A very warm welcome to all
Pentecost 13
Readings: Deuteronomy 30: 15-20; Philemon: 1-21
Gospel: Luke 14: 25-3
Today’s Gospel
Sometimes we need to have demands and expectations placed upon us. Good parents know this. “You need to eat it because it’s good for you.” “You need to do this or that because it’s the right thing to do.” “I expect you to study hard and do your homework, make good friends, do your chores.” They demand and expect out of love so that their child might grow and thrive. That’s what Jesus is doing in today’s gospel. His demands and expectations call us to be different, to be fully alive, to be like him. It is the same choice Moses set before the Israelites, the choice between life and prospretity, and death and adversity we heard about in our NT reading.. It is a choice we make multiple times a day, every day of our lives. That’s the choice with which Jesus confronts the crowds in today’s gospel.
War in Ukraine
Please continue to offer prayers for our brothers and sisters caught up in the mayhem that is Ukraine. Please think about what you can do to help in any way for those who continue to reach out to the rest of Europe and beyond for our assistance. Whatever method or organisation you use to make donations, please do it rather than thinking about it.
Reredos
I have heard varying opinions on the subject of placing the reredos above the high altar, some in favour, some not. I have also heard opinion on the current replacement of the large cross above the altar with the smaller brass cross. This has been in-situ for several weeks now. It is good to hear opinion from as many of you as possible. Please be assured, adjustments and propositions are by no mans fixed in stone. I am eager to enhance the beauty of our church, but also to maintain and promote as many of the original features as possible. Change of any kind is a fine line and not everyone will be in favour. However, as Rector I need to maintain a strategic overview of where we will be in, say, five years time, and with this in mind I ask everyone to be as open to some changes that will have a long-term benefit for St Mary’s.
Five-Year-Plan
Speaking of where we might be in five years time, it is incumbent upon me and our Vestry to now consider a five-year-plan. This was discussed at General Synod and it will be a requirement for each charge and diocese to produce such a plan. With this in mind, I would like to form a strategic planning group, which I shall chair, to tentatively begin the process of evidence gathering and terms of reference. Should anyone, either in the Vestry Committee or St Mary’s congregation be interested in becoming part of this group, would you please let me know. It is important that we are able to harness the skills and vision required to produce this plan.
Open Doors
Next Saturday the 10th of September between 10am – 3pm inc, St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral will take part in the ‘Open Doors’ event in Aberdeen. This will mean that we will require people to volunteer some of their time to be here in the Church during the time frame stated above, to facilitate the use of toilet facilities and to offer some light refreshment. I will be placing a sheet up in the Choir vestry for those who are able to help out and what hour(s) they are prepared to be in church for.
Concerts
As part of our regular musical offerings being arranged by our Director of Music, Matthew, on Sunday the 11th of September at 4pm, there will be a Viola Recital by Ms Mairi McKellar. Mairi is a final year music student at Aberdeen University, and this event will showcase some of her finest repertoire. I am absolutely sure it will be a wonderful occasion, and as always, entrance is free, but all donations will be gratefully received.
Clergy and Lay Readers and Lay Ministers Conference
The Clergy, Lay Reader, and Lay Minister’s conference will take place on the 22nd and 23rd of September inc. It is anticipated that it will conclude after lunch on the 23rd.
Ordination/Licensing
On Saturday the 24th of September, commencing at 12 midday, the ordination of Mr Andrew Elliott to the order of Deacons, will take place at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, this event will also take in the (re) licensing of Lay Readers from the Islands. This is a significant event and a very big day for those concerned. Please try to show your support by allowing time to attend this special day in our Church. There will be refreshments provided on the day.
Harvest Festival
A date for your diaries. This year’s Harvest festival will take place on Sunday the 2nd of October at our 10 am Sung Eucharist.
Jewellery
As mentioned in previous weeks, I am asking you to look through your jewellery boxes to see if you are prepared to part with something that you really haven’t used for years or maybe you just feel like donating something you have no further use of. Of course, it doesn’t have to be gold, it could be any type of jewellery that we might be able to sell on to a jewellers. In any case, I am now appealing to you to consider this and I intend to keep this running for the next 3 months, at which point we can assess where we are.
Vestry Vacancies
We have two vacancies on St Mary’s Vestry for Ordinary Members, and I would strongly urge those who feel that they could offer something to assist in the management of our Church to speak to me. Vestry membership is a rewarding role and provides an insight in to how we reach the decisions we do in our work here at Carden Place.
Holiday Club
It is now too late to consider further volunteers for the All Saints Holiday Club 17-20 Oct for those aged 4-11(inc P7) at St James, Holburn St, a joint project between St James, St John’s and St Mary’s. We are, however, continuing our focus to get children to attend and to encourage prayer support.
Photography Competition 2022
Photography Competition 2022 : After the successful competition of last year 1st July marks the start of this year’s contest. We have until the 14th of October to submit entries to Mr David Rose via the St Mary’s email address stmaryscardenplace@gmail.com There is no limit to the number of photos that you may enter but they have to be taken by you or a family member with their permission. The entry fee for each shot is £2 with those judged to be the best three receiving a prize. Photographs of people are not encouraged to avoid the requirement to obtain express written permission. For full details of Competition Rules (inc. how to pay, display, publishing and royalty rights) please see church website stmaryscardenplace.org.uk under ‘What’s On’.
Services/Events Commencing Sunday the 4th September 2022
Sunday 4th September at 8 am – Said Eucharist (1970 – Cn Terry)
Sunday 4th September at 10 am – Pentecost 13 – Sung Eucharist (1982 – Cn Terry)
Monday 5th September – Cn Terry – Day off
Tuesday 6th September at 10am – Morning Prayer (Cn Terry)
Wednesday 7th September at 10am – Holy Communion (1970 – Cn Terry)
Wednesday 7th September at 7pm – ‘Doors Open Day’ Reception (Cn Terry)
Thursday 8th September at 10am – Aberdeen Churches Together meeting (Cn Terry)
Friday 9th September at 6pm – Compline (Cn Terry)
Saturday 10th September 10am-3pm – Open Doors Day
Sunday 11th September at 8 am- Pentecost 14 – Holy Communion (1970 Cn Terry)
Sunday 11th September at 10 am- Pentecost 14 – Sung Eucharist (1982 – Cn Terry)
Sunday 11th September at 4pm – Viola Recital by Ms Mairi McKellar
Readings: Exodus 32: 7-14; Psalm 51: 1-11; 1 Timothy 1: 12-17
Gospel: Luke 15: 1-10
“As my sufferings mounted I soon realised that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation — either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course”
(Dr Martin Luther King)
Cn Terry Taggart:
01224588776/07768219984