A very warm welcome to all
Refrain for Psalm 19:
“The commandment of the Lord is pure.”
Third Sunday after Epiphany
Readings: Nehemiah 8: 1-3, 5-6, 8-10; 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31a
Gospel: Luke 4: 14-21
In our Gospel today
In today’s readings we hear St Paul telling the Corinthians that “in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” Right now, we are coming to the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, an annual period during which we are asked to renew our efforts to heal division and seek that unity which Jesus urged on his disciples before his Passion. The ecumenical movement was very strong in past decades, but increasingly people fear it is running out of steam. We have, perhaps, become resigned to the difficulties and hurdles that lie in the way of unity.
But the reading from Luke’s Gospel reminds us that our faith is a faith of hope and confidence. Jesus addressed worshippers in the synagogue and told them that he was bringing good news, release and recovery. There are indeed many hurdles and difficulties that confront us in our relations with other Christians, even within our own denomination. But we also know that Jesus wills us on, and that we must, again and again, renew our determination to become one with all our fellow Christians, in God’s time fulfilling our Lord’s prayer.
Three Cathedrals Service
This year’s Three Cathedrals Service, a part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, will be held at St Mary’s RC Cathedral, Huntly Street, at 4:30pm this Sunday 26th January. We are warmly welcome to join with worshippers from St Mary’s Cathedral and The Cathedral Church of St Machar as we celebrate and pursue our unity in Christ.
Thursday @ 7
Thursday @ 7 is re-starting from 30th January. For five consecutive weeks we will be looking at Luke’s gospel which is key book for this year’s lectionary. Bible and prayer in small group discussion for an hour followed by a cuppa if you have time to stay. Venue is the Crypt – enter church by side door, through kitchen, down the stairs. Each week’s material is free-standing so it is fine if you can only join us for one or more weeks. Revd Roger Dyer (Assistant Priest).
Advent to Candlemas Course
If you are looking for spiritual focus during Advent, Christmas and Epiphany you might like to try the Diocesan ‘Advent to Candlemas’ course that has been prepared by our friend Revd Canon Dr Jenny Holden the Diocesan Advisor for Christian Life. There is a little something to stimulate thought and prayer each day. The link to this from the Diocesan website is below. I warmly commend this to you. Revd Roger Dyer (Assistant Priest).
https://aoepiscopal.scot/diocesan-advent-to-candlemas-course-2025/
Tin Christmas Tree
Thank you very much to everyone that donated tinned food for our Tin Christmas Tree in 2024. We’ve decided to keep the tin tree going until Candlemas, so if you are still interested in providing a donation please do so up until 2nd February. Thank you!
St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Annual General Meeting
St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Annual General Meeting will take place after the 10am Service on Sunday 2nd February. Bishop Anne Dyer will be with us for the service and the AGM. Reports for the AGM should be available to send to the Diocesan Office about one week before the AGM.
New Ordinary Vestry Members Required
The Vestry are looking for a few new Ordinary Members as some existing members complete their period of service and because we’ve been running a little low on members for some time now. If you would like to know what’s involved or are keen to be nominated, please speak to the Vestry Secretary, David Rose. Nomination forms for Vestry membership and other Vestry offices are available at the back of church. Or please speak to David Rose if you would like an electronic copy.
Services and events commencing this Sunday and for the coming week
Sunday 26th January 8am Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Ferdinand von Prondzynski
Sunday 26th January 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Revd Ferdinand von Prondzynski
Wednesday 29th January 10am Holy Communion: Reverend Roger Dyer
Friday 31st January 6pm Compline: Reverend Roger Dyer
Sunday 2nd February 8am Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Reverend Roger Dyer
Sunday 2nd February 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Bishop Anne Dyer
Next Sunday’s readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10; Psalm 71: 1-6; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Gospel: Luke 4: 21-30
“Worship at its best is a social experience with people of all levels of life coming together to realize their oneness and unity under God.”
(Martin Luther King Jr.)
For any pastoral matters please contact our Assistant Priest Revd Roger Dyer on 07719 458571 or revrogdyer@btinternet.com