Dear all,
Today I held two women up to God praying for God’s strength and peace to fill them both. One was being made a Bishop and one was dying...
Both these women have been a huge part of my story and as I prayed my heart was rejoicing for one and breaking for the other.
And I realised as I journeyed with both through today that this must be what God’s heart is doing constantly - both rejoicing with us and breaking for us. It made me wonder once more at God’s endless compassion and boundless love to hold us in both joy and pain. And we know God does hold us in both joy and pain because of the power of the incarnation (Jesus’ birth as a human being experiencing all that we experience as humans) and the power of the cross and resurrection (Jesus died through love for us to enable us to be in relationship with God despite our sin and he conquered death and brought the joy of a new life for us to live).
Earlier this week a class of 6yr olds asked me “What is the good news of Jesus?” And although I didn’t use this language with them – this is what lies at the heart of the good news for me. God knows us and knows what experience in life and we are loved; in joy and pain, good and bad, celebrations and mistakes, victories and failures, happiness and sadness and I know this because of both the incarnation and the resurrection. Our God is an awesome and wonderful God and I pray that you too may know God’s strength and peace today whether your heart is rejoicing or breaking or wrestling with both at the same time.
*“I pray that out of [the Father’s] glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” *
*Ephesians 3:16-19*
*Exciting Announcement *
For those of you who missed it last week I have the privilege of announcing that Michael Priestley has been awarded the Etheldreda Medal by Ely Diocese. This is in recognition of his decades of service to his community in many and varied ways over the years from Headteacher at St Philip’s Primary School to Chair of Governors at Ridgefield Primary School. From the foundation of Romsey Mill and the Central Language School to over 60 years as a Licenced Lay Minister in the Church. Mike has been tireless in service and it is wonderful that his decades of compassionate, wise service - all founded on his deep faith and love of Jesus – are being honoured by this award. The medal will be presented at Ely Cathedral in a special service on *Saturday 26th October, 5.30pm* If you would like to come along please speak to Ruth or Mike & Barbara and we can hopefully arrange some sharing of lifts or co-ordinating train journeys.
*News and Upcoming Events*
*Saturday 26th October 11am-4pm CSF Food for the Planet Festival * A day of cookery demonstrations, stalls, activities and arts. As friends of Cambridge Sustainable food we are all warmly invited along to the excellent talks delving into nutrition, mental health and food waste at this festival of all things “bean”! There are a limited number of free pre-bookable tickets for the talks, details of which can be found on the following link; https://cambridgesustainablefood.org/events/2024/10/26/food-for-the-planet-f...
*Switch to a new *e-mail* newsletter format *In December we will be making the move to a new system for sending out the newsletter each week and as part of the process – if you would like to continue receiving the newsletter – we will need you to fill out a simple paper form giving us your email address and permission to send the newsletter to you. Bekki Clark will have copies of this form at church on Sunday for the next four Sundays and I will have copies of the form at Warm Spaces through the week. If you are unable to come to church over the next month, for whatever reason, but you would still like to receive the newsletter please get in touch with me and we will see how we can help.
*Eco-Bite – our new green “nugget” each week: *
For those who don’t like to think so far ahead, forgive me, but for those of you who have begun to think about Christmas presents already might I invite you this year to explore whether you could make presents for others. Jams/chutneys or cakes and biscuits, sewn gifts or a piece of artwork, vouchers for your time and expertise in a certain area… you might surprise yourself with what you could actually offer someone else that isn’t bought!
*Last Week’s sermon*
Last week’s sermon: sermon 13.10.24.mp3 http://sermons.stphilipschurch.org.uk/2024-10-13%20-%20Ruth%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.
*Jenny Eustace - *Jenny is back home but still needing a lot of care and help, please pray for her healing and peace.
*Please pray for our Mission Partner this month:*
*GenR8* – GenR8 is a Cambridge-based Christian charity working with primary schools and churches in the Cambridgeshire and North Hertfordshire region. They support learning about the Christian faith in schools through a variety of different programmes including presenting assemblies and prayer spaces. And also support churches in their work with children and work in partnership with them and their local schools.
*Services this week 20th – 26th October*
*Sunday: *
*8.30am – Reflective Holy Communion *our readings will be Job 38:1-7, 34-end and Mark 10:35-45
*10.30am – All Age Worship – *this week we will be looking at the Mark reading
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 *
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 – next in person prayer *20th November*)
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@theclarks.biz
Blessings Ruth
*Revd Ruth Barry* *Vicar, St Philip's Church, Cambridge*
185 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3AN 01223 318315 vicar@stphilipschurch.org.uk *My day off is Tuesday*