Dear Friends,
Welcome to our webcast video service for Sunday, 30th August. It can be accessed by way of this link:
This morning my colleague, the Reverend Bryan Apps will share with us some reflections on the Scriptures and how they point us to God’s action in our lives.
Next Sunday, 6th September, Bryan will also be preaching at the 10am Communion at St Peter’s, whilst I preside.
The Rev’d Steve Parselle will take the 10am Communion service at St Augustin’s.
We welcome back the Rev’d David Lund – after a long break of pandemic shielding – to take the 10.45 Mass at St Stephen’s.
St Peter’s churchyard grounds are looking amazing! Having been enjoying a short break in Oxfordshire this past week with Lucinda (who is restored to health now, after a mild scare: thanks for the prayers), I’ve seen the churchyard today, as I prepared the church for tomorrow’s 10am Communion, in over a week. Jane and Bill, Ronalyn, Virginia and Colin, led by Mark and Amber Richmond have done incredible work – and they tell me there’s still more to be done. Wow! Offers of help always appreciated!
Pray for our schools, particularly for Bournemouth Collegiate School (where I am proud to chair the Local Governing Body), as they return to full operational teaching and learning – distanced and masked – for the first time, as a whole school, since March. We also remember all students, and their families, who have been impacted by the algorithm mess-up (and the U-turn) with exam results. What a few weeks it has been!
Waiting on God through the ongoing months of pandemic precautions is going to be about hanging-in there, listening and waiting in prayer, and surviving in good spirits (grounded in hope in God, as shown to us in Jesus) an endurance long distance race. Years ago, I used a run cross-country competitively and I learned about the necessity of a steady pace and of not losing the belief that you can not only ‘make it through to the end’ but that you can actually achieve your dream. Many years later, I know not only that my running days are in the past, but also that we (all human beings, even me and you) fall flat on our faces if we try the race of life in our own strength. Trust in God – align yourself with Him in prayer – ally yourself with others who pray, and who want to be God’s caring hands and heart. In this way, we shall discover that the troubles with which we all live don’t go away, but they never have the last word. God does – and it is a Word of Resurrection hope. Pray for it – live by it!
Ian Terry