Dear friends
Today is All Souls Day; or more properly - The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed. It always falls on the 2nd November, being the day following All Saints on the 1st. These two days remind us that whilst we may be separated temporally from those who we love but see no longer, and those whose faith inspires our own, it is a divide that is not permanent and we remain part of the same Kingdom. Indeed, the great hymn writer Charles Wesley writes these words in 'Let Saints on earth in concert sing':
Let saints on earth in concert sing
with those whose work is done;
for all the servants of our King
in heaven and earth are one.
One family, we dwell in him,
one church, above, beneath;
though now divided by the stream,
the narrow stream of death.
One army of the living God,
to his command we bow:
part of the host have crossed the flood,
and part are crossing now.
E'en now to their eternal home
there pass some spirits blest;
while others to the margin come,
waiting their call to rest.
Jesu, be thou our constant guide;
then, when the word is given,
bid Jordan's narrow stream divide,
and bring us safe to heaven.
This evening we have a special service at St Stephen's, Winsham, (6:30pm - All Welcome), for All Souls. It is a Taize style service - a quiet contemplative service using Taize music - during which names of those whom we love but see no longer will be read out in prayer. That list will include all people for whom we have held funerals in the past 12 months and all who have been included on lists for reading out in our churches. Further names can also be added as people arrive for the service.
SERVICES COMING UP
Tonight - 6:30pm; St Stephen's, Winsham. A Taize Service for All Souls. All Welcome.
Sunday 5th November
8am - Holy Communion; Forde Abbey
10am - Holy Communion; St Stephen's, Winsham
1030am - Emmaus; St John's, Tatworth. We will be celebrating All Saints. Gathering for refreshments and fellowship from 1030; worship from 11am.
Tuesday 7th November - 9:30am Morning Celtic Prayer; St John's Tatworth
Sunday 12th November - Services for Remembrance Sunday
10am - St Michael & All Angels, Chaffcombe. Service moves to the War Memorial in the village for the Act of Remembrance from 1050am.
10.30am - St Mary's, Thorncombe, including Act of Remembrance at the Memorial
10.30am - St John's, Tatworth, including Act of Remembrance at the Memorial
3pm - St Stephen's, Winsham, concluding at the War Memorial in the village.
PRAYERS
In Celebration:
We celebrate with Sophie and Ryan as they get married in St John's, Tatworth, this weekend. We give thanks for their love and bless them in their new life together. Congratulations!
Also, we celebrate with Oakley as he is Baptised in St John's this Sunday!
Pastoral:
Please hold in your prayers all you know who are struggling in any way, in body, mind or spirit. We are asked to pray by name for:
Dave Boyland; Terri Boyland; Wendy Cotton; Mary Marsh; Tony Taylor; Margaret Bandy; Di Nicholls; Hester Down; Stella Hutchison; Andrew de Pury; Cyril Larcombe; Lynn Ranson; Keith Legge; Peter Harper; Ron Bone
We remember all those who we love but see no longer, and particularly at this time Eileen Bray, Margaret Shields, and Peter Harper, and hold all those in mourning in our prayers.
A Prayer for All Souls:
Everlasting God, our maker and redeemer,
grant us, with all the faithful departed,
the sure benefits of your Son’s saving passion and glorious resurrection,
that, in the last day,
when you gather up all things in Christ,
we may with them enjoy the fullness of your promises;
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
Blessings all
Philip
The Reverend Philip Butcher
Rector - Two Shires Benefice (Tatworth, Thorncombe, Winsham, Chaffcombe & Cricket Malherbie)
The Vicarage
3 Home Farm
Tatworth
Chard
TA20 2SH
01460 221286
PASTORAL EMAILS - please to: [email protected]
HOME PRAYER & WORSHIP: https://twoshires.wordpress.com
Rest Days - Mondays (Tuesdays where following a bank holiday)
For non-urgent enquiries please allow up to a week for responses.
Mornings are best times for phone contact!