August 2024 - News - lists.teaparty.net

St Philip's Church newsletter 30.8.24
by Ruth Barry 30 Aug '24

30 Aug '24

Dear all, *From James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. * *To all of God’s people who are scattered everywhere in the world: Greetings. * *James 1:1* This September, as we journey through Creationtide the lectionary brings us the book of James. A letter that stands apart from many of the other letters of the New Testament – a different voice, a different style, possibly it might seem a different message. It actually has a lot more in common with Old Testament wisdom literature – with pithy sayings and memorable maxims – than it does with Paul’s systematic theology in Romans for example. And because of its style and content it actually makes a good book for us to follow through this season when we are thinking more about our connection and interaction with the whole of God’s creation. Because the book of James is very much concerned with how to live a life of faith – it is not focussed on explaining and understanding what faith is – but instead how we live and work and act in this world in response to a relationship with God. I wonder what words of wisdom or sayings and maxims you have shaped your life around? If we really think about it, it can be surprising what things have stuck. Some might be religious – “treat others as you would like to be treated” Jesus’ “golden rule” will often be quoted. But others might be more surprising. I was introduced to the poem Desiderata when I was little and the phrase “never compare yourself to others or you may become vain or bitter. For there will always be greater or lesser persons than yourself” has stuck in my brain and quotes itself surprisingly frequently. We all soak up “wisdom” throughout our lives – some of it good, inspiring and positive and some of it unhelpful, inhibiting and negative. The real wisdom is discerning what we let influence our character and how we act. I invite you this coming month to take stock of the “wisdom” guiding your life. What has unintentionally shaped you? What has actively defined you? Is there wisdom that you can still gain from? Is there some “wisdom” that is in fact a negative influence on your life that you may need to let go of? You might like to take some time with scriptural wisdom – perhaps the book of Proverbs or Job or indeed James, or others, and as you read allow yourself to notice what is familiar – it has stuck in your brain - and what surprises you or inspires you afresh. Where does God’s wisdom differ from the “worldly” wisdom you may have absorbed along the way? *News and Upcoming Events* *Saturday 31st August – 11am - CSF Urban Foraging Event – at St Philip’s Church *If you’d like to pop down and help CSF prepare all the fruit they have foraged around the city please pop in. More information can be found on their website: The Big Urban Forage - Join the Autumn Challenge — Cambridge Sustainable Food <https://cambridgesustainablefood.org/events/2024/8/31/the-big-urban-forage-…> *Until Friday 13th September – have your say on the proposed bus gate for Mill Road. *Information can be found at: Permanent Traffic Regulation Orders | Cambridgeshire County Council <https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/roads-…> and a statement about the current position of the proposal here: An update on the Mill Road Traffic Regulation Order and legal challenge | Cambridgeshire County Council <https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/news/an-update-on-the-mill-road-traffic-r…> If you would like to object or make any comments to the proposed TRO, please submit your comments through the consultation portal or send your letter, email to the addresses below using reference number PR1058. Online Portal - Consultation.appyway.com / Email - Policy.andregulation(a)cambridgeshire.gov.uk Address - Policy & Regulation Team, Cambridgeshire Highways, Stanton Way, Stukeley Meadows Industrial Estate, Huntingdon PE29 6PY *Thursday 5th September - 7:30pm at Church - *our Thursday small group is starting a new term. September is an ideal time pick up something worthwhile so we hope that you will consider joining us for some easily digested bible study, prayer and fellowship. The topic is broad and also deep - the Fruit of the Spirit as listed in Galatians. For more information please speak to Polly Macartney or Alan Syrop - alan(a)stphilipschurch.org.uk or 07720 209139. *Wednesday 18th September Prayer Meeting, 7.30pm at church *The first monthly in person prayer meeting led by Polly Macartney. Please do join us for a time of focussed prayer for the world and for our local community. *Tuesday 17th September – Ely Cathedral Environment Memorial Lecture – 6.30pm Ely Cathedral *Canon Dr Peter Brotherton, Director of Science, Natural England, will speak on 'Climate change and nature loss: twin crises, shared solutions’. Entry is free - for more information visit: Environment Memorial Lecture - Ely Cathedral <https://www.elycathedral.org/events/environment-lecture> *Thursday 10.30am-12.30pm Ross Street Community centre - Sew positive – free creative textile sessions for positive mental health* find out more at sewpositive.org *Making Sense of… St John’s Waterbeach lecture series.* These are often excellent evenings with eminent guest speakers on various topics. To find the autumn series head to: Making Sense | St Johns Waterbeach <https://www.stjohnswaterbeach.org/making-sense> The first event will be *Sunday 29th September at 7pm - Making Sense of Environmental Theology with Dr Hilary Marlow, Vice-Mistress of Girton College, Cambridge.* *Opportunities* It may feel too soon to talk about it but if you are interested in joining an impromptu* carol singing group to sing outside Co-op at Mill Road Winter Fair *please speak to Ruth. We have an opportunity to take the carols outside of church this year and join with people singing in the street at the end of the Fair. *Eco-Bite – our new green “nugget” each week: * Ely Diocese are building a network of Eco Champions from churches across our Diocese, if you are interested in this voluntary role with opportunities to work with others who have similar passions, take part in training opportunities and work in partnership with the Diocesan Environment Officer Nigel Cooper then please get in touch with nigel.cooper(a)elydiocese.org and let me know! You can read the role description here: Eco Champion Role description <https://mcusercontent.com/7fc8bd3486d7b59203b9c704b/files/043b13fa-3622-c53…> *Last Week’s sermon* Last week’s sermon: sermon 25.8.24.mp3 <http://sermons.stphilipschurch.org.uk/2024-08-25%20-%20Colin%20-%20c.mp3> If you missed any previous sermons, or would like a second listen you can find them here: The link to our sermon archive: St Philip's sermon archive <http://sermons.stphilipschurch.org.uk/> *Prayers * If any of you have specific prayers you would like us to include in this newsletter do please get in touch. *Please pray for ...* *The family of Tim Gaved our mission partner at Wycliffe Bible Translators *Tim sadly died this week and Maggie will be taking compassionate leave from Wycliffe. Please pray for God’s peace to hold them as a family as they grieve and for all that Tim & Maggie have achieved with Wycliffe – that it will continue to bless the world. *The congregation at St Marks Newnham & St Mary's Granchester *as they welcome Revd. Jim Robinson as their new vicar on 5th September. *The congregation at St Benet's Church *as they welcome their new vicar Revd. Devin McLachlan on 13th September. *The family of Mary Walker* – please pray for God to hold them in peace as they come to terms with her death and plan for her funeral. *Please also pray for our Mission Partner this month:* *Langham Partnership* – Every church deserves a well-equipped pastor! 80% of pastors in the Majority World lack any formal training. Langham Partnership equip pastors around the world to preach God's Word. *Services this week 1st -7th September* *Sunday:* *8.30am – Reflective Holy Communion *our readings will be James 1:17-end & Mark 7:1-23 *10.30am – All Age Worship *this week we will begin our September focus on the Letter of James If you can't attend church in person you can always use this Zoom link: meeting ID: 976 3739 9129 and Passcode: 330714 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/97637399129?pwd=TGhKWWxOcWF1S242aVhrWDlJdUkxZz09 *Wednesday:* *12noon - Reflective Holy Communion *A quiet time to help find space and peace in the middle of the week. *Regular Weekly Prayers to join:* *Monday & Friday 8.30pm – Compline on zoom (starting again in September)* Meeting ID: 836 5965 9953 Passcode: 749968 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83659659953?pwd=btP5AjGMu1s-dE_2W9T0MMFqnnPKSS.1 *Wednesdays 7.00-7.30pm - Weekly Prayers on zoom*: - (Monthly in person) Meeting ID: 852 1105 2733 Password: 397987 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85211052733?pwd=OE52bm9NS1RtQVQ0ZytTc0xBZnVsUT09 *Regular Weekly small groups:* *Thursdays 7.30pm – Bible study group at church* *Saturdays 8.15am - Morning Bible Discussion and Prayer on zoom*: Meeting ID: 143 338 655 Password: 824271 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/143338655?pwd=L1JJTFZJNU9EaFZjaUFjQzVlalpMZz09 With love and prayers Ruth Need to unsubscribe? Email Bekki: bekki(a)theclarks.biz Blessings Ruth *Revd Ruth Barry* *Vicar, St Philip's Church, Cambridge* 185 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3AN 01223 318315 vicar(a)stphilipschurch.org.uk *My day off is Tuesday*

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St Philip's newsletter 23.8.24
by Ruth Barry 23 Aug '24

23 Aug '24

Dear all, We are about to enter Creationtide or the Season of Creation. It is the period in the annual church calendar, from 1st September to 4th October, dedicated to God as Creator and Sustainer of all life. Every act of worship that we engage in should celebrate the wonders and mysteries of our creator God but this season is one where we can particularly focus on and celebrate our shared home with the flora and fauna, mountains and rivers, wind and sun. To give thanks, to recognise God’s gracious provision and to respond with generous hearts to the generosity of God’s goodness. Last week Ely Cathedral were proud to announce that they have been awarded the Eco Church Gold Award by A Rocha – in recognition of the importance and effort they put into celebrating and sustaining our planet. It is a journey we are also on at St Philip’s Church having been awarded our Bronze award in 2022. Perhaps this Creationtide you might like to join us in striving towards achieving the Silver award and seeing what new efforts or changes we can put in place to better steward the natural resources we are blessed with? I often speak in these Friday newsletters about the power of meeting with God as individuals in creation but there is also something wonderful about meeting God together in creation. Encouraging each other, inspiring each other perhaps even teaching each other more about our wonderful world and how we connect our faith with the wilderness that exists outside the man-made construct of our church building. So I hope that you will join me this season to help the whole church proclaim *“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,* *the world, and all who live in it;”* *Psalm 24:1* *News and Upcoming Events* *Wednesday 18th September Prayer Meeting, 7.30pm in church *The first monthly in person prayer meeting lead by Polly Macartney. Please do join us for a time of focussed prayer for the world and for our local community. *Tuesday 17th September – Ely Cathedral Environment Memorial Lecture – 6.30pm Ely Cathedral *Canon Dr Peter Brotherton, Director of Science, Natural England, will speak on 'Climate change and nature loss: twin crises, shared solutions’. Entry is free - for more information visit: Environment Memorial Lecture - Ely Cathedral <https://www.elycathedral.org/events/environment-lecture> *Thursdays 10.30am-12.30pm Ross Street Community centre - Sew positive – free creative textile sessions for positive mental health* find out more at sewpositive.org *Making Sense of… St John’s Waterbeach lecture series.* These are often excellent evenings with eminent guest speakers on various topics. To find the autumn series head to: Making Sense | St Johns Waterbeach <https://www.stjohnswaterbeach.org/making-sense> The first event will be *Sunday 29th September at 7pm - Making Sense of Environmental Theology with Dr Hilary Marlow, Vice-Mistress of Girton College, Cambridge.* *Toilet Refurbishment* is complete! Except for a little decoration… Thank you for your patience whilst we improved our facilities. *Opportunities* It may feel too soon to talk about it but if you are interested in joining an impromptu* carol singing group to sing outside Co-op at Mill Road Winter Fair *please speak to Ruth. We have an opportunity to take the carols outside of church this year and join with people singing in the street at the end of the Fair. *Eco-Bite – our new green “nugget” each week: * Ely Diocese are building a network of Eco Champions from churches across our Diocese, if you are interested in this voluntary role with opportunities to work with others who have similar passions, take part in training opportunities and work in partnership with the Diocesan Environment Officer Nigel Cooper then please get in touch with nigel.cooper(a)elydiocese.org and let me know too! You can read the role description from the Diocese here: Eco Champion Role description <https://mcusercontent.com/7fc8bd3486d7b59203b9c704b/files/043b13fa-3622-c53…> *Last Week’s sermon* Last week’s sermon: sermon 18.8.24.mp3 <http://sermons.stphilipschurch.org.uk/2024-08-18%20-%20Ruth%20-c.mp3> If you have missed any previous sermons, or would like a second listen, you can find them here: St Philip's sermon archive <http://sermons.stphilipschurch.org.uk/> *This Sunday 25th August* *10.30am – All Age Holy Communion *this week Colin will be concluding the lectionary focus on Jesus and the Bread of Life focussing on John 6:56-59 If you can't attend church in person you can always use this Zoom link: meeting ID: 976 3739 9129 and Passcode: 330714 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/97637399129?pwd=TGhKWWxOcWF1S242aVhrWDlJdUkxZz09 *Prayers * If any of you have specific prayers you would like us to include in this newsletter do please get in touch. *The family of Mary Walker* – who sadly died last week. Mary was a long-time member of the St Philip’s and St Stephen’s family. Please pray for her family as they come to terms with her death and plan for her funeral. *Please also pray for our Mission Partner this month:* *Langham Partnership* – Every church deserves a well-equipped pastor! 80% of pastors in the Majority World lack any formal training. Langham Partnership equip pastors around the world to preach God's Word . *Regular Weekly Services/Prayers to join:* *Wednesday 12noon Reflective Holy Communion* A quiet time to help find space and peace in the middle of the week. *Monday & Friday 8.30pm – Compline on zoom (not during August)* Meeting ID: 836 5965 9953 Passcode: 749968 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83659659953?pwd=btP5AjGMu1s-dE_2W9T0MMFqnnPKSS.1 *Wednesdays 7.00-7.30pm - Weekly Prayers on zoom*: Meeting ID: 852 1105 2733 Password: 397987 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85211052733?pwd=OE52bm9NS1RtQVQ0ZytTc0xBZnVsUT09 *Saturdays 8.15am - Morning Bible Discussion and Prayer on zoom*: Meeting ID: 143 338 655 Password: 824271 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/143338655?pwd=L1JJTFZJNU9EaFZjaUFjQzVlalpMZz09 With love and prayers Ruth Need to unsubscribe? Email Bekki: bekki(a)theclarks.biz Blessings Ruth *Revd Ruth Barry* *Vicar, St Philip's Church, Cambridge* 185 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3AN 01223 318315 vicar(a)stphilipschurch.org.uk *My day off is Tuesday*

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St Philip's Church Newsletter 2.8.24
by Ruth Barry 02 Aug '24

02 Aug '24

Dear all, This newsletter will cover the next fortnight since I will be taking some holiday next week. I hope that you will also be taking some time out this summer – or if your time is not constrained by school holidays that you regularly make time for rest and recuperation. Rest is in fact the second gift God gave us after life! If we follow through Genesis’ theological understanding of how the world was created and ordered - then the first thing humanity was given, after God’s life breath was breathed into them, was a day of rest. Yes God worked first and then rested – but humans rested first… Now of course rest doesn’t necessarily mean not doing anything – but it does mean taking a significant chunk of time (dare I say at least a whole 24hrs every 144hrs) where you don’t do the thing you usually spend your days doing. This does get complicated if you are not in paid employment or indeed if you are in part time employment because the boundaries are much more blurred, and of course you may also be in a job which comes with huge responsibility for others or for an organisation – a responsibility which you cannot just put down easily. But it is still important to make space for a break from the daily grind – and I would argue it is even more vital in the case of the latter. *Then, because so many people were coming and going * *that they did not even have a chance to eat, [Jesus] said to them, * *“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31* Human beings are not designed to never rest fully. We burn out. We become less capable. We become much more vulnerable. If we are made in the likeness of God we simply must take time to rest as God rested. And (ironically) it feels like harder work to rest sometimes than to simply keep working. But it is only easier right up until that moment when everything comes crashing down – sometimes with tragic consequences. If the model of Genesis, the role model of God and the invitation of Jesus doesn’t convince you then I invite you to take a moment to imagine your favourite piece of music. The piece that always relaxes you, or makes you feel good, comforts you or energises you. Play it in your head now. And now take out all the pauses between notes. Take out all the rests – even the ones that only last half a beat. That piece of music will be distorted beyond recognition – certainly beyond enjoyment! Beautiful music needs rest as much as it needs notes. Rest is written in to us. Our lives can become beautiful pieces of music bringing glory to God and blessing the world – but only when we play the rests as well as we play the notes. *News and Upcoming Events* *Monthly in person prayer meeting *Our St Philip’s Prayer Warriors are on zoom Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays praying for you, the church & the world but there is also something powerful about being together in person to pray. So, from next month Polly Macartney is going to head up a monthly prayer meeting to meet that need. The first one will be on *Wednesday 18th September at 7.30pm in church *do pop it in your diary and make space to come along if you are able – even if it is just the once to try it out. *Making Sense of… St John’s Waterbeach lecture series.* These are often excellent evenings with eminent guest speakers on various topics. To find the autumn series head to: Making Sense | St Johns Waterbeach <https://www.stjohnswaterbeach.org/making-sense> The first event will be *Sunday 29th September at 7pm - Making Sense of Environmental Theology with Dr Hilary Marlow, Vice-Mistress of Girton College, Cambridge.* *Toilet Refurbishment* these are tantalisingly near to completion – thanks for bearing with us as various toilets have been out of action. The end is in sight however and we hope they will all be back in use soon. *Opportunities* *Church Set Up on a Sunday *It turns out that this is not nearly so regular job as it used to be – in fact chair setting up is now needed perhaps once a month at the most. If you would be willing to join a group who can volunteer for this task, as and when it is needed, please get in touch. And thank you to those who have already done so! *Eco-Bite – our new green “nugget” each week: * We’ve just had a beautiful week with lots of sun and no rain – lovely for those of us who like our summers hot but not great for our water usage. Could you try to conserve water this summer by reducing your water consumption? Taking shorter showers, shutting off the water while you brush your teeth, watering plants with a watering can rather than a hose and gathering rainfall and using it to hydrate your plants are all great ways to reduce the amount of water we use on a daily basis. *Last Week’s sermon* Last week’s sermon: sermon 28.7.24.mp3 <http://sermons.stphilipschurch.org.uk/2024-07-28%20-%20Ruth%20-%20c.mp3> If you missed any of the last two months Psalm Sermon Series you can find them here: The link to our sermon archive: St Philip's sermon archive <http://sermons.stphilipschurch.org.uk/> *This Sunday 4th August* *8.30am – Reflective Holy Communion *our bible readings this week will be Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 and John 6:24-35 *10.30am – All Age Worship * *Next Sunday 11th August* *10.30am All Age Holy Communion *our bible reading will be John 6.35, 41-51 If you can't attend church in person you can always use this Zoom link: meeting ID: 976 3739 9129 and Passcode: 330714 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/97637399129?pwd=TGhKWWxOcWF1S242aVhrWDlJdUkxZz09 *Prayers * If any of you have specific prayers you would like us to include in this newsletter do please get in touch. *Carol *– the nan of Tracee Giddens’ children who has breast cancer and is facing an operation next week. Please pray for her speedy recovery and for all of them as they support her. *Please also pray for our Mission Partner this month:* *Langham Partnership* – Every church deserves a well-equipped pastor! 80% of pastors in the Majority World lack any formal training. Langham Partnership equip pastors around the world to preach God's Word . *Regular Weekly Services/Prayers to join:* *Wednesday 12noon Reflective Holy Communion* A quiet time to help find space and peace in the middle of the week. *Monday & Friday 8.30pm – Compline on zoom * Meeting ID: 836 5965 9953 Passcode: 749968 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83659659953?pwd=btP5AjGMu1s-dE_2W9T0MMFqnnPKSS.1 *Wednesdays 7.00-7.30pm - Weekly Prayers on zoom*: - Meeting ID: 852 1105 2733 Password: 397987 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85211052733?pwd=OE52bm9NS1RtQVQ0ZytTc0xBZnVsUT09 *Saturdays 8.15am - Morning Bible Discussion and Prayer on zoom*: Meeting ID: 143 338 655 Password: 824271 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/143338655?pwd=L1JJTFZJNU9EaFZjaUFjQzVlalpMZz09 With love and prayers Ruth Need to unsubscribe? Email Bekki: bekki(a)theclarks.biz Blessings Ruth *Revd Ruth Barry* *Vicar, St Philip's Church, Cambridge* 185 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3AN 01223 318315 vicar(a)stphilipschurch.org.uk *My day off is Tuesday*

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