A very warm welcome to all
Psalm 51: “Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.”
The Fifth Sunday in Lent
Readings: Jeremiah 31: 31-34; Hebrews 5: 5-10
Gospel: John 12: 20-33
In our Gospel today
I think that this week’s epistle reading from Hebrews is rather opaque! Melchizedek is mentioned only twice elsewhere in the Bible, and it is unclear what exactly are the issues the writer of the letter to the Hebrews is addressing.
Melchizedek is seen here as an archetypal Christ figure whose fullness is found in Jesus. The fact that the priesthood of Jesus is “for ever” is a big theme in Hebrews (v6). Having made an offering for sin ‘once and for all’ (7:27), He gives people salvation forever (7:23-28). We are treated here to a clear explanation of how the new era that Jeremiah glimpsed in our Old Testament reading is possible: it is because Jesus “became the source of eternal salvation” (v9).
In both the passages from Jeremiah and John there is a sense of God’s plans for the redemption of all creation moving forward according to a divine timetable. Jeremiah gets a distant view of what is to come and the writer to the Hebrews later uses these verses to explain what has happened in the person and work of Jesus. John, more than any other writer, conveys an exciting sense of events building over time to their eventual climax.
The final two weeks of Lent are sometimes called Passiontide and today, Lent 5, is named Passion Sunday. Our focus draws evermore intently upon the Passion, the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus will be swallowed up by death, sin and the devil. He is however the ‘grain of seed that falls into the ground and bears much fruit’ for he rises victorious over all that comes against us.
Holy Week Services
For your diaries the services for Holy Week are as follows:
Wednesday 27th 10am Holy Communion & 6pm Stations of the Cross: Revd Roger Dyer
Maundy Thursday 28th 6pm Holy Communion: Revd Roger Dyer
Friday 29th 2pm An Hour at the Cross – the Liturgy of Good Friday: Revd Roger Dyer
Easter Sunday 31st 6am Dawn Service of Light; 8am Holy Communion; Easter Breakfast; 10am Sung Eucharist with Baptism: Bishop Dorsey McConnell
Diocesan Library Books Sale
The St Mary’s Vestry has decided that it is best to disperse the remainder of the Diocesan Library books and reference documents. We are arranging for interested clergy and other parties to view and purchase the books on Friday 22nd March (clergy only) and Saturday 23rd March (open to everyone). Opening times will be 10am to 4pm on each day. All monies raised will go to the Diocesan Office and a decision on the use of the raised funds will be made at a later date. Any books left over from these two open days will be presented for sale at the local book sale organised by Fountainhall at the Cross. We are keen to have many hands helping on a rota basis on the open days and to have traybakes available with teas and coffees. Please see the sign-up sheet at the back of the church.
The Bishop’s Lent Appeal
Donations to the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal 2024 will be given to Al Ahli hospital in Gaza via the Jerusalem and the Middle East Church Association. The Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza, owned and sacrificially supported over many years by the Episcopal (Anglican) Diocese of Jerusalem, continues to serve the whole ‘family’ of human beings in Gaza. It provides a vital service in an increasingly desperate situation. If you would like to contribute, please give any cheques or cash to Lydia Ross, our Treasurer or a member of the Vestry.
Diocesan Lent Course: Way to the Cross
Way to the Cross. We will be using material from the Diocesan Lent Course for this year’s Lent Group. Thursdays 7-8pm in the Crypt 22/2, 29/2, 7/3, 14/3 & 21/3. Revd Roger writes “I look forward to meeting with others to consider Jesus’ journey to the Cross. My hope is that this will prepare our hearts for our Easter worship and help us as we seek to follow Jesus, living cross-shaped lives. All comers welcome. Tea, Coffee, chat after also available!”
Church Magazine
The Communications Group would like to canvas the congregations thoughts about our Magazine, which is currently published on a quarterly basis. Is this the best frequency for everyone? Is there anything else that you would like to see in it? Please provide your feedback to the editor, Nicola Mills, or anyone on the Vestry. Please note that the closing date for articles for the Easter Magazine is 25th March.
Easter egg Appeal
Our Easter Egg Collection is very well underway, and we will carry on collecting until Palm Sunday. Thank you very much to everyone who has already made donations. Donations will be given to our regular charity partners Barnardo’s and Aberdeen Cyrenians.
Services and events commencing this Sunday and for the coming week
Sunday 17th March 8am Said Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Roger Dyer
Sunday 17th March 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Revd Roger Dyer
Tuesday 19th March 10am Morning Prayer: Revd Roger Dyer
Wednesday 20th March 10am Holy Communion: Revd Dr Ruth Green
Thursday 21st March 7pm Lent Group
Friday 22nd March 6pm Compline: Revd Roger Dyer
Sunday 24th March 8am Said Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Roger Dyer
Sunday 24th March 10am Service of the Word: Dr Nicola Mills
Next Sunday’s readings: Isaiah 50: 4-7; Psalm 118: 1-2,19-29; Philippians 2: 6-11
Gospel: Mark 14: 1-15:47
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
(Soren Kierkegaard)
For any pastoral matters please contact our Assistant Priest Revd. Roger Dyer on 07719 458571
or revrogdyer@btinternet.com