The First Sunday of Lent: Sunday February 26th 2023
The old new normal again
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“What are those arrows for?” asked someone while we were checking out the space available for leading the World Day of Prayer service this coming Friday (3pm, North Curry Methodist Church). The chapel has a series of white arrows taped to carpet. “Covid,” came the single word reply. No further explanation was required. Suddenly, there we all were back in the days of yore—or Lockdown as it was called—making sure that we flowed through our worship spaces and supermarkets in the correct direction, ensuring we were 2m from the nearest human, or at least those not part of our bubbles. (Anybody here remember bubbles?).
Across the nation in shops and community buildings, on public transport and in banks, there remain the echoes of that time when we all repeated the mantra, “New Normal… New Normal… New Normal.” We were all adjusting to the new normal. And now, barely three years from the start of it all (23rd March 2020) we have bounced back to the something that resembles the old normal, now needing to be reminded of the purpose of arrows on carpets.
Some things of course have become embedded in our world, like masks. They’re not as prevalent as they were, but are certainly present in public places and not at all a surprise to anyone as they would have been before lockdown. In some worshipping congregations we still don’t share the common cup, preferring “priestly intinction”, and altars and credence tables are populated by small plastic containers of hand sanitisers. The trappings of the new normal are there for all to see if we stop to look.
Humans are a resilient species. Yes there is grief and sorrow at the loss of very special people from our lives. Whether we lost family or friends, we all know of someone who died, and that is a new normal we’d rather not have to deal with. But we do. We push on, we discover that new normal is not all that different from the old one. Hopes and fears that were with us way back when only surgeons wore masks are with us still. In the weird days of lockdown when we were only allowed out once a day we wondered how it had all happened, perhaps. And when woldl it end?
Yet… it did end and it is Lent again, as it has been Lent for centuries past and will be for centuries to come. The arrows on the carpet remind me of the overarching time of God’s presence with us through all the ups and downs of our lives. Lent is a time to look back, reflect upon who we are, how we got to where we are. But that is only worth doing if we package it into a way forward from this point. The old new normal of arrows guide us. It’s worth being reminded.
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The First Sunday of Lent
Genesis 2.15-17; 3.1-7
The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.”
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’ ” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
Psalm 32
1 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them.
7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.
10 Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Romans 5.12-19
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.
But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Matthew 4.1-11
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ” Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
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Pastoral Care
Years Mind for February 2023
We call to mind parishioners who have died at this time in recent years.
Eleanor Bastable, Tony Brooker, Ray D’Arcy, Colin Gordon, Robert Green, Brian Hendy, Pam Pound, Marion Stanhope-White, Edward Vickery, David Woolfenden
For those who are sick or in need
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.
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The coming week
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Andy House
The funeral for Andy House will take place at Taunton Crematorium on Tuesday 7th March at 1130. Interment will follow at a later date in St Gregory's Garden of Remembrance.
Lyng Church Meeting 28th February
A few months ago we held a “what would we like to do in St Michael’s, Burrowbridge?” meeting to explore the opportunities the church presents to us in our Christian journeys. It was a valuable and productive gathering. The coffee morning was one idea that emerged, and now we have a regular band of over fifteen people coming along every first Saturday (10am to 12pm). Other ideas emerged and are in the mix…
So, a similar meeting is now planned for St Bartholomew’s, Lyng: Tuesday 28th February at 7pm. The meeting is open to all, from across the Benefice. It will be an informal discussion about what we might want to think about doing (yes, that is intentionally vague!) Come along and be part of it! Refreshments will be provided.
Lent Course: Growing on the Frontline. Wednesdays at 4pm from 1st March
| Revd Simon will be leading a Lent course this year at 4pm on each Wednesday afternoon. The course will be based around a series provided by the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC), exploring how we can be active and relevant Christians. Each session will mast an hour. It will begin with a time of prayer and will be built around how our own understanding of Jesus can be vital in how we share our faith with the immediate world of our own friends, family and neighbours. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shrovetide Supper just gone… thanks
We are extremely thankful to Esther Checkitts, from Taunton Welcomes Refugees, who provided us with a wonderful insight into the experiences of refugees as they are welcomed and cared for by so many in Taunton and surrounding areas. The stories Esther told and the people’s lives she described were so helpful. Thank you, Esther.
We were also treated to a very tasty selection of dishes from the kitchens of Stoke St Gregory together with the usual fellowship and friendship of everyone present.
One big Thank you to all involved!
World Day of Prayer, 3rd March
Friday 3rd March at 3pm in North Curry Methodist Church. All welcome! This used to be known as “Women’s World Day of Prayer”. The event is still concerned with women in the world, but is open to all people, men and women. The service has been prepared by Christian Taiwanese women based on Ephesians 1:15-19, the letter sent to a faith community to express gratitude. Paul gave thanks to God for the Ephesians living out their love and faith, and prayed that they could see these three truths: the hope to which God has called the disciples, the riches of God’s glorious inheritance among the saints, and the immeasurable greatness of God’s power.
The service includes letters of encouragement for women who face suffering and injustice. These stories of faith focus on issues that are shared by women and girls around the world and that continue to challenge us to prayerful action. We will be offered a postcard on the day, inviting us to send a message of encouragement to someone we know.
More details about this global event can be found here: wwdp.org.uk.
Coming Month’s Worship
March 5th: Second Sunday of Lent
- 8am: BCP, North Curry, Revd Martin
- 9.30am: Eucharist, Lyng, Revd Simon
- 10am: Eucharist, North Curry, Revd Martin
- 11am: Eucharist, Stoke St Gregory, Revd Simon
March 12th: Third Sunday of Lent
- 8.30am: Eucharist, Stoke St Gregory, Revd Simon
- 9.30am: Eucharist, Burrowbridge, Revd Simon
- 10am: Eucharist, North Curry, Revd Martin
March 19th: Mothering Sunday
- 8am: BCP Eucharist, North Curry, Revd Martin
- 9.30am: Eucharist, Lyng, Revd Simon
- 10am: Service of the Word, Burrowbridge, Mike McCabe
- 11am: Eucharist, Stoke St Gregory, Revd Martin
- 4pm: Evening Prayer for Mothering Sunday, Revd Simon
March 26th: Fifth Sunday of Lent, Passion Sunday
- 9.30am: Eucharist, Burrowbridge, Revd Simon
- 10am: Eucharist, North Curry, Revd Martin
- 11am: Eucharist, Stoke St Gregory, Revd Simon
Zoom Worship Link: Eucharist, 10am at North Curry
| The Athelney Magazine is published monthly, appearing before the first Sunday of each month. If you have anything you like to contribute (news, musings, thoughts and prayers…) please send them to magazine@athelneybenefice.com The deadline for submissions for the next (April) issue is 12th March. The current month’s issue is available online during the week after the paper copy is distributed. Current online issue is February 2023. |
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