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Well Hill: - Currently CLOSED

We're very happy to announce that, following the lifting of restrictions, St Martin’s has re-opened its doors for public worship. For now the pattern will be:

10.00am Sunday - Family Worship (either a Communion Service or a Service of the Word)

9.30am Wednesday – Holy Communion (BCP)

This replaces the individual private prayer times on Tuesdays & Saturdays.

As you would expect there are lots of rules and regulations attached to this and it is subject to change. Please follow the link below for  further details before you arrive and keep checking this website for updates (updated 17 July)
(See Staying in Touch)

Sunday 9th August 2020

The Ninth Sunday after Trinity

This week I have spent quite a bit of time making sure my Covid-19 files are up to date. Since the virus first appeared there have been so many changes to the rules and regulations which affect us as individuals and also as a church that it is easy to become confused or uncertain as to what we can or cannot, should or should not do.

I am mindful of a quote from Winston Churchill (arguing against trade restrictions in 1945) who said, ‘If you make ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law.’

In the early Christian church there was much dispute between the Jewish faith and the new churches that were growing in the Gentile world. The problem was that the Jews were convinced that God would renew his covenant by providing a Messiah to fulfil the Law. But the Law (the Ten Commandments) had led to an interpretation leading to so many rules and regulations (try reading the book Leviticus!) that they had become blind to the fact that Jesus was the renewal of the Covenant – the fulfilling of the Law.

As Paul argues, evoking the words of Moses (in Deuteronomy 30),‘No one who believes in Jesus will be put to shame. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile; the same Lord is Lord of all – and richly blesses those who call upon him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’’.

As we struggle to interpret the rules and regulations about Covid-19 we would do well to put our faith in God and not solely on politicians, various ‘experts’ or church leaders. The Roman philosopher Cicero, writing just before St Paul, observed, ‘The good of the people is the greatest law.’ The Gospel of Jesus obliges us to live lives of love, hope and sacrifice for the good of all – not to earn salvation, but in response to the promise that we will be saved through his sacrifice.  
Revd John  

readings and resources continue

Daily Prayers - John Sargant and Val Hemmings are now broadcasting live daily prayers on Tuesdays and Thursday at 8.15am on our Facebook page:. www.facebook.com/ChelsfieldStMartins

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If you are unable to view any of our  Facebook services through our website, please go directly to our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/ChelsfieldStMartins