22 October 2023
10:00 | 
Posted by
Dr Platts |
We reach the fourth Sunday in October and the 20t in Trinity. Despite storms and rain we arrived today on a beautiful sunny autumn morning.
Father Chris was the Celebrant and he gave the sermon, discussing the Gospel story of Jesus and the Pharisees debating whether to pay taxes ! We give to the civil authority what we are owen, but we ourselves are made in the image of Gog and give him our hearts and souls.
The Choir sang the anthem 'A new Commandment' written by Peter Nardonne.
The Children came back from their session with bird feeders they had made.
Advance notice that on November the 2nd there will be a Requiem service for All Souls day if you would like to have a loved one remembered at this service please add the name to the list in Church.
A reading from the book of Exodus.
Moses said to the Lord,
‘See, you have said to me,
“Bring up this people”;
but you have not let me know whom you will send with me.
Yet you have said,
“I know you by name, and you have also found favour in my sight.”
Now if I have found favour in your sight,
show me your ways,
so that I may know you and find favour in your sight.
Consider too that this nation is your people.’
He said,
‘My presence will go with you,
and I will give you rest.’
And he said to him,
‘If your presence will not go,
do not carry us up from here.
For how shall it be known that I have found favour in your sight,
I and your people, unless you go with us?
In this way, we shall be distinct,
I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.’
The Lord said to Moses,
‘I will do the very thing that you have asked;
for you have found favour in my sight,
and I know you by name.’
Moses said,
‘Show me your glory, I pray.’
And he said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before you,
and will proclaim before you the name,
“The Lord”;
and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious,
and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
But’, he said, ‘you cannot see my face;
for no one shall see me and live.’
And the Lord continued,
‘See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock;
and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock,
and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by;
then I will take away my hand,
and you shall see my back;
but my face shall not be seen.’
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians.
From Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians
in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
We always give thanks to God for all of you
and mention you in our prayers,
constantly remembering before our God and Father
your work of faith and labour of love
and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God,
that he has chosen you,
because our message of the gospel
came to you not in word only,
but also in power and in the Holy Spirit
and with full conviction;
just as you know what kind of people we proved to be
among you for your sake.
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord,
for in spite of persecution
you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit,
so that you became an example
to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you
not only in Macedonia and Achaia,
but in every place where your faith in God has become known,
so that we have no need to speak about it.
For the people of those regions report about us
what kind of welcome we had among you,
and how you turned to God from idols,
to serve a living and true God,
and to wait for his Son from heaven,
whom he raised from the dead—
Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
Matthew 22:15-22
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jeus Christ according to Matthew.
When the chiesf priests and Pharisees had heard the parables,
they realised that Jesus was speaking about them.
Then the Pharisees went and plotted
to entrap him in what he said.
So they sent their disciples to him,
along with the Herodians, saying,
‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere,
and teach the way of God in accordance with truth,
and show deference to no one;
for you do not regard people with partiality.
Tell us, then, what you think.
Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’
But Jesus, aware of their malice, said,
‘Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?
Show me the coin used for the tax.’
And they brought him a denarius.
Then he said to them,
‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’
They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’
Then he said to them,
‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s,
and to God the things that are God’s.’
When they heard this, they were amazed;
and they left him and went away.
