Rev’d Caroline - [email protected], 01285 712467

Readings for Sunday: Nehemiah 8.1-4a, 5-6, 8-12; Colossians 3.12-17; Matthew 24.30-35

Bible Sunday

This Sunday 25th October is the last Sunday after Trinity, also known and celebrated as Bible Sunday, which we will be marking this week. The tradition of having a ‘Bible Sunday’ is an old one, but the choice of which Sunday that should be has shifted over the years. Within our Anglican tradition, the first specific marking of a ‘Bible Sunday’ was through Thomas Cranmer’s Book of Common Prayer, which has a special ‘Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Holy Scriptures’, which is the Collect for the second Sunday in Advent. In this prayer we ask, “Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them…”

Over time though, this day has shifted around, as Advent become the rather busier time that it is now. When the Bible Society was formed (with an aim to make Bibles available as broadly as possible, in as many languages as possible), Bible Sunday became a time to reflect on that mission, and often collections would be taken for the Society at those services. It moved to March, then June, and since 1994 it has now been settled on the last Sunday after Trinity Sunday.

The goal of this day, however, is the same as in Cranmer’s time. We seek to remind ourselves of the importance of Holy Scripture, and to recommit to taking time to study and reflect on the Bible, both individually, and with fellow Christians. Scripture is a gift, given to us, and we would be sorely missing out if we didn’t fully enjoy and engage with this gift. In 1 Timothy 4, the young leader Timothy is reminded of the value of taking time to deepen his faith, through study of Scripture and through prayer, and those words go out to us too. Time taken in this study and reflection is never wasted.

And so comes the challenge to us! Do you currently set time out in your day or week to read the Bible, and to pray? If not, then I encourage and challenge you to start! A good way to do this is through Morning or Evening Prayer, which will give you scriptures to reflect upon each day. Are you able to talk about your faith and study with others? If not, would you like to? We have three study groups here in Fairford: on a Wednesday afternoon, Thursday afternoon (via Zoom) and Friday morning. Would you like to join us? Just let me know and we can take things from there. Let’s strive to deepen our faith, to learn more about God, and his great love for us, and let’s see our lives grow as a result!

Rev’d Caroline

Join us for Morning Prayer via Zoom on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 9am every week. Click below for the week starting 26th October.

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81784817015?pwd=AlVT9gCQI1ssm6un35SSkDYh5nipDb.1

Meeting ID: 817 8481 7015 Passcode: 309455