Welcome to The Weobley & Staunton Benefice

Four years ago, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine hit the headlines, a small crowd of us gathered around the preaching cross in Weobley and prayed for the Ukrainian people and for peace. Four years on, we are still praying.

At a special service held in a Norfolk church last Sunday, a minister noted “Ukraine drops off the face of our news when something else happens in the world. We forget about it. Yet the people of Ukraine don’t get that luxury. For them, the war is the only news, and it brings fresh horror each day” (Iain Grant, Assistant Curate at St Peter’s Sheringham).

There are times when we are sorely tempted to give up hope and to stop praying for situations of violence and conflict, especially when we witness the ascendency of the ruthless and power-hungry.  However, the apostle James tells us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” and Paul reminds us that we should never neglect our meeting together and praying for each other (James 5: 13-17 and Hebrews10:25). The ongoing situation in Ukraine and in Russia calls out for our prayers more than ever.

The Diocese of Europe, together with USPG, launched an appeal last year for the support of Ukrainian refugees which is still running. If you would like to make a donation to this appeal in this season of Lent you can do so at:

https://ukraine-fund.uspg.org.uk/

You may also find this Church of England Collect prayer useful:

Almighty God,
from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed:
kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all, the true love of peace
and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom
those who take counsel for the nations of the earth
that in tranquility your kingdom may go forward,
till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Amen

Rev’d Philip 

As we near the end of February, we begin the season of Lent by reading the account of Jesus temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4: 1-11). Jesus is offered three temptations: food, power and wealth. Jesus is not without these things in his life – he doesn’t lack bread or power or some finance. The question posed however, is what is the nature of his relationship with these things? Will they have power over him, or will he use these worldly things – bread, power and finance – for other purposes? Of course, Jesus (like us) needed sustenance and connection with others and some kind of income. But in times of weakness or conflict or stress, when we are driven by anxiety and the desire to feel in control, worldly things can assert a strong hold over us, forcing us to compromise our values.

Though Jesus was hungry, he made a choice about the ethics of how he would fill his belly. He was friendless and yet made choices about how he would conduct his social affairs. And despite the enormous power available to him, he made a choice about how he chose to wield that power, through humility and obedience to the father. Three times he is tempted to take the easy option, the path of least resistance, but he refutes the tempter and stays the course in the wilderness. The good news for us is that, when we are tempted, our help comes from the one who knew full well the overwhelming power of temptation and yet did not yield, and who provides that steadfast grace to be obedient to Him.

Rev’d Philip