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 18^th 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 17^th 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

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

The first event will be Sunday 29^th 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@elydiocese.org and let me know too! You can read the role description from the Diocese here: Eco Champion Role description

Last Week’s sermon

Last week’s sermon: sermon 18.8.24.mp3

If you have missed any previous sermons, or would like a second listen, you can find them here: St Philip's sermon archive

This Sunday 25^th 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