Hello Everyone, E-MAIL 13
A Letter from Bishop Andrew
WHITSUNTIDE 2020
Jesus cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water’”.
At the foot of our garden runs the River Kennet – now receded after a swollen winter. The soggy ditch of nettles beside our hedge is, I find, home to a spring that seeps down, eventually to join the main stream. This connection is somehow consoling, especially in such an unpromising patch.
St John’s Gospel depicts Christ as the fountainhead of life, in whom the Holy Spirit gushes up eternally. At his invitation, we come to him – not only for personal refreshment, but to discover the same Spirit rising within us. Thus, Whit Sunday celebrates not only an outpouring upon the church, but also from it, for the reviving of the nations.
At Pentecost, dear friends, let us drink deeply from this holy well. I am full of gratitude and admiration for the way in which you have led our churches through these unsettled weeks of lockdown – and found so many springs in unpromising places. The Spirit brings together all things in Christ and reunites us as one body.
Be encouraged, for the Lord is here: his Spirit is with us.
Sincerely in Christ,
+Andrew.
Please continue to pray for the following people.
With special prayer for Barny Beddow and Judith as she looks after him.
Those feeling unwell, recovering from operations, or who are sick or elderly.
Carol PART (E), Peter HARRIS (WL), Steve Wragg and Nicky his wife (ML), Sarah Smith, Les Charlton (ML), Margaret and Peter Bell (ML), Ken Davy and those caring for them. For Karl working in the NHS.
Anyone in our villages that have contracted the virous and are isolated at home and for those living with and care for them. (Cases now in West Lavington, Great Cheverell, Littleton Panell, and Market Lavington).
Those living abroad, for Gareth in China.
We also pray for The Nestling Trust – for the wellbeing of the children and worker caring for them and for the people in Nepal who have no health care to access.
For the health and safety of street children everywhere.
And families who are grieving and coming to terms with the death of a loved one.
Marjorie NEAL (WL), Lionel DANIELS (WL), Bob OSBORNE (WL), Jean Randell (WL), Valerie Miles (ex MK, Wendy Trinder (ex ML, Silke Nerger (ML), Stanley Barnett (ML), Brenda Drewitt (ML), and Sharon BLACK (ML), Jim Hodges (WL), Diane Pearce Harvey (ML).
Prayer Diary
1st June Please remember in your prayers today all ambulance drivers, paramedics and the 999 call centres who’s work load increases as the lockdown guide lines change.
2nd June Please remember in your prayers today all in our villages that are continuing to offer help to their elderly and/or housebound neighbours.
3rd June Please pray for the people of Easterton. That at this time they find new ways of being church. That God will bless them abundantly and draw them to himself by taking away their fears.
4th June As the dawn brings the sun, may God bring good out of this difficult situation by drawing our communities ever closer to each other in friendship and care.
5th June Heavenly Father, we ask that you help us to be good stewards of the resources we have in our local shops, not to hoard but continue to share generously.
6th June We pray for the people of the Cheverell’s. May they, like their names, both great and little, draw nearer to each other in fellowship, prayer and care, within and together.
7th June We pray for all within our communities that are finding it difficult to see the good and joyful in very day and are in danger of becoming depressed as this lock-down begins to lift.
Promises from God
1 Cor 13:4-5 My love is patient and kind and does not keep track of wrongs.
Psalm 27:1 I am your light and your salvation, the strength of your life.
Hebrews 4:16 Come boldly to My throne when you need to find mercy and
grace.
Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
May God continue to bless you and watch over you. May He smile with you in simple joys
and comfort you in darker moments and above all give you peace in your heart.
With my love and prayers
Marion xx
Promises from God
1 Corinthians 10:13 I will not let you be tested beyond what you can endure.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 My love will persevere through every situation.
St Patrick’s Prayer
May the strength of God pilot us.
May the power of God, preserve us.
May the wisdom of God, instruct us.
May the hand of God protect us.
May the way of God direct us.
May the shield of God defend us.
May the host of God guard us
against the snares of evil
and the temptations of the world.
May Christ be with us.
Christ before us.
Christ in us.
Christ over us.
May Thy salvation,
O Lord, be always ours
this day and forever more. Amen.
May God’s love fill your hearts, His word fill your minds
and His abiding peace give rest to your souls.
With my love and prayers to you all.
Marion.
An Easter Poem – He Will Walk
He will walk, a little in front of us, towards Jerusalem.
He will not be scared, though we are apprehensive.
If we try to discourage him, he will recognise the devil in our voice,
and he will tell us as much in no uncertain terms.
Then he will go on again, in faith, towards Jerusalem.
He will walk a little in front of us into controversy.
He will not be scared, though we are apprehensive,
He will argue with the intelligent, stop in their tracks the self-assured,
touch the scabby, upset bank balances by his outlandish behaviour in the sanctuary, and weep in public.
Then he will go on again, in faith, towards Jerusalem.
He will walk, a little in front of us, into Gethsemane.
He will not be scared, though we are apprehensive.
He will sweat blood and ask God if there is another way.
And when God says no,
he will take the traitor’s kiss, the soldiers’ spit,
the bile and venom from the princes of religion.
Then he will go on again, in faith, towards the cross.
He will walk, a little in front of us, towards Calvary.
He will not be scared, no, he will not be scared.
He will feel the pain of wood and nails;
but more than this he will feel the weight of all the evil, all the malice,
all the pettiness, all the sin of the world heaped upon his shoulders.
He will not throw off that weight, though he could.
He will not give back evil for evil, return malice for malice,
take revenge on the petty-minded,
or spew out hate on all who have despised or rejected him.
He will not give back the sin of the world.
He will take it away… into to death, into hell,
so that he can lead us into heaven.
Then he will go on again, in faith, towards the resurrection.
He will walk, a little behind us, through the graveyard.
He will wait,
until we realize that he has died,
and admit our complicity in his life’s ending.
Then he will come up behind us, and say our name,
so that we can say his, for ever.
