David Gent: 01934 862348 or 07773 537626 <david@rectory.org.uk> Andrew Hemming: 07584 124198 <andrewmhemming@btinternet.com> Sue Hoskins: 07771 579543 <sue@rectory.org.uk> The Church Office, The Triangle, Wrington 01934 861294 <church.office@rectory.org.uk>

Reflection Hope

Saint Paul tells us that “faith hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13: 13). Much as I might take issue with some of Paul’s writings, I’ve never had a problem with his great Ode to love. “Love is patient, love kind… it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” sums up our faith and discipleship in a majestic way. And I’ve never really worried about the promotion of love above hope and faith until now. For our world is in need of hope today more than at any point in a generation. With the lockdown now entering its fourth (and hopefully final) week, we’ve had to cope with more restrictions on our liberty since the War. And while we’re continuing to receive good news of vaccine trials almost every week, we’re also having to realise that it will many months before we our lives return to anything like ‘normal’. And even then the Chancellor’s statement of yesterday was a reminder of the economic cost Covid is going to have in the long term. As a nation, we need hope more than we ever have done in my lifetime. So where can we turn? For around 2500 years, the people of God at times of trouble have turned to song – and particularly the Book of Psalms. There we find these words:- I will lift up my eyes to the hills – From where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and for evermore. Almighty God, Help us to keep our eyes centred on you: the hope of our world. In our distress, comfort us, and enable us to know your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Thursday 26th November 5pm Zoom Evening Prayers <https://zoom.us/j/7521073898> Sunday 29th November Public gatherings in church will still be prohibited at this point under current Covid regulations, so our only corporate worship will be via an on-line Benefice Service to be published next weekend

Unwell/Recovering within the Benefice: Mervyn Alexander, John Bennett, Robin Brooks, Bob May, Martin O'Connor, Beryl Petty, Jean Pitt, Valerie Tincknell, Mike Wool Outside the Benefice: Sheila Aumiller, Harry Banks, Sheila Campbell, Danny Carroll, Sheila Doleman, Phoebe Dowling, Tom Ekin, Tracey Gray, Howard Petherick, Henry Schofield, Janet Richards, Emily Warburton, Ann, Sara, Sarah Those who have recently died: Colin Lewis, Colin Watts Years’ Mind: [Editor's apologies. Will reinstate 'Year's Mind as soon as we can.] For those working on a vaccine against coronavirus; our healthworkers - many so tired after a year on the 'frontline'; For a peaceful transition of power in the USA; For those who are suffering as a result of this second lockdown; For those who are reduced to rough sleeping on our streets and in our hedgerows, and for those who seek to help them: the Clevedon Foodbank and The Trussell Trust, Somewhere to Go - the drop-in centre in Weston-super-Mare; For those who are sick or ill as a result of the coronavirus and those who have been bereaved; Those worried for their financial future; Bishop Peter, and his family, as he continues his treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia; Students and staff at schools and universities amid the uncertainty of Covid-19