Dear Friends,

This week the church enters the long season known as Ordinary Time. The great festivals of Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost are behind us, and now we begin the steady, faithful journey of discipleship. ‘Ordinary’ can land as a rather uninspiring word, but this season can remind us that God’s grace is most often encountered inn seemingly insignificant, every-day situations.

This Sunday’s readings (links below) draw together themes of mercy, faith and restoration. Through the prophet Hosea, God calls his people beyond empty religious observance towards a relationship marked by steadfast love and genuine knowledge of him.

In our reading from Romans, the Apostle Paul reflects on the 0faith of Abraham, who trusted God’s promises even when their fulfilment seemed impossible. Faith, Paul teaches, is not confidence in our own achievements but trust in the God who gives life and hope beyond human expectations.

Then in our Gospel these themes are brought vividly to life. Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him, and then shares a meal with those considered outsiders. He reveals a God whose mercy reaches beyond social and religious boundaries. Later in the passage, the healing of the woman who touches his cloak and the raising of a young girl further demonstrate that faith opens the way to new life, restoration and hope.

Yours in Christ,

Ian

Worship this Sunday

Sunday 7 June 2026

First Sunday after Trinity

WINFORD St Mary & St Peter

9.00am Eucharist

CHEW STOKE St Andrew

10.00am Sunday First

STOWEY St Nicholas & St Mary

6.30pm Evensong

Next Sunday:

Sunday 14th June 2026 – Trinity 2

8.30am Holy Communion (Stowey); 9.30am Eucharist (Nempnett Thrubwell);

10.30 Morning Worship (Bishop Sutton); 11.00am Eucharist (Felton)

Readings & Collect

Hosea 5:15 – 6:6

Romans 4: 13-end

Matthew 9: 9-13, 18-26

O God,

the strength of all those who put their trust in you,

mercifully accept our prayers

and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature

we can do no good thing without you,

grant us the help of your grace,

that in the keeping of your commandments

we may please you both in will and deed;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

BCP Collect:

O God, the strength of all them that put their trust in thee, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping of thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

For your prayers

Please pray for…

… love and fellowship within God’s Holy Church throughout the world … that our faith may be deepened, we may be united in peace and strengthened to witness to Christ with joy and courage;

… our world … where there is conflict and division, bring healing and understanding … that the leaders of nations will be guided in the ways of justice, wisdom and peace;

… all who are in need … those who are ill or anxious, grieving or lonely, those weighed down by hardship, and all who long for comfort and hope;

… those who have died and rest in the peace of Christ, especially Alan Sutton (Felton) and Robert Harding (Chew Stoke) and those whose anniversary falls at this time … rest them in your eternal love, and bring comfort and strength to all who mourn.