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‘THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK’ FROM THE REVEREND STEPHEN GUISE, PRIEST IN CHARGE – FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT Dear Friends ‘O that you would tear open...
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The first Sunday of November and so we are celebrating All Saints day. Our Family service at 10 am was a Eucharist, celebrated by Father Ste...

‘THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK’ FROM THE REVEREND STEPHEN GUISE, PRIEST IN CHARGE – TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY, 30 AUGUST
Fra Angelico, Christ Glorified in the Court of Heaven, c1428-30, The National Gallery, London
Dear Friends
To our polite, middle-class ears, Jesus’ rebuke to Peter, for being horrified at the thought of his master having to face a public and shameful death on a cross, may seem almost savage and unnecessarily strong.
But perhaps having early on in his life of mission been tempted by Satan with similar words, in an attempt to deflect him, Jesus sees the danger that Peter could be beguiled away from the hard road of discipleship. Jesus knows that he himself must pursue his destiny and duty by accepting the cross, in order to fulfil what he had been sent on earth to do – to save humanity. To do otherwise would be to play into the hands of the Tempter.
It’s a pivotal moment. Last week we saw Peter acknowledging Jesus’ true identity with the words: ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God’. But now, in today’s narrative, we see the same disciple almost turning 180o – failing to understand that, contrary to the interpretation of many at the time, the Messiah’s destiny was to suffer and die. Peter completely misreads the situation – ‘God forbid that this should happen to you’. He little comprehends that it is imperative that Jesus must take, not the broad and easy high road, but the narrow path which will lead to the cross – to avoid this would be to fail to fulfil the messianic purpose for which the Father had sent him. It was, paradoxically, the only way in which Christ could open the way to heaven for us, and hence, ultimately, to come in his kingdom, with his angels in glory.
Fr Stephen
Collect for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity
Please note that from Sunday 9th August, face coverings will be mandatory in places of worship. So please remember to bring and wear your mask (or face covering) when visiting St Mary's as this is a government requirement.

Source Lesley Bromley |
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.
I am speaking the truth in Christ—
I am not lying;
my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit—
I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
For I could wish that I myself were accursed
and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people,
my kindred according to the flesh.
They are Israelites,
and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants,
the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;
to them belong the patriarchs,
and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah,
who is over all,
God blessed forever. Amen.
Gospel Matthew 14:13-21
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
When Jesus heard that Herod had beheaded John the Baptist,
he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.
But when the crowds heard it,
they followed him on foot from the towns.
When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd;
and he had compassion for them and cured their sick.
When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said,
"This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late;
send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages
and buy food for themselves."
Jesus said to them,
"They need not go away;
you give them something to eat."
They replied,
"We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish."
And he said, "Bring them here to me."
Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish,
he looked up to heaven,
and blessed and broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples,
and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
And all ate and were filled;
and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces,
twelve baskets full.
And those who ate were about five thousand men,
besides women and children.
Service Times

Useful links
Here are some links to resources you may find helpful:
- Chichester Cathedral will be live streaming services. For the Eucharist and order of service Click here before 10:00am Sunday and follow the instructions.
- The BBC Daily Service is available here.
- Prayer for today.
- The C of E youtube channel.
- We will be updating Fr Stephens Message page on a regular basis.
- Hearing You is a new phone help line launched by the Diocese of Chichester in partnership with Together in Sussex in response to the impact that Covid 19 has had on Just about the whole community. It aims to provide pastoral support and a listening ear to the recently bereaved and people directly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
- COVID-19 advice from the Diocese of Chichester here.
