A very warm welcome to all
“Lord, how I love your law.”
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Readings: 1 Kings 3: 5-12; Romans 8: 26-39
Gospel: Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52
In our Gospel today
The readings for this Sunday are about the wisdom of God, which is very different from the wisdom of the world. In the readings from 1 Kings, we hear how Solomon requested the gift of understanding, not material goods or powers. The Psalm tells us how God’s commands (laws) are more precious than gold and the refrain reminds us how we should approach them. The reading from Romans 9 tells us to work for God’s purpose. And in the gospel Jesus tells several parables related to the Kingdom of God, including the mustard seed, about yeast, treasure in the field, the pearl of great price, and treasures new and old.
Peace Garden
By the time we read the newsletter on Sunday morning all the landscaping work on the Peace Garden will be completed. The soil for the raised bed will be delivered on Monday and during the early part of next week all the landscapers equipment; yellow storage container and skip will be cleared from the site. For safety reasons the church carparking area will be for the use of the contractors between 8am and 5pm until the site is cleared. If you have any questions about the project, please approach our folks on the Buildings Committee – David Rose and Freddie Stephens.
Services of Evensong
There will be a service of Evensong at St Mary’s this Sunday 30th July at 6:30pm and a final one with Matthew leading on 27th August at 6:30pm. The Evensong on the 27th of August at 6:30pm will be Matthew’s last service with us before he takes up his new post. After this 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!
Gallowgate Fair
The Gallowgate Fair will take place on Saturday 5th August at St Margaret’s Hall from 10am to 4pm. St Mary’s usually take a stall and sell homemade toffee, jam, and bakes. Please speak to the Fundraising and Social Team for more information on how to get involved.
St Mary’s Gift Day
On Sunday 13th August it will be our Patronal Festival (transferred from the 15th). This will also be our annual St Mary’s Gift Day where we ask congregation members to think about reviewing their regular giving and to consider making a further one-off gift to St Mary’s.
Photograph Competition 2023
Our Photograph Competition for 2023 has been launched and will be our third such competition and will run until 30th September. We are still awaiting our first photographic entries! Competition rules can be found here:
https://stmaryscardenplace.org.uk/notices/photograph-competition-2023/
Social Ladies’ and Gents’ evenings
In September we plan to have two social events – a Ladies’ Evening and a Gents’ Evening. In the past these have involved a nice meal at a local restaurant. The Fundraising and Social Team will be planning the dates soon – so please look out for further information in the near future.
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 30th July 2023
Sunday 30th July 8am Said Eucharist (1970 Liturgy): Revd Dr Jenny Holden
Sunday 30th July 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Revd Dr Jenny Holden
Sunday 30th July 6:30pm Evensong: Revd Roger Dyer
Tuesday 1st August at 10am Morning Prayer: Revd Roger Dyer
Wednesday 2nd August 10am Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Roger Dyer
Friday 4th August 6pm Compline: Revd Roger Dyer
Sunday 6th August 8am Said Eucharist (1970 Liturgy): Revd Dr Jenny Holden
Sunday 6th August 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Revd Dr Jenny Holden
Sunday 6th August readings: Daniel 7: 9-10, 13-14; Psalm 145: 8-9,14-21; 2 Peter 1: 16-19
Gospel: Matthew 14: 13-21
“Jesus understood that God does not play by our rules. His God is a generous God, who not only allows the sun to shine on both the just and the unjust, but also gives us the ability to live into what should be rather than what is.”
(Amy-Jill Levine)
From Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi.
For any pastoral matters please contact our Assistant Priest Revd. Roger Dyer on 07719 458571
or revrogdyer@btinternet.com