A very warm welcome to all
Psalm 54: “Behold, God is my helper.”
Season of Creation Week 4
Readings: Jeremiah 11: 18-20; James 3: 13-4:3, 7-8a
Gospel: Mark 9: 30-37
In our Gospel today
In our lesson from Jeremiah, we read of the opposition that the Old Testament prophet experienced. He felt that he was as a tree that others wished to destroy. Our reading from the epistle of James also speaks of awful conflict that can arise between us when we are wrongly motivated – when we want for ourselves and not for others.
Jesus challenges his disciples, who have been arguing amongst themselves as to who is the greatest, to reorientate their thinking. Whoever wants to be first must be last and the servant of all. Jesus takes a child in his arms and says that any who welcomes a child, welcomes him.
In the Season of Creation, we are asked to consider how we treat and serve the world around us. Maybe at this time of ecological challenge we can place not only ‘children’ but all who are powerless at the centre of our attention and service.
Ordination Services
Our thanks to all who helped in many different ways as we host the Ordination as Deacon for Rev’d Helen Randell on Saturday 21st. Helen will be serving her curacy at St Magnus, Lerwick. It was a joy to welcome Helen’s family and friends plus others from across our diocese as she starts her ordained ministry.
Two familiar faces are to be ordained priest in the next two weeks. Rev’d Godwin Chimara and Rev’d Ferdinand von Prondzynski both worshipped with us during their training and are frequently amongst us. The service for Rev’d Godwin’s ordination as priest is on Mon 30th September 7pm St James, Holburn Junction. That for Rev’d Ferdinand is on Thursday 3rd October 7pm St Andrew’s, Main Street, Alford. All would be welcome at either of these services.
Season of Creation
During the five Sundays of September, we will 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/
Harvest Festival Sunday 6th October:
Another note for your diary or calendar. We will be celebrating the Harvest Festival with a Bring & Share Lunch on Sunday 6th October. Please sign-up on the sheet at the back of church to help us plan the lunch items. Thank you!
Harvest Magazine copy deadline
Please send any copy for our Harvest Magazine to our editor, Nick Mills, on or before Monday 30th September. Thank you!
Next Vestry Meeting
The Vestry will meet on Tuesday 1st October at 7:30pm. Please contact a member of the Vestry if you’d like to add anything to the agenda. Thank you!
Pizza & Quiz Night Friday 11th October
Another social date for your diaries and calendars. We are going to have a fun Pizza & Quiz Night on Friday 11th October starting at 7pm. Pizzas will be ordered in, but please bring along your own drinks. Suggested donation £10 per person.
Church Grounds Tidy Up
Thank you very much to all who have done the excellent weeding work over the past few weeks. Please feel free to keep the good work going over the next few weeks – every little helps! Thank you!
Photograph Competition 2024
Our Photograph Competition is currently running until Monday 30th September. Please send any nice photographs to our webmaster, David Rose. Landscape format is best if you want photographs to appear in our calendar. Donations of £2 per photograph entry go to church funds. Thank you to all who have sent in photographs so far! We now have 30 entries, and they can be viewed here: https://stmaryscardenplace.org.uk/photograph-competition-2024/
Services and events commencing this Sunday and for the coming week
Saturday 21st September 12pm Ordination Service: Bishop Ian Paton
Sunday 22nd September 8am Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Roger Dyer
Sunday 22nd September 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Revd Roger Dyer
Wednesday 25th September 10am Holy Communion: Revd Kate Gibson
Friday 27th September 6pm Compline: Revd Roger Dyer
Sunday 29th September 8am Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Roger Dyer
Sunday 29th September 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Revd Kate Gibson
Next Sunday’s readings: Numbers 11: 4-6, 10-16, 24-29; Psalm 19: 7-14; James 5: 13-20
Gospel: Mark 9: 38-50
“Thou art in small things great, not small in any:
Thy even praise can neither rise, nor fall.
Thou art in all things one, in each thing many:
For thou art infinite in one and all.”
(George Herbert 1593-1633)
For any pastoral matters please contact our Assistant Priest Revd Roger Dyer on 07719 458571 or revrogdyer@btinternet.com