This morning we met at 10 am for our Eucharist celebration. The long spell of fine weather had broken and there was heavy rain all morning. Autumn has arrived, and as we are now well into Trinity we are looking forward to Harvest next weekend.
This Sunday our Parish Eucharist was celebrated by Father Stephen, and he spoke in his sermon about the parable of the manager who mismanaged his masters property, found in St Luke. In this story the manager, in order to gain favour with the Master's debtors, reduces the amounts they owe. Jesus says the master commends the manager for his shrewd actions. This is a problematic story appearing to recommend behaving dishonestly, however Father Stephen pointed out that we do not know if the tone of this story was intended to be critical as we only have the words, also there is some suggestion that in translation the meaning of the words has been altered, and it may have been intended to suggest the managers behaviour left him  in a more perilous state, welcomed into eternal tents, rather than homes, and by implication a temporary rather than permanent reward.
The message that those who are faithful in small things can be trusted in large matters and that no one can serve 2 masters is perhaps easier to understand.

The Choir sang 'A New Commandment'  in the setting by Peter Nardonne as the anthem.

There was coffee after the service.

Don't forget, next weekend we have our Harvest Festival, there are still a few tickets left for the Harvest Supper on Saturday night, please see the Church Wardens.
Also coming up the Concert by Tom Copper on the 20th October
Faure's Requiem will be sung liturgically in a Eucharist for the departed on Sunday 3rd of November in the evening.

a visitor at the vicarage gate!

Autumn flowers