The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Burton Latimer
Making the love of God known in our community & homes
Week commencing 17th May 2020
The Sixth Sunday of Easter
Good morning friends, today it is my turn to offer a personal reflection of this difficult and challenging time. I am one of the lucky ones who have a garden and the opportunity to leave the house to take daily outdoor exercise, both of which have been an absolute blessing. My daily walk takes me through the pocket park and along the river Ise, something I have been doing for many years but now I have noticed some changes. The water in the river seems to be much clearer, probably as a result of less pollution and it appears there are far more fish, certainly more than I have ever seen. I have also seen a fox in the hedgerow, sitting bold as brass in broad daylight, watching me pass by. And then there was the buzzard that swept down low over our garden creating absolute mayhem among the blackbirds and pigeons that was close by.
All of these things remind of us of the sheer beauty and the fragility of God’s wonderful creation. Through our enforced lockdown nature has had the opportunity to breath and to regenerate, a lesson we can also learn. Perhaps I have become more aware of my surroundings because I too have been forced to slow down and thus notice what has probably always been there to see, more time to offer up a prayer of thanksgiving and to make room for God to fill the silence within my heart. It is also a reminder that we are charged by God to be good stewards of his creation, to tread lightly and to care for our surroundings. Once this terrible virus is under some kind of control my prayer is that we will not revert back to our old ways but will continue to make space and time to let nature and ourselves breath and to take the time to thank God for all his wonderful blessings. This wish is summed up beautifully in the words of the opening prayer of the morning office: “As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire with love for you; now and forever”. Amen.
Mike Jones
Daily Psalms
Sunday, 17th May – Psalm 66.7-end
Monday, 18th May – Psalm 149.1-5
Tuesday, 19th May – Psalm 138
Wednesday, 20th May – Psalm 148.1-2,11-end
Thursday, 21st May – Psalm 52.7-end
Friday, 22nd May – Psalm 47.1-6
Saturday, 23rd May – Psalm 47.1-2,7-end
Prayers
Living God, long ago, faithful women proclaimed the good news of Jesus’ resurrection, and the world was changed forever. Teach us to keep faith with them, that our witness may be as bold, our love as deep, and our faith as true.
Amen.
Holy God, you have called us to follow in the way of your risen Son, and to care for those who are our companions, not only with words of comfort, but with acts of love. Seeking to be true friends of all, we offer our prayers on behalf of the church and the world, especially in these difficult times.
Amen.
Lord Jesus, You promised, “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). Help me to remember that I don’t know everything, and that this is okay, because the Holy Spirit understands it all. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and His understanding of everything that is happening in my life.
Amen.
Our Prayer List
In company with the other churches in the town, each week we pray for a different street: this week is Charles Court
We remember those who are ill or need our prayers at this time, especially: Heather, Sarah Pattison, Ian Staires, Daphne Dacre, John, Marjorie,
Henry Flynn, Graham Dayer, Emma Howe, Ray Bunce
We pray for the souls of those who have died:
Colin McCall, Freddie Groome, Janet Cailes, Derek Maslin, Doris Searle
We remember those whose anniversaries of death are at this time:
Ron Gazeley, Trevor Peck, Sylvia Holmes
Collect
God our redeemer,
you have delivered us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your Son:
grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life,
so by his continual presence in us he may raise us
to eternal joy;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
Amen
First Reading
Acts 17.22-31
22Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, ‘Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. 23For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, “To an unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. 26From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, 27so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him – though indeed he is not far from each one of us. 28For “In him we live and move and have our being”; as even some of your own poets have said,
“For we too are his offspring.”
29Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. 30While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.’
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Gospel
John 14.15-21
If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, it doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even live in you! “I will not leave you orphaned. I’m coming back. In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you’re going to see me because I am alive and you’re about to come alive. At that moment you will know absolutely that I’m in my Father, and you’re in me, and I’m in you. “The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that’s who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and make myself plain to him.
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise be to you, O Christ
Prayer after Communion
God our Father,
whose Son Jesus Christ gives the water of eternal life:
may we thirst for you,
the spring of life and source of goodness,
through him who is alive and reigns, now and for ever.
Restrictions – But Not Restricted
In Him we live and move, have life;
for we are all from his offspring
no image of a mind defined
by others falsely worshipping
Images of stone or wood,
brilliant silver, gold – controlled
by ignorance and falsehood
directing worship to a man-made mould.
Confined within, restricted movement
worship needs no ties that bind.
Images however powerful, skilful
will not replace an open mind.
Thank you to Peter Jones for writing this poem
Contact details:
The Rector: The Revd Jez Safford, The Rectory, Preston Court, Burton Latimer,
NN15 5LR. Telephone: 01536 723810.Email: jez.safford766@gmail.com.
Assistant Curate: The Revd Tom Houston, 3 Virginia Crescent, Burton Latimer,
NN15 5GB. Telephone: 01536 685664. Email: houston89@hotmail.co.uk
Pioneer Ordinand: Yvonne Desroches, 7 Hollow Wood Road, Burton Latimer, NN15 5RB. Telephone: 01536 678377/07989023206. Email: yvonnebing@hotmail.co.uk
Safeguarding Officer: Lucy Lorentzen, 3 Clipson Close, Burton Latimer,
NN15 5GH. Telephone: 07944597181. Email: lucy@lorentzen.co.uk
Website: www.stmarysburtonlatimer.co.uk or visit us on
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stmarysburtonlatimer.co.uk
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops’ Council 2000.
© St Mary the Virgin Burton Latimer, 2011.
CCL Licence No. 480320
Internet Order of Service for use at home.
Welcome
Lighting of the candle(s)
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
The Collect
The minister prays the collect on your weekly sheet
All Amen.
Reading
Please see the weekly sheet.
This is the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
Reflection
Invitation to Confession
The minister
You then, who truly and earnestly repent of your sins,
and are in love and charity with your neighbours,
and intend to lead a new life,
following the commandments of God,
and walking from this day forward in his holy ways:
draw near with faith,
and take this holy sacrament to your comfort;
and make your humble confession to almighty God.
Confession
All Father eternal, giver of light and grace,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour,
in what we have thought,
in what we have said and done,
through ignorance, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We have wounded your love,
and marred your image in us.
We are sorry and ashamed,
and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and lead us out from darkness
to walk as children of light.
Amen
Absolution
The minister says
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
who in his great mercy
has promised forgiveness of sins
to all those who with heartfelt repentance and true faith turn to him:
have mercy on you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and bring you to everlasting life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Please refer to the weekly sheet
Eucharist Prayer
Have your bread a wine ready
The Lord be with you
All and also with you.
Father, on the night before he died,
Jesus shared a meal with his friends.
He took the bread, and thanked you.
He broke it, and gave it to them, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this to remember me.
After the meal, Jesus took the cup of wine.
He thanked you, and gave it to them, saying:
Drink this, all of you.
This is my blood,
the new promise of God’s unfailing love.
Do this to remember me.
Jesus Christ has died.
All Jesus Christ has died.
Jesus Christ is risen.
All Jesus Christ is risen.
Jesus Christ will come again.
All Jesus Christ will come again.
Father, as we bring this bread and wine,
and remember his death and resurrection,
send your Holy Spirit,
that we who share these gifts, though apart but together now in you,
may be fed by Christ’s body and his blood.
Pour your Spirit on us
that we may love one another,
work for the healing of the earth,
and share the good news of Jesus,
as we wait for his coming in glory.
For honour and praise belong to you, Father,
with Jesus your Son, and the Holy Spirit:
one God, for ever and ever.
All Amen
We take communion.
Prayer after Communion
Post communion prayer available on your sheet
The Lord’s Prayer
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
All Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Blessing
The peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds
in the knowledge and love of God,
and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
All Amen.