Response to Psalm 23:
‘I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever’
Readings:
Isaiah 25: 1-9; Philippians 4: 1-9
Gospel Matthew 22: 1-14
A very warm welcome
A very warm welcome to everyone today as we celebrate our Holy Communion together. It has been a busy week again, and one of the high points was being able to open once more on Wednesdays for our 10 am service. It was nice to see some of you who attended. For any first time visitors today, you should know that every Wednesday, we are open for a Said Holy Communion service, alternating weekly between the 1982 and 1929 liturgies. This coming Wednesday, Fr Isaac will preside using the 1929 Scottish Prayer Book Liturgy.
Our worship today is being led by Bishop Anne
You will also notice that our worship today is being led by Bishop Anne, with a few minor adjustments as far as music is concerned. St Mary’s Organist, Mr Matthew McVey, will play for us today (Sunday), and the pre-recorded service made on Friday, will be available to view at 10am on Sunday via the diocesan website.
‘Byperbole’ and ‘presence’
In my sermon today, you will hear words like ‘hyperbole’ and ‘presence’. If you are able, please read the Gospel before you come and you will understand why these words will feature so prominently. We can all be guilty of exaggeration when it comes to telling a story if we feel it is necessary to get a message across. So, was Jesus given to hyperbole?
Risk assessment
Risk assessment: The Advisory Group wishes to remind clergy and vestries that risk assessment in the current climate needs to be seen as an ongoing process. Simply because a church may have reopened for public worship does not mean that the process of risk assessment ceases. It will be important to consider, for example, in a church that has reopened, whether the arrangements for public worship are operating satisfactorily, whether those attending are observing the requirements for physical distancing, face coverings, hand sanitising etc. The future remains uncertain and it cannot be predicted with any degree of accuracy at this point whether further local lockdowns or more stringent national restrictions are likely to be introduced. Congregations are reminded to maintain vigilance. Ongoing risk assessment may mean that, in some circumstances, the view is taken by a vestry that public worship, having been resumed, needs to cease for a period. That may be appropriate if there is concern at the level of risk to which those attending church might be exposed. If the vestry considers that re-closure is necessary or appropriate, it is encouraged to confer with the Diocesan Bishop and also to consider its contingency planning so that pastoral support can continue to be provided, even if public worship is temporarily discontinued.
Services at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Week commencing Sunday 11th October 2020
Sunday 11th October at 10.am – Holy Communion (Bishop Anne Presiding)
Wednesday 14th October at 10.am – Said Eucharist (Scottish Prayer Book)
Sunday 18th October at 10.am – Holy Communion
‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs’.
(1 Cor 13:4-5)
Blessings Always
Fr Terry Taggart
Rector