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Pew Sheets

 

 

 

14^th June

2^nd Sunday after Trinity

 

Collect

Lord, you have taught us that all our doings without love are nothing worth: send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love, the true bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whoever lives is counted dead before you. Grant this for your only Son Jesus Chrit’s sake, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

 

Readings

Old Testament                           Genesis 18. 1-15^.

New Testament                          Romans 5. 1-8.

Gospel                                       Matthew 9. 35 thru 10. 8.

 

Jesus was not only a talker but proclaimed the Go and proclaimed it old News through his actions as well. He talked about resurrection and proclaimed it by his action.  One side authenticated the other – the signs were essential.

The Church’s sacramental acts – Baptism and Eucharist given to us by our Lord – and those others that are sacramental in nature – confession, marriage, anointing the sick, confirmation and ordination – are not just a ritual, but effect the reality that they proclaim.  For those of a generation brought up on the Catechism of the Book of Common Prayer, you may remember that Sacraments are described as ‘outward and visible signs of an inward and spiritual grace.’

A priest colleague serving as an army chaplain, told a group of us that many of the Church’s acts ring true with soldiers. They spend their lives training and expressing certain realities in ritual acts.  These become second nature to them. 

Jesus gave his disciples authority to effect the signs of the Kingdom – casting out unclean spirits, cure diseases and sickness and much besides.  True, these things benefitted the individuals on whom they were performed, but it is necessary also to understand and read what it was they signified.

The disciples were sent out to proclaim the Good News that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand – a concept that implies that it is both ‘here’ as well as ‘near’. We have heard the Good News, but do we live it out in word as well as deed?  Do we understand the signs that authenticate it?  One without the other will not do!                                                                                                  Martin.

Services next Sunday 21^st June – 3^rd Sunday after Trinity

Weston-under-Penyard	Family Communion	11.00 a.m.
The Lea	Parish Communion	9.30 a.m.
Hope Mansell	Parish Communion	9.30 a.m.
Aston Ingham	Village Praise	10.30 a.m.
Linton	Morning Worship	11.00 a.m.
Upton Bishop	Sung Parish Communion	NEW TIME 11.00 a.m.

 

Forthcoming Services & Events

LINTON. Refugee Week and Sanctuary Sunday.  June 15th – 21st is Refugee Week and we will be marking this in Linton with a special service on 21st June, which is Sanctuary Sunday.  This will include specially written liturgy from Churches Together which reminds us of the commands of both the Old and the New Testament to care for those on the fringes of society; a display using material from Journey Together; a Prayer activity linking in the Herefordshire Prayer Beads Project; and much more.  All welcome to come to the service or drop in during the week to look at the display.

LINTON. Bible Book Club Bible Book club is an informal monthly book club reading through the Bible one book at a time. Each session is stand alone and starts with refreshments at 10.30am, everyone welcome. Info Contact Charlotte

WESTON:  Bible Studies continue at Penyard Rise on 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of each month. Tony & Mary Pitt 07534 510614.

UPTON BISHOP have a BCP communion Service at 9.30 am on the first Wednesday of each month. A quiet midweek service. All welcome”                

 

Please be aware that if you have any events you would like to advertise here, do please contact Debs directly (details below) and she will be pleased to include them.

 

Please pray for all who are sick, Alan Brooker (Lea),

Please pray for all who have died, Jean Williams (Lea), R South (Lin) Michael Sterry (Lin),

 

Rev David Howell:  07903 790049   email:   revdavidhowell@icloud.com

               Rev Ewan Gillings: 07568 515628   email:   revgillings@gmail.com

If you would like to receive this pew sheet via email¸ please email Debs debsparishsecretary@outlook.com

Website: www.ariconium.church

 

07^th June

1^st Sunday after Trinity

 

Collect

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, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

 

Readings

Old Testament                           Genesis 12. 1-9^.

New Testament                          Romans 4. 13-end.

Gospel                                       Matthew 9. 9-13, 18-26.

 

Today’s gospel is off special interest because it deals with the calling of Matthew the tax collector. At this time in Palestine was occupied by the Romans. Not only did the tax collectors associate with the Gentile occupying power. They also charged more taxes than they were entitled to as a way of ensuring their own well-being. As a result they were detested by the Jews and regarded as traitors. Jesus chooses one of them to be in his inner circle, in this action we can see one of the most important aspects of Jesus ministry his acceptance of those regarded as beyond Hope of redemption by Judaism, including prostitutes, Gentiles, and tax collectors. Jesus summarises this with his declaration that he has come to call sinners not the righteous. There is unquestionably a strong sense of irony in this declaration, perhaps those such as the Pharisees who think they are righteous are merely self-righteous? The glorious new wine of the gospel cannot be contained by the tired old wineskins of Judaism.

A series of further healings is them recorded. One in particular the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years would’ve been regarded as unclean by the Jews, on account of the discharge of bodily fluid. Yet Jesus has no hesitation in healing her, what Judaism regards as unclean Jesus sees as someone worth saving.                                                                                                            David

 

 

Services next Sunday 14^th June – 2^nd Sunday after Trinity

Weston-under-Penyard	Parish Communion	11.00 a.m.
The Lea	Mattins	NEW TIME 9.30 a.m.
Hope Mansell
Aston Ingham	Parish Communion	10.30 a.m.
Linton	Bible Book Club	10.30 a.m.
Upton Bishop	Parish Communion	NEW TIME 11.00 a.m.

 

Forthcoming Services & Events

LINTON. Refugee Week and Sanctuary Sunday.  June 15th – 21st is Refugee Week and we will be marking this in Linton with a special service on 21st June, which is Sanctuary Sunday.  This will include specially written liturgy from Churches Together which reminds us of the commands of both the Old and the New Testament to care for those on the fringes of society; a display using material from Journey Together; a Prayer activity linking in the Herefordshire Prayer Beads Project; and much more.  All welcome to come to the service or drop in during the week to look at the display.

LINTON. Bible Book Club Bible Book club is an informal monthly book club reading through the Bible one book at a time. Each session is stand alone and starts with refreshments at 10.30am, everyone welcome. Info Contact Charlotte

WESTON:  Bible Studies continue at Penyard Rise on 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of each month. Tony & Mary Pitt 07534 510614.

UPTON BISHOP have a BCP communion Service at 9.30 am on the first Wednesday of each month. A quiet midweek service. All welcome”                

 

Please be aware that if you have any events you would like to advertise here, do please contact Debs directly (details below) and she will be pleased to include them.

 

Please pray for all who are sick, Alan Brooker (Lea),

Please pray for all who have died, Jean Williams (Lea), R South (Lin) Michael Sterry (Lin),

 

Rev David Howell:  07903 790049   email:   revdavidhowell@icloud.com

               Rev Ewan Gillings: 07568 515628   email:   revgillings@gmail.com

If you would like to receive this pew sheet via email¸ please email Debs debsparishsecretary@outlook.com

Website: www.ariconium.church

31^st May

Trinity Sunday

 

Collect

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.

 

Readings

Old Testament                           Isaiah 40. 12-17, 27-end^.

New Testament                          2 Corinthians 13. 11-end.

Gospel                                       Matthew 28. 16-end.

 

When I first moved to Herefordshire, and was doing my intern scheme year with two vicars, one of them told me “the best piece of advice I can give you is to never try to preach on the Trinity.” Having spent the last three years studying theology, I’m inclined to agree with him – the Trinity is at once both one of the most central and important aspects of our faith, and also the most complex, confusing, and likely to be the cause of error.

The belief in the Trinity – that God exists in the three distinctive persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Trinity – is also one of the most contested elements of belief by people of other faiths. I remember when I was at university in Birmingham, and was talking to some Muslim street preachers, who told me that Christianity must be in error because we claim to worship one God, but actually worship three.

It is easy to see how people fall into this trap. If God is the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, then doesn’t 1+1+1=3? But this is to misunderstand what the doctrine of the Trinity actually is – Christians do not believe that a “bit” of God is Father, another “bit” Son, and still another “bit” Holy Spirit. Rather, the Father is completely God, the Son is completely God, and the Holy Spirit is completely God. God does not put on a mask when we hear the words of the Father in scripture, and then “change disguise” when we see the Son, Christ, before donning another outfit to act as the Holy Spirit descending at Pentecost. No – He is the same God, differentiated in persons, but united in the Godhead. Thus, the equation is actually 1x1x1=1.

If you have a Book of Common Prayer to hand (or the internet!) I would recommend you turn to the Quicunque Vult (also known as the Creed of St. Athanasius.) You’ll find it just after Evening Prayer, with the heading “At Morning Prayer”. This text has served as a benchmark for orthodox faith and belief in the Trinity since the middle of the 3rd century, and it explains in great detail how we, in the church catholic, have understood the nature of God – “we worship one God in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the Persons, nor dividing the substance.”                                                                Ewan

 

Services next Sunday 07^th June – 1^st Sunday after Trinity

Weston-under-Penyard	Morning Worship	NEW TIME 11.00 a.m.
The Lea	Family Communion	9.30 a.m.
Hope Mansell	Parish Communion 1662 BCP	9.30 a.m.
Aston Ingham	Evensong	4.30 p.m.
Linton	Parish Communion	11.00 a.m.
Upton Bishop	All Age Worship	11.00 a.m.

 

Forthcoming Services & Events

LINTON. Bible Book Club Bible Book club is an informal monthly book club reading through the Bible one book at a time. Each session is stand alone and starts with refreshments at 10.30am, everyone welcome. Info Contact Charlotte

WESTON:  Bible Studies continue at Penyard Rise on 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of each month. Tony & Mary Pitt 07534 510614.

UPTON BISHOP have a BCP communion Service at 9.30 am on the first Wednesday of each month. A quiet midweek service. All welcome”                

 

Please be aware that if you have any events you would like to advertise here, do please contact Debs directly (details below) and she will be pleased to include them.

 

Please pray for all who are sick, Alan Brooker (Lea),

Please pray for all who have died, Jean Williams (Lea), R South (Lin) Michael Sterry (Lin),

 

Rev David Howell:  07903 790049   email:   revdavidhowell@icloud.com

               Rev Ewan Gillings: 07568 515628   email:   revgillings@gmail.com

If you would like to receive this pew sheet via email¸ please email Debs debsparishsecretary@outlook.com

Website: www.ariconium.church