Daily Scripture:39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’46 And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, 48 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. (Luke 1:39-49)Daily Reflection:Today we celebrate the pregnant Mary’s visit to her equally expecting relative Elizabeth, an important event in the life of the as yet unborn Jesus. Elizabeth’s exclamation “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb”, forms the second line of the Hail Mary, and Mary’s answer is the Magnificat, Mary’s prophetic song of praise. These important prayers have been preserved down all generations, repeated by millions of Christians the world over every day.Attitudes to Mary are often misunderstood, both by some Christians and those of other faiths, or none. We do not worship Mary, as she is not God, but rather we venerate her; as Our Lord’s mother and as a perfect example of a human in right relationship to God. We want to emulate her, and as she is very close to Jesus, we might ask her to intercede on our behalf. “Hail Mary, full of grace…” Revd Ylva
Daily Scripture:Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts ;The whole earth is full of his glory (Isaiah 6.3)Daily Reflection:The prophet Isaiah has a vision in which he is caught up into heaven. His overwhelming reaction is despair at his own utter unworthiness. But in his vision a seraph touches his lips and tells him ‘Your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out’.And when God asks ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Isaiah, not actually knowing what the job involves, but trusting in God’s love and wisdom, says ‘Here am I; send me’.If God called only the sinless to do his work in the world he would have a very small workforce! But the truth is that he calls us regardless of our failures and inadequacies, and he himself equips us to be and to do what we were created for.And that may be something we have never considered in our wildest dreams... Revd Rosemary
Please see attached for weekly news. Sunday 30th May - Trinity Sunday This Sunday's services:8am HOLY COMMUNION AT ST NICHOLAS, SANDHURST led by Revd David Commander10 am HOLY COMMUNION AT ST GEORGE’S, BENENDEN led by Revd David Commander
Daily Scripture:Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre. He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills. (Psalm 147 v7-8)Daily Reflection:We are so blessed to live where we do - surrounded by the beauty of creation. There is something quite powerful about beauty. Whenever I gaze on a painting, or lose myself in music, or enjoy a good book or sit by a running stream and listen to the sound of the water - something deep within me is moved. Reflecting on the beauty of creation can have the effect of a natural pain killer - there are poems and paintings from the First World War trenches that seek to capture beauty in the midst of horror, pain and great suffering. In the concentration camps of the Second World War, men and women would sing to one another - there is something within human nature that desperately searches for beauty. God’s beautiful actions bring us life even in the midst of death - so let us sing praise to the Lord. Lyn Hayes ALM
