Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Last Sunday the Easter season drew to its close with the Feast of Pentecost and now we begin Ordinary Time, which is the longest of all the seasons in our liturgical year, which takes us all the way through to All Saints on 1st November. The name Ordinary Time’ really says it all because there are no particular events that mark out our Lord’s life, such as his birth, death and resurrection. In this period of time our focus is still on Jesus and his ordinary everyday time where he showed by his ministry of preaching and healing, Gods great love for all creation, for all people regardless of religion, colour, creed, sexuality……. A lesson the world is still so desperate to hear especially after the events of the last 2 weeks following the murder of George Floyd. But we begin ordinary time with another special day – the Feast of Trinity Sunday where we celebrate the revelation of God to us in the great mystery of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Whilst we encounter these three persons of God it’s important to remember there is no hierarchy amongst them, they are co-equal and they are also undivided they are one.
Confused well perhaps this next image may help:
So hope you’ve all got that and is it all clear now?
Don’t worry if it’s not all clear because in reality the concept of the Holy Trinity is a mystery – and it has been to generations who have sought to explain Gods three-ness and one-ness!
I particularly like the 15th century Rublev icon of the Holy Trinity (our 1st image), which like so many icons is so rich in the symbolism embedded within it, the figures, the leaning of their heads, the colours of their robes…………… I would recommend saving the image, then open it up on your computer till it fills your screen and just gaze upon it and let it speak to you. As I gaze upon this depiction of the sacred mystery of the Godhead I and I suspect you will find yourself being drawn into that fellowship around the table. That’s the great skill of the creator of this image that through that open space at the front of the table God invites us to join that very real living loving relationship to be found in the Godhead.
Whilst we are entering Ordinary time in the churches year we are all living in these extra – ordinary times and whilst lockdown begins to be very gradually relaxed I still cannot confirm when we can slowly begin open up our churches once again. I hope that it will be very early in July and most likely for private prayer initially followed by a phased reopening probably over several months.
In the meantime don’t get too baffled trying to analyse the mystery that is the Trinity and do stay alert as together we seek to control the virus and save lives.
Please remember the recently departed souls of:
Brian Bennett & Stephen Barry Sutton, whose funerals have taken place.
Alan Thornbury – St. Peters Mawdesley Friday 12th June 10am
Ernie Ashcroft – Charnock Richard Monday 15th June 10:30 am
Marian Heaton – Charnock Richard Thursday 18th June 11:30 am
Barbara Chasseur and Derek Hicks.
With love & prayers. Michael (Rector)
Tel: 01772 600548 mobile: 07960309005, email: revmwoods@gmail.com
Resources – Trinity Sunday
Attached to this email are:
1) The 3 bible readings set for this week.
2) The Prayer and worship at home sheet for this week
Coronavirus Village support groups
Croston COVID-19 Croston Village Support Group
Mawdesley Mawdesley – Coronavirus help each other out.
Bretherton Via Bretherton WI (01772 601495)
email bethertoonwi@btinternett.com
Facebook Pages
There will be a Worship Video on Sunday mornings at 10 am.
Mid week there will be worship/reflection every evening at 7 pm.
Join in personal daily prayer using the resources on the Church of England Website at:
https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-service-daily-prayer
Or you can download the ‘Daily Prayer’ App to your phone or tablet.
https://www.facebook.com/St-John-the-Baptist-Church-Bretherton-439088266487676/
https://www.facebook.com/StMichaelAllAngelsChurchCroston/
https://www.facebook.com/St-Peters-Mawdesley-w-Bispham-442669382795886/?ref=bookmarks
The church of England posts on Facebook and YouTube a national service of worship every Sunday at 9 am this Sunday on his last day as Archbishop of York, John Sentamu will preach. He will also be joined by representatives of charities he founded.
https://www.facebook.com/thechurchofengland/
https://www.youtube.com/thechurchofengland
The3churches YouTube Channel
We now have a YouTube channel for the3churches – our Sunday services will now be uploaded for 10 am each Sunday.
Access the videos by searching for ‘the3churches youtube’ on your search engine or the3churches directly on YouTube or follow the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdXC7P9kQ3xEk_kKf5JZE-A
Please continue to support the Food Banks
Last week the Lancaster and Morecambe Foodbank ran out of food such is the desperate need that is continuing to grow as this crisis continues. The Food bank we support was able to help and send some donations as food banks help each other out where the need arises.
All this is made possible due to people like us supporting this vital work which is mostly done by volunteers, please do carry on to be generous with your donations if you are able.
In Croston Please leave your donations at either 19, Highfield Rd or 32, Westhead Rd. There are regular runs to the Food Bank.
In Bretherton – The box will remain at the gate, 154 South Road.
Thank you to everyone for your support to date!
In Mawdesley – we have been giving donations of money rather than food which gives the foodbank flexibility to buy what they need at specific times. Any donations can be dropped at Robin Hood Cottage, Bluestone Lane, Mawdesley, L40 2RG (opposite Nook Lane), cheques should be made payable to ‘Ormskirk Food Bank’ these will then be delivered to the Food bank on a regular basis. Eggs are also available from Robin Hood Cottage (thanks to Rosemary & the hens of course)
Thank you to everyone who has been supporting our local food banks and all the other good causes at this time.
Could you make a donation to support Church?
All our churches rely upon the generous donations of our parishioners to provide the financial support that both maintain our buildings and provide care and support to all those in the local community.
Although some use standing orders or other methods of online giving, many donors use cash, either in the plate or in weekly planned giving envelopes. As good stewards, although at present we are unable to meet together in our church buildings, but we are still the church and together we share the privilege and responsibility of ensuring that the ministry can go on and we can continue to be a symbol of God’s presence in our local communities.
Even though the doors of the buildings are presently closed, there are many ways of giving to support our local churches and we will explore these over the coming weeks. We can make donations or send our regular giving using ‘Online banking’ facilities, the bank details you will require to do this are given below for each church:
Bretherton – St. John the Baptist
St. Johns Bretherton PCC Account, No: 10031333, Sort code: 16 17 41
Croston – St. Michael & All Angels
St. Michaels PCC Account, No. 11215462, Sort Code 16-17-41
Also if you have no facility to pay electronically, envelopes can be dropped off with our Treasurer Derek Alty, 12 Lostock Road, Croston.
Mawdesley w Bispham St. Peter
Mawdesley PCC Account, No 87032805, Sort code 60 24 02.
If you decide to make a donation electronically you may be given the opportunity to set up a standing order, which will be far easier for us ensuring that we will have a more regular income.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has launched Daily Hope, which offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the of a telephone line.
The line – which is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 – has been set up particularly with those unable to join online church services during the period of restrictions in mind.
Croston fabric fund draw Results
March
1st Prize nos 92 M & J Mee
2nd Prize nos 18 Ms D Heaton
3rd Prize nos 31 K McCann
April
1st Prize nos 44 Mrs B Sprake
2nd Prize nos 30 Ms D Marston
3rd Prize nos 108 Mrs E Hodgson
May
1st Prize nos 147 Mrs S Bentham
2nd Prize nos 86 Mrs F Dickinson
3rd Prize nos 6 Mr J Mc Cann
May
1st Prize nos 77 Mrs Y Green
2nd Prize nos 50 Mr D Dougill
3rd Prize nos 8 Mr Branford
The Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, you have given us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the Unity:
keep us steadfast in this faith, that we may evermore be defended from all adversities; 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
First Reading
In Isaiah’s prophecy, the mighty rule of God over the whole creation is set before the complaining Israelites. The Lord is proclaimed as the everlasting God who gives strength to the weary.
Isaiah 40.12-17, 27-31
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?
Who has directed the spirit of the LORD, or as his counsellor has instructed him?
Whom did he consult for his enlightenment, and who taught him the path of justice?
Who taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?
Even the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as dust on the scales; see, he takes up the isles like fine dust.
Lebanon would not provide fuel enough, nor are its animals enough for a burnt-offering. All the nations are as nothing before him; they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.
Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God’? Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Second Reading
Paul gives his concluding greetings to the Corinthians, urging them to be of one mind and to live in peace with one another.
2 Corinthians 13.11-13
Brothers and sisters, put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
The Gospel
After the resurrection, Jesus gathers his disciples together one final time. He assures them that all authority has been given to him, and that, in his name, they are to go out and make disciples of all nations.
Matthew 28.16-20
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.
And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.
And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’
Prayer after Communion
Almighty and eternal God, you have revealed yourself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and live and reign in the perfect unity of love: hold us firm in this faith, that we may know you in all your ways and evermore rejoice in your eternal glory, who are three Persons yet one God, now and for ever. Amen
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