Summertime often brings with it the anticipation of times of rest and refreshment, and the joy of watching lots of tennis and cricket, although watching Wimbledon or The Ashes has had its nail biting, plate throwing moments this week!

The words we here from Jesus in the gospel reading this week are familiar ones. “Come to me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest”. They are words of invitation that are often spoken in the Book of Common Prayer Communion. They are words that for me have always been an encouragement when I am overwhelmed with the busyness of life. They are a reminder to me that whatever life brings us Jesus invites us to come to him and receive the rest that God desires us to have.

So how do we rest in God? What does that look like? And rest from what exactly? All of those questions might be different depending on who we are and what experiences we have, and perhaps it is that which is also the common thread of these words of invitation. God invites us to rest, and can carry our burdens however heavy or numerous. The things that we might shy away from loading onto others, are things that God can hold simultaneously at the same time that God holds all the burdens of those around us. Nothing is too heavy, no burden is too much. One of the joys of the Christian faith is precisely that – we are never too heavy for God.

As the frenetic pace of the build up to the summer holidays begins, I pray that we will all know that rest that God invites us to at moments this week.

This week on Sunday 9^th July our worship is as follows

10am – Sung Holy Communion – St Marys

8am – Holy Communion – All Saints

10.30am – Children’s celebration Service – All Saints

7.15pm – Generations BBQ – Vicarage

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday 12^th July 9.00am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints

Thursday 13^th July 10am Holy Communion – St Marys

Saturday 15^st July 12.00 – 2pm –Saturday Lunches – St Marys

Sunday 16^th July 10.00 Sung Holy Communion St Marys

10.30 – Sung Holy Communion – All Saints

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

Matthew 11:28-30

Blessings

Revd Lizzie