This morning we met at 10 am for a Parish Eucharist. Father Stephen lead our worship and celebrated the Eucharist. The gospel told the story of two of Our Lord's healing miracles, first the healing of a small girl in Tyre at the request of her mother who is described as a syrophoenician woman, she came from an area north of Galilee in what today is Syria, and secondly the healing in Galilee of a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment. Despite His injunction not to tell anyone, the stories of these miracles spread rapidly. In his Sermon Father Stephen pointed out that the women in the story was a gentile, and a woman alone, which would have made her unclean in the society where she lived and would not normally have been able to speak to a Rabbi. Our Lord says that the children must be fed first, implying his message is for the Jews, she replies that even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs, Our Lord, is moved by her words and sends her home to where her daughter has been healed. Mercy overcomes all is the basis of this story.
The Choir sang 'God be in my Head' arrangement by John Rutter as the anthem.
The Sunday School is back in session and the children joined us
for the communion.
After the service there was coffee in the new rooms.
Don't forget the Concert by Tom Cooper on the 30th September at 3pm followed by tea.
