St Thomas’ Church - keeping in touch
Building the Kingdom...................................
Thank you to Lynn, who comes to our Munch service with Margaret (Cartmell), for this beautiful picture of crocuses, taken on one of her walks. The next photo is from our churchwarden, Pauline, of miniature irises in her garden, which are themselves called ‘Pauline’ !
As you will see from the lectionary readings below, this week we celebrate St David’s day on 1st March. A young man who grew up to be a priest, David’s life, according to legend, included several miracles of healing and victory in battle. David is reputed, as a means of self-imposed penance, to have stood up to his neck in a lake of cold water, reciting Scripture !
He was a vegetarian who ate only bread, herbs and vegetables and who only drank water. It is said that milestones during his life were marked by the appearance of springs of water.Becoming a missionary, David travelled throughout Wales and Britain and even made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem where he was consecrated bishop. He founded 12 monasteries including Glastonbury and Minevia (St. Davids). He was named Archbishop of Wales in 550. David died on
1st March 589 AD, at Minevia, allegedly over 100 years old. The symbols of the daffodil and the leek are associated with St David and with the country who took him as its patron saint, Wales. At the time of writing, my miniature daffodils are just coming out.
Lord God,
You have called your servants to ventures
of which we cannot see the ending,
by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown.
Give us faith to go out with good courage,
not knowing where we go,
but only that Your hand is leading us
and Your love supporting us,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. (Church of England website – Prayers)
| Morning Readings | Evening Readings |
Monday1st March David, bishop, patron of Wales c 601 | Psalm 32; Jeremiah 7: 21 – end; John 6: 41 - 51 | Psalm 74; Genesis 43: 16 – end; Hebrews 1 |
Tuesday 2nd March Chad, bishop, missionary, 672 | Psalm 50; Jeremiah 8: 1 – 15; John 6: 52 – 59 | Psalm 52; Genesis 44: 1 – 17 Hebrews 2: 1 - 9 |
Wednesday 3rd March | Psalm 35; Jeremiah 8: 18 – 9: 11; John 6: 60 - end | Psalm 3: Genesis 44: 18 – end; Hebrews 2: 10 - end |
Thursday 4th March | Psalm 34; Jeremiah 9: 12 – 24; John 7: 1 – 13 | Psalm 71; Genesis 45: 1 – 15; Hebrews 3: 1 – 6 |
Friday 5th March | Psalm 41; Jeremiah 10: 1 – 16; John 7: 14 – 24 | Psalm 102; Genesis 45: 16 – end; Hebrews 3: 7 - end |
Saturday 6th March | Psalm 25; Jeremiah 10: 17 – 24; John 7: 25 – 36 | Psalm 104; Genesis 46: 1 – 7, 28 – end; Hebrews 4: 1 - 13 |
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord makes His face to shine on you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn His face towards you and give you peace. Amen. (Numbers 6: 24 – 27)
