A very warm welcome to all
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 1: 6-14; 1 Peter 4: 12-14; 5: 6-11
Gospel: John 17: 1-11
In our Gospel today
In our Gospel today Jesus has just ended his instructions to his disciples; he has concluded with “In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” Now he prays to the Father. He summarizes the significance of his life. The time appointed by God for his departure (crucifixion, resurrection and ascension) has come. Glory can be defined as divine heavenly splendour where heaven is the state of ultimate good and love existing outside of time. In v. 1, the Father giving this splendour to the Son adds to the Father’s splendour because of the “authority” (v. 2) given to the Son over humans, especially “to give eternal life” to us. V. 3 explains that “eternal life” is knowing the Father and the Son intimately. Vv. 4-5 state how the Son adds to the splendour of the Father (by completing his assigned task) and how the Father adds to the Son’s splendour: by restoring him to the Father’s “presence”, to heaven – a state he enjoyed before God’s creative act. V. 6 expands on “the work” (v. 4) the Son has done: to make the Father’s character and person (“name”, v. 6) known to those chosen by the Father. These elect are the mutual possession of Father and Son; these have been faithful to God’s “word”, his command. Vv. 7-8 expand on keeping the Father’s word: the disciples know that:
• the Father is the source of all that the Son has been given;
• Jesus is from (out of) the Father; and
• the Father sent him into the world.
Looking forward to the time after his departure, Jesus asks the Father to “protect” (v. 11) the disciples from evil influences in the alien “world”, that they may have a unity modelled on that of the Father and the Son. [Adapted from Notes by Chris Haslam for the Diocese of Montreal]
Prayers for Ukraine
Please continue to offer prayers for our brothers and sisters caught up in the tragic Russia-Ukraine war.
SECMA
Message from the Scottish Episcopal Church Mission Association – SECMA: After nearly 150 years of SECMA the decision has been made to dissolve the Association. Membership has declined and costs/rent have increased making the way forward very difficult. All projects currently funded by SECMA will be notified and funds remaining dispersed to other organisations which share SECMA’s aims, e.g., Tearfund. Gill Campbell, Convenor, thanks everyone for their support in the past, but says it’s now time to ‘pass on the baton’. Gillian Rose
All Saints Club
All Saints Club will be meeting this Sunday 21st May: come and learn about God’s love for us! Bible stories – games – craft – food for ages 4 to 12 (up to P7). Venue: St James’s at 3:30 to 5:00 pm.
Photograph Competition 2023
Our Photograph Competition for 2023 has been launched and will be our third such competition and will run until 30th September. Details of the competition rules can be found here: https://stmaryscardenplace.org.uk/notices/photograph-competition-2023/
Cheese & Wine with Silent Auction
Our next big fundraising and social event will be the Cheese and Wine with Silent Auction evening, which is now scheduled for Friday 16th June at 7:30pm. Please think about any nice quality items which you may like to donate for the Silent Auction. For this event we’ve chosen to request suitable donations rather than set a ticket price. Tickets are now available from anyone in the Fundraising Team.
Christian Aid Book & Music Sale at Queen’s Cross
Sunday 21st May will be the last day of the Christian Aid Book & Music Sale at Queen’s Cross Main Hall & Garden Room from 12 noon to 4pm. Please note purchases are cash only and you’ll need to bring your own bag(s)!
Poetry Competition 2023
Our Short Poetry Competition continues until 30th June. Further entries can be sent to our email address stmaryscardenplace@gmail.com or delivered in paper copy to any members of the Fundraising & Social Team.
Bottle Appeal
We ask everyone to consider donating attractive (and empty) gin or whisky bottles for our ‘Bottle Appeal’. This is an ongoing fundraising initiative and I ask you to keep your eyes open.
Services/Events Commencing Sunday the 21st of May 2023
- Sunday 21st May at 8am – Said Eucharist (1970 Liturgy): Revd. Dr Jenny Holden
- Sunday 21st May at 10am – Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Revd. Dr Jenny Holden
- Wednesday 24th May 10am – Holy Communion: Revd. Kate Gibson
- Friday 26th May 7pm Compline: Revd. Roger Dyer
- Sunday 28th May 8am & 10am services: Revd. Dr Jenny Holden
Sunday 28th May readings: Numbers 11: 24-30; Psalm 104: 25-35,37; Acts 2: 1-21
Gospel: John 20: 19-23
“Jesus did not come to earth so theologians alone could understand and make their good distinctions, but so that “they all may be one” (John 17:21). He came to unite and “to reconcile all things in himself, everything in heaven and everything on earth” (Colossians 1:19). Every woman or man on the street — or riding a train — should be able to see and enjoy this!”
(Richard Rohr, The Universal Christ)
Whilst Fr Terry is having time-off for any pastoral matters please contact our Assistant Priest
Rev’d Roger Dyer on 07719 458571or revrogdyer@btinternet.com