A very warm welcome to all
Second Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 2: 14a, 22-32; 1 Peter 1: 3-9
Gospel: John 20: 19-31
In our Gospel
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! He is risen – He is risen indeed !! It’s been one week since Easter, one week since the chaos and excitement, one week since the empty tomb, and one week since our first “Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.” One week after the resurrection, the disciples are in the same place they were on Easter night. They are in the same room behind the same locked doors.
Happy to be Back
I am so delighted to be back with you after a short period of illness and personal issues. I am acutely aware that much work was done in my absence and I am deeply indebted to everyone who worked so hard to make both Holy Week and the Easter Sunday celebrations the success they were. I am deeply humbled by all of your prayers for my Wife Sam and my brother Stephen. It has been particularly difficult for my family as they deal with the life-changing situation that my brother now faces. I can assure you that your prayers have been a source of strength to them.
War in Ukraine
Please continue to offer prayers for our brothers and sisters caught up in Ukraine’s mayhem. Please think about what you can do to help in any way for those who continue to reach out to the rest of Europe and beyond for our assistance. Whatever method or organisation you use to make donations, please do it rather than think about it.
Travel
Sam and I hope to travel south for a few days next week, on Friday the 21st of April. Therefore there will be no 6 pm Compline on Friday and the 8 am Sunday Eucharist will also be cancelled. The 10 am Sunday Eucharist will be a Service of the Word. I intend to be back for the Sunday Services commencing 30th April, so all services through the week will also be cancelled, the Tuesday 10 am prayers on the 25th, the 10 am Holy Communion on the 26th and the 6 pm Compline on the 28th
Bottle Appeal
We continue to ask everyone to consider donating any unusual bottles for our ‘Bottle Appeal’. This is an ongoing fundraising initiative and I ask you to keep your eyes open.
Poem Competition 2023
Just to remind everyone that our Short Poetry Competition was launched on the 4th of December. If you recall how successful our previous competition was it was a ‘no-brainer’ that we should do it again. So, get your artistic thinking caps on once more and let’s see if we can have some wonderful poems as we did last time. I have decided to extend the cut-off date of the competition, so you now have until the end of June 2023 to submit your entries via email to stmaryscardenplace@gmail.com or if you do not have a computer, on a hard copy to either myself or Mr David Rose our webmaster. The rules can be found via the website on the following link to this year’s competition at https://stmaryscardenplace.org.uk/uncategorized/poem-competition-2023/ Further information will be updated and will soon be made available.
Services/Events Commencing Sunday the 16th of April 2023
Sunday 16th April at 8 am – Said Eucharist (1970- Cn Terry
Sunday 16th April at 10 am – Sung Eucharist (1982- Cn Terry)
Monday 17th April – Cn Terry – Day Off
Tuesday 18th April at 10 am – Morning Prayer (Cn Terry)
Wednesday 19th April at 10 am – Holy Communion (Cn Terry)
Friday 21st April Cn Terry – Time Off
Sunday 23rd April at 8 am – Said Eucharist Cancelled
Sunday 23rd April at 10 am – 3rd Sunday of Easter – Service of the Word
Sunday the 23rd April readings: Acts 2: 14a, 36-41; Psalm 116: 1-17; 1 Peter 1: 17-23
Gospel: Luke 24: 13-35
“Gifts are free. If you work for a gift, it is no longer a gift. Gifts in the truest sense are undeserved. If we feel we deserve it, then it ceases to be a gift and becomes an award. The eternal life God gives us is truly a gift because we don’t deserve it in any way.”
(John R. Cross,)
(The Stranger On The Road To Emmaus)
Cn Terry Taggart:
01224588776/07768219984