A very warm welcome to all
Pentecost 15
Readings: Exodus 32: 7-14; 1 Timothy 1: 12-17
Gospel: Luke 15: 1-10
Requiescat in pace
The funeral of our late Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II will take place on Monday 19th September. I am glad a lot of you were able to view the cortege as it passed through Aberdeen last Sunday. There will be no service at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral on Monday in order to allow anyone who wishes to view the funeral on television to do so.
Ecumenical Prayer Service
There will be an Ecumenical Prayer service taking place at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral on Sunday afternoon, commencing at 3pm, to pray for the repose of the soul of the late Queen Elizabeth II. This will be a simple service of prayer and music, with a choir being provided by Pastor Joe Ochie of Jesus House in Aberdeen. It will be officiated by Bishop Anne with contributions from our ecumenical brothers and sisters, whom we hope will bring some of their own congregations along with them. I know this is short notice, but please try to come along if you can.
Today’s Gospel
In our Gospel reading today, like the rich man, we think we know better. We’ve been counselled to make wise investments. We are to save for a rainy day, to not let that money burn a hole in our pocket, and to not spend it all in one place. We should consider the risk versus the potential return. We weigh the costs and benefits when deciding how to use our riches. Whether our riches are monetary or non-monetary the last thing we want to do is squander them or, even worse, have someone else squander them. Our Gospel suggests otherwise.
Fr Jason Hobbs presiding and preaching today
I am grateful to Fr Jason Hobbs who will today, Preside and Preach for our Sunday services. As you know, I will be officiating at St Clements. Fr Jason has opted to use the high altar for the Eucharistic Prayers, but will come to the steps to provide Holy Communion. For those of you who do not yet know Fr Jason, please have a chat with him after the service.
War in Ukraine
Please continue to offer prayers for our brothers and sisters caught up in the mayhem that is Ukraine. 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 thinking about it.
Ordination of Mr Andrew Elliott
On Saturday the 24th of September, commencing at 12 midday, the ordination of Mr Andrew Elliott to the order of Deacons, will take place at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, this event will also take in the (re) licensing of Lay Readers from the Islands. This is a significant event and a very big day for those concerned. Please try to show your support by allowing time to attend this special day in our Church. There will be refreshments provided on the day.
Recital of Scottish vocal music by Ms Fiona Simmons
As part of our regular musical offerings At St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral on Sunday the 25th of September at 4pm, there will a recital of Scottish vocal music by Ms Fiona Simmons. This is a programme of five themed sets involving a wide range of different songs. It will conclude with a short lullaby, composed by Fiona for a Scottish Traditional singing exam, but never yet sang in public. All of this music will be unaccompanied so it is an opportunity to truly enjoy the acoustic qualities of the church building. Entrance is as always, free, however, any donations are gratefully received.
Migrants: Blessing or Burden?
On Monday 3rd October at 7pm in the choir Vestry, we will be joined by Dr Robert Heimburger, Research Fellow in Theological Ethics, University of Aberdeen. This will be an opportunity to reflect on our own experiences in the light of migration stories from the Bible. Robert is a member at St Devenick’s, Bieldside. There will be a service of Compline at the end of the evening for any that wish to stay.
Jacket Potato
‘Jacket Potato’ is an appeal to everyone to have a look through your unused coats and jackets, gloves and scarves, and consider donating them to us here at St Mary’s. Once we have what is considered a sufficient amount, we will, after some advertising, invite anyone, who, through no fault of their own, have fallen on hard times, to come along on a date to be confirmed, to find a garment that fits and to take it free of charge. There will be a limit of one garment per person, and the thinking behind this venture is to ensure that as the winter months fast approach, we here at St Mary’s can ‘do our bit’ to help those who might otherwise go cold. I would like to be able to do this sometime in November if possible, and on the day we can have jacket potatoes and beans available for anyone who wants to have a hot meal. If you do decide to donate a coat or jacket, please ensure that it is serviceable to wear, e.g, all buttons etc, are in place. Also, if you have a coat rail of some kind we can borrow to hang the items donated that would be great. ‘And he answered and he said to them’, “Whoever has two coats, let him give to him who has not, and whoever has food should do likewise.” (Luke 3: 11)
Five Year Plan
I mentioned last week that it is incumbent upon me and our Vestry to now consider a five-year-plan. This was discussed at General Synod and it will be a requirement for each charge and diocese to produce such a plan. With this in mind, I would like to form a strategic planning group, which I shall chair, to tentatively begin the process of evidence gathering and terms of reference. Should anyone, either in the Vestry Committee or St Mary’s congregation be interested in becoming part of this group, would you please let me know. It is important that we are able to harness the skills and vision required to produce this plan.
Diary Date
A date for your diaries. This year’s Harvest festival will take place on Sunday the 2nd of October at our 10 am Sung Eucharist.
Jewellery
As mentioned in previous weeks, I am asking you to look through your jewellery boxes to see if you are prepared to part with something that you really haven’t used for years or maybe you just feel like donating something you have no further use of. Of course, it doesn’t have to be gold, it could be any type of jewellery that we might be able to sell on to a jewellers. In any case, I am now appealing to you to consider this and I intend to keep this running for the next 3 months, at which point we can assess where we are.
Vestry Vacancies
We have two vacancies on St Mary’s Vestry for Ordinary Members, and I would strongly urge those who feel that they could offer something to assist in the management of our Church to speak to me. Vestry membership is a rewarding role and provides an insight in to how we reach the decisions we do in our work here at Carden Place.
Holiday Club
It is now too late to consider further volunteers for the All Saints Holiday Club 17-20 Oct for those aged 4-11(inc P7) at St James, Holburn St, a joint project between St James, St John’s and St Mary’s. We are, however, continuing our focus to get children to attend and to encourage prayer support.
Photography Competition 2022
Photography Competition 2022 : After the successful competition of last year 1st July marks the start of this year’s contest. We have until the 14th of October to submit entries to Mr David Rose via the St Mary’s email address stmaryscardenplace@gmail.com There is no limit to the number of photos that you may enter but they have to be taken by you or a family member with their permission. The entry fee for each shot is £2 with those judged to be the best three receiving a prize. Photographs of people are not encouraged to avoid the requirement to obtain express written permission. For full details of Competition Rules (inc. how to pay, display, publishing and royalty rights) please see church website stmaryscardenplace.org.uk under ‘What’s On’.
Services/Events Commencing Sunday the 18th September 2022
Sunday 18th September at 8 am – Said Eucharist (1970 – Fr Jason Hobbs)
Sunday 18th September at 10 am – Pentecost 14 – Sung Eucharist (1982 – Fr Jason Hobbs)
Sunday 18th September at 3pm – Ecumenical Prayer Service for the late Queen Elizabeth II (+Anne and other denominations)
Monday 19th September – Cn Terry – Day off
Tuesday 20th September at 10am – Morning Prayer (Fr Roger)
Tuesday 20th September at 11am – Internment of Ashes at Allanvale Cemetery (Cn Terry)
Wednesday 21st September at 10am – Holy Communion – Matthew the Apostle (1970 – Cn Terry)
Thursday 22nd September – Clergy and Lay Readers Conference (Cn Terry/Fr Roger)
Friday 23rd September – Clergy and Lay Readers Conference (Cn Terry/Fr Roger)
Saturday 24th September at 12 noon – Ordination and Licensing Service (+Anne)
Sunday 25th September at 8 am- Pentecost 16 – Holy Communion (1970 – Cn Terry)
Sunday 25th September at 10 am- Pentecost 16 – Sung Eucharist (1982 – Cn Terry)
Sunday 25th September at 4pm – Recital of Scottish Vocal Music – Ms Fiona Simmons
Readings: Amos 6: 1a, 4-7; Psalm 146; 1 Timothy 6: 6-19
Gospel: Luke 16: 19-31
“My piece of bread only belongs to me when I know that everyone else has a share and that no one starves while I eat”
(Leo Tolstoy)
Cn Terry Taggart:
01224588776/07768219984