The Welland-Fosse Benefice: Prayers and Notices.

 Sunday 20 June 2021:  Trinity III

 

• Please remember in your prayers those who are sick: Ray Bailey, Sylvia Martin, Margaret and Derek Barker, Sussie Clements, Judith Piggott, Jane Williams, John and Tricia Williams. Pray too for the departed.
• Zoom Morning Prayer continues on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8.30 am with Compline on Thursday at 6pm
• Next Sunday we are in church at 11am in Barrowden and on Zoom.

 

SOUTH LUFFENHAM
Sunday 27th June 9.30am Communion by Extension (AR).
‘Still Time’ (a time for silent prayer) in South Luffenham Church on Fridays from 10.30-11am. All are welcome to pop in for a few moments of stillness. 

 

MEDITATION

The gardener, complete with knee pads, rocked back on his haunches and wiped his brow.  Now was the time to strike up a conversation. He was planting border dahlias – the love of his life – but this was new territory for him.

 

He had been a gardener at The Priory for 40 years, man and boy. In that time, the gardening team had only been reduced by one, such was the store which the sisters placed upon their garden and its produce. But three years ago the sisters were forced to sell their old building with its mature gardens and move further up the hill to new territory where a purpose-built priory is now inhabited.

“It broke my heart” said the gardener ruefully. But he didn’t look downcast.  He did not have the zeal to

plan a new garden but he was happy to do the ordinary things once more. By the nature of the soil, the absence of weeds and the order of the new greenhouse he was clearly doing the ordinary things extraordinarily well.

 

To say farewell to a garden after pouring 40 years of love and energy into it must be a heart-breaking experience yet here was this lovely man – brim-full of experience, skill and enjoyment – still willing to give me tips on how to control mares-tail or recall the losing battles he’s had over ground-elder and bindweed.

There is the whiff of mystery here. Experience, wisdom, sacrifice, service, delight in new growth and enjoyment in observing the appreciation of others: is this how God works?

 

God’s plans are regularly upstaged – by loss, tragedy, sin – but still he perseveres with us. The old garden on the other side of the wall has been left in the hands of others but there is a carry-over in terms of expertise, endeavour, wisdom, the desire to please – and a few free cuttings no doubt. The design may have changed to accommodate necessity or fashion, but the love and gentle attention given so that we might take joy in it is never in doubt.

 

See wellandfosse.org for much more information, including contact details for

The Very Rev Christopher Armstrong and the churchwardens