1 February's Ministry Team Reflection. How Many of Us, I Wonder, Have Experienced the 'Eureka' Moment? a Time in Our Lives
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February’s Ministry Team Reflection. How many of us, I wonder, have experienced the ‘eureka’ moment? a time in our lives when everything seems to drop into place almost as though our whole existence had been leading us to this precise moment in time, a blinding light of revelation followed by a cry of joy! It may have been a wedding, or a birth or a hard-won personal achievement? For me it was Ordination, the culmination of a lifetime’s searching for where God was calling me to be. My world suddenly came into sharp focus, and for the first time, made complete sense. How many of us, I wonder, find moments of elation in our daily lives? perhaps glimpsing Christ in the sacramental beauty of the world. Here at home, my day begins with the poetic liturgy of Morning Prayer ‘The night has passed, and the day lies open before us’. A cup of tea usually follows, and I look out into the garden waiting for my friendly Robin red breast to appear as she always does. This beautiful little bird brings me joy as she ushers Christ into my day, displaying him proudly on her crimson chest. We look at each other for a few moments and then she is gone, I am dismissed, but not dismayed. Christ reveals himself to me in this fleeting way and equips me for the day ahead. From the revelation of the Epiphany, we are carried liturgically through time and season towards lent, but first to Candlemas and the presentation of Christ in the temple.(Lk 2: 22-38.) Here we find two remarkable characters, Simeon and Anna, they have spent their entire lives waiting patiently for this one moment, the moment when God rewards their patience. This is their eureka moment when Jesus and the kingdom of God manifest before them in the loving arms of Mary, mother of God. Their lifetime’s waiting culminates in these astonishing few minutes spent with the Messiah, and they want for nothing more from this life, they are contented. ‘Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace’ (vs 29. Nunc Dimittis). As I write this piece, my little Robin is back again, joyfully reminding me that through perseverance we are all truly blessed with Christ’s reassuring and eternal presence. “He did not come to visit us, and then leave; He came to dwell with us, to stay with us. He wants us to share with Him our joys and sufferings, desires and fears, hopes and sorrows, people and situations. Let us do this, with confidence: let us open our hearts to Him, let us tell Him everything…” (Pope Francis 2021) Blessings dear friends, Revd Philip. What does love require? A message from John Davies, Dean of Wells Having heard the announcement about the latest lockdown, I walked over to the Cathedral. I sat at the back and looked up at the Cross in the Nave. A question welled up as I sat: ‘what does love require in the cold climate of Covid?’, with empty streets, people shut in, schools and businesses closed.Like many clergy I have a list of people to lift with a phone call or email. Everyone can of course ring neighbours and friends and family. And offer a word, distanced, in the street; a wave to a window; a card through a letterbox. My neighbour is those I know and care for. But Christ teaches that my neighbour is also on the streets, needy and destitute. Foodbanks and charities need urgent assistance in a cold climate where 1 indifference is not unknown. It might be quite simple: shopping, love taking us to the supermarket. It might be conversation: love says listen as they pour it all out. It might be a bit more complicated. My neighbour might be disabled – is practical help needed? My neighbour might be held as a slave at a car wash. How do I discreetly ask? When do I alert the Clewer initiative? My neighbour may be gay, does love ask me to affirm or keep a distance? My neighbours may be black. How do I show my belief that black lives really matter?Love becomes brittle and bossy if it is given but not received. Love means that I must be open to others, for they may want to love me and be a neighbour to me by loving me. God is love, so in the cold climate of Covid, when community is weakened, let us give and receive love. And the coldness will vanish because love has come to stay Readings for February 2021 PSALM OLD EPISTLE GOSPEL TESTAMENT 7th February Psalm 104 Proverbs 8 Colossians 1 John 1 2nd Sunday before Lent 26-end 1, 22-31 15-20 1-14 14th February Psalm 50 2 Kings 2 2 Corinthians 4 Mark 9 Sunday next before Lent 1-6 1-12 3-6 2-9 21st February Psalm 25 Genesis 9 1 Peter 3 Mark 1 1st Sunday of Lent 1-9 8-17 18-end 9-15 28th February Psalm 22 Genesis 17 Romans 4 Mark 8 2nd Sunday of Lent 23-end 1-7, 15-16 13-end 31-end 7th March Psalm 19 Exodus 20 1 Corinthians1. John 2 3rd Sunday of Lent 1-17 18-25 13-22 FROM THE REGISTERS From January 2016 ‘Anniversaries’ will normally only be included for 5 years after a death. If you would like the name of a loved one included for longer or on a special anniversary please contact the Parish Administrator. Funerals We commit to the Lord’s loving care, praying that he will comfort, strengthen and guide their families: 17th November Sylvia Trump Donyatt 8th December Nancy Cox Broadway 15th December Leslie Sparks Broadway 21st December Phyllis Remphry Ilton 22nd December Heather Thresher Hambridge 6th January Brian Rust Ashill 7th January Joyce Green Broadway Anniversaries: We remember, with thanksgiving, the life and witness of: 3rd February Donyatt Gerald Vaux 5th February Broadway Ernest (Manuel) Barrow 5th February Horton William Gerald Lawton 2 6th February Horton Edward King 7th February Ilton George Edward Haines 9th February Horton Brian Fry 12th February Donyatt Jean Cleveland 13th February Horton Stephen Lewis 13th February Donyatt Nicholas Ingle 15th February Ashill Leslie Thyer 17th February Broadway Norman Taylor 17th February Ashill Olive Kearns 17th February Donyatt Wilf Grabham 18th February Donyatt Mary Trapnell 19th February Benefice Nancy Margaret Tatham 20th February Donyatt Alan Rocket 20th February Donyatt Henry Grafton 21st February Isle Brewers Anne Bush 22nd February Broadway Les Cornall 23rd February Donyatt Patience Bastow 25th February Horton Eileen Alice Fry 25th February Ashill Caroline Pyle 26th February Broadway Gerald John 26th February Broadway Linda Clements 27th February Horton David Whitefield 27th February Donyatt Margaret MacGregor February Isle Brewers Len Langdon Intercessions In praise and thanksgiving to God for His goodness, we pray. Benefice Prayer Cycle Please Pray for: The people of All Saints Isle Brewers Reverend Phil Denison Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy. Sustain and support the anxious, be with those who care for the sick, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may find comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. 3 Sunday Services After much consideration and with sadness seven churches within the Benefice have decided to close for the immediate future. All are welcome to join Reverend Phil Denison and colleagues as they lead Sunday services on line. Time: !st, 2nd & 3rd Sunday 9.25am. Communion Every Sunday evening at 5.50pm Evening Worship 4th Sunday evening service includes Communion Place: The service is held using Zoom. Details from Rev. P. Denison. E mail: [email protected] Sarah Crook (Adminstrator) E mail: [email protected] For those without access to Zoom, you may like to join in lighting a candle during a minute’s silence at 6pm Are you missing a friendly chat over a cup of coffee? Yes – quite a few of us are! Why don’t you join us every Thursday at 10.40am on Zoom for a chance to discuss news and catch up with neighbours and friends? Bring your own coffee and biscuits!! Details from Rev. P. Denison. E mail: [email protected] Sarah Crook (Adminstrator) E mail: [email protected] 4 Isle Valley Benefice Prayers will continue at 9.15am every Monday via Zoom meeting Isle Valley Benefice Prayer Circle is privileged to pray regularly for all. The Circle will also pray for any people in particular need at this time. If you have any special prayer requests please send them to: Reverend Phil Denison, email:[email protected] or Sarah Crook (Adminstrator) [email protected] All requests will be confidential Would you like some daily Bible readings with notes and comments that are readable and help with understanding? Would you like the scriptures brought to life and made relevant for us in the here and now? New Daylight provides four months of daily Bible readings and comments, with a regular team of contributors drawn from a range of church backgrounds. For further details and to order contact: Sarah Crook Email:[email protected] Tel: 01460 391375 5 FEBRUARY AT MONK’S YARD 2020 has been a year of great change caused by a virus that cannot be tamed. As the virus ran riot, at terrible cost, thousands now grieve for those they have lost. We now are a nation who have restrictions imposed which, for the sake of others should not be opposed. But as a result of this virus good things have occurred, as life structures changed and routines became blurred.