Dear Friends

We have a new member of the family.  It is not Bethany – she is no longer the youngest!  No – we are not now a human family of seven, but we do now have a hamster to join the 4 kids and two dogs.  The hamster is a long wished for pet for Florence for her birthday.  I have to say that I was initially less than enthralled by the idea, but having met the hamster (that Florence has named Sunflower as his fur has similar colourings…) I am now rather taken with him.  Which is just as well, because on day 3 in the Butcher household he mysteriously broke his leg. 

 Anyone who owns a pet knows that a visit to the vet is not a cheap trip, and a tiny hamster is no exception.  There is not a lot you can do for a hamster with a broken leg beyond painkillers and trying to stop it climbing too much.  Michelle and I were not very optimistic about the prognosis – and neither was the vet.  But it was agreed we would try.  Two weeks and several hamsters worth of vets bills later, amazingly, Sunflower is almost back to normal.  He is happy, using his leg, and running around the sitting room (only when the dogs are elsewhere…).

 If it all happened again would we do the same?  Of course we would.  It makes absolutely no sense financially, but thankfully we do not live by reason alone.  We have empathy and love.  There is a greater truth than the material value it represents. 

 Life at the moment can feel a bit like this.  Having to do things that feel like they don’t make sense.  Not being able to do things that don’t seem too risky.  But hopefully we do them because we care strongly for the people around us.

 And Pandemic aside, our faith lives may feel like this sometimes.  Is that really what God is asking me to do?  You might say “That’s impossible!  That’s mad!  It just doesn’t make sense!”  God might respond as the Psalmist (Isaiah 55:8-9) quotes:

                                      “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

    neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so are my ways higher than your ways

    and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

 OUR COMMUNITY WORSHIP THIS WEEK

ONLINE:

Thursday Evening Zoom – 7:30pm – 7^th October

Join us on the link below for the regular Thursday evening prayer.  This week we will be returning to the Examen prayer:

Join Zoom Service at 7:30pm:

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/71745192963?pwd=WmgvSCt2K1grcEVCZit3RFp5WXZrZz09

Meeting ID: 717 4519 2963

Passcode: twoshires

 Sunday 11^th October

It is the Online Harvest Festival this Sunday.  The service will be pre-recorded and available on YouTube and/or our website from Sunday morning.  It is something a bit creative weaving a reflective service through themes of harvest and creation.

 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkgAPth84w8vMfDgFeO6DIA

 https://twoshires.wordpress.com/sunday-service

 CHURCH:

 Worship Sunday 11^th October:

10am Holy Communion followed by APCM at St Michael & All Angels, Chaffcombe.

 4pm Harvest Festival at St Mary’s, Thorncombe.

 Midweek Holy Communion:

Thursday 8^th October:  11am St Michael & All Angels, Chaffcombe

Wednesday 14^th October:  11am St John’s, Tatworth, followed at 1200 by APCM.

 PRIVATE PRAYER

All churches will continue to be open during the week for an hour for private individual prayer. 

Wednesdays – Tatworth, Cricket Malherbie & Thorncombe at 11am

Thursdays – Chaffcombe & Winsham at 11am

FOR YOUR PRAYERS:

I invite you to hold the following in your prayers this week.  As always, please do let me know of any additions or changes needed:

 In Thanksgiving:

·       Our Churchwardens and all the work that they do.

·       Times when we have known joy.

·       Times when we have felt safe.

In Supplication:

 ·       The people, church, homes, school and businesses in Chaffcombe.

·       All those in care industries and any work where people are putting themselves at risk of virus contamination.

·       We pray for those we know who are sick, and those we don’t know, including those we are asked to pray by name for:

 Bishop Peter Hancock; Hannah Knott; Rob Allen; Lynne Applegarth; Phyllis Baker; Margaret Bandy; Sue Bennett; Sue Cheese; Terry Conway; Nick Frankau; Paul Glazier; David Goodwill; Mike Heywood; Joy Howard; Ann Jarvis; Mark Lindsey; Frank Long; Peter McHugh;  Diana Rowlands; Ann Ricketts; Jim Tucker; Rosemary Walley; Rosemary Walton; Vivien Wheaton; Alan Wills, Anna Woodward; Pamala Young; Milly granddaughter of Jane & Alan Rudkin; Gillian Muggeridge; Chris Gould; Brian Griffiths; Peter Hathway.

 ·       For the Bereaved – The family & friends of: Barbara Childs and Sigrun Appleby.

 SCRIPTURE FOR THIS WEEK:

Wednesday 7^th October – Gal 2:1-2,7-14; Luke 11:1-4

Thursday 8^th October – Gal 3:1-5; Luke 11:5-13

Friday 9^th October – Gal 3:7-14; Luke 11:15-26

Saturday 10^th October – Gal 3:22-end; Luke 11:27-28

Sunday 11^th October – Exodus 32:1-14; Matt 22:1-14

Monday 12^th October – 1 Cor 1:18-25; Luke 5:1-11 (Wilfred of Ripon / Edith Cavell)

Tuesday 13^th October – Gal 5:1-6; Luke 11:37-41

Wednesday 14^th October – Gal 5:18-end; Luke 11:42-46

 

Harvest Readings (for use at Harvest Festivals) – Dt 8:7-18; Ps 65; 2 Cor 9:6-end; Luke 12:16-30

  

A PRAYER FOR THE WEEK:

 

LORD, we pray thee that thy grace

may always prevent and follow us,

and make us continually to be given to all good works;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

 

Blessings to you all,

 Philip