ELHAM VALLEY OPEN DOOR PRAYER HUB: WELCOME!

Sunday 7 th June 2020 Stephen and Jane are recording videos of Acts of

Worship every week, and they are available on our websites –www.elhamvalleygroupofchurches.co.uk and

www.achurchnearyou.com(If you have difficulty finding the services on-line, do get in

touch with the Benefice Administrator Alison – she will do her best to help!)

In addition, at 8am every morning, the Ministry Team will be saying morning prayer – and every Sunday at 10am, Rev’d Jane will be doing a service of Holy Communion BCP Common Worship Order 2.

Holy Communion service with ZoomThe congregation of St Mary and St Radegund, Postling are meeting ‘virtually’ for a communion service fortnightly at 9.30am. The next one is Sunday 7 th June. If you would like to join with them, please contact Alison Dale and she will send you the link a day or so before. All are welcome!

Bishop Rose’s Sermon for Pentecost

Please follow this link to view the sermon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtkR8Abs7dw

This Week’s Readings

Isaiah 40: 12-17, 27- end, 2 Corinthians 13: 11 - end; Gospel – Matthew 28: 16-20

Thoughts for this Week

Readings: Isaiah 40: 12-17 & 27-31. Some magnificent word pictures describe both how our Creator God is so far above humankind as to have no need of us, and also how our faithful God is forever committed to us.2 Corinthians 13: 11-13. As Paul bids farewell to the Corinthians, exhorting them to mend their ways, his prayer for them is for three things – grace, love and fellowship.Gospel. Matthew 28: 16-20. Like the promise of God through the whole of scripture, Jesus tells his followers he will be with them for eternity. Baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Trinity? In My Fair Lady, Eliza Doolittle shouts, “Words, words, words! I’m so sick of words! If you’re in love, show me! Sing me no song, read me no rhyme, don’t waste my time, show me!”

ELHAM VALLEY OPEN DOOR PRAYER HUB: WELCOME!She could well be speaking of the many words that have been spoken by me and many other preachers, trying to explain the Holy Trinity. None of which ever seem to adequately explain a unity so complete as to achieve a singular all Powerful God who Forgives and

Communicates. Perhaps the real truth is, that even if we could find the best description for the Trinity, it wouldn’t help us. The invitation of Holy Scripture today is not to find descriptive words for the Trinity, but to respond to the Spiritual nature of God, who is the Trinity. What it tells us, for want of better words, is that our God is a community of perfect unbroken, personal relationships. God is love, and the spiritual motivation of love cannot exist except in relationship.Our Faith tells us we are made in the spiritual mould of God. There is part of Him in all creation. Which surely means we too belong in relationship. None of us is designed to be self-sufficient. We need each other, to be fully human we must love and be loved. Often, the difficulty of that fact, is that each one of us exists to be a channel of God’s love to others, even those we find most difficult. A perfect Church of Christs followers, would be a community of people in perfect relationship with each other. Continually inviting and attracting others in. A practical example of the Holy Trinity.We fail, of course, and thats why we have a confession and absolution in every Church Service, to mend what is broken, as Paul urges the Corinthians 13: 11 “Strive for perfection”. Jesus calls us to know the eternal love and presence of God, as we struggle within the knowledge and security of God’s love. He is with us always, calling us to love all people.It is a tremendous commission, and an even more tremendous promise. Not just clever words – this is life in all it’s fullness as promised by Christ. Unified membership perhaps, in what can change a Trinity into a Quadrinity…...And so a prayer of confession seeking absolution: Father God, we are beginning at last, to understand that the things wrong in your world are the sum total of all the things that are wrong with us as individuals….Yet by making us in the spirit of your own image, our hearts and minds can find no rest until they rest in you….We are perhaps, too Christian to enjoy sinning and too fond of sinning to fully enjoy Christianity….Most of us know perfectly well what we ought to do; our trouble is, that deep down not all of our ‘Self’ wants to do it….Your guidance and strength is our only hope….Knowing nothing is impossible for You, Lead us heavenly Father lead us and please give us the determination and strength to continually seek Your leading….In the power of Jesus name we pray….Amen Roger Davenport

Although we are apart, we pray together:

First we pray in the words of children of Canterbury for the people and issues that are important to them and us.

Come now Holy Spirit and renew the hearts of your people.

ELHAM VALLEY OPEN DOOR PRAYER HUB: WELCOME!Dear God, you love all you have made. We pray for our world.We pray for those who have little and those who face a difficult future,for those who live in fear and those who have nothing.We pray that your spirit of peace will come and unite the nations.Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of your people.

Dear God, you know all our needs, send your spirit of wisdom on our nation and our leaders. Help them to make decisions that are good for all.Strengthen the hands of those who work for peace and frustrate those who spread division, hatred and violence.Come Holy Spirit and guide the hearts of your peopleDear God, you love us when we don’t yet love you, we pray that your spirit would come and draw everyone to receive your love. We pray for those we know that they might come to faith.Come Holy Spirit and open the hearts of your peopleDear God, your son knows pain and suffering, send your spirit of healing on those in pain and we pray for those who look after the sick and dying, that you will strengthen them through your spirit.Come Holy Spirit and strengthen the hearts of your people Now we think of all children.

We pray for those who have gone back to school. We pray that they may enjoy their learning and seeing friends again but that they will cope with all the restrictions. We pray that they may feel loved and cared for in these difficult times and a sense of your presence comforting and being near.

We pray for teachers, assistants and carers who teach and nurture our children and young people, we ask for your blessing, your joy, your wisdom and patience. We pray for them as they balance teaching those in school and maintaining contact with those not back yet.We pray for head teachers with so many burdens and responsibilities - to keep children and staff safe, to organise everything – for people and things, the usual and the exceptional. We ask for your strength for them, that they may have good support from friends and staff and parents.

And for those still at home, those who are happy, those who are sad, those worried by this situation, those who are bored and missing friends, those maybe taking it out on their parents, those who find learning by computer very hard. We pray for all families and children in their work and play, that in joy and in sorrow they may know the power of your presence to help and to heal, for forgiveness and fun, so that all may flourish. We pray for good use of social media for maintaining good friendships.We pray for parents trying to work from home and care for children at the same

ELHAM VALLEY OPEN DOOR PRAYER HUB: WELCOME!time. We pray for those parents keeping children at home because they are worried.

And now we particularly pray for all those we know - our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, from new-born babies to teenagers, neighbours’ children.Janet Butcher-Weisner

A Special Prayer written by Leah:

Hello Holy Spirit, You came to the disciples as fire and wind and to Jesus as a dove. I just want to tell you that if you come to me, I would prefer the dove. Amen.May we conclude with the prayer Jesus taught us;

Traditional

Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name;thy kingdom come;thy will be done;on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation;but deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom,the power and the glory,for ever and ever.Amen.

Contemporary

Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our sinsas we forgive those who sin

against us.Lead us not into temptationbut deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power,

ELHAM VALLEY OPEN DOOR PRAYER HUB: WELCOME!

and the glory are yours

now and for ever.Amen.

Here are some links for videos of services and further resources from Canterbury Diocese and the Church of Englan d

https://www.canterbury-cathedral.orghttps://canterburydiocese.org/parishsupport/coronavirus/prayer-worship-during-coronavirus/ - some excellent resources and Apps for prayerhttps://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-service-daily-prayerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgN0s2xmCuMThe cathedral will live stream a midday Eucharist and Evensong at 5.30 p.m. weekdays, and at 3.15 p.m. weekends. Please follow this link to access the live stream on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x1i7znmokE Follow the church of England on Twitter https://twitter.com/churchofengland

Daily Hope offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of a telephone line. Options available include materials such as Prayer During the Day and Night Prayer  updated daily, from Common Worship, and a recording of the Church of England weekly national online service . A section called Hymn Line offers callers a small selection of hymns, updated

daily. An option entitled ‘Hymns We Love’, provides a hymn and reflection and is based on an initiative by the Connections group. The line – which is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 – has been set up particularly with those unable to join online church services during the period of restrictions in mind.

For families:

Toddler Praise from St George’s Church, Folkestone, with Rev’d Kate McNeice:https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgesFolkestone/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARC6CaKgy4l7o81BOYN0WfQ0nIwMjFBwPIH6CX-5ewW50Ok6sVNAEtZwkbmNCNZkvTXCb-RfSMsvECru

ELHAM VALLEY OPEN DOOR PRAYER HUB: WELCOME!www.rootsontheweb.com/familiesathome7jun (pdfs at the bottom of the page)

A Cancellation….Acrise Flower Festival Cancelled

This is to confirm that Acrise Flower Festival that was to take place on 8th and 9th August 2020 is officially cancelled.  It is clear that the current crisis will continue into next year and that there will be a long period of adjustment to the 'new normal' so we will gradually work out what is possible as time goes on.

Assistance during Isolation

Alison Dale and some of the churchwardens (see below, marked with *) have a list of contacts who can help or provide a service to everyone in the Group, from walking a dog to supplying take-away meals. Please get in touch if you would like to find out more, or wish to make an offer of assistance to others.

ELHAM VALLEY GROUP OF CHURCHES CONTACTS:

Priest-in-Charge Rev’d Jane Weeks: 01303 840219 (Monday to Thursday. Jane is not available on Thursday evenings and all-day Friday) revweeks@hotmail.comAssociate Priest Rev’d Stephen Dougal: 07764775507 stephendougal@btinternet.comPastoral Team Leader Paul Jarvis: 01303 862215 teeboon19@btinternet.com *Benefice Administrator: Alison Dale: 07985025381 (Thu-Fri 9-11am) alison-dale@outlook.comChurchwardens:Elham *Peter Swain 01303 840408 - *Graham Ernest-Jones 01303 840645Acrise *Simon Smith 01303 892162 – Martin Bradley 01303 864289Denton & Wootton Sue Clough 01303 844324.Lyminge *Phil Hawken 01303 862151Stanford *Sara Myers 01303 814183 – *Paul Smallwood 01303 813198Postling Peter Le Feuvre plefandsem@doctors.org.uk – Chris Reynolds chris.r@thepent.co.ukPaddlesworth Celia Mosley 01303 893609 - *Lindsey Smith lsmith665@googlemail.comOn the Internet: www . elhamvalleygroupofchurches . co.uk www.achurchnearyou.com

ELHAM VALLEY OPEN DOOR PRAYER HUB: WELCOME!

With apologies to Rev’d Jane !(Artist - Dave Walker)