Dear Brothers and Sisters
Each morning I receive pictures of long dead people. I follow the Auschwitz Memorial on social media and each day the lives of those who were imprisoned in that Concentration Camp are shared on line. There is a picture of the person, his or her date and place of birth along with a few other details and usually the date they died. It is heart breaking reading these messages. Most days I ask myself why I keep following the Memorial. It would be so much less painful to forget and that, of course, is why I will never be able to stop following the Auschwitz Memorial because I should never forget the names and faces of ordinary people killed through hatred.
Hatred and its close friend fear are still at work in our world today. We can see and hear about them in our news each day, Somedays watching the news can be a painful experience. Someone suggested to me recently that it would be good to stop watching the news just before bedtime and use the time instead to discover that my life is not full of violence and tragedy. That is very tempting, but closing our eyes and ears to what is happening all around us in the world doesn’t help those who are caught up in strife, or natural disaster or some other catastrophe. We need to open our eyes and see, we need to see and hear what is happening in the world around us so that we can respond. Fear and hatred cannot stand when confronted with love, compassion, kindness. The light of Christ will always overcome the darkness and we are part of his light.
So let’s shine; for the world, and for ourselves.
Farming Community Network Sponsorship Money
The final amount raised by my sponsored diet was £I416.52 plus gift aid where appropriate. That money has now been sent off to the FCN. Thank you so much to all of you who sponsored me and supported hose supporting our Farming Community.
Sunday’s Readings
A Reading from the prophecy of Ezekiel
Mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked ones, you shall surely die’, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life. Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, thus you have said: ‘Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?’ Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel? (33:7-11)
The Gospel according to Matthew
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you lose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’ (18:15-20)
Services next Sunday (13th September)
- Fewston 9.30am
- Weston 11am
- Leathley 2.30pm
Services for Sunday 20th September
- Denton 9.30am
- Blubberhouses 11am
- Farnley 2.30pm
Annual Parochial Church Meetings which were postponed in the Spring will be taking place in September and October. Dates are: 20 September Farnley, 27 September Fewston, 18th October Weston and Denton, 25th October Leathley. Electoral Roll lists will be revised prior to these meetings. Please make sure you are on the appropriate roll.
Please remember in your prayers: Those still struggling with loss and trauma caused by war, terrorism or civil unrest. The peoples of the United States as they prepare to elect their President. The people of Beirut, where tens of thousands are still without shelter. For those on holiday and those who will have to be in quarantine on their return from abroad. For our schools and their communities. 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, giving thanks for the life of Olwen Middleton, a founder member of the Washburn Heritage Centre, and for her daughter Catherine and all who grieve for her loss.
God bless you all.
Stephen