Revelation 12: 7-12 7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” NLT

To Think About

Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is…Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.

Pope Francis

Ashwater with Black Torrington and Highampton Benefice

Sunday 27th September 2020 16th Sunday after Trinity

MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS 11am Holy Communion—St Leonards, Clawton

6pm Zoom Service WELCOME TO WORSHIP

Readings Revelation 12: 7-12 Psalm 103: 19-22

John 1: 47-51

Collect Everlasting God,

you have ordained and constituted the ministries of angels and mortals in a wonderful order;

grant that as your holy angels always service you in heaven, so, at your command, they may help and defend us on earth;

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.

Interim Priest-in-Charge (part time) Revd Stephen Skinner

sjmskinners@btinternet.com 07554 142264

PLEASE PRAY FOR: The Mission Community: for all who live and work in our Mission Community

All those being ordained in our Diocese as they follow God’s calling on their lives and step into a new season of ministry.

Those who are ill or in any kind of need and those who are vulnerable due to underlying health conditions.

All who are mourning the death of a loved one, especially the family of Frank Martin

For all those who have returned to School, may God guide them in this new term and keep them safe at this time.

The NHS and all those supporting our healthcare service, that God would protect and sustain them.

Kindness and understanding as we adjust to the new rhythms of life, Lord help us to be empathetic and loving towards one another.

All those who have become unemployed during the pandemic, that God would provide stability and guide them into a new season of life.

We pray for peace and justice across the globe, particularly for all vulnerable and marginalized groups.

Dates for your diary

Monday 28th September 10.00 am Morning Prayer, Black Torrington Church

Tuesday 29th September 11.00 am Zoom Coffee Morning

Wednesday 30th September10.00 am Morning Prayer, Ashwater Church

Thursday 1st October 8.00pm Zoom Compline Sunday 4th October 11.00 am Communion Service Black Torrington 5.30 pm Tetcott Harvest Service 6.30 pm Beaworthy Harvest Service

“THOUGHT” FOR SUNDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS

Our New Testament reading for this Sunday’s Festival is from the drama of Revelation 12. Verse Seven says: “There was war in heaven. Michael and the angels under his command fought the dragon and his angels.” If you look at depictions of Michael in paintings and sculptures he is often shown in mortal combat with a fiercesome dragon. At my church in Lyme Regis, called “St Michael the Archangel”, there is such a statue, in a very prominent position, worryingly beside the Choir Vestry! In that church this particular Sunday of “Michaelmas” was celebrated vigorously!

I expect we find the concept of a war in heaven quite hard to grasp in our present times. It seems like a rather mediaeval idea that there could be war in a place that we think of as being peaceful, beautiful and above the horrors of all the wars on earth. But one of the wonderful things about the Bible is that it is honest to the struggles of life. What goes on in heaven mirrors what goes on in earth – and the battles we face here have a spiritual counterpart.

This is why it is important to be aware of Michael, and all the angels of heaven that help us contend against the surrounding powers of evil around us in this present age. Michael is regarded in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the “Supreme Commander of the Heavenly Hosts”, and he helps protect us against the darker forces that surround us and plot our destruction. Roman Catholics regard one of the four roles of Michael as an angelic model for the virtues of the “Spiritual warrior” who fights battles of “the world, the flesh and the devil” around us, within us and as an example for us.

So, let’s not remove the concept of spiritual warfare from our thinking, in this ‘enlightened’ age. I urge you to draw upon the spiritual muscle of Michael to both protect you and inspire you to contend victoriously in the battles of life – including against the insidious evil of the Covid 19 virus.

Here is an ancient Catholic prayer that you might like to pray to Michael (strongly and loudly!):

“Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defence against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell, Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.”

Stephen