Psalm 107:29 “He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.”
I know I am stating the obvious when I say that summer 2023 has been quite disappointing weather wise. Other than a week in June of warm dry weather, July and August have been mainly chilly and wet with ferocious winds and the occasional warm sunny day every now and then. I have watched families on holiday trudging along fighting the wind and the overcast sky on their way to the beach with buckets and spades in their hands. I have been reminded of our family holidays in Devon with my in-laws. Many is the time that we sat huddled on the beach wrapped in winter clothes while the children, who seemed impervious to rain, wind and cold made sandcastles and ran in and out of the sea. The weather never seemed to dampen their spirits! A warm drink, a turn on the trampolines and an ice cream were all part of the holiday tradition. They were at the seaside and nothing was going to stop them from their usual seaside activities. But we always returned home feeling refreshed and ready for whatever challenges we would meet in the following year. I hope and pray that our families using our holiday home at Rockley Park have welcomed the rest and relaxation despite the rather erratic weather pattern this year. After one disastrous wet and windy camping holiday in Cornwall we decided enough was enough and fled across the Channel to almost guaranteed warmth and sunshine. I suppose that the 2022 summer fooled us into thinking that from now on we were going to have Mediterranean type summers so the reality and disappointment this year was a shock. I know that Princess Anne says there is no such thing as bad weather only a bad choice of clothing, but raincoats and woollies in August!
“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” John Ruskin
Intercessions
God, we thank you for the rain. We thank you for the blessings of food, water, and the other necessities of life. Help us to praise You, even during the rainy days of life. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Those returning to school or college: Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your never-ending love and blessing. As this school year begins, bless all children with success in their studies and activities. Grant them courage and motivation to do their best at all times. Fill their hearts with peace so that they can approach each day with a positive attitude. Remind them that You are watching over them; help them to find joy in exploring new and fun activities at school. We pray that this will be a fruitful year in their lives and that You draw them closer to You. Thank you, Lord, for this new school year. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
14th September: Holy Cross day: Almighty God, who in the passion of your blessed Son made an instrument of painful death to be for us the means of life and peace: grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ that we may gladly suffer for his sake; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
21st September: St. Matthew: Almighty God, whose blessed Son called Matthew the tax collector to be an apostle and evangelist: give us grace to forsake the selfish pursuit of gain and the possessive love of riches that we may follow in the way of your Son Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the heavens above, one God, now and forever. Amen.
29th September: St Michael & All Angels. : Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted the ministries of angels and mortals in a wonderful order: grant that as your holy angels always serve you in heaven, so, at your command, they may help and defend us on earth; we ask this through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
RIP: John Loud – Heytesbury Deanery Treasurer
Prayers for those in need of Prayer: Ann Cowburn and her family, Jean Downham and her family, Jocelyn and Clive and their family, Mark, Angela, Jo, John, Stephen and the Revd. Harry and Mrs. Sheila Chapman who is very frail after a bad fall. The family and friends of John Loud.