels, Chaffcombe; Rev'd Philip
6:30pm - Service of Light; St Stephen's, Winsham; Lay Team
Sunday 4th June
8am - BCP Holy Communion; Forde Abbey
9:30am - Breakfast at St John's; leading into APCM at 10am and Thanksgiving Service at 11am. Rev'd's Philip & Michelle. All Welcome.
10am - Holy Communion, St Stephen's, Winsham. Rev'd Judith
12pm - Baptism at St Stephen's, Winsham. Rev'd Philip
Bible Study - Easter to Pentecost
The next bible study evening is tonight at 7:30pm here in the Vicarage.
This week we are looking at Acts 2 - The Pentecost.
The Vicarage is at 3 Home Farm, Tatworth, TA20 2SH. To find us it is by far the easiest to park at St John's church, cross the road and walk down School Lane (road opposite the church) about 50metres - Home Farm is the driveway on the left.
IN BLOOM!
The 27th - 29th May sees the return of the Bienniel Chaffcombe Flower Festival. There is a full programme of events across the 3 days at various venues in the village. 6:30pm on Sunday 28th May - Hymns and Pimms! All Welcome at St Michael & All Angels.
PRAYERS
Please hold in your prayers all you know who are struggling in any way, in body, mind or spirit. We are asked to pray by name for:
Dave Boyland; Terri Boyland; Sheila Clement; Wendy Cotton; Jan Knott; Mary Marsh; Tony Taylor; Margaret Bandy; Dorothy White, Di Nicholls, Hester Down, Stella Hutchison; Oskar Lee; Margaret Shields; Andrew de Pury; Frank Long; Cyril Larcombe; Valerie Palmer, Ron Bone; Lynn Ranson, Keith Legge, Margaret Golesworthy.
We remember all those whom we love but see no longer; particularly at this time: Ken Johnson (funeral held in St John's on 9 May); Tony Meech (funeral held in St Stephen's on 11 May); Jackie Scott (funeral held in St John's); Nan Austin (funeral in St John's on 8th June); Michael Jeanes (funeral in St Mary Magdalene's on 31st May); Bob Stacey (funeral on 12th June in St Michael & All Angels); Norman Loveridge (funeral at Taunton Crematorium on 6th June); Fred Strawbridge; Richard Thompson (Thanksgiving service in St Michael & All Angels on 10th June); Sonyia Garland.
A Prayer for Pentecost:
Holy Spirit, sent by the Father,
ignite in us your holy fire;
strengthen your children with the gift of faith,
revive your Church with the breath of love,
and renew the face of the earth,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Blessings
Philip
The Reverend Philip Butcher
Rector - Two Shires Benefice (Tatworth, Thorncombe, Winsham, Chaffcombe & Cricket Malherbie)
The Vicarage
3 Home Farm
Tatworth
Chard
TA20 2SH
01460 221286
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