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Acts 10:34-43 A reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Peter began to speak to those assembled in the house of Cornelius: ‘I truly understa...
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Acts 9:36-43 A reading form the Acts of the Apostles. In Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She ...
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Our Ash Wednesday Eucharist and imposition of ashes was in the evening. The Church was bare of any flowers or ornamentation, as is appropria...
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The first Sunday in Lent was a Parish Eucharist. The children left for their own session in the Parish Rooms, and the congregation continued...
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Our 10 am Eucharist today was an all age service. Father Chris was the Celebrant, and the lessons were read by members of our Sunday School....
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Acts 9:1-6(7-20) A reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went...
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Audio files are available on "The Message" page. ‘THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK’ FROM THE REVEREND STEPHEN GUISE, PRIEST IN CHARGE – SEVE...
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This morning our 10 am Service was Sung Eucharist. Father Stephen was the celebrant. On a lovely spring morning we came together to praise G...
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We have had a busy Christmas at St Marys! Our 9 Lessons and Carol Service was held on the 17th of December, with traditional Lessons and Ca...
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Audio files are available on "The Message" page. ‘ THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK’ FROM THE REVEREND STEPHEN GUISE, PRIEST IN CHARGE – F...
‘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
Service Times
10:00am Family Service
Second Sunday in the Month
10:00am Parish Eucharist
Third Sunday in the Month
08:00am Holy Communion
08:00am Holy Communion