A very warm welcome to all
Psalm 15: “Through the greatness of your mercy, I will come into your house.”
Season of Creation Week 1
Readings: Deuteronomy 4: 1-2, 6-9; James 1: 17-27
Gospel: Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23
In our Gospel today
The celebration of the Season of Creation began in 1989 when Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios 1 established September 1 as a Day of Prayer for Creation in the Orthodox Church. The World Council of Churches extended the celebration to October 4th, the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi. We belong to this ecumenical movement as the Scottish Episcopal Church, part of the world-wide Anglican Communion.
The theme for 2024 is To Hope and Act with Creation.
In the letter of Paul to the Romans he pictures the Earth as a Mother, groaning as in childbirth (Rom 8:22). Francis of Assisi understood this when he referred to the Earth as our sister and our mother in his Canticle of the Creatures. The times we live in show that we are not relating to the Earth as a gift from our Creator, but rather as a resource to be used.
And yet, there is hope and the expectation for a better future. To hope in a biblical context does not mean to stand still and quiet, but rather groaning, crying, and actively striving for new life amongst the struggles. Just as in childbirth, we go through a period of intense pain but new life springs forth.
Season of Creation
During the five Sundays of September, we plan to use the Season of Creation (Creationtide) theme. This is an ecumenical idea that has been growing over recent years and seeks to raise the profile of our understanding and action about climate and biodiversity issues as Christians. The series culminates with the service of Harvest. You can find out more about Season of Creation here: https://seasonofcreation.org/about/
Quiz night at St John’s, Thursday 19th September at 7pm
St John’s are hosting a fun quiz night in their church hall on Crown Terrace. Teams from other churches are very welcome. Tickets are £5 per person, and this entitles you to some refreshments too!
Updates to St Mary’s Social and Fundraising Calendar
Our Quiz Night, was originally scheduled for Friday 13th September, has now been moved to combine it with the Pizza Evening on Friday 11th October. Please see our noticeboards for the updated calendar.
Church Grounds Tidy Up
Thank you very much to all who have done the excellent weeding work over the past few weeks. The church grounds to the north, west and south of the St Mary’s are all looking really neat and tidy! Our architect, Dave Chouman, is hoping to lodge our project plan for the East End Garden Project in the next few weeks. In the meantime, if you have the energy, please feel free to tackle the meadow at the east end of the church grounds. How do you fancy some fellowship while weeding? Please join us for a weeding gang on Saturday 14th September between 10am and 12 noon.
Photograph Competition 2024
Our Photograph Competition is currently running and will now have a new deadline for entries of Monday 30th September. Please send any nice photographs to our webmaster, David Rose. Donations of £2 per photograph entry go to church funds. Thank you to all who have sent in photographs so far! You can view the latest entries here: https://stmaryscardenplace.org.uk/photograph-competition-2024/
Services and events commencing this Sunday and for the coming week
Sunday 1st September 8am Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Roger Dyer
Sunday 1st September 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Revd Kate Gibson
Wednesday 3rd September 10am Holy Communion: Revd Kate Gibson
Friday 5th September 6pm Compline: Iain Stewart
Sunday 8th September 8am Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Canon Dr Jenny Holden
Sunday 8th September 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Revd Canon Dr Jenny Holden
Next Sunday’s readings: Isaiah 35: 4-7a; Psalm 146; James 2: 1-10, (11-12), 14-17
Gospel: Mark 7: 24-37
“If we fall in love with creation deeper and deeper, we will respond to its endangerment with passion.”
(Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179))
For any pastoral matters please contact our Assistant Priest Revd Jason Hobbs
on 07446 113014