Bowland Benefice
Pews News 18 June 2023
2 nd Sunday after Trinity
and Fathers’ Day!
Prayer for Fathers’ Day
Heavenly Father,
you entrusted your Son Jesus,
the child of Mary, to the care of Joseph,

an earthly father.

Bless all fathers as they care for their families.
Give them strength and wisdom,
tenderness and patience;
support them in the work they have to do,
protecting those who look to them,
as we look to you for love and salvation,
through Jesus Christ our rock and defender. Amen.
This week in the Benefice
Sunday
18 June

11.00am Benefice Holy
Communion in
Peopleton

Saturday
24 June

9.30am to
11.30am

The Big Breakfast in
the garden of Jim
Crow Corner,
Peopleton.
(see below)

2.00pm to
4.30pm

White Ladies Aston
Fete
(see below)

Sunday
25 June
3 rd Sunday
after Trinity

9.30am Holy Communion in
White Ladies Aston
10.30am Songs of Praise in
Upton Snodsbury
11.00am Holy Communion in
Peopleton
The Big Breakfast in Peopleton
Everyone is warmly invited to the Big Breakfast in
Nigel and Shirley’s garden on Saturday 24 June. A full
English breakfast will cost £10 for an adult and £3 for
those under 10. Tickets are available from Kim
(840911), Carole (840879), Caroline (840630) and

Diana (840611).

All profits will be in aid of St Nicholas Church.
White Ladies Aston’s Church Fete
Come along to Redfern House on Saturday 24 June
where the Worcester Re-enactors will be opening the
afternoon’s proceedings. Come and enjoy all the
normal traditional attractions and visit the church
with its interesting photographic and archaeological

exhibitions.

On Sunday 25 June the Worcester Re-enactors will
return to the village from 10.30am to 4.00pm. They
will set up camp on the field in front of the church
and are extending a warm welcome to anyone who
would like to come along. A free event with a range
of activities. White Ladies Aston played a key role
during the English Civil War.

In case you missed it last week…….Important

announcement!!

Revd Claire Billington has now formally been offered
and accepted the post of Priest in Charge of the

Bowland Benefice.

She has heard from Archdeacon Robert that the
licensing service will be on Sunday 9 July at 6.00pm in
the church of St John the Baptist, White Ladies Aston.
More details later – watch this space!
Bishop John says of her appointment….
Your appointment is very good news for the Benefice
and for the Pershore and Evesham Deanery. May God
bring you much joy in this new stage of your Christian
ministry and, in the meantime, bless you as you
prepare for your new role.
Fathers’ Day

Today is recognised across a lot of the world as
Fathers’ Day - from the USA to Pakistan; from Mexico
to South Africa; from Greece to Canada.
A survey a few years ago showed that in Britain the
average dad spends 4 hours a week as his children’s
taxi-driver, 27 days a year doing home DIY and if you
put a price on all the times he ‘rehouses’ spiders and
other creepy-crawlies, he would be a wealthy man!
Some may regard Fathers’ Day as just an opportunity
for the card manufacturers to make a bit of money
but it can be an opportunity to think about what being
a dad means, and to express love and gratitude and
maybe understanding and forgiveness too.
God, bless all the fathers in the world.
Guide them to be good role models and loving to all
their children. Help them to be a father like You are.
Give them grace and patience to handle situations in a

loving way. Amen.

A thank you for all those men and women who have
guided us and supported us in our lives, in both the
big things and the small. For those who have shaped
our thoughts, our outlooks and our attitudes.
An opportunity to reassess where parental
relationships have gone wrong, where family bonds
have been broken and hurt and anger persist.
Maybe now is the time to have the courage to say
I’m sorry, can we start putting things right?

A Prayer for today
God of life – of all life and of each life
you are before us and you are behind us;
you are in the light and in the darkness;
you see our most public face
and you know the secret thoughts of every heart.
We bring the faith that is in us and the doubt;
we bring the joy that is in us and the sorrow;
we bring the courage that is in us, and the fear.
Give us the grace to walk in the way of Christ.

Guide us by your Spirit. Amen.