As we begin a new Church year this Advent (2025), our Sunday readings turn to the Gospel of Matthew. Each lectionary cycle gives us the opportunity to journey with one of the four evangelists, and this year Matthew is our guide.

Matthew offers a wonderfully rich portrait of Jesus: a teacher like Moses, a fulfilment of ancient promises, and the herald of God’s upside-down Kingdom of Heaven. His Gospel is full of memorable teaching, striking parables, and a steady insistence that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah who brings God’s purposes to completion.

To mark the start of this Matthew-focused year—and to highlight some of the Gospel’s distinctive features—we’ve included a light-hearted poem below. It’s a playful way of noticing Matthew’s favourite themes: fulfilment quotations, carefully crafted structure, royal overtones, and those famous five teaching discourses.

We hope it brings a smile as we step into another year of worship, reflection, and discovery together.

A Very Matthewish Gospel (A Poem of Distinctive Features)

Of all the Gospel writers,
Matthew’s got a flair—
He loves a good Old Testament quote,
He pops them everywhere.

He’ll say, “This happened to fulfil…”
(You’ve heard that line before.)
By chapter two you realise
He’s got a prophecy store.

He starts with a genealogy—
A family tree so neat—
Fourteen, fourteen, fourteen folk,
A rhythmic Jewish beat.
(With Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba—
Surprise guests in the list!)
It’s Matthew’s way of hinting:
“God’s grace is hard to miss.”

The Magi wander east to west—
(No shepherds in this tale!)
A star, a king, some frankincense,
And Herod turning pale.
Joseph dreams in stereo,
An angel every night…
While Matthew whispers, “Isaiah said…
See? Told you I was right.”

He loves the word “Kingdom”—
But “of Heaven,” if you please.
(Mark says “God,” Luke mixes both,
But Matthew sticks with these.)
And if you fancy sermons,
Five grand ones fill the page—
Like Moses on the mountain,
But updated for this age.

From Beatitudes to parables,
From wise men to the end,
Matthew’s Gospel quietly says:
“See? Jesus is the send—
The King, the Christ, the promised one,
The teacher on the hill.”
And if you doubt his references,
Don’t worry—he’s got skill.

So raise a smile for Matthew,
With his structure crisp and tight—
A Gospel full of wisdom,
And a narrator who just might
Lean over your shoulder softly
And give your sleeve a tug:
“Check the prophets… check the prophets.
See? Fits perfectly. Hug.”

Big crowds braved the rain at St Mary’s Church in Rougham to cheer on Kevin Sinfield on the first stop of his gruelling ultramarathon challenge.

The former rugby league player is taking on seven ultramarathons in seven days, known as the 7 in 7: Together challenge, to raise money in aid of motor neurone disease (MND) research. He completed his first ultramarathon in Suffolk on December 1 in tribute to former Ipswich Town striker Marcus Stewart, who lives with the condition, crossing the finishing line at Portman Road.

For full story see https://www.cofesuffolk.org/news/crowds-gather-at-suffolk-church-to-cheer-on-star-on-first-stop-of-ultramarathon.php

Meet the people who make our churches tick.
We’ve just launched a new “Who’s Who – Meet the Team” page, complete with photographs, so you can put faces to names and learn more about those serving in our churches.

Take a look [here] — you may spot a familiar smile.

Jesus said “I am the bread of life; those who come to me will never go hungry.” – John 6:35

1 August marks Lammas — Loaf Mass Day.
It’s a moment in the church year to pause and give thanks for the first fruits of the harvest.

In Old Testament times, God’s people brought Him the first of their grain as an offering — a sign that they depended on Him for their daily bread.

Today, we echo that tradition when we bring into church a freshly baked loaf, made from the first wheat harvest, in gratitude for His faithfulness.

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🥖 Bread in the Bible

In Scripture, bread is more than food. It speaks of:

• Sustenance – the manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16).
• Provision – “He brings forth bread from the earth” (Psalm 104).
• Spiritual nourishment – “Man does not live on bread alone…” (Deuteronomy 8:3).

Bread is the symbol of God’s care, abundance, and presence.

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✝ “I Am the Bread of Life”

When Jesus said this, His listeners were shocked. They knew Him as Joseph’s son, the boy they grew up with, just an ordinary family — and now He was claiming to be the source of eternal life. We can understand their confusion.

We all know physical hunger — but we also know the deeper hunger of the heart.

Only Jesus can satisfy that.
Without Him, we are left wandering the wilderness of this world.

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🤝 Bread and Community

In Cave, Refectory, Road, Ian Adams describes the Refectory as the place where hospitality and community flourish.

That’s exactly what happens at Bread Church in Liverpool.
Twice a week, people knead dough, share stories, worship together, and then enjoy soup and fresh bread.

Everyone bakes two loaves — one to keep, one to give away.
Extra loaves are blessed and shared with neighbours, charities, and strangers.

“Whenever you break bread, take a piece with you to share with a stranger on the way home.” – from the Celtic tradition

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🌱 Living the Bread of Life

When we come to the communion table, we receive Christ’s life within us — strength for the road ahead.

This Lammas, may we:

• Receive His abundance with gratitude.
• Share generously with others.
• Live as people who carry the fragrance of fresh bread into a hungry world.

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What’s the best human relationship you’ve ever had? Maybe it was with a partner, parent, grandparent, child, sibling—or that one friend who always seems to understand you perfectly. Pause for a moment. Think of that person. Feel that connection.

This year, two special days overlap: Father’s Day and Trinity Sunday. One is secular, one is sacred, but both invite us to reflect on the nature of love, connection, and family.

The Trinity: A Divine Model of Perfect Relationship

The Christian doctrine of the Trinity describes God as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—in one divine being. It’s not just theology; it’s a vision of perfect relationship. Each person of the Trinity is distinct, yet united. There’s no hierarchy, no domination—only mutual love, respect, and giving.

It’s a powerful image, especially on a day when many are thinking about their fathers or father figures. Whether your own experience of fatherhood has been positive or painful, the Trinity offers a model of what loving relationship can and should be: supportive, generous, equal, and life-giving.

Living Out the Trinity

Trinity Sunday marks the beginning of “Ordinary Time” in the church calendar—a season focused not on festivals, but on everyday faith and growth. And in today’s Gospel, Jesus promises the gift of the Holy Spirit, the divine presence that connects us with God and each other.

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, we’re reminded that through faith in Jesus, we receive peace, grace, hope, and the love of God poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. This isn’t just theology—it’s a call to action. To love. To connect. To live differently.

The Trinity and Our Human Relationships

So how does the Trinity speak to our own relationships?

In a world where relationships can be strained, broken, or transactional, the Trinity shows us a better way. Each person of the Trinity brings something essential to the whole. No one dominates; each seeks to uplift the other. There’s respect, harmony, and generosity at the core.

Imagine what our families, churches, and communities might look like if we lived that way.

Who Do You Connect With Most?

Which person of the Trinity do you feel most drawn to?

• God the Father, who is loving, generous, and slow to anger.
• Jesus the Son, who calls us to forgiveness, change, and closeness with God.
• The Holy Spirit, who stirs us to live with love, justice, and compassion.

Each invites us into deeper relationship—with God, and with each other.

A Closing Thought

On this Trinity Sunday and Father’s Day, may we be reminded that the love of God isn’t distant or abstract—it’s relational, practical, and deeply personal.

May we reflect that love in our own lives. In our families. In our friendships. In how we treat the stranger.

Let’s be people who embody the unity, generosity, and grace of the Trinity in everything we do. Amen.

Revd Julia Lall

Readings: Acts 2:1–21; John 14:8–17, 25–27

Today, we celebrate Pentecost — the great feast of the Holy Spirit. It’s a day that comes 50 days after Easter, and it marks a key event in the Church’s life. It might also be a deeply personal and key moment for us., because Pentecost reminds us that we are children of God, adopted into God’s family through the Spirit. Paul writes in Romans that when we cry “Abba, Father,” it’s the Holy Spirit within us crying out. This Spirit helps us in our weakness and even prays on our behalf when we cannot find the words.

Across every nation, language, and culture, the Spirit is uniting God’s people. Our many voices are brought together in one voice — the voice of the gospel of peace.

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A Festival Rooted in History

Pentecost didn’t begin with the disciples. Originally, it was a Jewish harvest festival. Pilgrims travelled to Jerusalem to offer the first fruits of their crops. The city would be alive with music, celebration, and the joyful chaos of new wine and community gathering.

So when the disciples began to speak in many languages that morning, it’s no surprise some thought they were drunk! But this time, God was doing something new. With wind and fire, the Holy Spirit arrived not just to dazzle — but to transform.

What happened in Jerusalem that day wasn’t just a spectacle. It was the birth of the Church, and the Spirit that moved then still moves today.

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Who Is the Holy Spirit?

Let’s explore what today’s readings reveal about the Holy Spirit — and what that means for us now.

1. Presence

The Holy Spirit is God’s living presence in the world. We first meet this Spirit in Genesis, hovering over the chaos before creation — bringing light and order. That same Spirit still brings life where there is emptiness.

2. Breath

The Hebrew word for spirit is Ruach, meaning breath or wind. It’s the breath of life God gives to Adam, and it’s the same breath Jesus breathes onto his disciples after the resurrection, saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

And how we need that breath now. In a world overwhelmed by conflict, environmental crisis, and despair, the Spirit breathes hope and resilience. It reminds us that we are not alone — we are not abandoned.

3. Gentleness

The Spirit also comes gently. When Jesus is baptized, the Spirit descends like a dove — a sign of peace and healing. The Spirit comforts us in sorrow and brings reconciliation where there’s division. This is the “Comforter” Jesus promised — not just a fleeting presence, but one who stays.

4. Power

Yet the Spirit is also power — the kind that fuelled the first disciples to speak boldly and share the gospel in ways they never could on their own. That same Spirit gives us strength today: strength to face fear, speak truth, and live with courage.

5. Wisdom

The Spirit is our Advocate and guide. Jesus said this Spirit would teach us all things and lead us into all truth — not just “my truth” or “your truth,” but the truth. The truth that forgives, that liberates, that humbles.

This wisdom helps us discern God’s will for us, especially when the way ahead isn’t clear.

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Still Speaking, Still Moving

The Spirit didn’t stop at Pentecost. It still comes — maybe not always with wind and fire, but with a whisper, a gentle tug at the heart, a nudge we can’t ignore.

As Psalm 104 says: “When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.” This isn’t just poetic — it’s a promise. The Spirit is always renewing. Always inviting us to begin again.

So this Pentecost, let’s be open. Let’s allow the Spirit to fill us — with peace, with courage, with life. The world may feel uncertain, even broken, but this isn’t the end. It’s a new beginning.

Amen.

Revd Julia Lall

By Revd Julia Lall

Last Sunday of Eastertide — A Time Between

As the Easter season ends and Pentecost approaches, we find ourselves in a unique spiritual space—waiting, wondering, maybe even forgetting one crucial piece:  Ascension Day.

Though often overlooked, the Ascension of Jesus is foundational to our faith. We proclaim it in the Nicene Creed every week:
“He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father…”
But how often do we really pause to reflect on what that means?

What Is the Ascension Really About?

Ascension Day marks the moment, 40 days after the Resurrection, when Jesus returned to the Father. But this isn’t about Jesus “leaving” us.
It’s about completion, glory, and a new closeness with God.
In John 17, we see Jesus praying for His followers—then, and now. He’s preparing them for what’s coming. It’s a deeply personal, emotional prayer. One filled with love and concern.

Why It Still Matters

The Jesus who ascended into heaven is the same Jesus who walked dusty roads, healed the sick, cried with friends, and felt abandoned on the cross.
He knows what it means to be human. He knows what it means to hurt. And He prays for us still.
“Holy Father, protect them…” (John 17:11)
The Ascended Christ isn’t distant or detached. He stands with the hurting. He comforts the refugee, the caregiver, the grieving parent, the anxious heart.
All of our human experience is now held in heaven—with love.

So What Do We Do?

As we wait between Ascension and Pentecost, we’re not meant to be idle. We’re invited into three practices:

1. Pray

We’re in the middle of Thy Kingdom Come, a global prayer movement encouraging Christians to pray for five people who don’t yet know Jesus. Who are your five?

This year’s theme focuses on the Lord’s Prayer, a powerful reminder that God is both holy and intimately close—our Father.

2. Share

Jesus’ followers became apostles—messengers sent to carry His love into the world. We’re called to do the same. Whether through words, kindness, or service, our lives can tell the story of Jesus.

3. Stand Firm

The world is hurting. But we are not alone. The risen and ascended Christ walks with us. Even now.

Looking Ahead to Pentecost

In this in-between space, may we hold on to hope.
May we rejoice that heaven’s glory is united with earth’s suffering—and that Jesus stands in the middle, praying for us.
“And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” — Matthew 28:20

The June 2025 issue of the Parish Magazine for Rougham, Beyton, Hessett and Rushbrooke is now with the printer and should be delivered shortly. But if you can’t wait for your copy, here’s where you can find the magazine online… and in colour.

http://online.anyflip.com/xfgtl/zsqj/

The MAY 2025 issue of the Parish Magazine for Rougham, Beyton, Hessett and Rushbrooke is now with the printer and should be delivered shortly. But if you can’t wait for your copy, here’s where you can find the magazine online… and in colour.

http://online.anyflip.com/xfgtl/gqar/