Dear all
Today is the feast day of St Blaise (4thC AD), about whom relatively little is known. However, anybody who is familiar with Cornwall will likely have heard of the town of St Blazey, which is named after the saint, and, closer to home there is a St Blaise church near Newton Abbot!
He is a saint recognised by the Anglican Church, but more so in the Catholic Church. Sadly he does not get a special mention in our church calendar, which I think is surprising given that one of the causes he is patron saint of is of the wool trade! Maybe not the industry it once was in these parts - but there is a fascinating link between the wool industry and the establishment of the first English language prayer book; one for a sermon perhaps.
St Blaise is also the patron saint of illnesses of the throat, and it is said that he performed miracles of healing with a particular tale of a healing of a boy with a throat infection suffered from a lodged fish bone.
Today some Catholic churches will perform a ritual using two lit candles crossed over each other whilst saying prayers of healing, an act that is apparently rooted in how St Blaise carried out his healing all those centuries ago.
Please do not hold up lit candles to your throat if it is sore! But perhaps today you might like to light a candle and say a prayer for all those you know who are struggling with illness at this time.
Sunday 5th February
8am - Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion; Forde Abbey
10am - Holy Communion; St Stephen's, Winsham
10am - Morning Worship; St John's, Tatworth
Wild Church:
Wild Church is back on Saturday February 4th! In a slight change of plan, we are going to go for a walk at Chard Reservoir! We will meet at 3pm in the main car park - all welcome!
Hop to it!
Reverend Michelle has started her skipping challenge to raise money for Cancer Research! During February she will attempt to do 100 skips with a skipping rope everyday. If you would like to support her please see this link: Michelle's Skipping Challenge Giving Page (cancerresearchuk.org) A big thank you to all those who have supported her already!
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; Hannah Knott; Jan Knott; Mary Marsh; Tony Taylor; Margaret Bandy; Dorothy White, Tony Meech, Di Nicholls, Hester Down, Stella Hutchison; Oskar Lee; Margaret Shields; Andrew de Pury; Frank Long; Jean Dodd.
We remember all those whom we love but see no longer, especially at this time Nick Frankau, Vernon Martin, and Margaret Jeanes. We hold all those who are bereaved in our prayers. Margaret Jeanes' funeral is on Tuesday 7th February in Cricket Malherbie at 11am. At 2pm there is a memorial service, also in Cricket Malherbie, to celebrate the lives of both Margaret and Stuart Jeanes.
A Collect for St Blaise
Almighty Father,
you have built up your Church
through the love and devotion of your saints:
inspire us to follow the example of St Blaise,
whom we commemorate today,
that we in our generation may rejoice with him
in the vision of your glory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
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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