06 June 2021
10:00 | 
Posted by
Dr Platts |
This morning we set about ‘Beating the bounds’-not of
the parish-but of the churchyard. Due to the current Covid regulations our
Rogation walk was restricted to only consecrated ground. After singing ‘Morning
has broken’ we walked to the kissing gate area and prayed for the arable farm
down Church Farm Lane. We continued then to the extension to the churchyard and
saw that Chris Spiby had put a few of his cows in the adjacent field. The
children among us were delighted to see them!
We prayed for all farmers who have animals which provide us with food.
After that we thought about the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, and
we were reminded of the contribution of insects as Jane Robinson had brought a
hive, minus bees, for us to see. Continuing on we prayed for all domestic
animals and appreciated the presence of two pet dogs walking with us. Then, at
the north gate with thanked God for our gardens and the green spaces. Finally,
we gathered at the church entrance where, after a prayer, we sang ‘For the
beauty of the earth’. Father Roger then said a final blessing.
2 Corinthians 4:13 - 5:1
A reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians.
Just as we have the same spirit of faith
that is in accordance with scripture—
“I believed, and so I spoke”—
we also believe, and so we speak,
because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus
will raise us also with Jesus,
and will bring us with you into his presence.
Yes, everything is for your sake,
so that grace, as it extends to more and more people,
may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
So we do not lose heart.
Even though our outer nature is wasting away,
our inner nature is being renewed day by day.
For this slight momentary affliction
is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure,
because we look not at what can be seen
but at what cannot be seen;
for what can be seen is temporary,
but what cannot be seen is eternal.
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed,
we have a building from God,
a house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens.
Mark 3:20-35
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
The crowd came together again,
so that they could not even eat.
When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him,
for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.”
And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said,
“He has Beelzebul,
and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.”
And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables,
“How can Satan cast out Satan?
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a house is divided against itself,
that house will not be able to stand.
And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided,
he cannot stand, but his end has come.
But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property
without first tying up the strong man;
then indeed the house can be plundered.
“Truly I tell you,
people will be forgiven for their sins
and whatever blasphemies they utter;
but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
can never have forgiveness,
but is guilty of an eternal sin”—
for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Then his mother and his brothers came;
and standing outside, they sent to him and called him.
A crowd was sitting around him;
and they said to him,
“Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside,
asking for you.”
And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”
And looking at those who sat around him, he said,
“Here are my mother and my brothers!
Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
