This Sunday we gathered at 10;00am to Mattins, in improved but still rather windy weather. The service included two readings from the King James Bible, the first from the old testament recounting King David welcoming the Ark of the Covenant to its home in Jerusalem, and the second from Revelations describing the pregnant Queen of Heaven and her opponent the dragon. These readings were part of the theme for this day devoted to the Virgin Mary and her arrival in Heaven. Father Stephen explained to us in his sermon, that these ideas relate to the Virgin being the Ark of the New Covenant between God and his people, as she carried and gave birth to Our Lord, the embodiment of the New Covenant. Father Stephen pointed out that only John the Baptist and Our Lady have feasts to celebrate both their birth and death, and that the are bridging figures bridging God's promises to the Jews to His promises to all people.
Coffee was served after the Service.