Reflection for 8-12-25 from Paul SmithWhat do you think a man does who has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost? He will leave the other ninety-nine grazing on the hillside and go and look for the lost sheep. When he finds it, I tell you, he feels far happier over this one sheep than over the other ninety-nine that did not get lost. In just the same way your father in heaven does not want any of these little ones to get lost.From the Good News Bible published by the Bible Societies and HarperCollins. Publishers, © American Bible Society 1994, used with permission.Do you have to feel lost to be lost? In this case, a sheep. There are fields with sheep very near where we live. If one of these sheep gets out and strays down the lane or into another space (like our garden), does it feel lost? Or only if it can’t get enough grazing? Do these sheep have any sense of belonging or identity? Maybe it was different in Jesus’ time? What does it mean to be lost? Is the state of “lost-ness” connected with being unhappy or frustrated, or can we be “happily lost”? Maybe the feelings and knowledge of “lost-ness” just happen after a time? Or maybe the idea of “lost-ness” in this passage is to do with relationship? The idea of being “found” is when we discover that the reality of the presence of Jesus is not just connected with believing, but with the realisation that this Jesus is a real living presence who wants to come and be in your life somehow, and wants to have a connection with our hopes and fears, and to give us a sense of his reality in some way, maybe very personal.So to be “found” is to realise that this living Jesus want to find you in some way. Our lost sheep may actually think that they are in a better place than being with the flock. On the other hand, Would we really want to live alone and out of relationship?In the story we don’t know whether the sheep actually wanted to be found. When we are lost sometimes we don’t want to be found either. But perhaps, when we are found, it is wonderful! Is the way we are living now actually the right way for us, or do we need a change? The Good Shepherd is waiting, just open the door. O God, forasmuch as without you we are not able to please you: mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may direct and rule our hearts: through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. (Collect for Trinity 19) Common Worship: Collects and Post Communions, material from which is included here, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000
What’s on in TCMC Dates for your Christmas Diary5th December 5pm-7pm Candles on the Lake Kenwith Castle6th December 10am St Mary’s Coffee Morning-The Royal, Bude Street, Appledore3pm Community Carol Service St Margaret’s10th December to 3rd January Christmas Tree Festival St Margaret’savailable to view when the church is open12th December3pm Ignatian Contemplation Holy Trinity13th December10am Christingle Making St Mary’s2.30pm Christmas Quiz St Margaret’s14th December3pm Christingle Service St Mary’s3pm Christmas Carols with Appledore Band Holy Trinity3.30pm Messy Church Abbotsham Village Hall16th December2.30pm Vintage Christmas St Mary’s Church Hall17th December7pm Recital by Heart and Voice Ensemble St Margaret’s19th December3pm Ignatian Contemplation Holy Trinity21st December9.15am Family Church St Mary’s10am Holy Communion-9 Lessons and Carols St Margaret’s10.30am Morning Worship Holy Trinity10.30pm Morning Worship-9 Lessons and Carols St Helen’s10.30am Holy Communion-9 Lessons and Carols St Mary’s5.30pm Carols@Thirsty St Helen’s22nd December7pm Torchlight Service Appledore St Mary’sDecember 24th – Christmas Eve3pm Carol Service Holy Trinity3pm Crib Service St Mary’s4.30pm Crib Service St Margaret’s9.30pm Bethlehem Communion St Helen’s9.30pm Bethlehem Communion St Margaret’sDecember 25th – Christmas Day10am Christmas Day Service St Margaret’s10.30am Christmas Day Service Holy Trinity10.30am Christmas Day Service St Mary’sDecember 28th10.30am Team Service Holy Trinity
Starting on Monday 13th October from 5:00-6:30pmWhy not come along to chat about the BIG questions in life and learn the basics of the Christian faith. We’ll have fun, ask questions, share our thoughts and enjoy a meal together too!Monday 13th October St Mary’s Church, Bideford Monday, 20th October: Holy Trinity, Westward Ho! Monday 27th October St Mary’s Church, Bideford Monday 3rd November Holy Trinity, Westward Ho! Monday 10th November St Mary's Church, Bideford Saturday 15th November Holy Trinity, Westward Ho! Monday 17th November St Mary’s Church, Bideford Monday 1st December Holy Trinity Westward Ho!For more information or to book contact Bradley and Emily Mob: 07843956241 E-mail: brad.tcmc@gmail.com or emily@stmaryschurchbideford.org
Monday evenings 6:15pm-8:00pm at Holy Trinity Hall Westward Ho! Supper served with tea & coffee Starting 3rd March! For more information call Rev Jules on 07857 946576
