This morning, as we met for our 10 am Eucharist, the rain was just beginning heralding a day of heavy rain and wind. Father Stephen was the celebrant, and in his sermon he discussed the series of Gospel readings we have had in the past weeks from St John's Gospel. In today's reading Jesus message regarding the faith needed to receive the word and follow his teaching  seemed too hard for may of his followers, and when he asked his disciples whether they would continue with him, Peter answered 'but where would we go? You have the true word'  Developing this theme Father Stephen spoke of the importance of faith, and the strengthening effect of the Holy Spirit received through the sacrament of the Eucharist.

James Roriston played the organ again for us this week, as Joanna is on holiday. We are very grateful for his playing. We had coffee after the service in the new rooms

We have two weddings coming up and were delighted to welcome one of the couples to this service. Work continues on the hangings for the new rooms, and at the end of September we will have a splendid concert from our good friend Tom Cooper, commemorating the centenary of Claude Debussy.






 

The third Sunday in August so our 10 am service was Mattins. We sang the Canticles, and part of Psalm 34, and our Gospel reading was from St John. The passage where Jesus describes the Eucharist in words, there is no description of the events of Maunday Thursday in St John, but this passage explains the symbolism of the bread and wine.
Father Stephen spoke in his sermon of how the news of terrible disasters such as the collapse of the bridge in Genoa, can seem challenging when we ask where was God, why did he let this happen. Our faith needs to be founded in the knowledge that we can see only a small part of the plan, and we must concentrate on getting the small things right, small acts of kindness and caring, and leave the big stuff to the hand of God.

We had coffee after the service, Both Joanna and James were with us this morning, giving Father Stephen an opportunity to  thank them both and to remind us how increadibly fortunate we are to have 2 such talented Organists and musicians involved in our worship!

Today we celebrate the feast of the Assumption, the start of St Mary's reign as the Queen of Heaven. As St Mary is our Patron Saint it is one of our patronal festivals. We were delighted to welcome Fr David Twinley as our guest preacher at our 10 am parish Eucharist. Father David is the acting Archdeacon as well as being the vicar of Arundel, and we are very pleased to have heard him preach this morning.
The Gospel for our special day was from St Luke, the glorious song of Mary, the Magnificat. In his sermon Father David explained to us how St Mary is called in the original Greek the Theotokos or bearer of God. He drew a comparison between the Old Testament theme of God  being present in the Ark of the Covenant, constructed by Moses and placed in the Temple by Solomon. Ezekiel had the vision of God leaving the temple, but He returned as his Son through the vehicle of the Theotokos, Mary the mother of God. Her openness to God's grace, to being filled with God is an example to us, we must look to God and open our hearts to be filled with the light of Christ and thus guided through our lives to join Mary and the Saints with God at the end.

Father Stephen read the Banns for 3 couples, two of whom, are to be married at St Mary's in the coming weeks, we wish them well in their new lives together. Father Stephen was the Celebrant.

James Roriston was with us again today, and he played Bach's Fugue in G minor as the Voluntary as we left for our coffee in the new rooms, under overcast skies and the beginning of much needed rain.

The first Sunday in the month our 10 am service was a family eucharist. The weather has returned to the glorious sunshine so the church was lit with golden sunlight. Joanna was having a well earned sunday off so our organist this week was our good friend James Roriston. The school holidays having started we did not have many families in church, but plenty of other congregants joined us. The gospel was from St Luke and told the story of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. Chris Field told us in the presentation that the sunday school had already studied the account in St Mark's gospel earlier in the year. She said the account was challenging for the older children who found it hard to imagine no smart phones to video the events or social media to discuss it!! The essence of the story is the confirmation of the divinity of Our Lord, and by keeping our eyes on Him and following him in our lives will lead us to God.

The Choir are also 'on holiday' although many members were with us, so there was no anthem this morning. James played a delightful organ voluntary by JS Bach which had us dancing in the ailes as we tidied up after the service!  There was coffee after the service in the rooms.