With the reopening of our churches and recommencing of public worship the content of the weekly mailing will change.  We will continue to email this to those on the email list and distribute it to those who have been receiving the news and service by the Royal Mail.  This first week encompasses the next two Sundays, and includes a short reflection as well as details of worship and Morning Prayer readings.

Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 15:10-28) includes the account of an encounter between Jesus, his disciples and a Canaanite woman.  The Canaanites were traditionally at enmity with the people of Israel so by calling her a Canaanite Matthew is alerting us to the fact that things may not bode well for her.

The conversation between the two is remarkable in part because Jesus speaks to her, and gives her his attention, and because it appears to be derogatory towards her, calling her a dog is not the best approach.  I suspect that like many conversations it loses much by being on a written page, we cannot hear the tone of voice, nor can we see Jesus’ facial expressions.  Given the outcome, her daughter is healed and she is praised for faith, I don’t think that he looks down on her.  Rather he challenges her to ask for what is dearest to her, and he grants her request.

May we learn to be bold in prayer, to treat people, insiders and outsiders with respect and to listen well, even when hearing is complicated my masks.  We have a permanent reminder of the woman’s words in the prayer of humble access (we are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs from under your table) what permanent reminder are we leaving behind?

Morning Prayer Readings

Monday 17 August: Psalm 71, 1 Samuel 24, Acts 3;11-end

Tuesday 18 August Psalm 73, 1 Samuel 26, Acts 4;1-12

Wednesday 19 August Psalm 77, 1 Samuel 28:3-end, Acts 4:13-31

Thursday 20 August Psalm 78:1-39, 1 Sam 31, Acts 4:32-5:11

Friday 21 August Psalm 55, 2 Samuel 1, Acts 5:12-26

Saturday 22 August Psalm 76, 2 Samuel 2:1-11, Acts 5:27-end

 

Monday 24 August (Bartholomew) Psalm 86, Genesis 28:10-17, John 1:43-end Morning Prayer in Keinton Church 9am

Tuesday 25 August Psalm 89:1-18, 2 Samuel 5:1-12, Acts 7:1-16

Wednesday 26 August Psalm 119:105-128, 2 Sam 6:1-19, Acts 7:17-43

Thursday 27 August Psalm 92, 2 Samuel 7:1-17, Acts 7:44-53

Friday 28 August Psalm 88, 2 Samuel 7:18-end, Acts 7:54-8:3

Saturday 29 August psalm 97, 2 Samuel 9, Acts 8:4-25

 

Upcoming worship

Saturday 15 August 10:45am Barton St David, 11:00am West Lydford VJ day commemoration, both at the War Memorial Sunday 16 August 10:30am Morning Prayer Keinton Mandeville also on the Wheathill Benefice YouTube channel, hopefully as a livestream, or uploaded later!

Sunday 23 August 10:30am Morning Prayer Kingweston

Monday 24 August 9:00am Morning Prayer Keinton Mandeville

Sunday 30 August 8:30am Morning Prayer Lydford on Fosse

10:30am Deanery Morning Worship on Zoom (details to follow)

 

For Sunday 23 and 30 August if you would like YouTube worship then can I recommend the national Church of England service which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChurchofEngland/videos or a reflection from Bath and Wells Diocese https://www.bathandwells.org.uk/2020/08/livestreamed-services-and-reflections/