This Sunday falls between Ascension day where we contemplate Jesus’s ascension to the Father and the events of Pentecost. The disciples and his followers are left confused and emotionally drained, having lived through weeks of promise, despair, fear and rejoicing, and now their beloved leader is leaving them. But he promises the Comforter-an agent who will connect and witness to each all who believe..

Those first followers wouldn’t have fully understood what was going to happen. The Spirit of God has previously been attached to specific events rather than interacting with all believers. This would be a new level of personal, intimate connection.

In this week’s Gospel Jesus talks of the destruction of divisions, the erasing of barriers. He and the Father are one, and they in turn enfold us into their intimacy of relationships when we accept Jesus as Christ. 

The writer, theologian and Franciscan priest Richard Rohr wrote in his book The Divine Dance of his concept of the Trinity as a constantly fluid dance of equality and love with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This vibrant living and harmonious dance is not one of exclusion, but inclusion, and we are invited to join in. When we do we become connected to the dynamic spiritual reality of this inter-relationship.

THIS SUNDAY – 1ST JUNE (7TH SUNDAY OF EASTER)

10.00am    Creative Church -St. Mary’s

10.30am       Holy Communion – All Saints

6.30pm       Evensong – St. Mary’s

THE WEEK AHEAD

Monday 2nd June

10.30am – Tiny Tots -All Saints Community Hall

5.15pm – Squirrels – All Saints Community Hall

6.15pm – Beavers – All Saints Community Hall

Tuesday 3rd June

10.30am – M4T – St. Mary’s Parish Room

Wednesday 4th June

9.00am – Celtic Morning Prayers – All Saints Church

Thursday 5th June

10.00pm – Holy Communion – St. Mary’s Church  

6.30pm – Cubs – All Saints Community Hall

8.00pm – Scouts -All Saints Community Hall  

Friday 6th June

11.00am – Living after Loss -St. Mary’s Parish Room

Saturday 7th June

10.00am – Coffee Morning & Repair Cafe – All Saints Church

12.00pm – Saturday Lunches – St. Mary’s Church

Next Sunday – 8th June (Pentecost)

8.00am – Holy Communion – All Saints Church

10.00am – Holy Communion – St. Mary’s Church

10.30am – Messy Muddy Church – All Saints Church

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen

 

Blessings

 

Fr Kester de Oliveira