Trinity 18th
St Mary’s and St Andrew’s Worshipping Together
A very warm welcome to all
Readings: Genesis 2: 18-24; Psalm 8; Hebrews 1: 1-4; 2: 5-12
Gospel: Mark 10: 2-16
In today’s Gospel
In our Gospel reading today, we hear about divorce. In today’s high-paced and stress-filled world, it’s harder to have a healthy marriage than ever. Yet, in spite of all the obstacles, God ordained the covenant of marriage for our benefit. Ideally, we’re not to live alone, but in loving and committed relationships, and in an ideal world, there would be no such thing as divorce. We don’t live in an ideal world. We live in a fallen world in which human nature always comes up short of the glory of God. That means, like it or not, divorce is a reality we simply have to live with.
Harvest Festival
On Sunday the 17th of October, we will celebrate the Harvest. I would like, over the next two weeks, 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.
Senior Organ Scholar at University of Aberdeen
It gives me great pleasure to announce that our Organist, Mr Matthew McVey, has been awarded the role of Senior Organ Scholar at Aberdeen University. This will provide Matthew with playing, directing and administrative experience at Kings College Chapel as he continues with his studies. This is a significant recognition of Matthew’s burgeoning skills and I am sure I speak for us all when I congratulate him for achieving this position. Matthew played at his first service on Wednesday and messaged me the following. “To be able to play in such a setting as the University Chapel, to hear the four-part harmony of the Chapel Choir rising, was such a restoring experience”
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 upgrades
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 auctioned on the 12th of September and will therefore expire on the 10th of October. All communications need to be in writing, either by email or letter.
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 Reverend Jean Soutar
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 / Thanksgiving 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.
Poem Competition
Until Sunday the 17th of October, when we shall celebrate the Harvest Thanksgiving, I challenge 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. 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
Services/Events at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral w/c Sunday the 3rd of October 2021
Sunday 3rd October at 8 am – Said Holy Communion (Cn Terry-1970)
Sunday 3rd October at 10 am Sung Eucharist (Cn Terry-1982)
Sunday 3rd October at 1 pm – St Mary’s Zoom Brunch
Monday 4th October – Cn Terry – Day off
Tuesday 5th October at 10 am – Morning Prayer
Wednesday 6th October at 10 am Holy Communion (1970) (Cn Terry)
Followed by Tea and Coffee
Friday 8th October at 10 am – Pre-Recording service (Cn Terry)
Sunday 10th October at 8 am – Holy Communion (1970) (Cn Terry)
Sunday 10th October at 10 am – Sung Eucharist (1982) (Cn Terry) Followed by Teas and Coffee.
Sunday 10th October at 1 pm – St Mary’s Zoom Brunch
“That’s what I consider true generosity: You give your all, and yet you always feel as if it costs you nothing”
(Simone de Beauvoir)
Blessings Always
Rev Canon Terry Taggart
01224588776/07768219984