Dear all
Today the Christian Church remembers Irenaeus (130AD – 200AD), Bishop of Lyons and Theologian. It is hard to overestimate the importance of Irenaeus to the Christian faith. He is often thought of as the last living link to the Apostles, being a student of Polycarp who himself was associated with St John. Indeed it is hard not to see the words of John coming through in Irenaeus’s text on the Trinity, which was truly groundbreaking thought at the time as our established theology of the Trinity did not really formalise until Augustine in 415AD and later the Athanasian Creed (c600AD).
Irenaeus on the Trinity (180AD):
‘This is the rule of our faith, the foundation of the building, and what gives support to our behaviour:
God the Father uncreated, who is uncontained, invisible, one God, creator of the universe; this is the first article of our faith.
And the second is: The Word of God, the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who appeared to the prophets according to their way of prophesying and according to the dispensation of the Father. Through him all things were created. Furthermore, in the fullness of time, in order to gather all things to himself, he became a human being amongst human beings, capable of being seen and touched, to destroy death, bring life, and restore fellowship between God and humanity.
And the third article is: The Holy Spirit, through whom the prophets prophesied, and our forebears learned of God and the righteous were led in the paths of justice, and who, in the fullness of time, was poured out in a new way on our human nature in order to renew humanity throughout the entire world in the sight of God.’
I love that first sentence, describing our faith as the ‘foundation of the building, and what gives support to our behaviour’.
God is our foundation, and it is through that living, evolving, relationship that we build our lives – lives given to us freely. There are times when that goes well, and times when it is more challenging! How we respond, how we do what we do, must always be rooted on the foundations of who we are. Created, loved, cherished, by God.
SERVICES & EVENTS COMING UP IN THE BENEFICE:
Saturday 29th – Sunday 30th June – FLOWER FESTIVAL – St Mary’s Thorncombe:
On the theme, “All the changing scenes of life”, St Mary’s are holding a flower festival in aid of the upkeep of this wonderful church. Please do come along and support it! We look forward to seeing you all!
Sunday 30th June:
10am – BENEFICE SERVICE – St Mary Magdalene, Cricket Malherbie.
Further ahead:
6 July – Wild Church BBQ, 3pm St John’s, Tatworth
13 July – Cricket Malherbie BBQ & Quiz, 6pm
28 July – Benefice Service, 10am at St Mary’s, Thorncombe (Rev’ds Philip & Michelle’s final service)
Prayers
We hold in our prayers all those we know who are ill or struggling in any way, and we are asked to pray by name for the following. If you would like to add someone, or yourself, to this list, then please do get in touch.
Margaret Bandy, Mary Marsh, Louise White, Ann Jarvis, Di Nicholls
In memoriam:
We remember in our prayers all those whom we love but see no longer. Particularly at this time we remember Jim Craft and all his friends and family in their time of mourning.
The Collect for St Irenaeus:
God of peace,
who through the ministry of your servant Irenæus,
strengthened the true faith
and brought harmony to your Church:
keep us steadfast in your true religion,
and renew us in faith and love,
that we may always walk in the way that leads to eternal life;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
who through the ministry of your servant Irenæus,
strengthened the true faith
and brought harmony to your Church:
keep us steadfast in your true religion,
and renew us in faith and love,
that we may always walk in the way that leads to eternal life;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen
Blessings
Philip
The Reverend Philip Butcher
Rector – Two Shires Benefice (Tatworth, Thorncombe, Winsham, Chaffcombe & Cricket Malherbie)
The Vicarage
3 Home Farm
Tatworth
Chard
TA20 2SH
01460 221286
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