URC Mid Somerset Group

The lockdown is proving no barrier to creativity. Sylvia Huggett has written another hymn to the well-known tune Aurelia, this time based on Isaiah 40, and Steve Beney has kindly added music and visuals to provide a video. Well worth watching! You can view the video by clicking HERE . You can find the words, and some of Sylvia's thoughts on 'Singing Scripture' on page 4 of the July/August edition of The Link, available on this web site.

The regular Sunday Zoom service on 28th was on the theme of 'Separation'. Led by Rev Tim and Robert Crowley, it included this 'Psalm for our time', read by Alison Reed Richards, which you can hear by clicking HERE . The whole recorded service is available on the 'SERVICES' page of this web site. Next Sunday, July 5th, Steve Beney is putting together a service based around the hymns of Fred Kaan, which we look forward to. If you haven't joined us before, your very welcome to. We start the service at 10.30, but the 'Waiting Room' is open from 10.15. Details of how to access the session can be obtained by emailing urcmsc@gmail.com.

On Sunday 21st June we shared our regular virtual service with Wells United Church. Led by Rev Tim Richards and Rev Rowena Francis, it was well 'attended' with visible members using Zoom and yet others joining by 'phone. The preacher was Rev Gary Woodall, a Baptist minister, well known to the congregation at Wells. There is a small snippet from his address HERE . If you want to see the whole service, which followed the theme of 'Praying the Psalms' (and recordings of previous services) go to the 'Services' page of this web site, or click HERE to go directly to it.

HM Government has this advice  if you have used facemasks and gloves to dispose of. Don't put them in your Re-cycling!

Last Sunday we shared the service from Curry Rivel URC, led by Jo Morling, over Zoom, and she used this sung blessing, sung in English by a choir from Indonesia, at the end. Click HERE to hear it for yourself. The whole service is now available for you to listen to and watch on the 'Services' page of this website, or you can go direct to it by clicking HERE . On 21st at 10.30 we join again with Wells United Church, to celebrate their Church Anniversary.

Coronavirus is placing our economic and health systems under unprecedented stress, not to mention many of us personally. Each day brings new concerns for elderly parents, infected friends and neighbours, and maybe even our own livelihoods. These are testing times. Where will we find the inner resources to cope with the inherent anxieties ahead and rise to consider others? Sheridan Voysey writes: 'I remembered a breath prayer I wrote last year based on some words from the apostle Paul. A breath prayer is a simple, short prayer said in a single breath. It’s very helpful in times of busyness and stress as it can be prayed while working or during a short break. You pray the first line slowly breathing in and the second line slowly breathing out The words I based the prayer on are timely, I believe, because in moments like this it’s hard to fight fear and be altruistic through willpower alone. We need to be empowered to be virtuous. And so here comes the gift: Pau...

Luke 23 verse 23 But they insisted on their demand, shouting that Jesus should be crucified. Pray Listening God, open my ears today to the world, to the stranger, to myself. Pause Sit quietly breathe deeply, let the day greet you kindly. Read Luke 23 verses 18 - 25 Reflect on the Bible passage Sadly, crowds that call for blood are not confined to history. There are many situations where those with power are unduly influenced by those who shout the loudest. The angry mob is as much a modern day phenomenon as those that called for the crucifixion of Jesus. What is our response to this and how do we resist trying to shout louder than the people around us, yet still find ways of being heard? Listen Listen out today for quiet wisdom in danger of being drowned out. How can we silence t...

This is a small section of our service on 7th June, part of Tim's address. Click HERE to play the snippet. If this whets your appetite to hear more, you can find the whole service on the Services page of this website, where you will find full instructions, or you can go directly to this service, which includes 'virtual' Holy Communion, by clicking HERE .

These handwritten prayers were found amongst my mother’s papers after her death in 2014. I cannot say exactly when they were written but, the placing of them at the beginning of the Songs of Solomon, plus some of the words (‘…minds filled with anxiety & dread…’ suggests a date during World War 2 - possibly 1943, when my father was posted to Malta shortly after their wedding. Inspired during the world-shaking events of seventy plus years ago, they seem to me to have the power to speak in the current troubling times. Mike Evans (Cheddar Methodist Church) (1) Gracious God, You seek us at every moment of our lives. When the sun is shining it is not too difficult to believe in you & to live thankfully But the hardest times are when our minds are filled with anxiety & dread, Or when we are tired out with caring for others. Give us the wings of your Spirit, Not to escape from all that we must do, But to face it with a calm mind, Aware of your unfailing presence. (2) ...

Whenever I hear someone saying they are outraged or disgusted I sigh inwardly and think what small thing has happened that has shaken someone’s comfortable, even complacent life in order that they over react using these words. Today I want to tell you that I am outraged and disgusted. This was born from a specific incident that has arisen in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. I am not talking about the riots or looting that subsequently occurred, I do not condone them either, but my anger that I feel now as I write is directed at the man who should show leadership, should call for unity and behave with dignity and strength that comes from an understanding of and willingness to face big questions that divide, particularly in this instance racism. Instead what does Mr. Trump do, he stands outside a church, Bible raised in his hands, minutes after proclaiming that he will use whatever force is necessary to maintain order and dares to align himself with Christian values. ... ...