Bowland Benefice
26 May 2024
Pews News
Trinity Sunday
Almighty and everlasting God,
you have given us your servants grace,
by the confession of a true faith,
to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity
and in the power of the divine majesty to

worship the Unity:
keep us steadfast in this faith,
that we may evermore be defended from

all adversities;

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.
This Week in the Benefice

Sunday
26 May

9.30am Holy
Communion in
White Ladies
Aston
10.30am Songs of Praise
in Upton
Snodsbury
11.00am Holy
Communion in
Peopleton

Saturday
1 June

From
10.30am
To 4.00pm

Flower Festival
in St Kenelm’s,
Upton
Snodsbury
(see below)

Sunday
2 June
Trinity 1

10.30am

2.00pm to
4.00pm

Family Service
in Upton
Snodsbury and
Flower Festival
continues
11.00am Holy
Communion in
Peopleton
6.00pm Evensong in
White Ladies
Aston
St Kenelm’s annual summer Flower Festival
takes place next weekend and there is still time
to ‘have a go’ at arranging some flowers or foliage
for the church. The theme this year is Wild!
Please contact Helen - 381490 – if you would like to
contribute to the display. She would love to hear

from you!
Thank you……

To everyone who helped in any way with this year’s
Christian Aid Week especially those volunteers who
delivered the iconic little red and white envelopes.

As I write this the General Election has been
announced for 4 July. We can do no better than take
to heart words written by Archbishops Justin and

Stephen……..

“The coming General Election is a critical moment in
the life of our nation, which will shape our future by
electing those who will make decisions affecting

generations to come.

It is a time for us all – people of all faiths and of none -
to ask important questions about what kind of country

we want to be.

We are facing epic challenges both in our country and
our world: from questions of war and peace, to
poverty and injustice and very future of the Earth God

has given us.

Faced with such huge questions, our instinct as
Christians is to turn to God in prayer and so we want
to put prayer at the very heart of this campaign.
We are therefore inviting everyone who is willing, to
dedicate the next few weeks as a time not just to think
about the big questions but to pray for our nation and
our world. And we want to invite everyone to think
about how we all can play our part both as voters and,

more broadly, as citizens.

We would add a plea that no matter how big the issues
at stake over the next few weeks, this will be a time
marked by respect for one another, for good grace and
a commitment to truth and integrity.
It is our prayer that, even in the heat of the debate, we
will treat each other with respect and kindness.
And we give thanks for the dedication of all who stand
for public office in service of our communities – often
at great personal cost - and those who support the

process.”

Prayers for our nation and the world
Eternal God, Light of the nations,
in Christ you make all things new:
guide our nation in the coming days through the
inspiration of your Spirit,
that understanding may put an end to discord

and all bitterness.

Give us grace to rebuild bonds of trust that together we
may work for the dignity and flourishing of all;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
I pray for peace between countries.
I pray for people to reach out to other people with the

hand of generosity
And not to be unkind but to care;
Not to argue but to open up discussion;
To be a friend and not fight or bully;
To accept others nationalities and not be racist.
To look for the good in other people
and not find fault in others;

Not to be bewitched by money but to give to the poor
Not to use religion as a weapon but to use it as a support

and actual faith.

And finally, not to hate but forgive and love. Amen.
(Catarina Mesquita-Reynolds, aged 9 
 St Richards CE First school Evesham)