Reflections

Below you can find prayers, reflections and favourite Bible passages from the worship team and other members of the congregation to be used as a resource for your own quiet time

If you have a favourite short prayer or reading, contact us and we will try to include it

WRITING FROM THE RECTORY

 Dear Reader, 

Once more we are in the season of exams and exam results: GCSE, A Level and the rest.  And even as the candidates carry out final revision and spend hot summer days in steamy exam rooms, Imperial College, London University, tells us that it does not trust any of the exam results and intends to set its own entrance exam in addition to the A levels.  We are told that too many students get A’s these days.

 The students, and the schools who prepare them for the exams, cannot win.  If the results are poor, then the schools are not good enough.  If the results are good, then the exams or the marking was too easy.  Have the critics ever thought that if there are more A’s, might this not mean that the schools, the teachers and the students are working harder and doing better and that the better results are a deserved recognition of something good? 

Wherever the truth lies in this debate, the constant stream of criticism levelled at many schools, sometimes dubbed ‘failing’, is certainly discouraging to a great many teachers and students. And yet, as I have  been part of the life of many schools over the years, including our own local school in Sturton, I never cease to be impressed by the unremitting commitment, energy and skill of our teachers.  In addition, I am often moved by the bright innocence, enthusiasm and goodness of a great many children and young people.  If sometimes innocence is corrupted, surely it is adults who initiate the corruption.

Teaching and learning, especially these days, is pressurised, unendingly reviewed and hard.  Again, I sometimes think that being young isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  In this country too many demonise the young, as if all young people were badly behaved hoodies, carrying knives, taking drugs, drinking too much, and being promiscuous with it.

 After all, it is our adult society that aims its advertising at the young, sexualises the young and profits from them; sells them drugs and drink, and a self-first, hedonistic lifestyle.

 Jesus placed the young at the centre of the kingdom of heaven, blessed and welcomed children and had these ominous words to offer: 

             “And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be

            better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.”

God bless our children and those who nourish, mentor, teach and care for them

   Yours sincerely

Alex Whitehead

THE MONTHLY PRAYER MEETING

On the first Monday every month we continue a prayer meeting at the Rectory between 7.00 and 8.00pm.  The meeting usually includes introductory reflective music, prayers for the day with prayer from the Stow Group’s Prayer Diary and a space for silence and our own prayers.  This links our prayers with both the regular Sunday worship and also the bi-monthly Service of Wholeness, Healing and Shalom.

The next prayer Meeting is on Monday 7^th July. The next Healing Service will be on July 20^th at 3.00pm in St Edith Coates (please note change of venue)

 

 

 

 

COFFEE MORNING FOR WILLINGHAM BELLS 

On Wednesday 30^th July from 10.30am there will be a Coffee Morning at Dale House Willingham, hosted by Margaret and Peter Horsburgh to support the restorative work to St Helen’s Church bells.  All are welcome.           

 

FROM THE REGISTERS

 

Holy Baptism

At St Mary, Stow

25/05/08, Rosie Grace Nelstrop

By one Spirit we are all baptized into one body.

 

 

Holy Matrimony

Kaye Griffiths and Richard Robinson of Sturton by Stow

My commandment is this: Love each other as I have loved you.