Dear friends
Today is the last day of the academic year and for many it signals the start of the holiday period. This e-letter is the last for a couple of weeks and I look forward to writing again in mid-August.
It always seems a little ironic to me that as we limp over the finishing line of the summer term, we find ourselves busier than ever readying for the holiday period - a house full of kids and a million jobs to complete before signing off for a while. Everything gets looked at through the lens of 'how important is this job really?' And we can find a thousand reasons why it is, where in reality perhaps it is not.
It is so important for us all to have the space and time to breath, to take stock, to rest. We cannot (despite what our brains and hearts tell us) keep going at a 100mph. Sooner or later there will be a crash. As Christians the call to rest is actually a core part of our understanding and faith as created beings in the image and love of God. God made the world and everything in it - and then rested. Jesus often takes time out to retreat on his own or with his closest friends to rest. It is part of who we are - the need to recharge.
At a clergy meeting this week we used the prayer below, which I think is rather nice and you may like to use yourselves at this time:
In the name of Jesus Christ,
who was never in a hurry,
we pray, O God, that You will slow us down,
for we know that we live too fast.
With all of eternity before us,
make us take time to live –
time to get acquainted with You,
time to enjoy Your blessings,
and time to know each other.
Amen.
SERVICES
Sunday 23 July
8:00am - Holy Communion; St John's, Tatworth. Rev Philip.
10am - Holy Communion; St Mary's, Thorncombe. Rev Philip.
12pm - Baptism; St Stephen's, Winsham. Rev Michelle.
6:30pm - Evening Prayer (BCP); St Michael & All Angel's, Chaffcombe. Pamela Everitt
6:30pm - Service of Light; St Stephen's, Winsham. Lay Team
Wednesday 26th July - 9:30am Holy Communion; St Stephen's, Winsham. Rev Judith.
Sunday 30 July
10:30am - BENEFICE SERVICE; St Mary Magdalene, Cricket Malherbie. Rev Judith.
Sunday 6th August
8:00am - Holy Communion (BCP); Forde Abbey. Rev Judith
10am - Holy Communion; St Stephen's, Winsham. Rev Terri
10:30am (for gathering and coffee - service starts at 11) - Emmaus; St John's, Tatworth. Anne Perez. The service this month will be a Songs Of Praise.
Wednesday 9 August - 11am Holy Communion; St John's Tatworth. Rev Terri
WILD CHURCH - New date
The next Wild Church is at 3pm on 19th August outside St John's, Tatworth. This is the postponed new date for our summer BBQ!! ALL WELCOME. It would be helpful to have a ballpark idea of numbers coming for catering purposes, and also of any dietary requirements. No cost, donations only.
CRICKET MALHERBIE BBQ & QUIZ - New date
The annual BBQ and Quiz at St Mary Magdalene, Cricket Malherbie is now on 29th July; from 6pm! All Welcome and come and test your knowledge in this renown quiz! Please bring chairs if possible.
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, Karen Martin, Christopher Butcher.
We remember all those whom we love but see no longer; particularly at this time: Reg Fawcett (funeral 18th July 3pm in St Mary's, Thorncombe); Cynthia (Tup) Gummer.
A prayer for Trinity 7:
Generous God,
you give us gifts and make them grow:
though our faith is small as mustard seed,
make it grow to your glory
and the flourishing of your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE
The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32)
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
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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