Trinity 19th
St Mary’s and St Andrew’s Worshipping Together
A very warm welcome to all
Readings: Amos 5: 6-7, 10-15; Psalm 90: 12-17; Hebrews 4: 12-16
Gospel: Mark 10: 17-31
In today’s Gospel
In our Gospel reading today, we usually hear this text as being all about our money and our wealth, and it reveals just how easily we confuse our wealth and possessions with our life. That’s why it is so hard “for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.” I think that’s also why Jesus answered the man by talking about money. Too many of us are looking for what, I have heard described, as a “hearse with a trailer hook attached.” We want to take it all with us.
Harvest Festival
Next Sunday the 17th of October, we will celebrate the Harvest. As I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, I would like to see if we can gather up as much non-perishable foodstuff as we can to be taken to a local food-bank, where, hopefully, it can be re-distributed to others who find themselves in much less fortunate circumstances than ourselves. So effectively I am asking for donations of tinned and unopened dry foods with a fairly long use-by date. This can be delivered to Church, or if not, let me know and I will pick it up from your home address. All of the food donated will be on display here for the service where it will be blessed before it is taken to the food bank. Thank you all in advance for your continued generosity.
Evensong at St Mary’s
On the subject of next Sunday, there will be an Evensong at 4pm. As promised, this replaces the one that had to be cancelled recently at short notice, and it is significant that we have it happening on our day of Harvest celebration. Matthew has worked very hard and has managed to get a small choir together for this service, which he has prepared for in full. We hope you will enjoy it and feel spiritually refreshed when you depart.
Zoom Brunch and Pre-Recorded Service
As a result of three services taking place next Sunday, (8am, 10am, 4pm), there will be no 1pm ‘Zoom Brunch’ that day. This is to allow all of us involved some small amount of breathing space between each event. Normal service all be resumed on Sunday the 24th October. There will also be no recorded service provided for the 17th as I have some pressing commitments on the Friday morning. I would therefore guide those who normally watch this service to the Provincial service which is usually broadcast at 11 am each Sunday.
SECMA
The Scottish Episcopal Church Mission Association (SECMA) Magazine will be with you soon. This Church has always given generously towards this wonderful and hard-working arm of the SEC and between now and the end of October, I would ask you to consider, if you are able, to make your SECMA donation separate as part of the retiring collection (in a separate plate). This can be cash/cheque in an envelope or otherwise highlighting SECMA.
Christmas Cards
As I mentioned last week, there’s no time like the present to prepare for Christmas. With that in mind, the St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Christmas cards are now available. You will find them at the rear of the Church as you leave and also in the Choir Vestry if you are joining us for a cuppa after the service. All we ask is the same as last year; £1 per card, or £5 for a pack of six. They are lovely cards, professionally designed by Mr Stuart Smith at Alt 10 Interactive, the local company who built our website.
Choir Vestry Upgrade
St Mary’s Vestry Committee have voted to change the carpet and lighting in the Choir Vestry. It was proposed and carried that the carpet would be replaced with engineered wood flooring, thereby allowing a more hygienic and easier to clean floor. It was also proposed and carried that the current lighting system is replaced, like for like, which should also have a dimmer capacity therein. In accordance with Canon 35 (resolution 5) ‘Of the Structure, Furniture and Monuments of Churches, and the due care thereof’, I am required to allow a consultation period to receive comments/objections to said proposals. This period was actioned on the 12th of September and will therefore expire today the 10th of October.
Confirmation
I would like to put out a call to all of those who have yet to be confirmed in the Scottish Episcopal Church and are considering taking on this further commitment in faith. I urge you to get in touch so we can talk about it and delve deeper with a view to experiencing this momentous step in your Christian lives. Feel free to either email, text or call me; or even give me the nod when we conclude our worship and I will ensure space in my diary.
Remembering in our prayers
For those of you who know the Rev’d Jean Soutar, please remember her in your prayers as she continues a course of chemotherapy for cancer of the liver.
Memorial Service
I am looking at providing a service of memorial and thanksgiving for those who suffered loss during the height of the Corona Virus pandemic, and also to give thanks to the wonderful and dedicated members of our NHS who worked, and continue to do so, in the battle to keep on top of this devastating virus. I am hoping that it can be an ecumenical event with contributions from different faiths and denominations. Please watch this space.
Last Day of Poem Competition
Today is the last day when you can submit your poem for our competition. I have challenged all of you to compose a short poem, no longer than 2 verses (although some flexibility will be allowed) between 4-6 lines per verse (all your own work). It can be about anything and not necessarily connected with the Church. I also urge any of our children who attend our services to think about entering as well. Please send your entries to the church email address either via our website at www.stmaryscardenplace.org.uk or direct to the email address at stmaryscardenplace@gmail.com As per our last competition, we ask for a donation of £2 per entry, and you can submit as many as you wish. Please either use the ‘Donate’ function at the foot of the website home page (preferred option) where there is also an opportunity to note what the donation is for, or speak to our Treasurer, Mrs Lydia Ross for alternative arrangements. I will assume (unless advised to the contrary) that everyone who submits an entry gives their permission to have it published on our website. The rules are also available via the homepage on St Mary’s Website.
All Souls Service
There will be an early evening service on Tuesday the 2nd of November for All souls Day, when we will remember those who have passed into God’s Glory. Please let me know should there be anyone whose name you wish to be read out at the service. You can do this either by email, text or telephone, or even by getting my attention after a service when I can make a note of it. Due to Covid restrictions I would rather not put a document out for people to write on it, I am sure you understand my reticence in this matter.
Services/Events at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral w/c Sunday the 10th of October 2021
Sunday 10th October at 8 am – Said Holy Communion (Cn Terry-1970)
Sunday 10th October at 10 am Sung Eucharist (Cn Terry-1982)
Sunday 10th October at 1 pm – St Mary’s Zoom Brunch
Monday 11th October – Cn Terry – Day off
Tuesday 12th October at 10 am – Morning Prayer
Wednesday 13th October at 10 am Holy Communion (1970) (Cn Terry)
Followed by Tea and Coffee
Sunday 17th October at 8 am – Holy Communion (1970) (Cn Terry)
Sunday 17th October at 10 am – Sung Eucharist (1982) (Cn Terry) Followed by Teas and Coffee.
Sunday 17th October at 4pm – Choral Evensong (Cn Terry/ Matthew McVey + Choir)
“You never have to advertise a fire. Everyone comes running when there’s a fire. Likewise, if your church is on fire, you will not have to advertise it. The community will already know it.”
(Leonard Ravenhill)
Blessings Always
Rev Canon Terry Taggart
01224588776/07768219984