Dear Brothers and Sisters
The guidance from the Church on the wearing of masks during has now been published. I have set it in bold for clarity.
We strongly advise that face coverings should be worn by all those attending a place of worship, including ministers, worshippers, staff, volunteers, contractors and visitors, where there may be other people present; remembering that they are mainly intended to protect other people, not the wearer, from coronavirus COVID-19 and that they are not a replacement for physical distancing and regular hand washing.
Clearly wearing a mask adds another level of complexity to our lives. Receiving Holy Communion means we will need to remove our masks, sanitising our hands before and after! Some of you may feel this is all a bit over the top and as I mentioned last week we are not going to fine people for not wearing a mask during worship. However, we have all been asked to wear them, not for our own sake, but for the sake of others. As the weeks move on we will all become used to carrying masks and hand sanitiser with us as a matter of course. It is a new world.
Sunday’s Readings
A Reading from the Letter to the Romans
The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(8:26-39)
The Gospel according to Matthew
Jesus put before the crowd another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’ He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’ ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’ (13:31-33, 44-52)
Services next Sunday (2nd August)
- Fewston 9.30am
- Weston 11am
- Leathley 2.30pm.
Farming Community Network Sponsorship Money
A long time ago, when the world was a much less complicated place I fasted to raise funds for the Farming Community Network. Many of you very kindly sponsored me. In the usual course of things I would have collected this money just after Easter, but nothing is usual any more. It would be good if those of you who still have sponsorship money to give me could try to do so over the next couple of weeks. Then I can get all the funds off to the FCN. Thanks.
For the time being I will be reading the lessons during worship. It would be good for others to lead intercessions during Common worship services though. These can be prepared in advance and led from wherever you are sitting. If you would be interested in leading prayers could you let me know.
Please remember in your prayers: Our friends and neighbours, especially those who are finding the exit form ‘lockdown’ difficult. 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.
God bless you all.
Stephen