We are a group of 8 rural parishes in the beautiful Norfolk countryside, who enjoy living, working and worshiping together.
The Group was founded in 1964. This was a pioneering and visionary step taken by Bishop Launcelot Fleming to revitalise and enrich the church in an area of thinly populated villages.
This has been our experience. Since then, the parishes have grown together and continue to share resources and benefit from opportunities for collaboration in numerous ways. We have discovered that can do more together than we can alone.
This is abundantly evident in these difficult times, where a network of practical support and help has emerged in our villages. Thank you to those who have a share in this. We all have different needs and there are those who can assist. Let’s continue to cope with this crisis with a spirit of kindness and loving service to those around us. Please don’t hesitate to contact someone to help or just for a chat.
If I can be of help, I am only a
phone call away - 01508 482366
The Reverend Liz Billett
Team Vicar
May your unfailing love be with us, LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
Psalm 33:22
To contact us please call The Hempnall Group office, 9am-1pm Mon-Thurs 01508 498157
To receive Weekly Thoughts and Prayers please email: hempnallgroup.office@btinternet.com
To receive monthly Village News please email: hempnallgroup.office@btinternet.com
Sunday 1st August 2021 - Ninth Sunday after Trinity
Thoughts and Prayers for the Week
God’s Unconditional Love
“His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer deserve to be called your son. His father said to his servants, ‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found’ Then the celebration began.”
~Luke 15 verses 21-24~
A feast in his honour was the last thing the prodigal son expected when he returned home.
After all, hadn’t he caused his father great pain and disappointment?
Yet that’s exactly what happened.
The son must have been bewildered, humbled perhaps and totally confused by his father’s response. It was not what he expected.
Unconditional love is like that.
The rules and requirements we create about who is lovable are erased.
God makes it simple – we are to love everyone.
And when a lost one returns, God invites us join the celebration.
I wonder what surprises you most about the father’s forgiving response? The son’s response?
If someone who hurt you and been lost to you, would return today, how would you respond?
Merciful Father,
seeker of the lost,
you stand ready to receive us
when we make our way back to you.
Help us it imitate your unconditional love in the relationships we have with others.
Amen.
Let us continue to support and strengthen each other
~ Daily by saying the Lord's Prayer together, morning and evening
~ Lighting a candle at home 10.00am on Sunday
On Sunday we pray for:
~ That each day may be holy, good and filled with God’s peaceful presence
~ That we may strive for the wellbeing of all creation
~ That in the joys and struggles of life we may know the love of God and be thankful
~ That we may be bound together by God’s good Spirit, as we entrust one another and all our life to Christ
Readings for the week:
Exodus 16: 2-4, 9-15
Psalm 78: 23-29
Ephesians 4: 1-16
John 6: 24-35
This weeks our services are:
Sunday 1st August 2021 | Ninth Sunday after Trinity
10:00am | Group Family Praise at Hempnall Church
Please contact Claire Key by Email: clairekey58@yahoo.co.uk to book your seat.
There is no Family Praise this week
Next week’s services:
Sunday 8th August | Tenth Sunday after Trinity
9:30am | Eucharist at Hempnall Church
11:00am | Eucharist at Topcroft Church
