This morning we almost had to swim to church because the rain that has fallen this week  meant that the roads were full of big puddles, some of which met in the middle of the carriageway! However quite a few people did make it for our Parish Eucharist. Father Chris was the Celebrant and the Gospel Story this week was a follow on from past week, when the Jews asked Jesus which is the greatest commandment. In his Sermon Father Chris told us that the Jews have hundreds of instructions for living a good life recorded in the first 5 books of the Old Testament. Jesus summarised God's instructions into 2 commandments, Love God and love your neighbour! He spoke about the need to love everyone, even those who are for any reason difficult to love, as this is the Christian way.

The Choir sang 'Ave Verum' in the setting by W.A. Mozart as the anthem.

A reading from the book of Deuteronomy.

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, 

that our coming to you was not in vain, 

but though we had already suffered 

and been shamefully maltreated at Philippi, 

as you know, we had courage in our God 

to declare to you the gospel of God 

in spite of great opposition. 

For our appeal does not spring from deceit 

or impure motives or trickery, 

but just as we have been approved by God 

to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, 

even so we speak, not to please mortals, 

but to please God who tests our hearts. 

As you know and as God is our witness, 

we never came with words of flattery 

or with a pretext for greed; 

nor did we seek praise from mortals, 

whether from you or from others, 

though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 

But we were gentle among you, 

like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. 

So deeply do we care for you 

that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God 

but also our own selves, 

because you have become very dear to us.

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.