News

Message from our Curate in Charge, The Revd James Marston

As I began to think about my message to you today over a mid-week macaroni cheese and glass of white wine in the rectory kitchen here in Friston, I thought to myself how so much has happened to me and us in the last two years – flood, plague, lockdowns, uncertainty, and now the retirement of our much-loved incumbent.  

As we keep the show on the road until a new appointment is made, we find ourselves in a strange position – one of pause and reflection, as is natural and expected in a period of vacancy, combined with a renewed energy, and urge to act and do as we emerge blinking into the activity of autumn and the winter months.  

It is my job, I think, to help guide the benefice through this time and try to strike the right balance.  Some habits and customs may fall by the wayside, other fresh ideas and thoughts may emerge – let’s see how it goes.  

Whatever happens this remains an exciting benefice, with much going on and much to look forward to. This week I am preparing for services such as baptisms and memorials and a marriage blessing that have all been requested, following the time of restriction, as people wish to engage once again with church.  And I would commend to you the success, for example, of the benefice choir at Mark’s final service – perhaps this coming together of skill, enthusiasm and passion for praising God gives us food for thought.  

And I urge to you help and encourage Rev Jo with the re-emergence of Messy Church on September 18^th, an important area in which the Holy Spirit is clearly busy and an activity in which we can all, from across our group of churches, play our part.  

Curates, assistant priests and even rectors do not work discreetly, away from the community in which they serve, but together with those in the pews and wider community.  

Proclaiming the Gospel and the knowledge of Christ is a team effort and to share the love of God in this place at this time, whatever the challenges, is something I know I and my clergy colleagues are excited to be part of.  

I’m looking forward to the coming weeks and months we meet again as a benefice at the end of October for our All Saints service in which, I hope, we will celebrate, once again, who we are as we praise God together.    

In the meantime, even though the future might seem a little uncertain, this week’s Old Testament reading contains the opposite “Be strong, do not fear!” 

Peace be with you.  

James  

Collect
Almighty God,
whose only Son has opened for us
a new and living way into your presence:
give us pure hearts and steadfast wills
to worship you in spirit and in truth;
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 35.4-7a
Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.’  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. 

Second Reading
James 2.1-10 [11-13] 14-17
My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favouritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, ‘Have a seat here, please’, while to the one who is poor you say, ‘Stand there’, or, ‘Sit at my feet’, have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you? You do well if you really fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. [For the one who said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’, also said, ‘You shall not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgement will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgement.] What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

Gospel Reading
Mark 7.24-end
From there Jesus set out and went away to the region of Tyre.  He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, ‘Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ But she answered him, ‘Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’ Then he said to her, ‘For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.’ So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’

Sermon for 5^th September
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity,
by The Revd Mark Lowther

DEUTERONOMY 4: 1-2, 6-9
JAMES 1: 17-END
MARK 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23

What is a sermon actually for? Putting together this last one that I’ll preach here as Rector (and laughing to myself that I was starting with this thought – a bit late, you might think!) I did a bit of Googling. There’s lots and lots of American stuff, of course – quite a lot from churches and pastors who are quite used to a sermon that lasts at least half-an-hour – but one observation caught my eye. There was the story of a preacher who arrived in the pulpit of a church where he was the guest preacher to find a notice that said, ‘What are you trying to do to these people’?

We who do preach always hope that the words that we say might actually help a congregation in some way and maybe even encourage them to make positive changes in their lives. But realistically, we know that the chances are that much of the time, the words that we preach will soon end up in the mental recycling bin, forgotten about like a week-old newspaper. But, as anyone who knows me knows, I’m an optimist (I can’t actually see how you can be a Christian and not be an optimist) – so how, with these three readings ringing in our ears, can I offer you a thought or two that might last longer than last week’s Sunday Times? What can I do to you?

Well, let’s get one thing clear straight away. It’s not what I can do to you that really matters, it’s what God can do to you – at best I’m just an enabler. What God can do to you and what you can do for God. In that reading from the Old Testament Moses was telling the people of Israel to observe the rules, the ‘statutes and ordinances’ that God had given him and that their duty was to pass them on to future generations. Which they did.

But there grew up Jewish sects who interpreted ‘the law’ very literally, forgetting to ask themselves why they actually did what they did but just doing it – and giving others who didn’t a hard time. Like the Pharisees. The Pharisees were Jews who, to quote an encyclopaedia definition, ‘continued a form of Judaism that extended beyond the Temple, applying Jewish law to mundane activities in order to sanctify the every-day world.’ And their ‘holier-than-thou’-ness, their pettiness, not to put too fine a point on it, got Jesus’s goat. He called them ‘hypocrites’ – and the origin of that word is tied up with Greek theatre – it originally meant something like ‘play-acting’ – playing a part, not being yourself.

The issue in question was Jesus and his friends being criticised for not obeying the Jewish purity laws, not washing their hands or their food before they ate. Now we know that washing your hands and your vegetables and fruit is a good thing to do and we know why. But if you didn’t know why (and ordinary 1^st-century folk certainly didn’t know what a germ was) and if you blindly just did something because it was in an ancient book of rules it was a very different matter.

The pharisees had a very good reason for being so precious about the laws – it was because, for them, it defined who they were. The laws had come into being, at least in part, to separate the Jews from the peoples whose lands they occupied. ‘We do it this way – we’re not like them’. And here’s where things begin to become a little uncomfortable for us – because we do the same, don’t we? We can all too easily pretend that by doing some things, not doing some things, preserving some outdated things, satisfying ourselves and (we think) making us look good in others’ eyes we are better than others. And God know that we aren’t.

The end of our reading from the Letter of James is very true but potentially very dangerous. He speaks of Christians keeping themselves ‘unstained by the world’. ‘The world’ to James was, of course, the one ruled by a Roman emperor and which had little time for what we might call the ‘human rights’ of the ordinary people of a country like Palestine. The fledgling church told of a very different kind of monarchy, the rule of a heavenly King, a king of love.

So seeing ‘the world’ for what it is and not being seduced by it is vitally important – as much for us now as it was for 1^st-century Palestine. But what James doesn’t mean is that we should distance ourselves from the world – because that’s not what God did and does. ‘God so loved the world’ that he came into it in human form. Engaged with people, loved them, healed them, fed them ‘true bread’.

Died for them, rose again, and lives for them now and forever. He lived for others and calls us to do the same. The examples that James gives us are caring for orphans and widows in their distress but that is just one example (a good one) of what living for others means, isn’t it?

I have seen some wonderful examples of people living for others during my time here. Those who devote themselves to a sick partner or friend, those who give huge amounts of their time to help others less fortunate than themselves, those who use their God-given talents in service of one kind or another. To use James’s vocabulary, not just hearers of the word but doers. Wonderful!

Not everything has been quite so positive but, do you know, I have been very touched by the fact that, on more than one occasion in the last week, people who I know disagree with each other have come together for a common cause – to say goodbye to Ro and to me. And may I say a big thank-you for that. And leave you with a quotation from the introduction to a rather wonderful little book called ‘How To Be an Anglican’ by the British former Dean of Philadelphia Cathedral, Richard Giles. It’s quite a long passage (and I’ve trimmed it slightly) but is worth it, I think – and it sums up so well my own feelings today.

Giles writes:

The churches of the Anglican communion often appear to exist chiefly for the purpose of keeping God amused, and indeed that’s no mean calling. It is truly a wonderful, and sometimes comical, creation; a church quite unlike any other, which defies most attempts to classify or tame it, but which is all the stronger for not taking itself too seriously. Certainly it will drive you mad at times, for it lacks the machinery necessary for imposing the party line, and has neither the ruthlessness to expel the intruder nor the earnestness always to get off its backside as quickly as it should. If you persevere you will become exasperated and sometimes angry. You will not find in Anglicanism a structure of cast-iron certainties bolted securely one on top of the other, but neither will you have to suspend your rational thought-processes upon entering our doors.

You will find in Anglican tradition a consistent, holistic approach in which faith is not holed up in a separate ‘religious’ compartment but is part of life. It offers no safe havens or cocoons in which we can evade the piercing eyes of the same Jesus who only had to look at Peter to say all there was to be said. ….. So if you are in the mood for an adventure, and can cope with a degree of uncertainty along the way, able to enjoy the journeying as much as the arriving, then read on.’

How To Be an Anglican, Richard Giles, Canterbury Press 2003

I recommend that you do. And so, Alde Sandlings Benefice, journey on – grow together in love and faith, be ready to laugh and cry together. God has great plans for you. Keep on listening in prayer for what they might be – and then go for it.

Returning to that injunction in a pulpit – What am I (what is God) trying to do to these people? Answer – love them – because God is love. Know that you are loved.

Amen

 

Post Communion
Lord God, the source of truth and love,
keep us faithful to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,
united in prayer and the breaking of bread,
and one in joy and simplicity of heart,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mark’s Farewell Benefice Holy Communion Service
29^th August 2021

Last Sunday we said farewell to our Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther, and boy did we do him proud! Congregation members from all four churches within the Alde Sandlings Benefice joined together at Aldeburgh Parish Church for the most wonderful Holy Communion Service.

The real treat was to hear the Benefice singers. Alan Bullard had somehow pulled together twenty-four choir members within the Benefice and not only conducted and led the choir, but also wrote two pieces of music especially for this service. So, thank you Alan, and of course Andrew Gosden (organist), and the Benefice Singers for all your work in really making this service extra special. We do hope we can repeat this sooner rather than later.

After the final hymn Revd Johanna Mabey presented Mark with a gift from all the elders, clergy, and Claire in the form of a framed word art gift. We had all put our heads together to put forward words and phrases that best expressed our time with Mark, with some giggles. Then a book was presented, that Revd Jo had asked many people to sign with their best wishes for Mark & Ro as they begin their retirement. Revd James Marston then announced that in the best Anglicans traditions, we’ve had a ‘whip round’ and Mark was then handed a cheque. Coco (the spaniel) was also given a gift of course.

Here are a few photos from the day, which includes the beautifully designed retirement cake baked by Fran Smith, which was presented to Mark & Ro in the Church Hall.

WE WISH YOU BOTH A VERY HAPPY RETIREMENT MARK & RO (& COCO)

WE REALLY WILL MISS YOU

 

A message from the now retired Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther

A short note to say an enormous thank-you to everyone involved in making last Sunday morning so memorable for me, and for Ro. To be honest I’m still processing it all but every time I think back on it, I can’t help smiling to myself. It was so good to have folk from all of the parishes worshipping together, singing together, praying together – a joy. And then there were the gifts. The ‘picture of words’ is just wonderful and each time I look at it I see something new. The collection was so generous, and I promise that we will buy something very special with it to remember the Alde Sandlings by. The things that you all wrote in my leaving book are very moving and it’s particularly good to have the messages from the children at Aldeburgh Primary School. Finally, thanks to the caterers for the wonderful spread in the Church Hall afterwards – with a special mention to Fran for an amazing cake! It must have taken ages to do and I’m so glad to have photos of it before we all tucked in.

It has been a privilege to be your Priest-in-Charge / Rector for the last six years and you will always be in my prayers. And now – look after James and the team (because I know they will look after you) and I pray that someone will be appointed to the Alde Sandlings Benefice who will enjoy being here as much as I have done.

With every blessing, and my love

Mark

Alan Bullard Weekly Online Hymns  Since the lockdown started Alan has recorded over 200 hymns which are available each week to view online. These have been very popular amongst other churches. If you would like to receive these each week, please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk and we will pass this onto Alan. Here is the link to this week’s hymn, which is Amazing Grace (you don’t need to sign into anything, just press play) and Alan’s website for your information. https://1drv.ms/v/s!AtEyLDlEdaeJhMkh0k-ed6IfWL0-pg Website www.alanbullard.co.uk

Next week –
Sunday 12^th September
Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity

NOTICES

✞ Pilgrims Together return on Wednesdays ✞ The Pilgrims worship together every Wednesday. You are all more than welcome to join them via Zoom.   The worship starts at 6.30pm (Zoom call opens from 6.10pm) and the call is then left open after the worship time for people to catch up.  The worship is about 30 minutes long.  We have a different worship sheet each week which goes out on a Monday ahead of the Wednesday.   People are more than welcome to email pilgrimstogether473@gmail.com  to receive a copy or be added to our mailing list. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk for the links

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.

✟ Aldringham Outdoor Services ✟ The services start at 11am, in the beautiful Aldringham churchyard. Weather permitting, these services will continue throughout September. ALL VERY WELCOME

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.

The Trussel Trust Organisation Food banks in our network have seen an increase in the number of food parcels given out over the last year due to Coronavirus, so any donations are much appreciated. You can find out which items your local food bank is most in need of by entering your postcode here – https://www.trusselltrust.org/give-food/  01722 580 178 or emailing supportercare@trusselltrust.org

Friston Ride and Stride Information Ian & Mary Cycle to Raise Awareness of the Energy Projects Ian & Mary Shipman of Friston have raised around £16,000 over 25 years for the Trust, which exists to support the preservation of our valuable Heritage Churches within the county of Suffolk. This year they plan to cycle to 21 churches to raise awareness of the scale and extent of the various energy projects which threaten this area of East Suffolk and the Heritage Coast. The map shows the huge spread of the impacts of the projects on our countryside and communities. Ian & Mary will be cycling 30 miles to visit churches across 16 towns and villages – a challenge but demonstrates the enormity of the energy projects. These are:- Sizewell C the tentacles of which spread from Darsham to Wickham Market Scottish Power Renewables/National Grid with three substations and ancillary equipment covering 32 acres and taking 100 acres out of arable use in Friston alone, plus 9 kilometres of cable routes, 70 metres wide from Thorpeness, via Sizewell and inland to Friston. National Grid Ventures’ proposal to locate the substation for its Nautilus interconnector and cable corridor within the same area, to be connected to the new National Grid substation in Friston. Another planned interconnector Eurolink is also in the pipeline. If approved, the construction of these projects will extend over 12 years causing major disruption to residents and visitors, threatening the tourist economy, closing footpaths, and causing environmental damage. Our churches will also bear the brunt of this, with Friston Church being less than 250M from the substation site and threatening the peace and tranquillity of the Churchyard and Church itself. The route will be a physical challenge for Mary on her “sit-up and beg” bike while Ian, despite his age, still enjoying the adrenaline of a racing bike! Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk if you would like to donate. Alternatively online donations may be made on the Just Giving website at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/St-Mary-Friston

The 2021 Suffolk Historic Churches Ride and Stride Saturday 11th September 9am-5pm The Annual Sponsored Ride and Stride is a national event, and every second Saturday in September cyclists and walkers all round the country are out making money for their local county Churches Trust. If you would like to take part, you can either walk, cycle or be a recorder on the day. WE OF COURSE NEED OUR TEAMS TO BE SPONSORED, so please do sponsor if you can. At Aldeburgh there is Adrian and Jill Brown; Richard and Emily Rapior; Mary Sidwell; Ed Wilhelm (Bellringer); Fran Smith (recorder). Aldeburgh also needs people to sit with Fran throughout the day, 9am to 5pm, to help with recording, in 1 or 2 hour stints. If you would like to take part, please either: Email admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk and Claire will pass on your details to the team organiser at each church. Or see the organiser at the church you worship (Fran Smith, Aldeburgh, David Copp, Aldringham, Simon Ive, Friston) where they will be pleased to give you a sponsor form and take your details.

The Return of Our Messy Church Services We are delighted to be re-starting our much loved Messy Church Services with Harvest Messy Church on Saturday 18th September 2021 in the Church Hall 10am to 12noon. Children of any age, parents, and grandparents are all welcome. No Charge. A fun morning of crafts, bread making, singing, games and prayer… If you would like to book a place, Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk HELPERS NEEDED FOR THIS VERY VALUABLE MINISTRY. PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH REV. JO! Another date for your diary: Christmas Messy Church on Saturday 11th December at  The Fairfield Centre 10am to 12 noon AGAIN, HELPERS ARE NEEDED… PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH REV JO!

✞ Compline on Zoom ✞ Compline online services are every Wednesday at 6pm. All are very welcome. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk for the links

Benefice Fun Day The second Alde Sandlings Fun Day took place last Friday (27th) at Aldeburgh Parish Church. It was an absolute delight to see so many visitors and friends come to join us all. A HUGE THANK YOU to all those who contributed with the donations, baking, helping on the day, and of course the BBQ. The total monies collected on all the stalls was £1,186.08, giving a grand total of £2,061.72 for both weeks. WELL DONE EVERYONE

✟ 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/prayer-and-worship/church-online/weekly-online-services Church of England Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thechurchofengland/ Church of England YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC LecK8GovYoaYzIgyOElKZg St Edmundsbury Cathedral Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/stedscathedral

Message from our Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther

The Vicarage is even more untidy than usual, with piles of things heading for charity shops, recycling, suitcases, or the dustbin. The car has gained a large roof-box. And I have a piece of paper, signed by Bishop Martin, headed ‘Alde Sandlings Benefice’, that says that I ‘resign irrevocably the said benefice from the First day of September 2021’. We’re off! Well actually, though I cease to be the incumbent from next Wednesday, Rosemary and I (and Coco the Spaniel) will be around until September 29^th when, all being well, we head off for our ‘gap year’ in France.

I have a lot of people to thank and will do so at various appropriate times. This, though, is my last online pew-sheet and the person I would like to thank here is the one who has made sure that this document reaches you each Saturday morning, at 10.00 precisely, and contains all of the necessary information, readings, etc etc. Claire Turner has been one of my closest colleagues for most of the time that I have been here, and I can honestly say that I could not have done what I have done without her. She has known just the right time to badger me for ‘stuff’, been properly insistent when she needs something from me, always been available for help and advice, and done everything with the most wonderful willingness and humour – we have laughed a great deal! I know that she and James are looking forward to working together during the vacancy – they make a great team. Please do look after Claire – she plays such a vital part in what we do. Every church should have one!

I’ll try my best to record Sunday morning’s service for the Youtube channel. It will be a bit trickier than usual, and I will have to put the camera further back than is ideal but will give it a go – just in case you are unable to be with us.

It has been the most extraordinary privilege to be the incumbent of, first, Aldeburgh and The Whinlands and then the Alde Sandlings Benefice for the last six years. I will take away so many happy memories of people, places, and occasions. Our journeys in faith, and with God, continue and my prayer is that a new incumbent will be appointed who will travel with you, grow alongside you, help you to realise ambitions – and have at least as much fun as I have had! And in the meantime, I know that the churches are in safe hands with James as Curate-in-Charge. Please look after him too – he’ll need and appreciate your love and your prayers. But (as I said last week) I predict that you and he really will be able to go places together and will enjoy the journey.

With my love and prayers, as ever

Mark

Collect
Almighty God, who called your Church to bear witness
that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself:
help us to proclaim the good news of your love,
that all who hear it may be drawn to you;
through him who was lifted up on the cross,
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

First Reading
Deuteronomy 4.1-2, 6-9
So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it but keep the commandments of the Lord your God with which I am charging you. You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!’ For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is whenever we call to him? And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today? But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children.

Second Reading
James 1.17-end
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfilment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing. If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. 

Gospel Reading
Mark 7.1-8,14,15,21-23
Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?’ He said to them, ‘Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, “This people honour me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.” You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.’ Then he called the crowd again and said to them, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.’ For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.’ 

 

Sermon for 29^th August – Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity,
by The Revd James Marston

Ephesians 6.10-20

May I speak in the name of the living God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit

I often wonder how we would react if we turned on the television, stuffed full of turkey and mince pies, to watch the gracious address by Her Majesty on Christmas day afternoon and it started with the words “What a year I’ve had.”

This year she’s lost her husband and has quite a few family troubles. Fodder, you might call it, for the commentators and column inches serving the public’s appetite for gossip and opinion passing.

In the Book of Common Prayer we pray to God to replenish her with grace, so that she may always incline to thy will, and walk in thy way.

We also ask she is endued plenteously with heavenly gifts; and grant her in health and wealth long to live. It might seem odd to us with our 21^st century understanding of wealth to pray for an increase in income of a fairly rich lady but back in 1662 wealth meant something a little different.

The word wealth comes from the old English ‘weal’, which means ‘wealth, welfare, and wellbeing’. Weal is in turn related to the older word ‘wel’, meaning ‘in a state of good fortune, welfare, or happiness. We aren’t praying for a new royal yacht to rule the waves and promote our nation on the global stage – though personally I’d have no problem with that – instead we are really petitioning God to look after her and keep her close. It can’t be easy being her, but she’s made no secret of her sustaining faith, her life of prayer, her trust in the almighty – we know she knows who’s minister she is. She’s also the governor and exemplar of our church, it is to her I swore my ordination oath of obedience.

But keeping our eyes on God is not always easy. The Queen has, in her well documented and long life, gone through the ups and downs of life just as we all do.

Today’s epistle reading – the exhortation to put on the armour of God – is one which Christians turn to again and again. It is St Paul’s extended metaphor on how to survive when we live through difficult times. Times when all seems hopeless and lost, times we’d rather not live through.

St Paul was writing to a small community, a minority community of believers that stood alone in a world of non-believers, a community that needed encouragement to carry on.

For the Ephesians, no matter what hostility is displayed by their fellow townfolk, they are to understand that hostility as emanating from larger, darker, spiritual forces. Such forces cannot be fought by the believers themselves, but are rather to be resisted by faith, prayer and turning together to God.

However, donning of the armour of God on our part does not create us an impenetrable community who does not hear the cries of others. It does however, encourage a boldness in our witness to Christ, a confidence in the power of prayer, a corporate resistance to forces we cannot see and therefore so often dismiss as irrelevant or non-existent.

A final thought: Christian communities like ours are, I believe the lucky ones, we have faith to guide and steer us through the fog of life, thanks to the armour of God we are girded in truth, faith, peace, the Spirit through the word and eucharist, and in prayer for our defense and strength.

Amen.

Post Communion
God our creator, you feed your children with the true manna,
the living bread from heaven: let this holy food sustain us through our earthly pilgrimage until we come to that place where hunger and thirst are no more; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Mark’s Suffolk Summer Farewell Concert – 22^nd August

We started Aldeburgh’s contribution in saying farewell to our Mark last Sunday. The concert began with Revd Jo introducing the concert team, and then handed over to the organiser Geoff Lavery who led the concert.

It was a truly wonderful concert, with Geoff Lavery on piano, Mark Pulman on piano and organ, Linda Lavery on recorder, Sarah Gallop, Soprano, and the Kingfisher quartet, Beth, Isobel, Yan Li and Chris. As Mark said when the concert finished – WOW. Wow indeed. Thank you so much to all the musicians that made the afternoon so special. It will be an afternoon that I am sure many of us will remember fondly.

We then made our way to the Church Hall for tea and cake. Thank you to all our bakers and helpers that really did put on a rather delicious selection of cakes. How lucky are we to be blessed with such talented bakers!

NOTICES

Pilgrims Together return on Wednesdays The Pilgrims worship together every Wednesday. You are all more than welcome to join them via Zoom.   The worship starts at 6.30pm (Zoom call opens from 6.10pm) and the call is then left open after the worship time for people to catch up.  The worship is about 30 minutes long.  We have a different worship sheet each week which goes out on a Monday ahead of the Wednesday.   People are more than welcome to email pilgrimstogether473@gmail.com  to receive a copy or be added to our mailing list. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk for the link

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.

Aldringham Outdoor Services The services start at 11am (not 29th) in the beautiful Aldringham churchyard. Weather permitting, these services will continue throughout August and September. ALL VERY WELCOME

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.

The Trussel Trust Organisation Food banks in our network have seen an increase in the number of food parcels given out over the last year due to Coronavirus, so any donations are much appreciated. You can find out which items your local food bank is most in need of by entering your postcode here – https://www.trusselltrust.org/give-food/  01722 580 178 or emailing supportercare@trusselltrust.org

Friston Ride and Stride Information Ian & Mary Cycle to Raise Awareness of the Energy Projects Ian & Mary Shipman of Friston have raised around £16,000 over 25 years for the Trust, which exists to support the preservation of our valuable Heritage Churches within the county of Suffolk. This year they plan to cycle to 21 churches to raise awareness of the scale and extent of the various energy projects which threaten this area of East Suffolk and the Heritage Coast. The map shows the huge spread of the impacts of the projects on our countryside and communities. Ian & Mary will be cycling 30 miles to visit churches across 16 towns and villages – a challenge but demonstrates the enormity of the energy projects. These are:- Sizewell C the tentacles of which spread from Darsham to Wickham Market Scottish Power Renewables/National Grid with three substations and ancillary equipment covering 32 acres and taking 100 acres out of arable use in Friston alone, plus 9 kilometres of cable routes, 70 metres wide from Thorpeness, via Sizewell and inland to Friston. National Grid Ventures’ proposal to locate the substation for its Nautilus interconnector and cable corridor within the same area, to be connected to the new National Grid substation in Friston. Another planned interconnector Eurolink is also in the pipeline. If approved, the construction of these projects will extend over 12 years causing major disruption to residents and visitors, threatening the tourist economy, closing footpaths, and causing environmental damage. Our churches will also bear the brunt of this, with Friston Church being less than 250M from the substation site and threatening the peace and tranquillity of the Churchyard and Church itself. The route will be a physical challenge for Mary on her “sit-up and beg” bike while Ian, despite his age, still enjoying the adrenaline of a racing bike! If you would like to support Ian & Mary, please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk. Alternatively online donations may be made on the Just Giving website at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/St-Mary-Friston

The 2021 Suffolk Historic Churches Ride and Stride Saturday 11th September 9am-5pm The Annual Sponsored Ride and Stride is a national event, and every second Saturday in September cyclists and walkers all round the country are out making money for their local county Churches Trust. If you would like to take part, you can either walk, cycle or be a recorder on the day, or of course, you might like to sponsor one of the team, please either: Email admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk and Claire will pass on your details to the team organiser at each church. Or see the organiser at the church you worship (Fran Smith, Aldeburgh, David Copp, Aldringham, Simon Ive, Friston) where they will be pleased to give you a sponsor form and take your details.

The Return of Our Messy Church Services We are delighted to be re-starting our much loved Messy Church Services with Harvest Messy Church on Saturday 18th September 2021 in the Church Hall 10am to 12noon. Children of any age, parents, and grandparents are all welcome. No Charge. A fun morning of crafts, bread making, singing, games and prayer… If you would like to book a place, please contact Revd. Jo via email: admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk HELPERS NEEDED FOR THIS VERY VALUABLE MINISTRY. PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH REV. JO! Another date for your diary: Christmas Messy Church on Saturday 11th December at  The Fairfield Centre 10am to 12 noon AGAIN, HELPERS ARE NEEDED… PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH REV. JO!

✞ Friston Compline on Zoom ✞ St Mary’s Compline online services are every Wednesday at 6pm. All are very welcome. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk for the links

Next week –
Sunday 5^th September
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity

Message from our Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther

I can’t quite believe that this will be my penultimate ‘pew-sheet top’
(as Claire and I call it). My diary is full of final things – last services in particular churches, last PCC meetings etc etc. But I’ll restrain myself from any farewell thoughts for now and concentrate on looking forward. From the conversations that I have already heard I know that, during the vacancy, our benefice is going to be in safe hands. James will be ‘curate-in-charge’ and I know that he already has plenty of plans forming for the upcoming major occasions in the church diary – from Harvest Festival, via Remembrance Sunday to Advent and Christmas. But he can only do what needs doing with your support and I would ask that you give him that support generously. If you do, I predict that, together, you will really be able to go places.

A final plug for the second and last of the Aldeburgh Friday Markets – August 27^th from 10 until 2, with a delicious barbeque available from Midday. At the previous market, on the 13^th, it was so good to see representatives from the Friends of Aldringham Church and St Lawrence’s, Knodishall running their own stalls and making some money for their own churches. And, though it was quite unlike any Friday Market we have held before, fun was had, and good conversation enjoyed. A huge thank-you to the organising team, who have dealt so well with the challenges of recent months – and please do come and enjoy all that will be on offer on Friday.

With my love and prayers, as ever

Mark

 

Collect
Almighty and everlasting God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray
and to give more than either we desire or deserve:
pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid
and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask
but through the merits and mediation of 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
Joshua 24: 1-2a, 14-18
Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God.  And Joshua said to all the people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors—Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. ‘Now therefore revere the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’ Then the people answered, ‘Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.’

Second Reading
Ephesians 6.10-20
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak. 

Gospel Reading
John 6.56-69
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.  Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’ He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’ Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’

Sermon for 22^nd August – Twelfth Sunday after Trinity,
by The Revd James Marston

Luke 1 46 -55

Today, in our gospel reading, we have just heard Mary’s song of praise – known as the magnifcat – one of the most well-known songs in the Christian tradition, one of the ancient hymns of the faith.

Perhaps time and repetition can dull our senses and it is perhaps a bit too easy to think the mag – as it is known in churchy circles – is simply that bit we say between the readings at evening prayer. But in fact, it is an extraordinary statement and outburst of praise – often reflected in the power of its musical settings.

In this statement, Mary, gives a hint of the gospel before the gospel is written. She outlines the revolutionary message that Jesus’ life death resurrection and ascension actually mean – the lifting up of the lowly, the subjugation of pride, the feeding of the hungry; trusting in great mercy of God rather than in money and wealth.

Thus, the magnificat is also a world changing statement of faith, indeed an early manifesto of Christianity that reflects and heralds the victory of the resurrection long before it actually happens.

And above all, the magnifcat sets the tone for the entire Gospel – because the child Mary bears is bringing something so different, so radical, so life changing, that she’ll be blessed by generations to come. God has looked on her with great favour, even though she’s just a lowly handmaiden.

And there’s more. The Song of Mary is also deeply imbued with Old Testament quotations, verses Mary would have known since childhood. Verses that pointed towards a saviour of the world who would be the fulfilment of ancient prophesies. Mary is not only expressing what is to come but she is also proclaiming what has been spoken about for centuries – the ancient prophesies were true after all.

But the story behind the story, it seems to me, is perhaps something far simpler – that of a mother to be excited about the baby that is to come and sharing that delight with those around her.

And the excitement and joy that Mary experiences flows out off her in an expression of spontaneous gratitude to God. It is a response of worship. Mary is expressing her faith with such confidence her words have been repeated and cherished, set to music and remembered for centuries. Mary is also saying yes to God’s service with deep joy and willingness of heart.

And I think it is from this confidence and this joy that we can draw hope and inspiration.

It seems to me that much of the times we are living through has revolved around a surfeit of insecurity and quite a big dose of fear.

We must be careful not let fear rule and manage our lives. As Christians we are peddlers of a message of hope, as a congregation we are a beacon in our community of confidence in God.

The Song of Mary is a confident expression of hope – that God is here, and he is with us. As a Christian community, the body of Christ in this place, we are called to share the confidence of our faith with the wider community.

This week our Friday markets – and I managed to pick up a nice selection of cheese scones and sausage rolls – showed once again our visible engagement with the community in which we live.

We not only brought the benefice together in relationship and fellowship but showed Aldeburgh and those among whom we live that we are still here, still keeping the faith, still bearers of hope. May we continue to grow in that confidence in the coming weeks and months.

And we are also called, like Mary, to say yes to God with a willing heart and to praise and worship God in thanks and gratitude –it is no coincidence that the theology of Holy Communion service has thanksgiving at its root.

Today as we come together to pray, give thanks, and encourage one another, let us be renewed in our faith, thankful for all we have and all we are, let us say yes to God once again and go out into the world to celebrate in our lives and in all we do, the extraordinary saviour Mary bore.

Amen.

Post Communion
God of all mercy, in this eucharist you have set aside our sins
and given us your healing:
grant that we who are made whole in Christ
may bring that healing to this broken world,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

NOTICES

Mark’s Retirement – UPDATED A huge thank you to all those who have been in contact to reserve seating for the concert and benefice service for Mark’s retirement farewell events. This has been a huge help to let us know your wishes regarding being seated socially distanced, or not. The main objective was to make sure that EVERYONE is comfortable and feels happy when attending a large gathering in one building. We are now fully booked for the Holy Communion Service. A BIG THANK YOU to Ken Smith for arranging the seating plans. No small task. We support the government and Church of England guidance and “expect and recommend” people to wear a mask during the concert and the service.

Tuesday Coffee Morning with Mark & Friends Our LAST Zoom coffee morning with Mark, will be from 10.30am – 11.30am on Tuesday. All are very welcome. Grab your favourite morning beverage and let’s have a good ole chat. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk for the link

Pilgrims Together The Pilgrim’s will be taking an August break from the Wednesday evening Zoom gatherings. They will be returning on Wednesday 1st September. They continue to worship by The Meare at Thorpeness, this being the last of the summer services this Sunday 22nd at 9.30am. ALL VERY WELCOME

Aldringham Outdoor Services The services start at 11am in the beautiful Aldringham churchyard. Weather permitting, these services will continue throughout August and September. ALL VERY WELCOME

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.

The Trussel Trust Organisation Food banks in our network have seen an increase in the number of food parcels given out over the last year due to Coronavirus, so any donations are much appreciated. You can find out which items your local food bank is most in need of by entering your postcode here – https://www.trusselltrust.org/give-food/  01722 580 178 or emailing supportercare@trusselltrust.org

Friston Compline on Zoom St Mary’s Compline online services are every Wednesday at 6pm. All are very welcome. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk for the link

Alde Sandlings Benefice Fun Day in August The next Friday Market is August 27th 10am – 2pm The stalls are as follows: BBQ, Vegetables, Plants, Fruit and Flowers, Cakes and Savouries, Jams etc, Craft Stalls, General Bric a Brac. Tombola and Games. All the churches in the Alde Sandlings are invited to have their chosen stalls to raise much depleted funds for the churches. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk if any church members of the Alde Sandlings Benefice would like to have a stall. Congratulations to the two people that were the closest on guessing how many sweets were in the jar (54) on the first Friday market. A big THANK YOU to all those who guessed. WANTED for Friday Markets  CAKES, SAVOURIES, JAMS, PRESERVES, PRODUCE, PLANTS, GOOD QUALITY BRIC A BRAC, JEWELLERY, SCARVES, HANDBAGS, CRAFTS, GIFT ITEMS Items can be taken to the Church Hall after 4pm on Thursday before the market, or the morning of market.

Friston Ride and Stride Information Ian & Mary Cycle to Raise Awareness of the Energy Projects Ian & Mary Shipman of Friston have raised around £16,000 over 25 years for the Trust, which exists to support the preservation of our valuable Heritage Churches within the county of Suffolk. This year they plan to cycle to 21 churches to raise awareness of the scale and extent of the various energy projects which threaten this area of East Suffolk and the Heritage Coast. The map shows the huge spread of the impacts of the projects on our countryside and communities. Ian & Mary will be cycling 30 miles to visit churches across 16 towns and villages – a challenge but demonstrates the enormity of the energy projects. These are:- Sizewell C the tentacles of which spread from Darsham to Wickham Market Scottish Power Renewables/National Grid with three substations and ancillary equipment covering 32 acres and taking 100 acres out of arable use in Friston alone, plus 9 kilometres of cable routes, 70 metres wide from Thorpeness, via Sizewell and inland to Friston. National Grid Ventures’ proposal to locate the substation for its Nautilus interconnector and cable corridor within the same area, to be connected to the new National Grid substation in Friston. Another planned interconnector Eurolink is also in the pipeline. If approved, the construction of these projects will extend over 12 years causing major disruption to residents and visitors, threatening the tourist economy, closing footpaths, and causing environmental damage. Our churches will also bear the brunt of this, with Friston Church being less than 250M from the substation site and threatening the peace and tranquillity of the Churchyard and Church itself. The route will be a physical challenge for Mary on her “sit-up and beg” bike while Ian, despite his age, still enjoying the adrenaline of a racing bike! If you would like to support Ian & Mary, please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk. Alternatively online donations may be made on the Just Giving website at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/St-Mary-Friston

The 2021 Suffolk Historic Churches Ride and Stride Saturday 11th September 9am-5pm The Annual Sponsored Ride and Stride is a national event, and every second Saturday in September cyclists and walkers all round the country are out making money for their local county Churches Trust. If you would like to take part, you can either walk, cycle or be a recorder on the day, or of course, you might like to sponsor one of the team, please either: Email admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk and Claire will pass on your details to the team organiser at each church. Or see the organiser at the church you worship (Fran Smith, Aldeburgh, David Copp, Aldringham, Simon Ive, Friston) where they will be pleased to give you a sponsor form and take your details.

Next week – Sunday 29^th August
Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity

Mark’s last service will be on Sunday 29th August at 10.30am at Aldeburgh Parish Church. This will be a Benefice Holy Communion Service. We thank everyone that has been in touch to reserve seating, stating whether they wish to be socially distanced or not. This has helped us hugely knowing your preferences, that you feel happy and comforatble in attending a large gathering within a building. We now wish to advise that we are fully booked for this service.

Message from our Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther

I received a very thoughtful email the other day from Aldeburgh’s churchwarden, Ken Smith. I’d like to share it with you and ask for your thoughts and comments. Ken says:

Having worked in clinical pathology for over 20 years and during that time having considerable training in infection control, I think that I need to express my concerns regarding the potential risk of health presented by the communion cup and COVID-19. There appears to be a growing belief that being double vaccinated leads to complete immunity. Double vaccination is greater than 90% effective at preventing a serious illness but is less effective at preventing infection or transmission. Breakthrough infections (people infected after immunization) will lead to fully vaccinated people being infected and able to infect others. Latest figures show that there is a greater chance of breakthrough infections in those aged 65 or older. These breakthrough infections are more frequent than initially expected and is suggested to be due to the dominance of the Delta variant. We know that with more covid virus transmissions, more variants will develop.

It is known that COVID-19 virus is found in saliva, this being a reason that taste is affected during infection. Knowing the virus is found in saliva, I find it difficult to understand why one would take all other precautions to prevent spread of COVID-19 and then drink from a common cup. The latest guidance from the Church of England specifically states: ‘Careful consideration needs to be given to the question of whether the sacrament should be administered in one kind or in both kinds, given the continued potential for risks to health posed by the common cup.’ The church therefore acknowledges that there is a potential risk of contracting or transmitting the virus from the communion cup.

Without the ability to sterilise the cup or contents between communicants, it is both possible and probable that anyone carrying COVID-19 can spread the virus to anyone drinking from the cup afterwards. Although the cup is wiped with a purificator and rotated between communicants neither of these are effective in destroying any virus on or in the cup.

With this knowledge, I ask if offering the cup is appropriate. At minimum, I believe that we should inform communicants of the real possibility of transmitting or contracting the virus in sharing the cup, even if they have been vaccinated. The only alternative to sharing the cup I can offer is the receiving of Communion by Simultaneous Administration. This offers a method which reduces but does not eliminate the health risks.

Knowing the workload and stress our doctors and health care workers are under, we need to continually examine what we can do to protect ourselves and others so as not to place any additional pressure on the NHS. The massive backlog of patients awaiting treatment continues to grow.

So, we need to make a decision. Should we continue to offer the chalice, albeit with the warning that Ken suggests, or should we, for the time being, revert to offering Holy Communion in one kind only – ie just bread? There is no easy answer here. We, of course, want to offer both bread and wine as soon as we can. But we also have a responsibility to play our part in keeping folk safe. But should we leave it to individuals to make the decision for themselves? The ‘Simultaneous Administration’ that Ken mentions is when the priest swiftly dips a communion wafer in the wine and then places it on the recipient’s hand. Possible but tricky. And ‘intinction’ – when the recipient dips their own wafer into the chalice is actively discouraged. Please do let me know your thoughts – and, for this weekend, at Holy Communion services in Aldringham and Friston, we will revert to administration in one kind only.

A quick reminder that we have the second of our Friston Sunday afternoon concerts by members of the Kingfisher Ensemble at 4pm – hopefully outdoors. And may I draw your attention to the notice further down this document about our Benefice service in Aldeburgh church on August 29^th. We really do need to know if you intend coming so that we can make suitable seating arrangements in the church. Claire or Ken look forward to hearing from you!

With my love and prayers, as ever

Mark

 

Collect
Almighty God, who looked upon the lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary
and chose her to be the mother of your only Son:
grant that we who are redeemed by his blood
may share with her in the glory of your eternal kingdom;
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 61.10-end
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 
For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations. 

Second Reading
Galatians 4.4-7
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

Gospel Reading
Luke 1.46-55
And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, 
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, 
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.  His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.  He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

Sermon for 15^th August – Eleventh Sunday after Trinity,
by our Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther

1 Kings 19: 4-8

Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2

John 6: 35, 41-51

Something you probably thought you’d never hear at the start of a sermon – a quote from a book called ‘Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation’.

The value of any item of evidence to a criminal investigation – such as an apparently unimportant object of fact – may turn out to be extremely important later in the investigation. No item, however small, should be overlooked.

And those of us who read crime fiction or watch dramatizations of it on television know that the plots of good stories often hinge on something that when it was first mentioned seemed irrelevant. We, like the crime scene investigators and the detectives, need to learn how to look for the clues.

Reading John’s gospel is a long way from reading a crime novel but it’s such a rich text, so full of poetry and metaphor, that it’s sometimes difficult to grasp what are the most important events and what they truly mean. Three weeks ago our Gospel reading was John’s version of the story of the feeding of the 5 000 – a story that is so familiar that the heart of its meaning can be missed all too easily – just as it was missed by so many of those present at the event itself. In the verses that follow the story Jesus has to explain to his friends and followers that what happened on that momentous occasion was a great deal more than met the eye. And that’s the context of today’s gospel reading – in which, once again, Jesus identifies himself as the bread of life – the food that will sustain us if we believe and trust. And will sustain us in a way far beyond ordinary food. This is the living bread that comes from heaven. Richer, even , than the bread that sustained Elijah in the story we heard from the Old Testament.

In a homily on this same gospel reading written over 1500 years ago St Augustine of Hippo wrote this, beginning with a quotation from today’s gospel:

‘I am the living bread which comes down from heaven’. It is ‘living’ because it was Jesus who came down from heaven. The manna also came down from heaven but the manna was only a shadow, this is a reality. Those who heard were terrified at this. It was too much for them, they thought it was impossible. But believers know they are the body of Christ, provided they do not neglect to be the body of Christ.

One must be the body of Christ, if one is to live by the spirit of Christ. So whoever wants to live must live as part of the body.’

Jesus is trying to explain this to his puzzled disciples – that the fact that they were able to leave that mountainside fed and satisfied by something that initially looked insufficient and insubstantial is a sign – a metaphor for something that is truly the heart of the matter. In fact it’s what we’d call a sacrament – defined by that same St Augustine as ‘an outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible grace.’ And in a few minutes time we will once again share in the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood – the outward and visible sign of God’s overwhelming love for us. The bread that we break and share is, in some amazing and mysterious way, Christ’s body, broken for us. It has, as the Eucharistic Prayer puts it, it has become, for us, the body of Christ. And that bread, that body, feeds us and sustains us just as Jesus said it would.

Next week we read the verses that follow today’s gospel reading, verses in which Jesus takes the explanation of his body and blood being food and drink for us a step further. The 10.30 service at which we’ll read those words will, in fact, be a service of Morning Prayer, not Holy Communion, so it’s worth just touching on what they tell us as we prepare to receive the sacrament of Hoy Communion this morning. Once again the people don’t understand – ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat’? they say. And Jesus, teaching in the synagogue, replies ‘Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. …. My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink ….. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them.’ Beautiful but difficult words – because the wrong picture can all too easily come into our minds. But in his brilliant book ‘Unapologetic’, Francis Spufford reminds us of the centrality of Holy Communion – it’s what the church is for, he says. (And I apologise if you have been online and heard the sermon that I preached last week in Friston because I used the same quotation.)

‘Forget about saints, popes, bishops, monks, nuns, processions, statues, music, art, architecture, vicarage tea parties, speaking in tongues, special hats. All of that stuff can be functional in its time and its place, can do things sometimes to inch forward the work of love, but it’s all secondary, it’s all flummery, it’s all essentially decorative compared to this. We eat the bread, we drink the wine. We feel ourselves forgiven. And, feeling that, we turn from the table to try to love the world, and ourselves, and each other.’

In other words, we try to be what Paul calls us to be in his letter to the Ephesians. ‘Be imitators of God’, Paul wrote, ‘as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.’

Some ancient Latin words about Holy Communion that have often been set to music – ‘O sacrum convivium’.

O sacred banquet, in which Christ is received,
The offering of his Passion is renewed,
The mind is filled with grace,
And a promise of future glory is given to us

May it be so for us all today.

Amen

 

Post Communion

God most high, whose handmaid bore the Word made flesh:
we thank you that in this sacrament of our redemption
you visit us with your Holy Spirit
and overshadow us by your power;
strengthen us to walk with Mary the joyful path of obedience
and so to bring forth the fruits of holiness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Next week

Sunday 22^nd August
Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

NOTICES

Mark’s Retirement – UPDATED As we all know, we will be saying a very sad farewell to our Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther at the end of August, as he starts his retirement.  All the churches in the Benefice are arranging last services etc for Mark, which I am sure the church you worship at has informed you.  At Aldeburgh we are having a  Summer Suffolk Farewell Concert, with Geoff Lavery, and friends performing on the 22nd August 3-4pm, followed by tea and cake in the Church Hall.  On the 29th August, we are having a Benefice Holy Communion Service.  UPDATE We are offering designated seating, both socially distanced and non-socially distanced for the concert and the Benefice Holy Communion Service. If you wish to attend the concert or the benefice service, please contact Claire at admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk or churchwarden Ken Smith and let us know how many will be in your party and if you wish socially distanced seating. We support the government and Church of England guidance and “expect and recommend” people to wear a mask during the concert and the service.

Alde Sandlings Benefice Fun Day in August The next Friday Market is August 27th 10am – 2pm. The proposed stalls are as follows: BBQ, Vegetables, Plants, Fruit and Flowers, Cakes and Savouries, Jams etc, Craft Stalls, General Bric a Brac. Tombola and Games. All the churches in the Alde Sandlings are invited to have their chosen stalls to raise much depleted funds for the churches. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk if any church members of the Alde Sandlings Benefice would like to have a stall. EVERYONE WELCOME WANTED for Friday Markets  CAKES, SAVOURIES, JAMS, PRESERVES, PRODUCE, PLANTS, GOOD QUALITY BRIC A BRAC, JEWELLERY, SCARVES, HANDBAGS, CRAFTS, GIFT ITEMS Items can be taken to the Church Hall after 4pm on Thursday before the market, or the morning of market.

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.

✟ Aldringham Outdoor Services ✟ The services start at 11am in the beautiful Aldringham churchyard. Weather permitting, these services will continue throughout August and September. ALL VERY WELCOME

U Food Banks at the East of England Co-op U 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.

The Trussel Trust Organisation Food banks in our network have seen an increase in the number of food parcels given out over the last year due to Coronavirus, so any donations are much appreciated. You can find out which items your local food bank is most in need of by entering your postcode here – https://www.trusselltrust.org/give-food/ By clicking on the food bank’s name, you can also find out where to drop off your donations. If you would prefer to make a financial donation, then please visit the food bank’s website (under ‘Give help’) or you can donate to the Trussell Trust centrally by contacting our Supporter Care team on 01722 580 178 or emailing supportercare@trusselltrust.org

✞ Pilgrims Together ✞ The Pilgrim’s will be taking an August break from the Wednesday evening Zoom gatherings. They will be returning on Wednesday 1st September. They continue to worship by The Meare at Thorpeness every Sunday in August. See poster in this newsletter for more information.

Tuesday Coffee Morning with Mark & Friends Our final two Zoom coffee mornings with Mark will be from 10.30am – 11.30am every Tuesday. All are very welcome. Grab your favourite morning beverage and let’s have a good ole chat. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk

Friston Ride and Stride Information Ian & Mary Cycle to Raise Awareness of the Energy Projects Ian & Mary Shipman of Friston have raised around £16,000 over 25 years for the Trust, which exists to support the preservation of our valuable Heritage Churches within the county of Suffolk. This year they plan to cycle to 21 churches to raise awareness of the scale and extent of the various energy projects which threaten this area of East Suffolk and the Heritage Coast. Ian & Mary will be cycling 30 miles to visit churches across 16 towns and villages – a challenge but demonstrates the enormity of the energy projects. These are:- Sizewell C the tentacles of which spread from Darsham to Wickham Market Scottish Power Renewables/National Grid with three substations and ancillary equipment covering 32 acres and taking 100 acres out of arable use in Friston alone, plus 9 kilometres of cable routes, 70 metres wide from Thorpeness, via Sizewell and inland to Friston. National Grid Ventures’ proposal to locate the substation for its Nautilus interconnector and cable corridor within the same area, to be connected to the new National Grid substation in Friston. Another planned interconnector Eurolink is also in the pipeline. If approved, the construction of these projects will extend over 12 years causing major disruption to residents and visitors, threatening the tourist economy, closing footpaths, and causing environmental damage. Our churches will also bear the brunt of this, with Friston Church being less than 250M from the substation site and threatening the peace and tranquillity of the Churchyard and Church itself. The route will be a physical challenge for Mary on her “sit-up and beg” bike while Ian, despite his age, still enjoying the adrenaline of a racing bike! If you would like to support Ian & Mary, please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk

The 2021 Suffolk Historic Churches Ride and Stride Saturday 11th September 9am-5pm The Annual Sponsored Ride and Stride is a national event, and every second Saturday in September cyclists and walkers all round the country are out making money for their local county Churches Trust. If you would like to take part, you can either walk, cycle or be a recorder on the day, or of course, you might like to sponsor one of the team, please either: Email admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk and Claire will pass on your details to the team organiser at each church. Or see the organiser at the church you worship (Fran Smith, Aldeburgh, David Copp, Aldringham) where they will be pleased to give you a sponsor form and take your details.

Message from our Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther

I don’t always hear Radio 4’s ‘Thought for the Day’, which usually pops up at around 7.50am, during the ‘Today’ programme, but I did catch it on Wednesday. It was given by Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Senior Rabbi of Masorti Judaism in the UK. It was a particularly eloquent reflection on love – God’s love for us and our love for our neighbour. I suppose it struck home particularly powerfully because I have taken quite a few weddings recently and this week also has seen two rather special funerals. At all of them we spoke of love, God’s love for us all, the love of two human beings and the Christian belief that love overcomes death. One of the prayers in the wedding service speaks of how the couples’ love should ‘overflow to neighbours in need and embrace those in distress’. The funeral service reminds us that ‘all who have died in the love of Christ will share in his resurrection’. Rabbi Jonathan quotes a Rabbi from the 18^th-century who says ‘to make God’s everlasting love real is our responsibility’. And hearing St Paul’s famous words about love in his First Letter to the Corinthians being read at weddings and one of the funerals reminded me just how central to our faith our ideas of love are. I’ve attached the audio of Rabbi Jonathan’s talk to this pew-sheet and I commend it to you – it certainly spoke powerfully to me.

There are lots of good things coming up in the next few days but in particular I draw your attention to the concert in Friston churchyard on Sunday afternoon at 4pm, and the first of the two Friday Markets on August 13^th from 10.00 until 2.00. It is also good to welcome The Revd Bruce Gillingham back to Thorpeness and Aldeburgh this Sunday morning. Bruce and his family’s links with Thorpeness go back a very long way and he is always a welcome visitor. Prayers are already wafting heavenwards for fine weather for all of these events!

With my love and prayers, as ever

Mark

Collect
Let your merciful ears, O Lord,
be open to the prayers of your humble servants;
and that they may obtain their petitions
make them to ask such things as shall please you;
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
1 Kings 19.4-8
Elijah went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.’ Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, ‘Get up and eat.’ He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, ‘Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.’ He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food for forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.

Second Reading
Ephesians 4.25-5.2
So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbours, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labour and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Gospel Reading
John 6.35, 41-51
Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’ They were saying, ‘Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, “I have come down from heaven”?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do not complain among yourselves. No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, “And they shall all be taught by God.” Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’

 

Sermon for 8^th August – Tenth Sunday after Trinity,
by The Revd Johanna Mabey

Bread of Life Reflection for Lammas Day (1^st August)

Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15, Ephesians 4.1-16, John 6.24-35

“May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord our rock and our redeemer.” 

Before we moved to Aldeburgh, many years ago, we used to live in a beautiful old Suffolk farmhouse near Sudbury which was surrounded by arable fields – in fact our two eldest children, George and James were both born there.

I still remember the heady aroma of gain on the cusp of ripening. This deep earthy fragrance held the promise of harvest. The first day of harvest was always exciting. For arable farmers, it’s the day when the crop yields its first grain, the culmination of a year’s work. My two boys were transfixed by the sight of the huge combine harvester rolling past the end of our garden – and our little George’s first word wasn’t ‘Mumma’, or ‘Dadda’, it was ‘Tractor’!!

On Lammas Day or Loaf Mass Day, we celebrate the first loaf of bread, made from the first wheat of harvest. In times past this first loaf of bread marked the end of eking out last year’s food supplies. There must have been a great temptation to devour the loaf in one hungry feast.

But on the first Sunday in August, the harvest workers would pause from their work to take this first loaf to church. It would be presented at the altar. They would give thanks to God for his provision. And then, accompanied by the words of Christ’s last Supper, the loaf would be blessed, broken and shared.

The first taste of the new bread would be at the Eucharistic feast. As well as the obvious spiritual connections there was something deeply practical about this.

The first loaf wasn’t consumed by just one hungry family, it was shared with everyone who gathered in church. Harvest was a time when communities needed to pull together, they needed to work together to gather the crops whilst the sun shone. The foundation for this was set in church at Lammas.

It began with them sharing and eating the first loaf together.

Our Lammas service today draws on all these traditions. When I raised our Lammas loaf at the altar, I knew I was raising something holy. This is bread that holds the potential to sustain us physically and spiritually.

It was in my hands due to the work and commitment of many other hands. These other hands drove tractors and combine harvesters, they typed on computer keyboards and phone keypads, they swiped multiple screens in high-tec cabs, they probably held furrowed foreheads as yet another unseasonal day of weather was forecast.

This has been a very challenging growing season. When we give thanks to God for this first-bread in our hands, we give thanks for all those who contributed to it, and that despite the set-backs, harvest is here.

The Lammas loaf symbolises the faith, trust and hope of many who work the land.

Harvest is a busy and pressured time for farmers. If you live a little further inland from here, you’ll hear the work of combining and corn-carting well into the night. It becomes an intense whirl of exhausting activity to produce our food.

As this whirl begins, Lammas enables us to press the pause button. As we pause for an hour this morning, we are invited to reflect on one simple loaf of bread.

The Lammas liturgy invites us to recognise that the God of creation

has been faithful to us. The land has yielded its harvest to sustain the people. The loaf is a symbol of God’s provision for us.

In blessing it we’re drawn into the holiness of the land and all that it can provide for us. It reminds us of the joy of being at one with creation, and the horror of being at odds with it.

The way we work the land and eat of its fruits, matters to God.

As Jesus demonstrated to a crowd of 5000, a humble loaf of local bread, blessed by God, is full of hope and potential.

I’m sure you remember that the lockdown saw a resurgence of home bread making. Our local millers saw a huge increase in demand for bread flour – and supplies ran out. Now that stocks are replenished, why not bake your own Lammas loaf?

As many monastic bakers can testify, the gentle rhythm of kneading lends itself to prayer.

And as you eat your piece of the Lammas loaf, pray that Christ, the bread of life makes his home in you, ensuring that you will never be hungry.

And as you delight in the taste of the first-bread, commit yourself to a greater awareness of the delights of inhabiting this world as

God’s co-worker in creation.

May you, with Him, bring a harvest of hope to the world.

Amen.

Lammas Loaf
baked by Sue Howcutt

 

Post Communion
God of our pilgrimage,
you have willed that the gate of mercy
should stand open for those who trust in you:
look upon us with your favour
that we who follow the path of your will
may never wander from the way of life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Next week
Sunday 15^th August
Eleventh Sunday after Trinity/
The Blessed Virgin Mary

NOTICES

Mark’s Retirement UPDATED As we all know, we will be saying a very sad farewell to our Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther at the end of August, as he starts his retirement.  All the churches in the Benefice are arranging last services etc for Mark, which I am sure the church you worship at has informed you.  At Aldeburgh we are having a  Summer Suffolk Farewell Concert, with Geoff Lavery, and friends performing on the 22nd August 3-4pm, followed by tea and cake in the Church Hall.  On the 29th August, we are having a Benefice Holy Communion Service.  UPDATE We are offering designated seating, both socially distanced and non-socially distanced for the concert and the Benefice Holy Communion Service. If you wish to attend the concert or the benefice service, please contact Claire at admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org or churchwarden Ken Smith and let us know how many will be in your party and if you wish socially distanced seating. We support the government and Church of England guidance and “expect and recommend” people to wear a mask during the concert and the service.

Alde Sandlings Benefice Fun Days in August UPDATE – THE FIRST FRIDAY MARKET WILL NOW BE ON THE 13TH AUGUST not the 6th as previously advertised. As many of you know August is the month for Aldeburgh Church to host their Friday Markets. Unfortunately, last year was cancelled due to Covid. This year things are hugely better, but we still need to approach with caution. So, this August we will have two Friday markets on the 13th and 27th 10am – 2pm. The proposed stalls are as follows: BBQ, Vegetables, Plants, Fruit and Flowers, Cakes and Savouries, Jams etc, Craft Stalls, General Bric a Brac. Tombola and Games. All the churches in the Alde Sandlings are invited to have their chosen stalls to raise much depleted funds for the churches. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk if any church members of the Alde Sandlings Benefice would like to have a stall. EVERYONE WELCOME WANTED for Friday Markets CAKES, SAVOURIES, JAMS, PRESERVES, PRODUCE, PLANTS, GOOD QUALITY BRIC A BRAC, JEWELLERY, SCARVES, HANDBAGS, CRAFTS, GIFT ITEMS Items can be taken to the Church Hall after 4pm on Thursday before the market, or the morning of market.

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.

✟ Aldringham Outdoor Services ✟ The services start at 11am in the beautiful Aldringham churchyard. Weather permitting, these services will continue throughout July, August and September. August 8th will be the date for the annual Animal Service, 3pm in the churchyard.  We can’t guarantee that there will be no interruptions as the animals may have difficulty following the order of service but all animals, insects, etc. (and their owners) ALL VERY WELCOME

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.

The Trussel Trust Organisation Food banks in our network have seen an increase in the number of food parcels given out over the last year due to Coronavirus, so any donations are much appreciated. You can find out which items your local food bank is most in need of by entering your postcode here – https://www.trusselltrust.org/give-food/ By clicking on the food bank’s name, you can also find out where to drop off your donations. If you would prefer to make a financial donation, then please visit the food bank’s website (under ‘Give help’) or you can donate to the Trussell Trust centrally by contacting our Supporter Care team on 01722 580 178 or emailing supportercare@trusselltrust.org

✞ Pilgrims Together ✞ The Pilgrim’s will be taking an August break from the Wednesday evening Zoom gatherings. They will be returning on Wednesday 1st September. They continue to worship by The Meare at Thorpeness every Sunday in August. See poster in this newsletter for more information.

Tuesday Coffee Morning with Mark & Friends Our regular Zoom coffee morning will be from 10.30am – 11.30am every Tuesday. All are very welcome. Grab your favourite morning beverage and let’s have a good ole chat. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk for more info

The 2021 Suffolk Historic Churches Ride and Stride Saturday 11th September 9am-5pm The Annual Sponsored Ride and Stride is a national event, and every second Saturday in September cyclists and walkers all round the country are out making money for their local county Churches Trust. If you would like to take part, you can either walk, cycle or be a recorder on the day, or of course, you might like to sponsor one of the team, please either: Email admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk and Claire will pass on your details to the team organiser at each church. Or see them at the church you worship (Fran Smith, Aldeburgh, David Copp, Aldringham) where they will be pleased to give you a sponsor form and take your details. More information from Friston and Knodishall next week.

Message from our Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther

To begin with, a thank-you to those who responded to my requests for views in last week’s online pew-sheet. Bearing those in mind, we will gradually introduce some more singing into our indoor services, and we will also re-introduce the shared cup at Holy Communion services. For those who might still feel uncomfortable about receiving wine in that way, please be assured that if you only receive the bread and leave the communion rail before the wine is distributed you will still have ‘received communion’. Guidance from the national church makes it clear that ‘Because of ongoing potential risks to health, an individual communicant may choose to receive only in the form of bread even if the consecrated wine is being distributed’. We will, of course, take all of the usual precautions, keeping the rim of the chalice clean by wiping it with a laundered ‘purificator’ and rotating it between communicants. All should thus be well.

As you will see elsewhere in this pew-sheet we have taken the decision to postpone Aldeburgh’s first ‘Friday Market’ from next Friday (6^th) to the following Friday (13^th).

The organising team say:

Sadly, our dear Aldeburgh Church friend John Aitken has recently died, and his funeral has been arranged for Friday 6th August. So, we have decided to postpone the first market as a mark of respect for John, his family, and friends. There will be many people wanting to attend the funeral. The hearse, the funeral cortege to the graveyard and the Council grave diggers will all be using the car park, so we feel it is the right thing to postpone the market.

Thank-you, team, for your thoughtfulness – it is very much appreciated.

A reminder that this Sunday (1^st) afternoon in Aldeburgh church there will be two piano recitals, at 2pm and 4pm, across which Libby Burgess will play the second book of Bach’s 48 Preludes and Fugues. This is part of her extraordinary project to play ‘the 48’ in all 48 English counties. She is raising money for charities that support musicians who have had such a hard time during the Covid outbreak. Engagements simply dried up, there was no work to be had, and many had to make some very difficult decisions. Come to one or both recitals, hear some glorious music and help some very good causes.

Then, on Sundays August 8^th and 15^th there are afternoon concerts in Friston churchyard. Full details further down the pew sheet, and if last year was anything to go by there will be plenty to enjoy – and another very worthwhile charity, St Elizabeth’s Hospice, to support.

With my love and prayers, as ever

Mark

Collect
Almighty God, who sent your Holy Spirit
to be the life and light of your Church:
open our hearts to the riches of your grace,
that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
in love and joy and peace;
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
Exodus 16.2-4, 9-15
The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’ Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, “Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.” ’And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked towards the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. The Lord spoke to Moses and said, ‘I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.” ’In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, ‘What is it?’ For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, ‘It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.

Second Reading
Ephesians 4.1-16
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, ‘When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.’  (When it says, ‘He ascended’, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knitted together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

Gospel Reading
John 6.24-35
So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’ So they said to him, ‘What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” ’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’  Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Sermon for 1^st August – Ninth Sunday after Trinity,
by The Revd James Marston

JOHN 6.1-21

May I speak in the name of the living God, Father son and holy spirit

“Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples.”
John chapter 6; The feeding of the 5,000. It is one of the most familiar stories from the ministry of Jesus. The miracle where generosity overflows and the followers of Christ begin to understand something of who he is, after eating together.

This episode’s Eucharistic themes of drawing together and feeding the community is followed by a sense of recognition and understanding. Perhaps this is why this story resonates so powerfully. Because we too often miss what is happening until after the event.

I’m afraid we all often fail to see the depths of what God is doing, because we are all too focused only on what serves our own desires and needs. We fail to realize how graciously God is acting among us, for our sake and for the sake of the whole world.

As St Paul hints of in our reading this morning we may be “rooted and grounded in love” but we still need prayer to develop and nourish our faith and our souls. We may see something of the unknowable depth of the love of Christ but we only see partially and in distorted ways.

We need the continuing word and sacrament if we are to move more deeply into the glory of God. This is what the crowds need as well, though it will take all of chapter 6 to tell the story.

As many of you I talk far too much about myself, but if you’ll indulge me today I thought I might tell you something of my experience at the cathedral in Bury St Edmunds.

It has been a fascinating few weeks, not because I got to flounce around in my cassock, or swing the incense or sing an evensong – I did none of those things in the end. Instead the time there was used getting to know the clergy team, observing who does what, talking to the various congregation members and volunteers who serve God in that place in such a diverse and inspiring variety of ways.

I chatted with the Dean about church leadership, I discussed worship and liturgy with the liturgist, I spent time with the pastoral team that looks after and holds in prayer those who need and require that pastoral support. These are things we do in our benefice and it took me by surprise what we might learn from there, and indeed how the cathedral might even learn from us.

Yet above all those few weeks away gave me a chance to see myself with fresh eyes, and to see our context and churches with greater clarity. As well as giving me time to think, to assess, to stand back and to reflect on, not only the last two years but the future a bit as well. My placement at the cathedral was, in the end, less about learning cathedral ministry and more about reflecting on my own and our journey of formation and faith.

Changes, even transformations, have happened to me that I hadn’t realised had been going on. And as you, this congregation and those across the benefice, have been training me alongside Mark and the other clergy and, indeed the wider community, I thought it might be interesting to update you and share with you something of what this moment up the mountain, away from the hebdomadal routine, has revealed to me.

Firstly that, as I deaconed the mass at the cathedral, I was struck how far I’d come, how much more comfortable I am now in front of a large congregation, how powerful it is to read the gospel and how fortunate I am to have this calling. From my first service here when the nerves and adrenalin made me almost wonder however I’d got into it all to today when I preside on my own with excitement and gladness as we share again the Eucharistic feast.

But perhaps most importantly, my time away has made me realise how being here among you has ultimately deepened my faith, taught me to be seen through a different lens and shaped and encouraged my vocation and formation in ways I wasn’t expecting.

Not least, and now I see it is obvious, the startling recognition that the Holy Spirit is ultimately engaging us all, in different ways and in different respects on a journey to proclaim and to live the gospel in this place. It may not always feel like it, we may not even notice it, but we are all pulling on the same rope and engaged in the same project – one of simply sharing God’s love.

To be part of the Body of Christ in this benefice is to be in a community of mutual support and of love. And we must never lose sight of that.

As our rector Mark prepares to leave us, and this will be far more painful I think than we quite yet realise, I am, at the request of the bishops, to be curate-in-charge during what the church calls the interregnum.

Practically, this means that over the coming months, I am expecting to chair PCC meetings, work closely with the churchwardens, maintain the rota with clergy colleagues who will continue to take services, administer the sacraments, conduct the occasional offices, offer pastoral care, and keep the whole thing going, crucially, with your support and encouragement.

This in-between time is not really a time for big decisions or missional initiatives or unexpected changes in direction. We aren’t quite carrying on a normal, but we are carrying on.

And I promise we’ll do our best not to upset the flower ladies.

The concept of this time without leadership is one that is very different from the world from which I and most of us come. It might feel like a time of uncertainty and for many is frankly odd, in comparison with the commercial or public sector world.

Indeed, in previous incarnations my boss would have been replaced almost before he or she left – but in the church we take a step back, we calm ourselves, we reflect, we put our trust in God as we take time to think and look at ourselves and examine who and what we are and who and what we have become.

Just like Jesus and his disciples in John chapter 6, our community will go up the mountain to get a different view of things in order to come down it again and get on with the job we are all called to do.

Amen

Post Communion
Holy Father, who gathered us here around the table of your Son
to share this meal with the whole household of God:
in that new world where you reveal the fullness of your peace,
gather people of every race and language to share in the eternal
banquet of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Next week
Sunday 8^th August
Tenth Sunday after Trinity

NOTICES

Mark’s Retirement As we all know, we will be saying a very sad farewell to our Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther at the end of August, as he starts his retirement.  All the churches in the Benefice are arranging last services etc for Mark, which I am sure the church you worship at has informed you.  At Aldeburgh we are hoping to have a  Summer Suffolk Farewell Concert, with Geoff Lavery, and friends performing on the 22nd August 3-4pm, followed by tea and cake in the Church Hall.  On the 29th August, we are hoping to have a Benefice Holy Communion Service.  On how many we have depends on you really.  We need your input.  Are you happy to attend church with larger numbers, without social distancing, and happy to sing, or would you prefer to be seated socially distanced and NOT sing? Or are you happy to celebrate Mark’s retirement at your preferred church you normally worship in?  We really want this to work, but need an idea of your wishes, so we can plan.  Your safety is our priority.  So please let Claire know your thoughts at admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk or speak to one of the clergy or churchwardens at the next service you attend.  Of course, all these celebrations can only go ahead if we are permitted to do so, and no restrictions return that could put people at risk.

Alde Sandlings Benefice Fun Days in August UPDATE – THE FIRST FRIDAY MARKET WILL NOW BE ON THE 13TH AUGUST not the 6th as previously advertised. As many of you know August is the month for Aldeburgh Church to host their Friday Markets. Unfortunately, last year was cancelled due to Covid. This year things are hugely better, but we still need to approach with caution. So, this August we will have two Friday markets on the 13th and 27th 10am – 2pm. The proposed stalls are as follows: BBQ, Vegetables, Plants, Fruit and Flowers, Cakes and Savouries, Jams etc, Craft Stalls, General Bric a Brac. Tombola and Games. All the churches in the Alde Sandlings are invited to have their chosen stalls to raise much depleted funds for the churches. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk if any church members of the Alde Sandlings Benefice would like to have a stall. EVERYONE WELCOME

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.

Aldringham Outdoor Services The services start at 11am in the beautiful Aldringham churchyard. Weather permitting, these services will continue throughout July, August and September. August 8th will be the date for the annual Animal Service, 3pm in the churchyard.  We can’t guarantee that there will be no interruptions as the animals may have difficulty following the order of service but all animals, insects, etc. (and their owners) ALL VERY WELCOME

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.

The Trussel Trust Organisation Food banks in our network have seen an increase in the number of food parcels given out over the last year due to Coronavirus, so any donations are much appreciated. You can find out which items your local food bank is most in need of by entering your postcode here – https://www.trusselltrust.org/give-food/ By clicking on the food bank’s name, you can also find out where to drop off your donations. If you would prefer to make a financial donation, then please visit the food bank’s website (under ‘Give help’) or you can donate to the Trussell Trust centrally by contacting our Supporter Care team on 01722 580 178 or emailing supportercare@trusselltrust.org

Pilgrims Together The Pilgrim’s will be taking an August break from the Wednesday evening Zoom gatherings. They will be returning on Wednesday 1st September. They continue to worship by The Meare at Thorpeness every Sunday in August. See poster in this newsletter for more information.

Tuesday Coffee Morning with Mark & Friends Our regular Zoom coffee morning will be from 10.30am – 11.30am every Tuesday. All are very welcome. Grab your favourite morning beverage and let’s have a good ole chat. Please contact admin@aldeburghchurch.org.uk for the links

The 2021 Suffolk Historic Churches Ride and Stride Saturday 11th September 9am-5pm The Annual Sponsored Ride and Stride is a national event, and every second Saturday in September cyclists and walkers all round the country are out making money for their local county Churches Trust. If you would like to take part, you can either walk, cycle or be a recorder on the day, or of course, you might like to sponsor one of the team, please either: Email admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk and Claire will pass on your details to the team organiser at each church. Or see them at the church you worship (Fran Smith, Aldeburgh, David Copp, Aldringham) where they will be pleased to give you a sponsor form and take your details. More information from Friston and Knodishall next week.

Project 48 Concerts at Aldeburgh Church 1st August 2pm & 4pm – We are delighted to announce that we will be joined by pianist Libby Burgess, who will be playing Bach’s Well Tempered Klavier. Tickets £10 on the door..

Message from our Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther

Last week I said that any changes that we made to our ways of ‘being church’ on a Sunday morning might well be cautious to begin with. We have now received guidance from the national church which you can read here by copying and pasting into a web browser or click on the link in the covering email (the link most probably won’t work on this document).  Or please email admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk for the link.

https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/
files/2021-07/COVID%2019%20Guidance%
20from%20the%2019th
%20July%202021%20v1.0.pdf

It is a long document but contains much useful information, but it makes clear that final decisions lie with incumbents. I met with clergy colleagues this week and we will be meeting frequently in the weeks to come. We think that we should begin our relaxation of rules gently, listen to what members of the congregations say to us (particularly after a service) and then take appropriate action. We will try our best to accommodate a range of views – because we believe that there is a range of views in our church communities. I have heard from people who would like to be able to sing lustily and never wear a face-mask and I have also heard from those who would be very frightened by that prospect. I have to take decisions for the general good and they will not, I fear, please everyone. Please do be patient and hopefully it will not be too long before we can return to something much more like the old days.

This week, at the usual times, there will be indoor services in Aldeburgh and Friston and (hopefully) an outdoor one in Aldringham. Our Thorpeness Summer Services begin too – at 9.30am by The Meare. At each service we will sing. The indoor services will have a single hymn at the very end, meaning that if anyone feels uncomfortable they can leave without missing any of the liturgy. This will allow us to discover what it feels like to sing and how happy we are doing it. For the celebration of Holy Communion in Aldeburgh this week I have asked that we stick to the way that we have been receiving communion in recent weeks, distributing only bread. I would really like to know your views on how comfortable you would be sharing a chalice. As I am sure you are aware, when we distribute the wine at Holy Communion, we both rotate the chalice, to mean that no-one drinks from the same part of the cup as the previous communicant, and we wipe the rim of the chalice with a freshly laundered cloth (a ‘purificator’) which should minimise the possibility of anything nasty being transferred from person to person. Please do feel free to let me, or whoever is leading the service that you attend on Sunday, know what you think.

May I also draw your attention to the notice about Duke Dobing and Alan Bullard’s short flute and piano recital in Friston church in Sunday afternoon and also the notice about the service in Aldeburgh on August 29^th.

Finally, a note about sermons in these online pew-sheets. Those of us who preach have discovered that, because people are able to read our sermons before we preach them, we are sometimes thanked (or criticised!) for something we have preached before we have preached it – which is, to say the least, a little odd! So, as an experiment, we will print the sermon in the pew-sheet the week after it has been preached, allowing it to be re-read rather than read in advance. This week we have left my sermon from last week on the sheet and next week there will be one from this week – and so on. One snag is that the sermon will then often refer to the previous week’s readings but if we put the appropriate scripture references with the sermon you should be able to look them up if necessary. Once again, please do let me know what you think.

With my love and prayers, as ever

Mark

 

Collect
Almighty Lord and everlasting God,
we beseech you to direct, sanctify and govern both our hearts and bodies
in the ways of your laws and the works of your commandments;
that through your most mighty protection, both here and ever,
we may be preserved in body and soul;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

First Reading
2 Kings 4.42-end
A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing food from the first fruits to the man of God: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha said, ‘Give it to the people and let them eat.’ But his servant said, ‘How can I set this before a hundred people?’ So he repeated, ‘Give it to the people and let them eat, for thus says the Lord, “They shall eat and have some left.”’ He set it before them, they ate, and had some left, according to the word of the Lord.

Second Reading
Ephesians 3.14-end
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Gospel Reading
John 6.1-21
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’ When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, got into a boat, and started across the lake to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The lake became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land towards which they were going.

Sermon for 25^th July – Eighth Sunday after Trinity,
by our Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther

JEREMIAH 23: 1-6

MARK 6: 30-34, 53-END

Good shepherds versus bad shepherds – and some disobedient sheep. That’s a linking theme between our Old Testament and Gospel readings. We know, don’t we, that sheep aren’t the brightest of animals and, as Dr Cally Hammond reminds us in her piece about today’s readings in the Church Times, they can eat themselves to death, they can walk in front of cars when roaming free, they startle at the slightest thing – and they follow a leader unthinkingly, which is a behaviour no human being wants to be charged with. A good shepherd knows about all of these faults and cares for his or her sheep anyway. But a bad shepherd …. Well, look what the prophet Ezekiel thinks of them.

‘Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. …. It is you who have scattered my flock and driven them away ….’ A bad shepherd can, out of either ignorance or malice, cause chaos.

Question. So how do we know who the good shepherds are? We all know of stories about charismatic shepherds of one kind or another who lead their faithful flocks astray. Or who simply don’t know how to do their job properly and the sheep just wander off.

In our gospel reading Jesus is followed – pursued even – by a great crowd who want him to do stuff for them – to take care of them and their sick loved-ones. And Jesus, the writer of Mark’s gospel tells us, had compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

And, Good Shepherd that he was, Jesus was there for them. And he fed them – literally. The verses that today’s reading skips over are Mark’s version of the feeding of the five thousand with five loves and two fish. And then he healed them too.

That question again. How do we know who the good shepherds are?

Well, elsewhere in the gospels Jesus warns ‘beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.’ That’s the point, isn’t it? It’s what the shepherds actually do rather than what they promise that counts – and I’d like to site a recent, and I think relevant, example.

Last Sunday night, when England came so close to winning the European Cup, did you see what manager Gareth Southgate did at the end of the game? He must have been so disappointed that the team lost that penalty shoot-out but his first reaction was to console the young players who’d failed to net their penalties – the picture of him hugging a distraught Bukayo Saka was deeply moving. Southgate knew what it felt like. 25 years ago he’d missed a rather important one himself. And then, when he was interviewed and was given the opportunity to blame Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka for failing to score, he took the blame on himself. He’d chosen them to take the penalties, he said, so it was his fault, not theirs. And that’s a good shepherd. Oh and, by the way, during the Covid-10 epidemic, Southgate agreed to take a 30% pay cut.

A good shepherd delivers. Jesus, tired and suggesting that he and his disciples rest a while, still heals the sick. And that crowd, once ‘like sheep without a shepherd’, had found theirs.

So, in this world of clamour and conflicting demands and leaders and would-be leaders that would have us believe that they have the answers, we need to look very carefully at what is actually happening in the world and try our best to follow those who are making a positive difference. Not always easy to recognise, sometimes requiring us to change some old habits too, but vitally necessary, nonetheless. And, of course, there is one shepherd who will never let us down as long as we continue to listen to what he is saying to us. I don’t think I need to say any more, do I?

Amen

 

Post Communion

Strengthen for service, Lord,
the hands that have taken holy things;
may the ears which have heard your word be deaf to clamour and dispute;
may the tongues which have sung your praise be free from deceit;
may the eyes which have seen the tokens of your love shine with
the light of hope; and may the bodies which have been fed with your body be refreshed with the fullness of your life;
glory to you for ever.

NOTICES

Mark’s Retirement  As we all know, we will be saying a very sad farewell to our Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther at the end of August, as he starts his retirement.  All the churches in the Benefice are arranging last services etc for Mark, which I am sure the church you worship at has informed you.  At Aldeburgh we are hoping to have a  Summer Suffolk Farewell Concert, with Geoff Lavery, and friends performing on the 22nd August 3-4pm, followed by tea and cake in the Church Hall.  On the 29th August, we are hoping to have a Benefice Holy Communion Service.  On how many we have depends on you really.  We need your input.  Are you happy to attend church with larger numbers, without social distancing, and happy to sing, or would you prefer to be seated socially distanced and NOT sing? Or are you happy to celebrate Mark’s retirement at your preferred church you normally worship in?  We really want this to work, but need an idea of your wishes, so we can plan.  Your safety is our priority.  So please let Claire know your thoughts at admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk or speak to one of the clergy or churchwardens at the next service you attend.  Of course, all these celebrations can only go ahead if we are permitted to do so, and no restrictions return that could put people at risk.

Alde Sandlings Benefice Fun Days in August As many of you know August is the month for Aldeburgh Church to host their Friday Markets. Unfortunately, last year was cancelled due to Covid. This year things are hugely better, but we still need to approach with caution. So, this August we will have two Friday markets on the 6th and 27th 10am – 2pm. The proposed stalls are as follows: BBQ, Vegetables, Plants, Fruit and Flowers, Cakes and Savouries, Jams etc, Craft Stalls, General Bric a Brac. Tombola and Games. All the churches in the Alde Sandlings are invited to have their chosen stalls to raise much depleted funds for the churches. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk if any church members of the Alde Sandlings Benefice would like to have a stall.

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.

Aldringham Outdoor Services  The services start at 11am in the beautiful Aldringham churchyard. Weather permitting, these services will continue throughout July, August and September. August 8th will be the date for the annual Animal Service, 3pm in the churchyard.  We can’t guarantee that there will be no interruptions as the animals may have difficulty following the order of service but all animals, insects, etc. (and their owners) ALL VERY WELCOME Also from Aldringham July 29th and 30th (Thursday and Friday) are the days when we will be cutting the long grass in the churchyard and we need as many people as possible to cut, rake and generally tidy up the churchyard now that most of the wildflowers we have seen have seeded.  This is always a joyous occasion and there will be a splendid picnic lunch for everybody on the Friday.  If you can come on both days, so much the better.  Gloves, rakes, strimmers, barrows will all be useful if you can bring them.

Project 48 Concerts at Aldeburgh Church  1st August 2pm & 4pm We are delighted to announce that we will be joined by pianist Libby Burgess, who will be playing Bach’s Well Tempered Klavier. Tickets £10 on the door in aid of Help Musicians, Youth Music Future Talent and Live Music Now.

Tuesday Coffee Morning with Mark & Friends Our regular Zoom coffee morning will be from 10.30am – 11.30am every Tuesday. All are very welcome. Grab your favourite morning beverage and let’s have a good ole chat. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk for more information

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.

The Trussel Trust Organisation Food banks in our network have seen an increase in the number of food parcels given out over the last year due to Coronavirus, so any donations are much appreciated. You can find out which items your local food bank is most in need of by entering your postcode here – https://www.trusselltrust.org/give-food/ By clicking on the food bank’s name, you can also find out where to drop off your donations. If you would prefer to make a financial donation, then please visit the food bank’s website (under ‘Give help’) or you can donate to the Trussell Trust centrally by contacting our Supporter Care team on 01722 580 178 or emailing supportercare@trusselltrust.org

Friston Sunday Services on Zoom  Friston will be holding a live Zoom service for all those who wish to join on Sunday starting at 9.45am.  It will be a Common Worship Morning Prayer.  All are welcome! The meetings start from 9.40am every Sunday morning Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk for more information

Pilgrims Together on Wednesdays  The Pilgrims worship together every Wednesday. You are all more than welcome to join them via Zoom.   The worship starts at 6.30pm (Zoom call opens from 6.10pm) and the call is then left open after the worship time for people to catch up.  The worship is about 30 minutes long.  We have a different worship sheet each week which goes out on a Monday ahead of the Wednesday.   People are more than welcome to email pilgrimstogether473@gmail.com  to receive a copy or be added to our mailing list. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk for more information

Message from our Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther

So where are we with our plans to relax restrictions in our churches? The answer, almost inevitably at this stage, involves some more waiting. I received an email from Bishop Martin yesterday (Thursday) that included the following.

I know many of you are anxious to understand how moving to Stage 4 in the Government’s unlocking of restrictions will impact churches and public worship. …

The relevant Government departments are meeting with representatives of faith groups, including the Church of England, to look at the changes and understand how to implement them. Information and updates from the National Church will be sent out as soon as we have them. We anticipate this will be next week. Some people will be keen to implement these changes as quickly as possible; others will have legitimate concerns about the risks to them and some of the people in their congregations. For this reason, please let’s stick to the current guidance from the National Church until it is updated.

This is what we will be doing this week but hopefully by next weekend, the first Sunday under the new rules, we will be able to make some positive changes. They will probably be cautious to begin with because we still need to be very careful. Though, thanks to the amazingly successful vaccination programme, the link between cases of Covid-19 and deaths has been well and truly broken the numbers of people with the virus is rising rapidly and the numbers admitted to hospital (though a much lower percentage of cases than previously) is rising too. So far Suffolk seems to be one of the safer parts of the country to be but with holidays approaching and many more folk travelling things could change very quickly. Suffolk’s public health chief has said that we need to be ‘cautious, courteous and caring’ and that sounds like a good motto to me.

A word about the 2021 version of Aldeburgh’s much-loved Friday Markets. This year we plan to hold just two markets. They will be on August 6^th and 27^th, be held in the church car park and run a little longer than usual, from 10.00am until 2.00pm. Each of the villages has been invited to take a table to raise money for their own church, which we thought to be a good idea when so little fundraising has been possible for so long.

I wrote last week about the concert in Aldeburgh featuring Bach’s ‘48’ and there are details further down this document. There are also details of the first of three concerts to be held this summer in Friston. Next Sunday at 3pm flautist Duke Dobing (who some of you may remember from concerts he has given in Aldeburgh) with composer and pianist (and Friston resident) Alan Bullard will play a wonderful selection of music and will include something by Alan himself – and his music is always worth hearing. Definitely one for the diary.

With my love and prayers, as ever

Mark

Collect
Lord of all power and might,
the author and giver of all good things:
graft in our hearts the love of your name,
increase in us true religion,
nourish us with all goodness,
and of your great mercy keep us in the same;
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
Jeremiah 23.1-6
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord. The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

Second Reading
Ephesians 2.11-end
So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by those who are called ‘the circumcision’—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.

Gospel Reading
Mark 6.30-34, 53-end
The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the market-places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

 

Sermon for 18^th July – Seventh Sunday after Trinity,
by our Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther

Good shepherds versus bad shepherds – and some disobedient sheep. That’s a linking theme between our Old Testament and Gospel readings. We know, don’t we, that sheep aren’t the brightest of animals and, as Dr Cally Hammond reminds us in her piece about today’s readings in the Church Times, they can eat themselves to death, they can walk in front of cars when roaming free, they startle at the slightest thing – and they follow a leader unthinkingly, which is a behaviour no human being wants to be charged with. A good shepherd knows about all of these faults and cares for his or her sheep anyway. But a bad shepherd …. Well, look what the prophet Ezekiel thinks of them.

‘Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. …. It is you who have scattered my flock and driven them away ….’ A bad shepherd can, out of either ignorance or malice, cause chaos.

Question. So how do we know who the good shepherds are? We all know of stories about charismatic shepherds of one kind or another who lead their faithful flocks astray. Or who simply don’t know how to do their job properly and the sheep just wander off.

In our gospel reading Jesus is followed – pursued even – by a great crowd who want him to do stuff for them – to take care of them and their sick loved-ones. And Jesus, the writer of Mark’s gospel tells us, had compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

And, Good Shepherd that he was, Jesus was there for them. And he fed them – literally. The verses that today’s reading skips over are Mark’s version of the feeding of the five thousand with five loves and two fish. And then he healed them too.

That question again. How do we know who the good shepherds are?

Well, elsewhere in the gospels Jesus warns ‘beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.’ That’s the point, isn’t it? It’s what the shepherds actually do rather than what they promise that counts – and I’d like to site a recent, and I think relevant, example.

Last Sunday night, when England came so close to winning the European Cup, did you see what manager Gareth Southgate did at the end of the game? He must have been so disappointed that the team lost that penalty shoot-out but his first reaction was to console the young players who’d failed to net their penalties – the picture of him hugging a distraught Bukayo Saka was deeply moving. Southgate knew what it felt like. 25 years ago he’d missed a rather important one himself. And then, when he was interviewed and was given the opportunity to blame Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka for failing to score, he took the blame on himself. He’d chosen them to take the penalties, he said, so it was his fault, not theirs. And that’s a good shepherd. Oh and, by the way, during the Covid-10 epidemic, Southgate agreed to take a 30% pay cut.

A good shepherd delivers. Jesus, tired and suggesting that he and his disciples rest a while, still heals the sick. And that crowd, once ‘like sheep without a shepherd’, had found theirs.

So, in this world of clamour and conflicting demands and leaders and would-be leaders that would have us believe that they have the answers, we need to look very carefully at what is actually happening in the world and try our best to follow those who are making a positive difference. Not always easy to recognise, sometimes requiring us to change some old habits too, but vitally necessary, nonetheless. And, of course, there is one shepherd who will never let us down as long as we continue to listen to what he is saying to us. I don’t think I need to say any more, do I?

Amen

 

Post Communion
Lord God, whose Son is the true vine and the source of life,
ever giving himself that the world may live:
may we so receive within ourselves the power of his death and passion
that, in his saving cup, we may share his glory and be made perfect in his love; f
or he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.

Next week
Sunday 25^th July
Eighth Sunday after Trinity

 

NOTICES

Alde Sandlings Benefice Fun Days in August As many of you know August is the month for Aldeburgh Church to host their Friday Markets. Unfortunately, last year was cancelled due to Covid. This year things are hugely better, but we still need to approach with caution. So, this August we will have two Friday markets on the 6th and 27th 10am – 2pm. The proposed stalls are as follows: BBQ, Vegetables, Plants, Fruit and Flowers, Cakes and Savouries, Jams etc, Craft Stalls, General Bric a Brac. Tombola and Games. All the churches in the Alde Sandlings are invited to have their chosen stalls to raise much depleted funds for the churches. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk if any church members of the Alde Sandlings Benefice would like to have a stall.

✟ Aldringham Outdoor Services ✟ The services start at 11am in the beautiful Aldringham churchyard. Weather permitting, these services will continue throughout July, August and September. August 8th will be the date for the annual Animal Service, 3pm in the churchyard.  We can’t guarantee that there will be no interruptions as the animals may have difficulty following the order of service but all animals, insects, etc. (and their owners) ALL VERY WELCOME Also from Aldringham July 29th and 30th (Thursday and Friday) are the days when we will be cutting the long grass in the churchyard and we need as many people as possible to cut, rake and generally tidy up the churchyard now that most of the wildflowers we have seen have seeded.  This is always a joyous occasion and there will be a splendid picnic lunch for everybody on the Friday.  If you can come on both days, so much the better.  Gloves, rakes, strimmers, barrows will all be useful if you can bring them.

Project 48 Concerts at Aldeburgh Church 1st August 2pm & 4pm We are delighted to announce that we will be joined by pianist Libby Burgess, who will be playing Bach’s Well Tempered Klavier. Tickets £10 on the door in aid of Help Musicians, Youth Music Future Talent and Live Music Now.

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.

Tuesday Coffee Morning with Mark & Friends Our regular Zoom coffee morning will be from 10.30am – 11.30am every Tuesday. All are very welcome. Grab your favourite morning beverage and let’s have a good ole chat. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk for more info

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.

The Trussel Trust Organisation Food banks in our network have seen an increase in the number of food parcels given out over the last year due to Coronavirus, so any donations are much appreciated. You can find out which items your local food bank is most in need of by entering your postcode here – https://www.trusselltrust.org/give-food/ By clicking on the food bank’s name, you can also find out where to drop off your donations. If you would prefer to make a financial donation, then please visit the food bank’s website (under ‘Give help’) or you can donate to the Trussell Trust centrally by contacting our Supporter Care team on 01722 580 178 or emailing supportercare@trusselltrust.org

✞ Friston Sunday Services on Zoom ✞ Friston will be holding a live Zoom service for all those who wish to join on Sunday starting at 9.45am.  It will be a Common Worship Morning Prayer.  All are welcome! The meetings start from 9.40am every Sunday morning Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk for more info

✞ Pilgrims Together on Wednesdays ✞ The Pilgrims worship together every Wednesday. You are all more than welcome to join them via Zoom.   The worship starts at 6.30pm (Zoom call opens from 6.10pm) and the call is then left open after the worship time for people to catch up.  The worship is about 30 minutes long.  We have a different worship sheet each week which goes out on a Monday ahead of the Wednesday.   People are more than welcome to email pilgrimstogether473@gmail.com  to receive a copy or be added to our mailing list. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk for more info

Message from our Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther

Some very good news to begin with, though it is good news that we need to think about a little. Providing that the government is able to stick to its proposed timetable, and many restrictions really are lifted on Monday July 19^th, we will once again be able to sing hymns in our churches. We will also be able to worship without wearing a mask and distribute Holy Communion in both kinds (bread and wine) just as before. This is all wonderful, but I feel the need to ask a question or two, along the lines of ‘we may be able to, but do we want to’? I would quite understand someone who either wished to continue wearing a mask, wished not to be close to someone who is singing or who wished not to receive wine from a common cup. Our congregations include quite a few vulnerable people, and I would not want them to feel pressurised into doing something with which they were uncomfortable or, even worse, feel that what was going on in church excluded them. We have a couple of weeks to work out what we would like to do in each of our churches and I would very much value your opinion. Please do let me, one of the churchwardens or one of the clergy team know how you feel and we will take your opinions into consideration as we make our plans. There will, doubtless, also be advice from the national church that we should heed, though I do hope that any such recommendations are flexible rather than dictatorial. More on this subject next week, no doubt.

A word or two to flesh out one of the notices further down the sheet, about Project 48. One of Johann Sebastian Bach’s most extraordinary creations is the two books of keyboard pieces that he called ‘The Well-Tempered Klavier.’ Each book contains a pairing of a Prelude and a Fugue in all 24 keys (12 major and 12 minor), so 48 pieces in all, and they’ve come to be known in musical shorthand as ‘the 48’. Now, by an extraordinary coincidence, there are 48 counties (‘ceremonial counties’) in England and pianist Libby Burgess has come up with the amazing idea of performing ‘the 48’ in all 48 counties, raising money for some good causes as she does so. All the details are here – www.bachproject48.co.uk – but if you would like to dip into Libby’s performances in Suffolk, she will be performing the 2^nd book of Preludes and Fugues in Aldeburgh church on the afternoon of Sunday August 1^st. She has split the music across two recitals, at 2 and 4pm and the money raised goes to three excellent musical charities which, among other things, support young musicians and those whose lives have been turned upside down by the Covid outbreak and the lack of opportunities to perform. Great music, great causes.

Finally, I draw your attention to the notice about plans for a couple of outdoor Friday markets in Aldeburgh in August and the fact that our Zoom coffee mornings resume at 10.30am on Tuesday. Drop in for a few minutes and a bit of chat – and bring your own beverage of choice!

With my love and prayers, as ever

Mark

Collect
Merciful God,
you have prepared for those who love you
such good things as pass our understanding:
pour into our hearts such love toward you
that we, loving you in all things and above all things,
may obtain your promises,
which exceed all that we can desire;
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
Amos 7.7-15
This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb-line, with a plumb-line in his hand. And the Lord said to me, ‘Amos, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘A plumb-line.’ Then the Lord said,
‘See, I am setting a plumb-line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by; the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.’  Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, ‘Amos has conspired against you in the very centre of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. For thus Amos has said, “Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.” ’And Amaziah said to Amos, ‘O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.’ Then Amos answered Amaziah, ‘I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycomore trees, and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”

Second Reading
Ephesians 1.3-14
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

Gospel Reading
Mark 6.14-29
King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, ‘John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.’ But others said, ‘It is Elijah.’ And others said, ‘It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.’ But when Herod heard of it, he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.’ For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’ And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.’ And he solemnly swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What should I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the baptizer.’ Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb. 

 

Sermon for 11^th July – Sixth Sunday after Trinity,
by our Rector, The Revd Mark Lowther

Our Gospel reading is one of the most famous of its stories that doesn’t involve Jesus – and it’s an extraordinary story of human cruelty – Herod’s daughter asking for the head of John the Baptist to be given to her on a plate. Herod had promised her anything she asked for and so, even though the story says he was ‘deeply grieved’ (because, it says, he liked to listen to him) he gave the orders for John the Baptist to be beheaded, the girl got what she asked for and then she gave it to her mother – who, the story says, had a grudge against John and wanted him dead. It’s a powerful, colourful story – and it’s not surprising to find that it’s been embroidered a bit over the years, painted, re-written and even set to music.

In the early years if the 20th-century the German composer Richard Strauss made it into a short and shocking opera that was actually banned in this country for a few years. The opera is a version of the play about the story written by the Irishman Oscar Wilde – and he originally wrote it in French – so it’s a story that has crossed languages and national boundaries a good deal. And the details that have been added that aren’t in the bible are interesting. Mark’s gospel calls the girl Herodias (after her mother)
but only a few years later, still in the 1^st century AD, another writer, Josephus, had given her a different name, one that has stuck – Salome. The Wilde play and the Strauss opera both use it. And then there’s the dance that the girl performs for Herod. It’s become mythologised as the Dance of the Seven Veils in which Salome dances seductively, gradually removing her veils to reveal more of herself. It’s not in the bible, not even in Josephus – part of the historical myth.

The big question is … why is it here? What’s it doing in Mark’s gospel – the shortest and most direct of the four, the one least likely to have diversions from the main story of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus? Well, the hint comes at the very beginning of the bible-reading we’ve just heard.

The place where Mark slots the story of John the Baptist’s death in is when there’s a lot of talk about who Jesus really is. ‘Jesus’s name had become known’, it says …. And some people thought he might be Elijah, the Old Testament prophet who had come back – the significance being that it says in the Old Testament that when Elijah returns, the Messiah will soon be here – that’s why, to this day, when Jewish people eat their special Passover meal, called a Seder meal, there’s a spare place set at the table, and a spare cup of wine poured out. Elijah might come! And when the meal is over one of the children is sent out to see if they can see Elijah. They’re always disappointed, of course. Well, maybe next year ….. But back in bible times some people thought that Jesus was Elijah returned. But others, including King Herod, said, no, not Elijah, but John the Baptist returned from the dead.

Now if you’ve read Mark’s gospel right from the beginning you know about John the Baptist and how he lived in the countryside and wore camel’s hair and ate locusts and wild honey and how he baptised people, saying that someone important was about to come. We know a bit about John, his birth – a son to Elizabeth and Zechariah – and then how he baptised Jesus, but we don’t know what then happened to him – he disappears off the scene for 5 Chapters or so once Jesus has appeared. So when Herod says that he thinks that Jesus is John the Baptist returned from the dead we think ‘O, that’s interesting, I didn’t know he was dead …’ Mark’s gospel then goes into a sort of flashback, to tell us the story of how he died.

But the story is important at a deeper level too. When he’s alive, John tells us that someone greater is to come – ‘one who I am not even worthy to untie the thong of his sandal’, he says. One who will baptise you with the Holy Spirit, not just water. And, of course, that person does come – it’s Jesus. But then we learn that John dies a cruel death at the hands of cruel human beings. He’s murdered to satisfy them. Someone really good is put to death in a very harsh way indeed. Does that remind you of anything?

Yes, of course, it’s Jesus again. It’s what is going to happen to him. Like John he’s going to be arrested and tortured and put to death. At the point in the story when people are wondering who Jesus is, we hear about John’s terrible death. And it’s telling us just a bit more about who Jesus is and what’s in store for him in the future.

Even that little bit at the end of the story about John’s disciples coming and taking his body away and burying it in a tomb – even that reminds us of Jesus’s disciples burying his body in a tomb after the crucifixion.

As I’ve said before, if you read Mark’ gospel from the beginning it positively hurtles along. Things move fast – there’s no story of Jesus’s birth and before the end of Chapter 1 we’ve already met Jesus and he’s performing miracles and healing people. For 5 chapters everything seems positive, Jesus has called his 12 disciples together, told them some important things in parables, saved the disciples from drowning when he calms the sea during a storm, brought Jairus’s daughter back to life, amazed people in his home village when he teaches in the synagogue – it’s all positive. And then, just for a moment, when we hear about John the Baptist’s cruel death there’s a cloud over the sun for a moment. Not everything is positive – and we have a sense of what it’s going to feel like when we read about Jesus’s own death. Though, of course, Jesus’s death wasn’t the end of the story. Not by a long way …. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here today, would we?   Amen

Post Communion
God of our pilgrimage,
you have led us to the living water:
refresh and sustain us
as we go forward on our journey,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Next week
Sunday 18^th July
Seventh Sunday after Trinity

 

NOTICES

Alde Sandlings Benefice Fun Days in August As many of you know August is the month for Aldeburgh Church to host their Friday Markets. Unfortunately, last year was cancelled due to Covid. This year things are hugely better, but we still need to approach with caution. So, this August we will have two Friday markets on the 6th and 27th 10am – 2pm. The proposed stalls are as follows: BBQ, Vegetables, Plants, Fruit and Flowers, Cakes and Savouries, Jams etc, Craft Stalls, General Bric a Brac. Tombola and Games. All the churches in the Alde Sandlings are invited to have their chosen stalls to raise much depleted funds for the churches. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk if any church members of the Alde Sandlings Benefice would like to have a stall.

✟ Aldringham Outdoor Services ✟ The Aldringham outdoor services started surprisingly with sunshine last Sunday. We welcomed friends and visitors. The services start at 11am in the beautiful Aldringham churchyard. ALL VERY WELCOME

Project 48 Concerts at Aldeburgh Church 1st August 2pm & 4pm We are delighted to announce that we will be joined by pianist Libby Burgess, who will be playing Bach’s Well Tempered Klavier. Tickets £10 on the door in aid of Help Musicians, Youth Music Future Talent and Live Music Now.

Tuesday Coffee Morning with Mark & Friends Our regular Zoom coffee morning will be from 10.30am – 11.30am every Tuesday. All are very welcome. Grab your favourite morning beverage and let’s have a good ole chat – just like we used to. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk for more info

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.

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.

The Trussel Trust Organisation Food banks in our network have seen an increase in the number of food parcels given out over the last year due to Coronavirus, so any donations are much appreciated. You can find out which items your local food bank is most in need of by entering your postcode here – https://www.trusselltrust.org/give-food/ By clicking on the food bank’s name, you can also find out where to drop off your donations. Please check the food banks website or social media pages for any changes to opening hours or operations as a result of the Coronavirus before dropping off donations – If you would prefer to make a financial donation, then please visit the food bank’s website (under ‘Give help’) or you can donate to the Trussell Trust centrally by contacting our Supporter Care team on 01722 580 178 or emailing supportercare@trusselltrust.org

✞ Friston Sunday Services on Zoom ✞ Friston will be holding a live Zoom service for all those who wish to join on Sunday starting at 9.45am.  It will be a Common Worship Morning Prayer.  All are welcome! The meetings start from 9.40am every Sunday morning To join the Zoom Meeting, please use this link. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk for more info

✞ Pilgrims Together on Wednesdays ✞ The Pilgrims worship together every Wednesday. You are all more than welcome to join them via Zoom.   The worship starts at 6.30pm (Zoom call opens from 6.10pm) and the call is then left open after the worship time for people to catch up.  The worship is about 30 minutes long.  We have a different worship sheet each week which goes out on a Monday ahead of the Wednesday.   People are more than welcome to email pilgrimstogether473@gmail.com  to receive a copy or be added to our mailing list. Please contact admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk for more info