Newsletter for May 23rd 2021
Dear friends,
This weekend we celebrate Pentecost. Have you ever wondered what Pentecost is all about?
Romans 12:1 says “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices.”
Simon Guillebaud writes,
“Walter Lewis Wilson was an American doctor in the nineteenth century. A visiting speaker once asked him, ‘Who is the Holy Spirit to you?’
Wilson answered, ‘One of the Persons of the Godhead –Teacher, Guide, Third Person of the Trinity.’ The visitor continued, ‘You haven’t answered my question.’ Wilson opened up with real candour, ‘He’s nothing to me. I have no contact with him and could get along just fine without him.’ The following year, Wilson heard another speaker, who bellowed from the pulpit, ‘Have you noticed that our verse in Romans 12 doesn’t tell us to whom we should give our bodies? It’s not the Lord Jesus. He has his own body. It’s not the Father. He remains on his throne. Another has come to earth without a body. God gives you the indescribable honour of presenting your bodies to the Holy Spirit, to be his dwelling place on earth.’
Wilson was struck to the core and rushed home to seek the Lord. He fell on his face and pleaded with the Lord: ‘My Lord, I’ve treated you like a servant. When I wanted you, I called for you. Now I give you this body from my head to my feet. I give you my hands, my limbs, my eyes and lips, my brain. You may send this body to Africa, or lay it on a bed with cancer. It’s your body from this moment on.’
The next morning, Wilson was working in his office when two women arrived trying to sell him advertising. He immediately led them to Christ. The previous night’s surrender had enabled him to access new power from on high. From that day on his life entered a new dimension of evangelistic fruitfulness. He went on to pioneer a church plant, a mission organisation, and a Bible college.” Yours with much love in Him,
Jonathan.
Rev Jonathan Widdess.
vicar@cumnor.org / 01865 863702
Here is this weeks news….
This Sunday @ St Michael’s
10:30am
Join us at 10:30am on Sunday morning in St Michael’s for Big Story Sunday. We’re exploring the story of Pentecost and asking God for his promised power today. Jonathan will be leading.
This service will also be live-streamed at https://cumnor.org/sunday-service-online-23rd-may-2021/
This Sunday @ St Andrew’s
10am
Join us at 10am on Sunday morning in St Andrew’s for Morning Worship.
Jessica Turner and Neil Grady are leading with Jessica preaching.
Reading and Collect
Acts 2: 1-21
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Collect for Pentecost
Holy Spirit, sent by the Father,
ignite in us your holy fire;
strengthen your children with the gift of faith,
revive your Church with the breath of love,
and renew the face of the earth,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Worship for Seniors
The May edition of our online series of Worship for Seniors is now available at https://cumnor.org/worship-for-seniors-may-2021/. William Cutting is speaking about “Basic Beliefs that keep you going”.
Worship for Seniors is a new, monthly series of devotional videos for seniors and those in care homes. Each episode lasts about 15 minutes.
Worship for Seniors is also available by phone on 01865 920993, and then choosing option 2 from the menu.
Free book
On Easter Day, Jonathan mentioned “Amazed by Jesus”, the brilliant new book by Simon Ponsonby. We now have 10 free copies to give away to anyone who will read them and pass them on to friends if you find them helpful. Please email vicar@cumnor.org or ring 01865 863702 if interested and we will arrange delivery.
Zoom Weekly Prayer Meeting
Our weekly prayer meeting continues every Monday at 10am.
Join us as we gather together online to pray for one another, our families, friends and neighbours, our parish, our nation and the world.
For more details on how to connect, see this web page.
Upcoming Worship Services
St Andrew’s @ 10am
6/6 Morning Worship
13/6 Holy Communion
20/6 Morning Worship
27/6 Morning Worship
St Michael’s @ 8am
20/6 BCP Communion
St Michael’s @ 10.30am
30/5 Morning Worship with speaker from Tearfund
6/6 Holy Communion
13/6 Morning Worship
20/6 Church Outdoors
27/6 Big Story Sunday
St Michael’s is open for private prayer on Monday’s and Friday’s, 9am-5pm.
Taizé Service
The May Taizé service is still available. With readings, prayers and meditative sung worship, it’s the perfect way to find some peace and space in the stresses and strains of life.
https://cumnor.org/taize-service-may-2021/
Can you help Jean get mobile?
Jean Pryce-Williams is looking for a second-hand automatic car (she can not afford a new one) to keep her ministry mobile. Her beloved 20 year old car has said ‘enough is enough’! If you know of anyone who is about to part with a reliable automatic (for up to £5,000), please contact Jean on 07927 236961. Thank you.
Please Pray For…
- A fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our church and nation this Pentecost.
- Olivia Ward and her family as she is Christened on Sunday afternoon.
- Staff, and pupils at Cumnor C.E. School and Matthew Arnold as the Summer Term continues.
- For David Henderson Slater and his family as he undergoes radiotherapy for prostrate cancer.
- Our CMS mission partner Bia.
- The PCC meeting on Wednesday evening to continue the work on discerning God’s vision for our parish as we emerge from the pandemic.
- The St Andrew’s Rebuilding Project.
- All those who remain anxious for their jobs or their future.
- All those who are continuing to struggle with the effects of lockdown.
- Those who are homeless or struggling with food poverty.
- People to find a living faith in Jesus.
- Everyone who leads worship, preaches or teaches the Bible in our parish.