The Second Sunday of Lent: Sunday March 5th 2023

I am a fortunate man.

The first Saturday morning of each month is always a bit of a squeeze. With four churches in the benefice there are bound to be times when being in two (or more) places at the same time are not only helpful, but essential. And when cake and coffee is involved there’s never ever a question as to if it can be achieved. It will be. It was, today, again. I began with a visit to the North Curry Produce Market to buy my raffle ticket (which again hasn’t led to any winning prize… oh well…) and to have a chat to whoever I bumped into (you know who you are). Then it was “sorry I have to be somewhere else, so, nothing personal, but I have to go,” a quick exit and ten minutes later I arrived at Burrowbridge to be met by the table of earthly delights shown above. “Thank you!” to Julie, Sue and everyone!

I then spent the next hour and more nattering, eating cake and drinking coffee. We also welcomed Lauren Jewhurst from Safe Families to update us on how the supermarket gift cards we collected at Christmas are making a real difference to families in the area and we nattered some more. A delightful gathering of people from the local villages, from further afield (as far away as Creech… goodness me!). Simply sitting and being, chatting and sharing news and concerns. It is fellowship in its purest form, with no agenda other than turning up and a bumping into others who are doing the same.

Our world can be so at odds with such a way of being. We can be driven, guided and coerced into rushing around and fixing the world of all its ills because that is the only way we know. A world of solving problems and mending broken things. I fully accept that some things must be approached in this way. The story of a family in Burnham on Sea that Lauren shared with us told of a situation where there is much to sort out. A house to clean, basic items to be bought, children to be clothed and more. All things that require fixing.

Yet the truth of all this rushing and fixing is that it only matters if we are able to at some point just sit and natter, to share in each others hopes and concerns. The coffee mornings and the markets we visit are so much more than the things that are for sale. They are fundamentally about the people we encounter, and we find time to sit and speak when there is nourishment available: for the soul as well as the body.

I sometimes feel like I am drowning in the “problems of the world”. My encounters this morning in North Curry and Burrowbridge remind me that I should not give up hope, and that it is worth always stepping into the world. I need three things. My mantra to day is, “Have Hope, Have Faith, Have Coffee”.

Almighty God,
you show to those who are in error the light of your truth,
that they may return to the way of righteousness:
grant to all those who are admitted
into the fellowship of Christ’s religion,
that they may reject those things
that are contrary to their profession,
and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same;
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come?

2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.

4 He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.

6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.

8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.

What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.

For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Almighty God,
you see that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves:
keep us both outwardly in our bodies,
and inwardly in our souls;
that we may be defended from all adversities
which may happen to the body,
and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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

Ben Moreton, Mary Nash, Phyllis Pine, Mavis Staple

Alison, Angie, Anne, Anne, Audrey, Audrey, Barbara, Caroline, Christine, Dave, David, David, Diane, Edward, Eileen, Ethel, Fran, George, Helen, Joyce, Judith, Marjorie, Mary, Norma, Patrick, Portia, Ralph, Rebecca, Rita, Ruby, Sheila, Susanne, Tom, Will, Zillah.

We pray for these and their families and carers, and all those who are in need but named only in our hearts. May light shine into their world, may abundance spring forth and may they find hope in their hearts.

Our prayer life is fundamental to our Christian living, and this will not ever change. Our prayers are our very own conversation with God and are one important way that we can show our care for others. If you would like to include anyone at all, please contact Revd Simon.

Some may not be aware that Freda Pipe, who loved for many years in North Curry, has died. Freda was a well known and much loved lady in the village. Her funeral will be at 9.30am on Monday 12th March, Conducted by Revd John Tyler. The early time for the funeral is due to the ongoing bells work in the church.

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