Dear Friends,

Among the themes linking this week’s rather ominous bible readings (links below) for the Second Sunday of Lent is that of children and inheritance. First in our reading from Genesis, God promises Abram (who became known as Abraham) descendants as numerous as the stars. This week’s passage from St Paul’s letter to the Philippians encourages followers to live as examples, calling us into mature faith as children of God. And in our Gospel from Luke, Jesus calls us to a childlike faith.

In our Old Testament passage, Abram’s lament centres on his practical concerns around his lack of children and his fears about the future. God reaffirms his covenant with Abram, promising him numerous descendants and the land of Canaan as an inheritance, despite Abram’s childlessness and the uncertainty that brings. Perhaps his anxiety reflects a universal fear that persists in the Middle East and so much of our world even today: who will inherit the land and protect the future?

In our Gospel reading, Jesus laments the future of ‘Jerusalem’ (a metaphor for God’s presence among his people), crying that he ‘long[s] to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings’. Jesus, in his earthly ministry, emphasised that children represent both the present and future of his Kingdom. The way we respond to children is a testament to how much we believe in God’s enduring care for all, especially the most vulnerable in society. Jesus is giving us a glimpse of his heart of compassion and love which he will soon outpour for us on the cross. He does this for us—each of God’s children—that we might be safely gathered under his wings.

Yours in Christ,

Ian

Worship this Sunday

Sunday 16th March 2025

The Second Sunday of Lent

REGIL St James

8.30am Holy Communion (BCP)

BISHOP SUTTON Holy Trinity

10.30am Eucharist

CHEW STOKE St Andrew

6.30pm Evensong

Next Sunday: Sunday 23rd March 2025

The Third Sunday of Lent

9.00am Morning Worship (Felton); 11.00am Eucharist (Winford);

6.30pm Evensong (Nempnett Thrubwell & Stowey)

Readings & Collect

Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18

Philippians 3:17 – 4:1

Luke 13: 31-end

Almighty God,

you show to those who are in error

the light of your truth,

that they may return to the way of righteousness:

grant to all those who are admitted

into the fellowship of Christ’s religion,

that they may reject those things that are contrary to their profession,

and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same;

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

BCP Collect:

Almighty God,

who seest that we have no power

of ourselves to help ourselves;

Keep us both outwardly in our bodies,

and inwardly in our souls;

that we may be defended from all adversities

which may happen to the body,

and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For your prayers

Deliver us, Lord Jesus, from all evil and mischief; from pride, vanity and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred and malice; and from all evil intent;

As we pray for your CHURCH we pray for all Christians on their Lenten journeys … we pray especially for those Christians who worship in fear and violence … for the families of those murdered so brutally in recent attacks in Syria and D. R. Congo … we pray for the church locally in this Diocese of Bath and Wells and in our Benefice of Chew Valley West … help us to proclaim the living Jesus in our words and actions;

We pray for peace in our WORLD … especially for Ukraine and the Middle East … guide the leaders of the nations into the ways of peace and justice;

We pray for those in SPECIAL NEED … help and comfort the lonely, the bereaved and the oppressed … heal the sick in body and mind … provide for the homeless, the hungry and destitute;

Hear us as we pray for those who have died in the peace of Christ, both those who have confessed the faith and those whose faith is known to you alone … for June and Rosemary … grant us with them a share in your eternal Kingdom.

Give us true repentance this Lent; forgive us our sins of negligence and ignorance; grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to your holy Word. Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy on us. Amen.