South West Norfolk Pastoral Charge

     Come to  Coffee & Conversation:)  

Join Pastor:   Rev. Ted Smith   WEDNESDAY'S at 10:00am , bring your coffee for great conversations on ZOOM

Click on the ZOOM MEETING Link Above

ANNOUNCEMENTS

A WELCOME INVITATION TO ALL WOMEN OF THE CHURCH to U.C.W. Meetings

Meeting Dates for 2026:   Meeting the 1st Wednesday at 1:00pm at Courtland United Church

October 7, 2026

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                                                                Summertime! Summertime! Mmm Mmm Summertime!

I just love summer, and all the wonderful things we associate with summer. Holidays, sunshine, beaches, fishing, swimming, long lazy days and the list goes on. Summer is a time of rest and refreshment for many from our busy lives. A time when we often make deliberate plans to visit friends we haven't seen for a while and catch up. with this though I'm reminded of Luke's story of Jesus' visit to Martha and Mary's house. In the story we hear of Martha being so busy with her tasks, as her sister Mary sits at Jesus' feet and listens. Martha becomes so upset because Mary isn't helping her that she storms into their space and raises her voice to Jesus saying,

" Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me! 'Martha, Martha', the Lord

answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her'.       * (see Luke 10: 38 – 42) 

What was Jesus saying to Martha? ...Martha was upset and anxious. She was also distracted by her many tasks, to the point where she lost her balance. Jesus lovingly directs her to a different way of thinking, an invitation to be more like Mary, and see that her soul is fed first, that sitting at Jesus feet is the place to start. When Jesus responded to Martha by saying,

              "Mary has chosen better, and it will not be taken away from her". (Luke 10: 42a)

He is speaking about the tension between the temporary things of this world, and the eternal things, for some things are temporary, some things are eternal, and it's faith and wisdom that show us the difference. So, I invite all of us to reflect on some questions as summer unfolds and we have opportunity to be refreshed and renewed. Please ponder these. 

 1) if you had been Martha, how would you have responded to Jesus?

2) If Jesus were to stop by your house for a visit, what might he say to you?

 3) What " one thing is needed" for you to take some stress out of your life?

 4) In what area of your life do you need more balance?

Good questions for us to engage. You are invited by Jesus to join him first in everything you do. So as summer unfolds I would encourage all to find themselves at Jesus feet as much as possible. This can be done in many ways; prayer, meditation, calling a friend who might need some encouragement, walking the beach, intentionally sitting down to watch a beautiful sunrise or sunset. There are many ways to feed your soul, and it's this "soul food" that keeps us balanced and fully alive. 

Summer Blessings Friends............. Pastor T.