Dear Friends,

One of the joys of meeting and worshipping together is that, although we each carry so many perspectives and experiences, God meets us and can speak to us exactly as we are. That reassurance is unveiled in this week’s scripture readings (links below).

In Romans 5, Paul reminds us that through faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. He invites us to stand confidently in God’s grace, knowing that even in times of suffering and uncertainty, God is at work within us, shaping perseverance, character, and hope. Pauls writes that God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit and that the depth and generosity of God’s love is was revealed when Christ died for us while we were still sinners.

In our gospel passage, we encounter Jesus as he looks upon the crowds ‘with compassion’. Seeing people who are weary, lost, and in need, he calls his disciples to share in his mission of healing, mercy, and proclamation. The harvest is plentiful, says Jesus, but the workers are few. God continues to call ordinary people to participate in extraordinary acts of love and service.

May our worship this week renew our hope, deepen our faith, and open our hearts to God’s calling among us.

Yours in Christ,

Ian

Worship this Sunday

Sunday 14 June 2026

Second Sunday after Trinity

STOWEY St Nicholas & St Mary

8.30am Holy Communion (BCP)

NEMPNETT THRUBWELL St Mary

9.30am Eucharist

BISHOP SUTTON Holy Trinity

10.30am Morning Worship

FELTON St Katharine

11.00am Eucharist

Next Sunday:

Sunday 21st June 2026 – Trinity 3

8.30am Holy Communion (Regil); 10.30 Eucharist (Bishop Sutton); 6.30pm Evensong (Chew Stoke)

Readings & Collect

Romans 5: 1-8

Matthew 9:35 – 10:8

Lord, you have taught us

that all our doings without love are nothing worth:

send your Holy Spirit

and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love,

the true bond of peace and of all virtues,

without which whoever lives is counted dead before you.

Grant this for your only Son Jesus Christ’s sake,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

BCP Collect:

O Lord, who never failest to help and govern them who thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love: Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name; 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.