Dear Brothers and Sisters
As we continue to start coming back together physically more changes are on the cards. Following the Government directions on wearing of Facemasks the Church is in the process of deciding what we will have to do about this as far as worship is concerned. We should have more information about this by next week. Meanwhile please wear a mask today if you would like to. Please do not worry; if masks do become compulsory in church from next week, and I think they probably will, we won’t be fining you (sorry Treasurers, yet another funding stream cut off!). Meanwhile it has been good to see so many people in church over the past two weeks. But please do not feel that you have to come. If you would rather stay at home on Sunday, for whatever reason, then there are still lots of worship resources available on TV, radio, the internet and on the Hope phone service. If you are feeling ill at all then please don’t come, but let me know.
Today’s Readings
A Reading from the Letter to the Romans
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (8:12-25)
The Gospel according to Matthew
He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” He answered, “An enemy has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’ Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.’ He answered, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen! (13:24-30, 36-43)
Services next Sunday (26th July)
- Blubberhouses 9.30am
- Farnley 11am
- Denton 2.30pm
When I was a young man living in Spain our local newspaper, El Norte Castillano, used to fill gaps in the paper with random pictures of cats. The Editor liked cats so he used them as filler. But I thought you might like to meet Hector, the new Vicarage cat, so here he is.
Please remember in your prayers: Rural parishes around the country, especially those in our Diocese. For those returning to work, especially those who are fearful, those who are struggling to find work, or make ends meet. For the sick and ill and all who care for them. For the dying and the dead and for their families and all who mourn them. For my cousin Karen seriously ill in hospital and for the recently departed, Angela Straume, my Aunt, Rosemary McNeill and my friend John Stevens, and for their families and all who love and miss them.
God bless you all.
Stephen