Dear all,
*“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!”*
The last psalm in the biblical collection is a wonderful call to worship God in all sorts of ways – in sacred spaces and under the stars, with instruments and with our bodies in dance.
It is a fitting end to a book which sets out to teach us how to praise God and pray to God – to end with this exhortation which in essence draws all the teaching to a close with the implication “We have heard all about God, we’ve acknowledged all the challenges of life and the way God meets us within them. We’ve listed all the reasons to praise God so – just do it – anywhere, everywhere in every way imaginable!”
But for me it is that key phrase “everything that has breath” that speaks most powerfully.
Worship of God is not limited to humanity. It was something St Francis of Assisi was famous for acknowledging - calling all creatures his “brothers” and “sisters” and preaching to the birds. In one story about his life, he apparently persuaded a wild wolf to stop attacking and terrorising the people of a town if they would promise to feed “brother wolf”. St Francis recognised that all creation is connected to God and capable of worshiping God and as such is in some way - family.
This connection with the rest of creation is something environmentalists have been urging us to remember and return to for decades. As technology provides us with more and more independence from the natural world we have become more and more careless about our innate interconnectedness and that disregard comes at worrying cost to God’s creation.
As we enter into the summer holidays and the weather (hopefully!) allows us more and more time outdoors I invite you to notice all those things that have breath – indeed all those things that are alive – how would it feel to consider them a brother or sister? How would you treat them differently? How would you love and protect this extended family?
*News and Upcoming Events*
*Toilet Refurbishment* these are progressing – 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 *St Philip’s has always employed an individual to set out our chairs on a Sunday morning but for various reasons we would like to be able to do this task within our own congregation. If you would be willing to occasionally come at 9.45pm on a Sunday morning to put out chairs please get in touch. Creating several teams of 2 or 3 would ensure this job is not an onerous one for any single individual.
*Eco-Bite – our new green “nugget” each week: *
We all know that our food choices have an impact on our delicately balanced climate. But it can be difficult to know or fully comprehend exactly how. I found this tool really helpful for raising my awareness: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46459714
I appreciate that some would argue with these calculations but if it just helps us think and perhaps change habits then I consider it worth having a play with!
*Last Week’s sermon*
Last week’s sermon: sermon 21.7.24.mp3 http://sermons.stphilipschurch.org.uk/2024-07-21%20-%20Polly%20-%20c.mp3
The link to our sermon archive: St Philip's sermon archive http://sermons.stphilipschurch.org.uk/
*This Sunday 28th July*
*10.30am – All Age Holy Communion *We draw our Psalm Sermon Series to a close with the last psalm in the book – Psalm 150 and Luke 19:29-40
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.
*Appointment of a new Bishop of Ely *sadly after a long discernment process and two days of interviews the Crown Nominations Committee were not able reach the level of consensus required to nominate a new Diocesan Bishop. This is a major blow and will require another lengthy process of reflection and re-opening the process. Please pray for the committee as they frustratingly have to begin again and also for Bishop Dagmar as she continues to hold episcopal oversight for Ely on her own.
*Lucy Sixsmith *It is Lucy’s last Sunday this week. Please pray for her as she steps into a new season of life – that God will guide her, open doors for her and bless her in all she does.
*Please also pray for our Mission Partner this month:*
*Wycliffe Bible Translators* – Wycliffe’s vision is for a world where everyone can know Jesus through the Bible. And their mission to achieve that vision is to serve local partners worldwide as they bring God’s word to their communities in the language which speaks to them best.
*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
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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*