Dear all

Today we remember St Irenaeus of Lyons (130-202AD); one of the great early Christian theologians. He was particularly interested in the understanding of God as a Creator God who is constantly involved in creation (and therefore us!), and not a remote being - as was thought the case by the Gnostic movement. Irenaeus significantly advanced theological thought around the idea of the Holy Trinity as Father, Son & Holy Spirit being a relational unity through which we are created and sustained.

There is a wonderful children's book by Max Lucado; 'You are special'. It tells the story of how the Wemmicks, fictional wooden characters, are all uniquely made by the carpenter - who knows and loves each of them even though they often misunderstand! Do look it out if you are not familiar with it. St Irenaeus has the following quote attributed to him which speaks also of this unconditional love we experience in our relationship with God:

"It is not you that shapes God,
It is God that shapes you.
If you are the work of God,
await the hand of the artist who does all things in due season.
Offer him your heart, soft and tractable,
and keep the form in which the artist has fashioned you.
Let your clay be moist, lest you grow hard and lose the imprint of his fingers"

SUNDAY SERVICES - 2 July (4th Sunday after Trinity):

8am - BCP Holy Communion; Forde Abbey.

10am - Holy Communion; St Stephen's, Winsham

10:30am - EMMAUS: A new service for the 1st Sunday of the month at St John's Tatworth. See below.

EMMAUS

On the first Sunday of the month a new service is starting at St John's in place of the Morning Worship service that has taken place in that slot.

It is centred around welcome and hospitality - of coming together in fellowship; hence the title 'Emmaus', which comes from the Gospel of Luke's account of Jesus joining the disciples on the road to Emmaus.

From 10:30am people are invited to gather in St John's where there will be food and drink available (free) and people can just 'be' together in a relaxed and social environment. From about 11am we will then have a time of worship which will be centred on thanksgiving, through word, music, and prayer. It will be approximately 30minutes. There will then also be the opportunity for private prayer afterwards.

This is very much intended to be a relaxed time of coming together and to which ALL are welcome and supported across all ages. Do please spread the word!

JOINT PCC MEETING - DISCUSSING FOCAL MINISTRY.

Thank you to everyone who came to the joint PCC meeting last week. It was good to see so many PCC members and to get this important conversation started. As discussed I will now invite the members of the Deanery Leadership team to come and discuss further with us as we embark on our discernment in this area.

DEANERY GATHERING (SYNOD) - Thursday 29th June 7 for 7:30pm at South Petherton

The next Deanery Gathering is tomorrow from 7pm in South Petherton church looking at rural ministry. All Welcome. This will be Rev'd Anne Kember's last Deanery Gathering before she leaves so please do come and support her.

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; Wendy Cotton; Jan Knott; Mary Marsh; Tony Taylor; Margaret Bandy; Di Nicholls, Hester Down, Stella Hutchison; Oskar Lee; Margaret Shields; Andrew de Pury; Cyril Larcombe; Valerie Palmer, Lynn Ranson, Keith Legge, Margaret Golesworthy.
We remember all those whom we love but see no longer; particularly at this time: Bob Stacey; Richard Thompson; Sonyia Garland; Terrance Down (funeral tomorrow at Yeovil Crematorium, 10:30); Roger Hannam; Frank Long (funeral 12th July 11am in St John's, Tatworth).

A prayer for Trinity 4:

Eternal God,
comfort of the afflicted and healer of the broken,
you have fed us at the table of life and hope:
teach us the ways of gentleness and peace,
that all the world may acknowledge
the kingdom of your Son 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

PASTORAL EMAILS - please to: [email protected]

HOME PRAYER & WORSHIP: https://twoshires.wordpress.com

Rest Days - Mondays (Tuesdays where following a bank holiday)

For non-urgent enquiries please allow up to a week for responses.

Mornings are best times for phone contact!