Sunday 2nd August - Lammas Sunday

 It's a festival marking the first fruits of the harvest; lammas meaning loaf-mass.

At zoom church today the account came from Matthew's gospel,  chapter 14. The person doing the reflection (aka sermon, but shorter!) reminded us, or in my case, informed us, that it's one of the events recorded in all four gospels, so I'll get another chance to think  about it when it turns up in my slow read through John's gospel.

What had Jesus been telling the crowd all day? How could 5,000 people (not including women and children!) hear him? I was trying to relate the number of people to a place I knew; during the prom concerts at the Royal Albert Hall there are up to about 1000 people standing in the middle and roughly 4,000 in reserved seating 

That helps me get an impression. 

The whole episode, however you interpret it  is astonishing. 

This was our final hymn; Gather around, for the table is spread.

I haven't been able to find a version on YouTube with singers I like, so here is just an organist and the words.

Music: William Ross 

Words: Jeanette Holloway

Gather around, for the table is spread, 

welcome the food and rest!

Wide is our circle, with Christ at the head, 

he is the honoured guest.

Learn of his love, grow in his grace, 

pray for the peace he gives;

here at this meal, here in this place, 

know that his spirit lives!

Once he was known in the breaking of bread,

shared with a chosen few;

multitudes gathered and by him were fed, so, will he feed us too.

Daniel Roberts | Organist,  Recorded in St. Thomas Church, Stanhope, Durham