Daily ScriptureThe man said ‘The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree and I ate’. Then God said to the woman ‘What is this that you have done?’ The woman said ‘The serpent tricked me, and I ate.’ (Genesis 3.8-15)Daily Reflection The Hebrew words for Adam and Eve mean Man and Life. It’s the story of every man and every woman since human life began. We have free will, but with that goes responsibility for the choices we make. The man blames the woman; the woman blames the serpent. The man even implies it’s actually God’s fault, for giving him the woman in the first place! We blame our instincts, our environment, our parents, and if all else fails we can always blame God. We are made in the image of God, but all too often abuse our freedom and ignore God’s laws, and then blame others when things go wrong. This old biblical tale of the Fall is still absolutely relevant. It contains deep truths which are well worth pondering. Revd Rosemary
Please see attached for weekly news. This Sunday's services: Sunday 6th June - The First Sunday after Trinity 8am HOLY COMMUNION AT ST NICHOLAS, SANDHURST led by Revd Ylva Blid-Mackenzie & Revd David Commander10 am HOLY COMMUNION AT ST GEORGE’S, BENENDEN led by Revd Ylva Blid-Mackenzie & Revd David Commander
Daily ScriptureThe Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff - they comfort me. (Psalm 23 v 1-4)Daily ReflectionPsalm 23 is quite possibly the best known and best loved passage of Scripture in the whole world, and for good reason. The imagery is profound, beautiful and timeless - faithful shepherd, green pastures, still waters, and we know that through this psalm that we are loved beyond all measure. Next week I am taking part in a day pilgrimage to Canterbury where I will certainly be walking through green pastures and discovering still waters as I search for Holy wells - I will also learn the art of staff making and discovering why pilgrims use this as a walking aid - perhaps it is to steady themselves as they walk through the darkest of valleys - a physical reminder that God is there with them to comfort and guide them in the bad times and the good. Lyn Hayes ALM
Daily ScriptureLet the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)Daily ReflectionWhat a beautiful thought; what beautiful words to try and live our lives by. That the things that we think about deep in our hearts would be acceptable to God; that the words that we speak would be acceptable to God.Knowing that “God is love”: if our thoughts and our words can be acceptable to him, then our thoughts and the things we say to one another are rooted in love. If the things we think, do, and say are rooted in love, then the world would be a much better place.But it is a “big ask”, isn’t it, that every thought and word we speak, every day, would be acceptable to God? It seems an impossible task. Today will be a better day if you can just remember this verse, and try and live by it. (Don’t worry about tomorrow yet, just try it today!) Revd David
