Bible Readings

Drystone walls
are one of the defining features of the Dales landscape.
Like grey ribbons they meander along the valleys and stride across the open fells and moorland. They enclose fields and define the boundary between holdings
Most of the long, straight walls on the higher ground date from the Acts of Enclosure and are the result of lines drawn on maps by the surveyors who implemented the Acts. However difficult the route designated by these latter day “civil servants”, the owner of the land was required to follow it with the result that walls were strung up steep hillsides, across peaty bogs and over streams that became raging torrents in winter.
A well-made wall actually consists of two faces in-filled with small stones, bound together by “through-stones” A good wall is said to “outlive” its builder but they do collapse eventually. The action of frost, burrowing rabbits and leaping, errant sheep all cause wall failures.

29 August   Trinity 13
Proverbs 25:6-7
Psalm 112
Hebrews 13:1-8,15-16
Luke 14:1, 7-14

5 September   Trinity 14
Deuteronomy 30:15-end
Psalm 1
Philemon 1-21
Luke 14:25-33

12 September   Trinity 15
Exodus 32:7-14
Psalm 51:1-11
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Luke 15:1-10

19 September   Trinity 16
Amos 8:4-7
Psalm 113
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Luke 16:1-13

26 September   Trinity 17
Amos 6:1a,4-7
Psalm 146
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Luke 16:19-end

3 October   Trinity 18
Habbakuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4
Psalm 37:1-9
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Luke 17:5-10

10 October   Trinity 19
2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c
Psalm 111
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Luke 17:11-19

17 October   Trinity 20
Genesis 32:22-31
Psalm 121
2 Timothy 4:5-17
Luke 18:1-8

24 October
Isaiah 45:22-end
Psalm 119:126-136
Romans 15:1-6
Luke 4:16-24

O Christ, give us the gift
of looking towards you
at every moment.

So often we forget that you
live within us, that you are
praying within us,
that you are loving within us.

Your miracle is your trust
and your forgiveness, always
offered
in that unique communion
which is called the Church.

Brother Roger of Taize (1915-2005)