Week beginning Sunday 23rd July – The Seventh Sunday after Trinity
This Sunday we hear the fascinating story of Jacob’s Ladder. The story may be related to the story of the Tower of Babel: the idea of God or gods living literally on high was a common feature of the cultures of the ancient near east, and the structures known as Ziggurats – terraced towers of successively receding levels, ascended by steps – may point to the origin of the Tower of Babel story. At the Tower of Babel, human beings construct a tower reaching to the heavens in an attempt to become like gods; Jacob’s Ladder, by contrast, is a revelation given by God to Jacob: the initiative in connecting God and humanity can come from God alone. The story points us to Jesus in at least three ways: God’s promise (repeating the promise made to Abraham) that “all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you” finds fulfilment in Jesus; the connection between God and humanity revealed in Jacob’s Ladder reaches perfection in the union of God with humanity in the person of Jesus Christ; and the physical symbol of the ladder points to Jesus’ descent from heaven, His “lifting up” on the Cross, and His Ascension to the Father.
(The image is a painting of Jacob’s Ladder by the Greek artist Elias Moskos, c.1664-6.)
This Sunday:
8am Holy Communion (BCP) (St Mary’s)
9.30am Sung Eucharist and Junior Church (St Mary’s)
11.15am Sung Holy Communion (BCP) (St Nicholas, Remenham)
4pm Evening Prayer (BCP) (St Mary’s)
This week (please note the reduced pattern of weekday services):
Thursday 27 Holy Eucharist 10am (St Mary’s)
Friday 28 Wedding rehearsal 4pm (St Nicholas) Wedding rehearsal 6pm (St Nicholas)
Saturday 29 Wedding 12noon (St Nicholas) Wedding 2pm (St Nicholas)
Next Sunday: The Eighth Sunday after Trinity
8am Holy Communion (BCP) (St Mary’s)
9.30am Sung Eucharist and Junior Church (St Mary’s)
11.15am Sung Matins (BCP) (St Nicholas)
4.00pm Evening Prayer (BCP) (St Mary’s)