Dear All,
Here we are in July. We hope you are able to look forward to relaxed & happy days.
Our reflections today pick up on the thread of peace that runs through the readings chosen by the Church for Sunday & also the psalmist’s song of joy.
Hopefully they may bring you peace if any part of you is not at peace, & some joy – both peace & joy are wonderful gifts for which we need to be thankful.
Next weekend is our ‘tea-boxes’ weekend – proceeds going to our sisters in the DRC & Rwanda – last orders this weekend!
‘Zoomed’ Evening Prayer begins again on Thursday 7th & we will be back in Blessed Sacrament church on Tuesday & Wednesday this coming week.
The blessing is ‘Deep Peace’ from Sacred Pathways – let’s pray it for each other as well as ourselves.
With our love
Psalm 65
Cry out with joy to God all the earth,
O sing to the glory of his name.
O render him glorious praise.
Say to God: “How tremendous your deeds!” (R.)
“Before you all the earth shall bow;
shall sing to you, sing to your name.”
Come and see the works of God,
tremendous his deeds among men. (R.)
He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the river dry-shod.
Let our joy then be in him;
he rules for ever by his might. (R.)
To lust for joy is to lust for the God of life. To make joy where at first it seems there is none is to become co-creator with the God of life.
When we make joy, we make a holier, happier life.
Joan Chittister
Joy Beyond Measure
O God of Celebration,
you have kept the good wine until now –
the wine that we have longed for,
but never thought to taste.
Take the tapwater of our lives –
our struggles & our dullness –
and with your grace
make strong and dark and joyful
all that our hearts contain,
through Jesus Christ, amen.
Janet Morley
A Blessing in the Chaos
To all that is chaotic
in you,
let there come silence.
Let there be
a calming
of the clamouring,
a stilling
of the voices that
have laid their claim
on you,
that have made their
home in you,
that go with you
even to the
holy places
but will not
let you rest,
will not let you
hear your life
with wholeness
or feel the grace
that fashioned you.
Let what distracts you
cease.
Let what divides you
cease.
Let there come an end
to what diminishes
and demeans,
and let depart
all that keeps you
in its cage.
Let there be
an opening
into the quiet
that lies beneath
the chaos,
where you find
the peace
you did not think
possible
and see what shimmers
within the storm.
Jan Richardson