Thoughts from The Vicarage with St George, Bishops and an invite.
Greetings to you and yours on St George’s Day with the flag flying proudly over St Michael & All Angels here in Lambourn. Each year we remember the life of a man whose name has become inseparable from courage and the defence of the vulnerable. Perhaps we have never paused to think beyond the image of a knight slaying a dragon, or of the red cross on a white field of a flag fluttering on lampposts on our streets but St George’s Day isn’t just about flags or legends, and his story stretches far beyond England. Read more here St George: Our Saint | Archbishop of York
https://www.archbishopofyork.org/news/st-george-our-saint
As the Body of Christ we are invited to join with, and pray for our sisters & brothers throughout the world. This week the Diocese has welcomed Bishop Santosh with his wife Beulah from our link diocese of Nandyal in Southern India. It was a great joy for me to join with them at Evensong on Saturday at Christchurch Cathedral, on Tuesday at The Minster in Reading & yesterday evening at an informal dinner. It has been inspiring to hear all that they’re doing for the people in their care & how women are honoured & cared for. More of this on Sunday as we recall Christ as the shepherd of the sheep & the role of Bishops as shepherds.
The Mothers’ Union in its 150 year has celebrated with a Wave of Prayer. How wonderful is that! Additionally they have a cycle of prayer that today is for Kinshasa in DR Congo. Some may recall my speaking Achille and Revd Gertrude (who leads the Mothers’ Union) Please pray for them as they face challenging times in Kinshasa.
An Invitation to a service of thanksgiving and farewell for Bishop Steven at 5pm on 31 May at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford. During this special service, Bishop Steven lays down his crozier, & we give thanks to God for his faithful and dedicated ministry as Bishop of Oxford over the past ten years. We’ll bid him farewell with deep appreciation for all he has given, offering our good wishes to both Steven and his wife Ann. Spaces are limited, we recommend booking to ensure your place.
And finally a heartfelt prayer from my friend Fthr Simon, Dean of Truro, soon to become Bishop of Warrington within the Diocese of Liverpool. He writes:
As we see possible glimmers of peace in the Middle East, we pray:
Almighty God who is God of all nations and all peoples, past, present and future, we hold Israel and Lebanon, the US and Iran up to your glorious throne of grace.
Bathe these lands in your healing balm.
Pour your soothing grace into the hearts of those who are fearful, those who live under the shadow of terror and those who feel invisible.
Replace war-mongering with the planting of seeds of community, nurturing hope in a new peaceful present and future.
Remind us that we are a global community of sisters and brothers and siblings who must live in peace with each other not for our sake alone but for all of your beloved children.
In the Holy Name of Jesus we pray.
Amen.
Every blessing
Julie
Revd Julie Mintern Vicar Lambourn Valley Benefice