Link to St Mary's music blog
22 January 2023
10:00 | 
Posted by
Dr Platts |
Despite a cold and frosty morning we met at 10 am in good numbers and with a busy Sunday school. We start off in Church and sing a hymn, then after a welcome to all the children go across into the rooms for their activities, joining us again in time for the communion.
Father Chris gave us a very informative talk about the Sacraments, and the sacramentals, including the use of candles and other sacramentals such as crosses, and bowing all of which prepare us for the grace received during sacraments.
The Children had been working on the story in the Gospel of Jesus calling Peter Andrew James and John who were all fishermen to become fishers of men. They had made fish and a net which they showed us.
The choir sang 'As pants the Hart' setting by Simon Novello as the anthem.
There was coffee after the service.
On the 4th of February there will be a Uzbekistan (Central Asian) meal in the Hall. Sign up with the Church Wardens. This food is flavoursome but not too spicy, and the bread is especially delicious, so be adventurous and come along!
Isaiah 9:1-4
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish.
In the former time he brought into contempt
the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
but in the latter time he will make glorious
the way of the sea,
the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians.
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,
by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you should be in agreement
and that there should be no divisions among you,
but that you should be united in the same mind and the same purpose.
For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people
that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.
What I mean is that each of you says,
‘I belong to Paul’,
or ‘I belong to Apollos’,
or ‘I belong to Cephas’,
or ‘I belong to Christ.’
Has Christ been divided?
Was Paul crucified for you?
Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name.
I did baptize also the household of Stephanas;
beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.
For Christ did not send me to baptize
but to proclaim the gospel,
and not with eloquent wisdom,
so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
For the message about the cross is foolishness
to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved
it is the power of God.
Matthew 4:12-23
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea,
in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,
so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah
might be fulfilled:
‘Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.’
From that time Jesus began to proclaim,
‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother,
casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen.
And he said to them,
‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’
Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
As he went from there, he saw two other brothers,
James son of Zebedee and his brother John,
in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets,
and he called them.
Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Jesus went throughout Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues
and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom
and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
