Regular mid-week services:

Wednesdays:  Holy Communion at 10.30 a.m. - coffee is served afterwards!
Evening Prayer at 6.00 p.m. (not June 8; 5.30 on June 22)
Saturdays: Morning Prayer at 9.00 a.m. (8.00 on June 4)
Holy Communion: 9.00 a.m. on June 4
  11.00 a.m. on June 18 & 26
  6.30 p.m. on June 11
Evening Prayer at 6.00 p.m. (5 p.m. on June 26)

Stephen is away on business June 7 to 9 both inclusive.

'A Summer Evening at Littlethorpe': Friday June 10, 7 to 10.30 pm. Tickets £7.50, including supper and a glass of wine, from Jean Corner on 01262-420622, Chris Gatenby on 01723-890464, or June Sellers on 01262-420237. Quiz, raffle. All proceeds to Rudston church.

Deanery Synod: Wednesday June 15, 7.30 pm, at Sewerby church hall.
PCC: Meets on Monday June 27, 7.30 pm, at Low Caythorpe.

I have often wondered about some of our Old Testament stories, and how we tell them to our children. When we tell them about Noah's Ark, for example, with all those animals going in two by two, do we actually tell them that the reason for the flood is to wipe out disobedient humanity? When we remember Moses being found in his basket in the bulrushes, do we remember he was first hidden there to keep him safe from Pharaoh's soldiers, who were killing all baby boys? When we remember David and Goliath, do we remember David actually killed Goliath? Most of our traditional fairy stories, too, had violence and sadness in them - at least, until Disney got hold of them!
So when we shield our children from violence and sadness, are we actually doing the right thing? None of our ancestors shielded them. Life has its lumps as well as its joys, and we need to be ready to deal with death and sadness. Perhaps that's one reason why less people believe in heaven these days - they simply haven't dared to think about what might be round the corner. But it's still there… And the good news is that God is always with us, even after death.         

STEPHEN           

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