Dear Brothers and Sisters
Have you managed to feel a little more thankful this week? Don’t worry if you have struggled to be thankful; it can be hard, especially when all around us the news seems so bleak. But being thankful; remembering, in the darkness, all the good there is in our world, and in our lives, helps to keeps the darkness at bay, helps to put everything into perspective. This weekend it is a bit easier to be thankful as we hear of all those who have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Those who have been recognised for what they have done to help others during the first part of this pandemic. As we think about all those recognised we can remember the many, many others who were not but who have still worked tirelessly for the good of others on their communities. Helping others, bringing light to others, is its own reward.
As always, if you would like to have a chat over the phone or for me to have a physically distanced visit please let me know. If you know of someone else who might like to talk let me know as well but do make sure that they are happy with this. Getting a ‘cold call’ from the Vicar doesn’t go down well with everyone!
Sunday’s Readings
A Reading from the book of Deuteronomy
If you will only obey the Lord your God, by diligently observing all his commandments that I am commanding you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth; all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the Lord your God: Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your livestock, both the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading-bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you; they shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways. The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your barns, and in all that you undertake; he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. The Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground in the land that the Lord swore to your ancestors to give you. The Lord will open for you his rich storehouse, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all your undertakings. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. The Lord will make you the head, and not the tail; you shall be only at the top, and not at the bottom—if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today, by diligently observing them, and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I am commanding you today, either to the right or to the left, following other gods to serve them. (28:1-14)
The Gospel according to Luke
Then he told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’
He said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. (12:16-30)
Services next Sunday 18th October
- Blubberhouses 9.30am
- Farnley 11am
- Denton 2.30pm
Services for Sunday 25th October
- Fewston 9.30am
- Weston 11am
- Leathley 2.30pm
Annual Parochial Church Meetings: 18th October Denton and 25th October Leathley. Both meetings after the 2.30pm service.
Please remember in your prayers: Our Farmers, their families and all who work the land. All who have been abused. Anyone suffering from a Mental Health issue. Our public health workers and all battling Covid19. Those facing further restrictions on their lives. Our Government and all who have hard decisions to make. The sick and the dying and those who care for and love them.
God bless you all.
Stephen