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Dear <<First Name>>

Welcome to the Athelney Benefice Weekly Bulletin

The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap. (Psalm 92:12&14).

From the Vicar

The Hokey Cokey Church

We are waiting to discover what the future holds. Well, that's nothing new, is it? Arguably, that is the deepest of human concerns: what will happen is always a matter of faith, hope, prayer. In this case however, we sense that, with rises in cases of Covid-19 things aren't going quite as hoped for back in March when the roadmap was set out. And that can be a struggle.

At the start of April, on Easter Day, with great joy we gathered on the Mump and then across the benefice for The Eucharist. Since then we've been waiting for the time when we can sing, shake hands (and even hug!) during The Peace, hang around afterwards and chat, and generally do the things we like and want to do as ordinary people, with God in our hearts.

Interestingly, new traditions have arisen throughout the lockdowns since March 2020. We know the discomfort of masks, but we put up with them. We don't receive the wine during the Eucharist, but we know the president does that on ur behalf. We have learned to sit in bubbles: sometimes meaning we have had to use different pew (Oh, My!) Singing has perhaps become the major focus of our hope. We are all missing hymns so much, I know. Yesterday's wedding between Rosanna and Richard featured some of the best humming I have yet heard. A gentle murmur behind masks, like a warm buzz from friendly bees. In Stoke St Gregory, the tradition has emerged of singing the final hymn outside: the doors open, the organ with all stops out (well played Steve).

Traditions are so often a response to local need, and the pandemic has certainly required new responses. So, as we wait to hear (probably) that we should be patient just a little bit longer, we need to look with hope on our new traditions. Are we in or out of church? Can we have a chat over a coffee? Can we sing or hum? Whichever, put our left foot forward, in and out, then our arms and then twirl around. Take this eternal hopefulness as a time to consider what really matters and what it's all about. Anyone fancy a conga?

Sunday Worship: Second Sunday after Trinity

Collect

Lord, you have taught us that all our doings without love are nothing worth: send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love, the true bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whoever lives is counted dead before you. Grant this for your only Son Jesus Christ’s sake, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

1 Samuel 15.34—16.13

Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel.

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.” Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

1 Corinthians 5:6-17

So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view;[a] even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view,[b] we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!

Mark 4:26-34

He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”

He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

Pastoral Care

Years Mind

We call to mind parishioners who have died at this time in recent years.

Trevor Astin, Mike Bennett, Joyce Gore, Michael Griffiths, Stewart Heal, Trevor Lewis, Henry Salter, Dennis Silk, Paul White

For those who are sick or in need

We hold in our prayers those affected locally and nationally by the Coronavirus: patients, carers, families, and friends.

We pray also for Alan, Alison, Andrea, Andy, Anne & family, Anne, Aoife, Audrey (2), Barbara, Ben, Bill, Brian, Chris & Jean, Dave & family, Jean, Val, Jan and Peter, Di, Diane, Eileen, George, Gill, Helen, Janet & family, Jean, John, Joyce, Judith & David, Kay, Ken, Lorraine, Margaret, Mary, Mignon, Nicholas, Pam, +Peter, Jane & family, Portia, Primrose, Ralph, Rita, Sheila, Sue & Robert, Susan, Thomas, Victoria … ... and for their families and carers, and all those who are in need but not named. Give thanks for those who have recovered.

If there are people or concerns that you wish to be mentioned in prayer, please tell the vicar or churchwardens.

News and Notices

United Service: 13th June

Please note, our united benefice service is at Lyng, 10am. Pat Mennim confirms that the old pub park park will be available for parking: thank you!

Singing Hymns

A number of people have asked me what the current plans are regarding permission to sing. I have only been able to say that currently there is nothing to announce. We remain "mute", but with announcements due from the government next week, it is not looking hopeful. In the meantime, "hums" are all we have.

Songs of Praise

On the subject of hymns and hums, please start giving some thought to your favourites. The Sunday worship at Stoke St Gregory on 18th July will be a combined “Songs of Praise” with the Baptist church. It will be outdoors and so we will be able to sing openly and without masks… O Joy! There will be a suggestion form in church in Lyng on 13th June and subsequently in Stoke St Gregory.

Coffee at North Curry

North Curry Coffee Wednesdays have restarted. So, please do pop along if you are out for a stroll or fancy some gentle and informal fellowship. All are welcome. 10am to 12 noon, until the end of September.

New Website

You may have noticed some differences in the look of this newsletter. That is because we are introducing a new website and overall look. Things are moving forward, but inevitably there will be stumbles. Apologies for anything that doesn’t (yet) make sense! It’s got the same address, by the way.

In due course this bulletin will be immediately available in smaller pieces on the website, so you don’t need to print it all out in one go. That’s the plan…!

If you have any news that you would like included in this bulletin, please send it to: bulletin@athelneybenefice.com

Each Sunday we endeavour to provide an online Zoom broadcast of our worship from one of the Benefice parish churches. This is a little bit hit and miss because connection is unreliable. Please click on the link below and we will be online (we hope!)