A very warm welcome to all
Refrain for Psalm 1:
“The Lord knows the way of the righteous.”
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
Readings: Jeremiah 17: 5-10; 1 Corinthians 15: 12-20
Gospel: Luke 6: 17-26
In our Gospel today
Our reading from Luke ties in well with Jeremiah’s warning that God sees beyond the external things to look on our hearts and with Paul’s struggle to convince the church at Corinth that resurrection matters – what we do now affects God’s judgement in the future.
Psalm 1 has been suggested as a Psalm that unlocks the rest: it distinguishes between the righteous and the wicked and sets out clear markers for each. The Psalmist contrasts the wicked and the righteous and exhorts us to follow the way of righteousness. We are reminded that we have choices to make.
Unlike the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, this version (Luke 6:17-26) also contains woes. As well as calling the poor, the hungry, those who mourn and the reviled blessed, Jesus proclaims woe to the rich, to the full, to those who laugh and to those who are popular.
Then and now we hold the notion that you reap what you sow and that blessing comes to those whom God favours. To hear Jesus randomly bless people runs contrary to these ideas. The Beatitudes are difficult and challenging. They are not a list of conditions. It’s not a contract that Jesus is setting out. It’s not – you will be blessed if …
To hear that those who were usually invisible were in God’s sights; to hear that God blessed the lowly and the lonely was as shocking then as it is now. This message continues to surprise us today and radically affects how we think of God, ourselves and our neighbour.
Confirmation on Sunday 23rd February
Please add Allison to your prayers this week as she prepares for her Confirmation next Sunday morning. May Allison experience the Holy Spirit calling her forward and strengthening her as a follower of Jesus.
Diocesan Synod Saturday 1st March
All communicant members of the Diocese are invited to attend the 9:30am Synod Eucharist at King’s College Chapel AB24 3EB and Synod business from 11am in the adjacent Elphinstone Room (aiming to finish by 4pm). This is an opportunity to meet friends old and new from across the Diocese and renew the bonds between us that have been so stretched in recent years by Covid and other issues. Might you come intending to meet and encourage others?
Thursday @ 7
Thursday @ 7 is now running again through to 27th February. We will be looking at Luke’s gospel which is key book for this year’s lectionary. Bible and prayer in small group discussion for an hour followed by a cuppa if you have time to stay. Venue is the Crypt – enter church by side door, through kitchen, down the stairs. Each week’s material is free-standing so it is fine if you can only join us for one or more weeks. Revd Roger Dyer (Assistant Priest).
SEC Net Zero Action Plan
Following our use of the SEC Heat Hack Programme we are now focusing on taking some actions to make our energy usage more sustainable and efficient. We are hoping to reduce our energy bills, do less damage to the planet and make St Mary’s a more comfortable place to meet, worship and socialise. Please see the noticeboard at the back of church to see what we’ve already been doing. Please let us know what you think about the options for aligning with our Three C’s targets and feel free to add your own ideas.
St Mary’s Annual General Meeting Nominations
At the AGM last Sunday the following Vestry positions were unanimously elected by the congregation: Iain Stewart was re-elected as People’s Warden; Nicola Mills was re-elected as Lay Representative and Iain Stewart was re-elected as Alternative Lay Representative. Two new Ordinary Members were also unanimously voted on to the Vestry, namely, Julia House and Athol Jermieson. Louisa Donaldson stood down as an Ordinary Member, having completed the normal term plus a period of extension.
Coffee Fund!
Just a gentle reminder that there are dishes on the tables in the Choir Vestry at coffee time for any donations. The Coffee Fund is running a bit on the low side. Thank you!
Next Vestry Meeting
The Vestry will be meeting on Tuesday 18th February at 7:30pm. Please let the wardens or Vestry Secretary know if you have any matters that you’d like to raise.
Services and events commencing this Sunday and for the coming week
Sunday 16th February 8am Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Reverend Jason Hobbs
Sunday 16th February 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Reverend Kate Gibson
Wednesday 19th February 10am Holy Communion: Reverend Kate Gibson
Friday 21st February 6pm Compline: Iain Stewart
Sunday 23rd February 8am Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Reverend Roger Dyer
Sunday 23rd February 10am Sung Eucharist with Confirmation (1982 Liturgy): Bishop Anne Dyer
Next Sunday’s readings: Ezekiel 36: 24-28; Psalm 37: 1-7a; Romans 8: 14-17
Gospel: Luke 8: 22-25
“Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light.”
(Groucho Marx)
For any pastoral matters please contact our Assistant Priest Revd Roger Dyer on 07719 458571 or revrogdyer@btinternet.com