THE SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY
We are in the presence of the Living God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: Link to Church of England advice page
Link
here for THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS from Debbie this week and an e-mail from Rachel Moate
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SUNDAY 5th July Fifth Sunday of Trinity
As Reverend Debbie is currently on annual leave, there will be no Great St Mary’s services with her on the today or 12th July. However, on both Sundays we can all still join in with worship from our own homes thanks to the internet. Here are just a few:
St Albans Cathedral has a live streamed Eucharist at 10am. (https://www.stalbanscathedral.org/live-streaming-at-st-albans-cathedral)
The Church of England streams a service each Sunday at 9am. You can watch it below, and you can download the order of service here.
(https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-online)
You can also join in with a local church service from The Benefice of Standon and The Mundens. The Eucharist begins at 10.30am and you can view it here: You may need to click the Watch this video on Youtube message which comes up on screen in this particular video.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFg0sOksgivK9QJckb0bsbA
Also, the BBC broadcasts a service of Morning Worship each Sunday at 10.45am on BBC1.
Finally something really special, as you may have read in Rachel Moate’s letter last week, she was licenced by Bishop Michael last Saturday. Rachel has since reported that, “The licensing service was very special indeed, even the rain didn’t spoil it”.
(https://youtu.be/Jm4MpKuwJpw)
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Also from Rev Debbie:
News on reopening our church buildings for public worship.
The government has announced that we can
reopen our church buildings for public worship. As we prepare to return
to Great St Mary’s for worship I just want to recognise the depth of
journey we have been through. Many among us have experienced hardship,
suffering, bereavement and loneliness. We have also seen wonderful
growth in relationships and the real deepening in our life of prayer &
service as a community during this unprecedented time.
In the midst of the incredible challenges many have faced we have seen
God work in and through our church community and our neighbours in the
most profound ways. I don’t want to lose sight of this as we prepare to
return to our church building. I pray that God will bless this time of
re-gathering and strengthen our life of prayer, more and more, as we
join together for worship in our church building.
I’m reminded of words of St. Paul as I pray for you, ‘that you may have
strength to comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and
depth, to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may
be filled with all the fullness of God’ (Ephesians 3.18-19).
There are more details about reopening for worship
(see GOOD NEWS message message from
Anthony above). But
for now, ‘I thank God through Jesus Christ for all of you’ (Romans
1.8-10) ... for the faithful way you have supported and prayed for one
another and have shown God’s love during this challenging time.
God bless
you,
Reverend Debbie
Click HERE or on the poster above for full details of what help we are offering
Other news...
The Reverend Simon Vivian, currently Assistant Curate in the Berkhamsted Team Ministry, has been appointed as Vicar of the Benefice of Sawbridgeworth. Please remember Simon, Charlotte, Alice and Samuel in your prayers as they prepare for their move.
The Churchwardens today (8 June) made the big announcement which they were very excited to share with us all! The Bishop of Hertford, Bishop Michael has confirmed that the induction of the Revd Simon Vivian as Vicar of Sawbridgeworth will take place on the afternoon of Sunday 20th September.
We have no further details at present but anticipate that, whilst the
coronavirus continues to impact upon our lives, it will be quite a small
event. As soon as we have further details to share, we will of course
notify everyone.
Following the news he and his family have been waiting for, Fr Simon
told us: "Having had
our move to Sawbridgeworth frustrated in April by the coronavirus
lockdown, it's heartening to know that we will soon be with you. Despite
Covid-19 dominating our lives for the time being, I'm looking forward to
working with you all as we attempt to meet the varied needs of
Sawbridgeworth and chart a way forward for our church".
With our prayers and best wishes to you all.
Anthony and Shona.
Simon and Charlotte both trained as musicians and, for a good number of years, both worked for the BBC's Religion department in Manchester. Simon began training for the priesthood back in 2014 at Ripon College Cuddesdon a few miles out of Oxford and now, having completed his curacy at St Peter's Church in Berkhamsted, is looking forward - along with the rest of the family - to moving to Sawbridgeworth, to getting to know all of us, and to getting to know the town and its community. We're hoping that his licensing will be sometime in May. In the meantime, he and the family send their very best wishes.
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