We are delighted to welcome our new priest in charge of the Alde Sandlings Benefice, the Revd Sarah du Boulay
The licensing and installation service took place on Thursday 30th June, led by the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, and the Archdeacon of Suffolk. The church was filled with people to witness this special service. Then refreshments and THE CAKE were served in the church hall.
Many congratulations Sarah, and a huge welcome from us all.
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Message from Revd Sarah du Boulay
Dear Friends,
I write this as your newly licensed Priest-in-Charge, and what a time we have already had! I want to thank everybody involved in Thursday’s service from the bottom of my heart. It was simply super, and you did yourselves, me, and most importantly God, proud. If this is any indication of the things we can achieve together, we’re in for an awfully big adventure.
I also want to thank James for holding the fort since Mark left. I know he has worked extremely hard for you all, and has already been an invaluable support to me, as has our entire team.
In the next few weeks and months, I am looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible; to nurturing those relationships persistently and lovingly; and beginning to understand how we are to carry out God’s mission here in Alde Sandlings.
This Sunday I will be at Aldeburgh church to celebrate the patronal festival, and next week at Friston. Do come and say ‘hello’ if you have the chance.
Finally, my regular rest day will be Friday, together with the last Saturday of every month. If you need me, you now have my email and my telephone number.
With continued prayers,
Sarah
Collect
Almighty God,
you have broken the tyranny of sin
and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our
hearts whereby we call you Father:
give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service,
that we and all creation may be brought to the glorious
liberty of the children of God;
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.
First Reading
Isaiah 66.10-14
Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,
all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy,
all you who mourn over her that you may nurse
and be satisfied from her consoling breast;
that you may drink deeply with delight
from her glorious bosom. For thus says the Lord:
I will extend prosperity to her like a river,
and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream;
and you shall nurse and be carried on her arm,
and dandled on her knees. As a mother comforts her child,
so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice;
your bodies shall flourish like the grass;
and it shall be known that the hand of the Lord
is with his servants, and his indignation is against his enemies.
Second Reading
Galatians 6. 7-16
My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbour’s work, will become a cause for pride. For all must carry their own loads. Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher. Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Gospel Reading
Luke 10.1-11, 16-20
After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.” ‘Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.’ The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’
Readings for Patronal Festival of St Peter & St Paul
First Reading
Zechariah 4.1-6a, 10b-end
The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as one is wakened from sleep. He said to me, ‘What do you see?’ And I said, ‘I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it; there are seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. And by it there are two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.’ 4I said to the angel who talked with me, ‘What are these, my lord?’ Then the angel who talked with me answered me, ‘Do you not know what these are?’ I said, ‘No, my lord.’ He said to me, ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel. ‘These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.’ Then I said to him, ‘What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?’ And a second time I said to him, ‘What are these two branches of the olive trees, which pour out the oil through the two golden pipes?’ He said to me, ‘Do you not know what these are?’ I said, ‘No, my lord.’ Then he said, ‘These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.’
Second Reading
Acts 12.1-11
About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.) When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him. The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, ‘Get up quickly.’ And the chains fell off his wrists. The angel said to him, ‘Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.’ He did so. Then he said to him, ‘Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.’ Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel’s help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, ‘Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.’
Gospel Reading
Matthew 16.13-19
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’
Sermon preached by The Revd James Marston at
Aldeburgh 26th June 2022
Luke 9.51-end
We are, as I said at the beginning of the service, in ordinary time. It is a phrase, it seems to me, which is almost never apposite and leaves the Church of England sounding rather dull – not an accusation it particularly needs.
To even hint that proclaiming the gospel is ordinary seems to devalue the extraordinary message of our faith – to say that God exists and loves us and promises us eternal life in a world such as ours doesn’t seem ordinary to me at all.
This week, for the first week in several months, I seem to have had a little less to do. No funeral or wedding, no big service to get ready for, no major drama and no PCC meeting. I have had time to cook some cheese scones and even polish my little blue car.
I have also had time to think a few days to stand back and pause away from the maelstrom. And even if I don’t always practice what I preach taking a moment or two for thinking and reflecting is something we all need to make sure we do.
This is because taking a moment away from the coal face of life grants us the clarity and insight we sometimes need.
It strikes me that ordinary time, if it means anything, ought to give us the opportunity to reassess, critique and refresh. To take stock is no bad thing.
And I wonder if today’s gospel reading couldn’t have come at a better time. As we prepare for a new priest it strikes me that alongside the excitement of having someone to lead us, is perhaps a tiny bit of apprehension. What is she going to do? What might change?
Those questions will answer themselves in time and it is often the case that 99 percent of the things we worry about never happen. Or at least never happen in the way we think they might. Indeed, as Mahatma Ghandi once said: “There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever.”
And as a quick aside Mr Gandhi also said: “An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.” A useful reminder for any clergyman, I’m sure.
Not worrying is easier said than done of course, and worry is something, I’m afraid, that often influences far too much what we do and what we say.
For Jesus to say ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God. ‘was, in those days something rather shocking. The obligation to bury one’s father was regarded as a holy and binding duty of a son, to say it was secondary to the call of Jesus to follow Him and proclaim the kingdom of God was a significant challenge to those early disciples.
Indeed, it begs the question, of course, to all of us – how ready are we to drop everything and follow Him?
This passage from Luke reminds us that to journey with Jesus means not looking back and not worrying about things which hold us back – whatever they may be.
My challenge to you this week is to try to take few moments to think about what holds you back in your faith? What are you worrying about that you not need worry about? What stops you following his call on your life?
The Christian journey is informed by the past, but the focus is on the future. Are we ready to follow him wherever he leads us? Is our church community ready to look forward?
These are questions for us all to consider perhaps especially at a time like this.
And Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’
Amen
Post Communion
O God, whose beauty is beyond our imagining
and whose power we cannot comprehend:
show us your glory as far as we can grasp it,
and shield us from knowing more than we can bear
until we may look upon you without fear;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Next Week
Sunday 10th July
Fourth Sunday after Trinity/Sea Sunday
This week’s photo is supplied by Robert Farquharson
Wow! A view of The Alde & Ore Estuary, that many of us will never see from the sky. So, thank you so much for sharing this with us Robert.
If you manage to capture a moment of beauty in our local area,
do share your photos with us.
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A Message from Reverend Sheila Hart It is now nearly 10 months since I was diagnosed with breast cancer and, although I have recovered well from the operation and radiotherapy, I have done some hard thinking and praying about my future ministry. I have had conversations with the clergy, the Archdeacon and with Reverend Sarah and I have decided that the time has come for me to retire from active ministry and seek Permission to Officiate in my home benefice of Saxmundham with Kelsale cum Carlton. I have loved every minute of my time serving in Whinlands and subsequently Alde Sandlings Benefice and I have considered it a huge privilege to serve you all for 14 years. I have made many friends in all the congregations and will miss you all but, as they say, ‘all good things have to come to an end’ and I believe now is the time for me to leave you all officially. My final service will be the Benefice Service at Aldeburgh on July 31st which will be conducted by Reverend Sarah and be followed by a Bring and Share lunch in the church hall so that I have time to speak to you all after the service. This does not mean that you will never see me again as I have already told Sarah that I am willing to be available to take the odd service in the benefice when I am available. With my very best wishes and love for the future of the benefice and I look forward to seeing as many of you as can be with us on July 31st at Aldeburgh. Sheila |
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✟ Church of England and Diocese Online Worship ✟ There are many online services you can view from the Church of England and our cathedral. Here are some links below. Church of England website https://www.churchofengland.org/ Church of England Facebook page Church of England YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/ St Edmundsbury Cathedral Facebook Page https://www.facebook. |
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Youth Club – We need your help! |
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Weekly Benefice Newsletter If you would like something added to the weekly newsletter that is relevant to the Benefice, please do let Claire know and we will do our best to include it the following week. All requests by 4pm on Thursday please |
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Food Banks at the East of England Co-op Foodbanks provide a valuable service to those in need in our communities. The Aldeburgh Co-op and Solar in Leiston are doing a grand job in collecting food donations, which are collected regularly and distributed. So please look out for the various collection baskets. |
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Sunday 3rd July 3pm The Marenzio Singers at St Mary’s Friston All proceeds going to the charitable projects of the Festival of Suffolk and the work of St Mary’s Church |
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Friston Classics on the Green |
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Pilgrims Together on Wednesdays on Zoom Pilgrims @ The Meare Thorpeness Sunday 3rd July Pilgrims @ The Meare: Outside F2F Worship Gathering 10 am (Bring your own chair!) Celtic style worship of the Iona Community, Sundays in July and August, on the grass next to the Boating Lake just beyond The Meare Cafe. Saturday 16th July Community Good News Faith Cafe @ The Outside Inn, Parrot Pub 9.30 – 10.30 A time for conversation, a hot drink and a croissant. A time to share and offer our thoughts and stories. Acts of kindness within the Outside Inn and taken out into the outside world. |
