Dear Brothers and Sisters
I was at a clergy meeting this week (by zoom) and it turned out that I was the only priest at the meeting who had held services last week. Many churches have decided to wait until August or even September before dipping their toes back in the water. I think last week’s services went well (ish). At least I haven’t had too many complaints! It is all going to feel very strange and different and it will do for some time to come.
We will keep tweaking things to get them better and some things that work in one of our churches many not work in the others so we will all keep learning. But it was good to see so many of you in the flesh and to be able to worship together.
We can now hold funerals, weddings and baptisms back in church but with reduced numbers in attendance. Most of our weddings have now been moved to next year as couples, rightly, want to wait until more of their family and friends can be at the wedding and the reception afterwards. We normally try to hold baptisms during the main service on a Sunday but this will put a lot of pressure on numbers while physical distancing remains in place so for the time being I will offer baptism services to families at a separate time so that we can open our doors and hearts to as many people as we can.
Today’s Readings
A Reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. (55:10-13)
The Gospel according to Matthew
Jesus sat beside the lake. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!’ ‘Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’ (13:1-9,18-23)
Services next Sunday (19th July)
- Leathley 9.30am
- Fewston 11am
- Weston 2.30pm
‘Lockdown’ has produced many media sensations. Two of the most unlikely ones have been Leo and Tiger, two of the cats who live in Canterbury Cathedral. The Dean of Canterbury, Robert Willis, has been filmed saying Morning Prayer and Evensong throughout the pandemic and Leo shot to fame as he was filmed walking through the gap in Dean Robert’s legs to make a little tent for himself. Tiger was even more opportunistic. Dean Robert sometimes has a cup of tea after the service so while he was praying to camera, Tiger helped himself to the milk from the jug on the table where the tea things were. This led to, possibly, my favourite headline of the week, from the Evening Standard; ‘ The Canterbury Tail: cat caught stealing vicar’s milk during morning prayer.’ Dean Robert clearly drinks tea when he prays; many of my American friends refer to morning prayer as ‘having coffee with Jesus.’
I think this is a lovely way to think about our daily prayer time. Having a cup of coffee, or tea, with a close friend. A friend who knows us better than we know ourselves. A friend we can say anything to. So if you are struggling to pray, or if you just want to shake up your prayer life a little, put the kettle on, make a brew and settle down to a chat with Jesus, tell him your news, and listen to his.
Please remember in your prayers: Yesterday was the feast day of St. Benedict. The orders of monks and nuns who followed his rule of life shaped the physical and spiritual landscape of our country and of the whole of Europe. The spirituality of the Book of Common Prayer offices of Mattins and Evensong are Benedictine to the core. So let’s give thanks for that book, for all who have been nourished by its rhythm of prayer throughout the centuries. For all sheep farmers, especially those of North Yorkshire where the sheep were introduced by monks who followed Benedict’s rule. For all those businesses preparing to open once again in the coming weeks. For those who still are not able to work. 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.
We pray for those who have died this week, for Angela Staume of Denton, for Karen and Kirsty, her daughters, and for Rosemary McNeill, my Aunt, and for Barry and Karen, my cousins.
God bless you all.
Stephen