elham valley group Newsletter

---

 The Collect:
O God, the   strength of all those who put their trust in you, mercifully accept our   prayers and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no   good thing without you, grant us the help of your grace, that in the keeping   of your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; 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  

Post Communion Prayer:
Eternal Father, we thank you for nourishing us with these heavenly   gifts: may our communion strengthen us in faith, build us up in hope, and   make us grow in love; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen 

Old Testament Reading: Hosea   5:15-6:6
I will return again to my place until they   acknowledge their guilt and seek my face. In their distress they will beg my favour:
6 ‘Come, let us return to the Lord; for it is he who   has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. 2 After   two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us   up, that we may live before him. 3 Let us know,   let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the   dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that   water the earth.’ 4 What shall I do with you, O   Ephraim?  What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning   cloud, like the dew that goes away early.
5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I   have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgement goes   forth as the light. 6 For I desire steadfast love and   not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.

Gospel Reading:   Matthew   9:9–13,18-26
 As Jesus   was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and   he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him. 10 And   as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came   and were sitting with him and his disciples. 11 When   the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher   eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ 12 But when   he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but   those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this   means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the   righteous but sinners.’
18 While he   was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came   in and knelt before him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died; but come and lay   your hand on her, and she will live.’ 19 And   Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. 20 Then   suddenly a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years   came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, 21 for   she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.’ 22 Jesus   turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made   you well.’ And instantly the woman was made well. 23 When   Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute-players and the crowd   making a commotion, 24 he said, ‘Go away; for the   girl is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. 25 But   when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and   the girl got up. 26 And the report of this spread   throughout that district.

Please   Pray for Jan Hall, Andy Ashman, Val Pinder, Roger Goody,   Janet Hutchings, Jenni Lister, The Bradley family, Wendy   Cook, Sue Leaver, Millie Collins, Jill Fitch, Poppy   Allard, John Meers, Michael   Kirk, Alice Mills, Lilian Bowles & family, Claire Laker.
Please   contact the Benefice Administrator Alison Dale 07985025381 or beneficeadmin@elhamvalleygroupofchurches.co.uk to add people to the prayers.
Please pray for the departed, Martyn Bowles, and those for whom an   anniversary of death falls at this time, Peter Gay, Nora Rear, Paul Ratcliff, Robert Reeve & Danzey   Bartley.

To arrange for Funerals, Thanksgivings, Blessings, Renewal of   Vows and all other services please contact the Rector – revcarolbates@gmail.com 0777 239 4855
For Baptisms and Weddings please contact the   Benefice Administrator as above.

Parish Notices: 

Weddings– Kelly Isherwood & Roy Clarkson - Fri. 5th June 2pm – Postling

Lydia Clark & Thomas Locke – Sat. 20th June 11.30am – Postling 

Baptism– Mia Watson - Sun. 7th June – 1145am -  Acrise

Funeral – Martyn Bowles – Wed. 17th June 2.30pm – Hawkinge Crematorium

Postling Open Gardens – Sat. & Sun 6th & 7th June 12 – 5pm 

Recital by Orsay Trio – Sunday 7thJune 3pm – Elham

Elham Open Gardens – Sat. & Sun 13th & 14th June – 12 -4.30pm

Benefice Notices:
Benefice Service, celebrating Revd Stephen’s 20 years of ordained ministry- Sunday 28thJune – 10am at Stanford