Vicar's Bit For June
“Have mercy…”
Today, in our Thursday morning zoom prayers, we read Psalm 136 together. During the day a conclave of Cardinals in Rome was choosing a new Pope. In the Psalm we gave thanks to God, in multiple verses, “for his steadfast love endures for ever”. In the Prayer Book this becomes “for his mercy endureth for ever”.
Pope Francis wrote a book about Church mercy. Francis loved Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan, the outsider who had a big heart open to God. In 2024 Pope Francis wrote: “Mercy is God’s grace poured out on an underserving humanity for no other reason than God’s love. Our task is to show mercy to others as God has shown mercy to us”.
Psalm 136 reminds us that God’s mercy is unending. Eugene Peterson’s version is “God’s love never quits”. The Good Samaritan is merciful even though the other person he cares for is completely different to him. Although we are completely different from a holy God, God’s mercy is for everyone and God’s commitment is permanent. He makes a one side covenant, being utterly loyal to us; we, who so often let God down.
And when we are thinking of giving up, when we struggle with illness, despair or conflict, God’s mercy endures for ever. Mercy grows out of God’s goodness and God’s loyalty and God’s love. The biblical term is ‘covenantal faithfulness’ – hesed.
One can imagine how comforting this knowledge of hesed is to an aging Pope in the last years of his life. Pope Francis’ love of God’s mercy underscores the humility Francis showed; he was happy to eat and converse with the poor or the refugee.
This is so beautifully counter cultural! The Archbishop of Washington D.C., Mariann Budde, at the inauguration prayers of the President of the USA, spoke from the heart, in her Episcopalian Cathedral, saying “In our country I ask you Mr President to have mercy on the people in our country who are scared right now…”
It is so easy for the powerful to walk on the other side these days. Much more difficult for a world leader, a Pope, or anyone with power, to show mercy to the vulnerable.
Pope Francis knew that at the heart of Jesus’ ministry were three hours of mercy and grace, as Jesus died for us on the cross. God’s mercy encompasses everyone. As St John memorably put it “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life”. Or as Psalm 136 says over and over again “for his mercy endureth for ever”.
At the end of the day Pope Leo XIV was chosen. May God’s overflowing compassion and mercy live today in the Church, both visible and invisible, right across the world.
Baptism and Weddings in June/July
Baptism
2pm Sunday 8th June Staunton Church the baptism of Hunter Harper, mother Vicky. We offer our prayers and congratulations.
Weddings
3pm Saturday 14th June Maisemore Church, marriage of James Harding and Eve Kekeh.
12 noon Saturday 21st June Staunton Church, marriage of Clive Bayliss and Elizabeth Davies.
1pm Saturday 28th June Hartpury Church, marriage of Harry Foote and Annie Burton.
12 noon Saturday 5th July Maisemore Church, marriage of James Chamberlayne and Daisy Abbott.
We offer our congratulations!
Other Special Services in June
June 1st 11am Rogation Sunday at Staunton Church – celebrating our natural world
June 8th Pentecost (five services)
June 29th Ordination of Debbie Godsell (formerly our Benefice Family Officer) starts at 10.15am The Cathedral – please arrive early! No other services that morning.
June 29th 4pm Hasfield Church Thanksgiving for the completion of repairs to the Church Tower (at great financial cost) and Benefice ‘Songs of Praise’ with Tea (please being cakes to share).