A very warm welcome to all
“The Lord knows the way of the righteous.”
Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost
Readings: Leviticus 19: 1-2, 15-18; 1 Thessalonians 2: 1-8
Gospel: Matthew 22: 34-46
In our Gospel today
How can I get through the day without a little G-R-U-D-G-E B-E-A-R-I-N-G!!! That is a good question! How can we go through life avoiding the bad things that Jesus wants us to avoid—and doing the good things that he wants us to do? How can we keep from saying bad things about our neighbour—especially when our neighbour deserves it? How can we control our feelings? How can we keep from hating a bad neighbour?
The answer is that we can’t—at least not on our own. I can tell myself every day not to hate my neighbour and end up hating myself for hating my neighbour. I can try really hard not to engage in grudge bearing, but it probably isn’t going to work.
If I am going to love my neighbour, I must first love God— and then be willing to let God help me to love my neighbour. The lawyer asked Jesus for one great commandment, but Jesus gave him two—love God— love your neighbour. The two go together. Each leans on the other and helps to support it.
It is hard to show our love for God, because God isn’t really needy—so God gave us a neighbour. The idea is that, when we help our neighbour, it is as if we are helping God.
We might find it impossible to love our neighbour, but it becomes possible when we first love God. God not only tells us to love our neighbour—God re-shapes our hearts to make it possible.
So, these two loves go together—love of God and love of neighbour. We can’t really love our neighbour unless we first love God, and we can’t really demonstrate our love for God without our neighbour.
All Souls, Thursday 2nd November 7pm
A Service to Remember the Faithful Departed. At this service there will be an opportunity to light a candle in memory of a loved one who has died. If you would like names of those who have died to be read out during this service, please place their names on the sign-up sheet available in church or email to revrogdyer@btinternet.com
Please do invite any family, friends, or neighbours for whom you think this service might be helpful.
Diocesan Library – we need your help
Thank you very much to those of you that have expressed your views on the future of the Diocesan Library so far. The Vestry would like to continue canvas the views of the congregation, so if you’d like to share your views and ideas, please talk to a Vestry member, or email us at stmaryscardenplace@gmail.com.
Mexican Night – Friday 17th November
On Friday 17th November we plan to have a Bring & Share Mexican Evening in the Choir Vestry. The idea is to bring along Mexican food and drinks to share. So please start thinking about your Mexican recipes and drinks and dust off your sombreros!
Gardening Gangs
Many thanks to the Gardening Gangs that have done such a great job on the weeding in the church grounds over the last few weeks. It would be great to keep the effort going for another few weeks if the weather is fair to clear the east end of the grounds – at least as best we can!
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 29th October 2023
Sunday 29th October 8am Said Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy) Revd Jason Hobbs
Sunday 29th October 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Revd Jason Hobbs
Tuesday 31st October 10am Morning Prayer: Revd Roger Dyer
Wednesday 1st November 10am All Saints Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Roger Dyer
Thursday 2nd November All Souls Commemoration of the Faithful Departed: Revd Roger Dyer and Revd Jason Hobbs
Friday 3rd November 6pm Compline: Iain Stewart
Sunday 5th November 8am Said Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Dr Jenny Holden
Sunday 5th November 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Presiding Revd Dr Jenny Holden and preaching Dr Nicola Mills
Sunday 5th November readings: Micah 3: 5-12; Psalm 43; 1 Thessalonians 2: 9-13
Gospel: Matthew 23: 1-12
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
For any pastoral matters please contact our Assistant Priest Revd. Roger Dyer on 07719 458571
or revrogdyer@btinternet.com