Then Jesus said to them, ‘The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.’ Mark 2 : 27 - 28

Readings this week :  Deuteronomy 5 : 12 - 15; 2 Corinthians 4 : 5 - 12; Mark 2 : 23 – 3 : 6

Thought for this week

After all the celebrations and deeply important events of the Lord’s grace in Jesus’ incarnation, His arrest and crucifixion, and His amazing Resurrection, we are now in Ordinary time. It is a season, just as our lives tend to travel in seasons.

Ordinary time is a time for embedding and rooting all we have heard and celebrated over the past months into the depths and realities of our daily lives. Having now heard of Jesus’ resurrection, we now become people of His Resurrection in all we are, and say and do each day.

In our Gospel reading Jesus speaks of the Sabbath. Not as an imposed system of rules and regulations, but as a gift of the Lord’s grace to us in our lives. The importance of rest, and also the call to know who it is we truly belong to in this world. Who is our Lord, the one who holds us in His hands.

Ordinary time is an opportunity to step aside from the busyness of the festivals to reflect more deeply on how our lives can be filled anew with the Lord’s grace and love. To allow the Lord to speak through the Holy Spirit, and reveal His love in our lives. A love so immense that our lives become far from ordinary!

Rev Paul

Prayer for this week

O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in you, mercifully accept our prayers and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without you, grant us the help of your grace, that in the keeping of your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, Amen

God of truth, help us to keep your law of love and to walk in ways of wisdom, that we may find true life in Jesus Christ your Son. Amen

People to pray for

Our Alpha course

Schools returning after half term

Our PCC meeting