JULY 25 NEWSLETTER

Julie Writes...

Dear Friends,
Firstly, a huge thank you to all those who came to my licensing service on Trinity Sunday and for the cards and presents. The rose tree has flowered beautifully and will remind me of the occasion in future summers.

Last summer our reading challenge was a huge one - the whole of the Bible and I certainly enjoyed that challenge. Earlier in the year Bishop Ruth wrote to clergy recommending the following verses from Paul’s letter to the Colossians.

‘As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.’ Colossians 3:12-17 (NRSV)

It is such an encouraging passage and really does seem to sum up the Christian life and I hope that over the summer, rather than a very wide study, we will take a deep dive into this very short but beautiful passage. What does it mean to be ‘God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved’? As we did last year, we will join the services at Holy Trinity together beginning on the 27th July at 10.30am and St Michael’s will meet at 9.30am as usual. Of course, with only one service at Holy Trinity it will be a communion service each week as we did last year.

Finally, congratulations to David Taylor as he recently celebrated 30 years as a priest. We are so very grateful for his ministry and friendship over those years. Thank you, David.

Julie.