A very warm welcome to all
“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us.”
Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost
Readings: Isaiah 56: 1, 6-8; Romans 11: 1-2a, 29-32
Gospel: Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
In our Gospel today
This Sunday’s gospel reading explores the nature of faith. One theologian wrote, ‘Faith starts where your comfort zone ends.’ Stepping outside of that comfort zone reminds us that we are alive; sentient beings with the capacity to think, to love, to believe in something greater than ourselves.
One of my favourite passages in the liturgy is ‘God is love and we are his children. There is no room for fear in love’. It reminds us of the promise God makes to us to be alongside us, loving us in good times and bad; in the times when we can feel most alone. The Canaanite woman in today’s gospel story had no one to help her. We read how she stepped outside of her comfort zone to ask for Jesus’ help. Her faith healed her daughter. It is a lesson to us all how we must trust in God’s promise of love despite our doubts and fears. The world can seem an unpleasant place to be at times. Certainties we once took for granted can quickly become less certain. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing this week, remember that Jesus is with you and there is no need to fear.
Peace Garden
Last Sunday we enjoyed a beautiful blue-sky day for the dedication and blessing of the new Peace Garden. For those that missed the occasion there is a Notice on our website with some photographs:https://stmaryscardenplace.org.uk/notices/st-marys-peace-garden-completed/ Also this week we received a video from the landscaper, David Zubernis, which provides a really good view of the transformation of the west end garden area. You can see the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV9BW7rYJXE
Services of Evensong
There will be a service of Evensong at St Mary’s on Sunday 27th August at 6:30pm. This will be Matthew’s last service with us before he takes up his new post. After the service there will be a Reception and an opportunity for us to express our thanks to Matthew for his work amongst us in recent years. Please mark this date in your diaries and on your calendars!
Photograph Competition 2023
We are still awaiting our first photographic entries for this year’s Photograph Competition! The competition runs until the end of September, and we are looking for any nice seasonal photographs that can be reproduced in our 2024 Calendar. Competition rules can be found here: https://stmaryscardenplace.org.uk/notices/photograph-competition-2023/
Social Ladies’ and Gents’ evenings
A Ladies’ Evening has now been arranged for Thursday 28th September at the No. 10 Restaurant on Queens Terrace. Please contact Gillian Rose or Anne Farquhar if you would like to attend. A similar evening will be organised for the gents, perhaps on or around the same date. So please let David Rose know if you’re interested in attending and have any good ideas for a venue.
Bottle Appeal
We ask everyone to consider donating attractive (and empty) gin or whisky bottles for our ‘Bottle Appeal’. This is an ongoing fundraising initiative and we ask you to keep your eyes open.
Services/Events Commencing Sunday the 20th August 2023
Sunday 20th August 8am Said Eucharist (1970 Liturgy): Revd Jason Hobbs
Sunday 20th August 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Revd Jason Hobbs
Tuesday 22nd August at 10am Morning Prayer: Revd Roger Dyer
Wednesday 23rd August 10am Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Roger Dyer
Thursday 24th August 10am Holy Communion (1970 Lit.) (St Bartholomew): Revd Roger Dyer
Friday 25th August 6pm Compline: Revd Roger Dyer
Sunday 27th August 8am Said Eucharist (1970 Liturgy): Revd Roger Dyer
Sunday 27th August 10am Service of the Word – Leading Nicola Mills and preaching Ferdinand von Prondzynski
Sunday 27th August 6:30pm Evensong
Sunday 27th August readings: Isaiah 51: 1-6; Psalm 138; Romans 12: 1-8
Gospel: Matthew 16: 13-20
“Faith starts where your comfort zone ends.”
(Adapted from a quotation by Neale Donald Walsche)
For any pastoral matters please contact our Assistant Priest Revd. Roger Dyer on 07719 458571
or revrogdyer@btinternet.com