28 December 2025
10:30 | 
Posted by
Dr Platts |
Isaiah 63:7-9
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord,
the praiseworthy acts of the Lord,
because of all that the Lord has done for us
and the great favor to the house of Israel
that he has shown them according to his mercy,
according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
For he said, “Surely they are my people,
children who will not deal falsely,”
and he became their saviour in all their distress.
It was no messenger or angel
but his presence that saved them;
in his love and pity it was he who redeemed them;
he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
Hebrews 2:10-18
A reading from the letter to the Hebrews.
It was fitting that God,
for whom and through whom all things exist,
in bringing many children to glory,
should make the pioneer of their salvation
perfect through sufferings.
For the one who sanctifies
and those who are sanctified all have one Father.
For this reason
Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying,
“I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”
And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,“Here am I
and the children whom God has given me.”
Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood,
he himself likewise shared the same things,
so that through death
he might destroy the one who has the power of death,
that is, the devil,
and free those who all their lives were held in slavery
by the fear of death.
For it is clear that he did not come to help angels
but the descendants of Abraham.
Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters
in every respect,
so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest
in the service of God,
to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people.
Because he himself was tested by what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.
Matthew 2:13-23
Hear the gosel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
After the wise men had left,
an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
“Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt,
and remain there until I tell you,
for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night,
and went to Egypt
and remained there until the death of Herod.
This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet,
“Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men,
he was infuriated,
and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem
who were two years old or under,
according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.
Then what had been spoken
through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
“A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”
When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared
in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said,
“Get up, take the child and his mother,
and go to the land of Israel,
for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.”
Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother,
and went to the land of Israel.
But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling Judea
in place of his father Herod,
he was afraid to go there.
And after being warned in a dream,
he went away to the district of Galilee.
There he made his home in a town called Nazareth,
so that what had been spoken through the prophets
might be fulfilled,
“He will be called a Nazarene.”
25 December 2025
Isaiah 9:1-7
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
But 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 exultation;
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.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders,
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Great will be his authority,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Titus 2:11-14
A reading from the letter of Paul to Titus.
The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all,
training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions
and in the present age to live lives
that are self-controlled, upright, and godly,
while we wait for the blessed hope
and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior,
Jesus Christ.
He it is who gave himself for us
that he might redeem us from all iniquity
and purify for himself a people of his own
who are zealous for good deeds.
Luke 2:8-20
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
Then an angel of the Lord stood before them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid, for see,
I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
who is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be a sign for you:
you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth
and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel
a multitude of the heavenly host,
praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven,
the shepherds said to one another,
“Let us go now to Bethlehem
and see this thing that has taken place,
which the Lord has made known to us.”
So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph
and the child lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known what had been told them about this child,
and all who heard it were amazed
at what the shepherds told them,
and Mary treasured all these words
and pondered them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told them.
24 December 2025
Isaiah 52:7-10
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
who announces salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy,
for in plain sight they see
the return of the Lord to Zion.
Break forth; shout together for joy,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people;
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.
Hebrews 1:1-4
A reading from the letter ot the Hebrews.
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors
in many and various ways by the prophets,
but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son,
whom he appointed heir of all things,
through whom he also created the worlds.
He is the reflection of God’s glory
and the exact imprint of God’s very being,
and he sustains all things by his powerful word.
When he had made purification for sins,
he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
having become as much superior to angels
as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
John 1:1-14
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus CJrist according to John.
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through him,
and without him not one thing came into being.
What has come into being in him was life,
and the life was the light of all people.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overtake it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John.
He came as a witness to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He himself was not the light,
but he came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone,
was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came into being through him,
yet the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
and his own people did not accept him.
But to all who received him,
who believed in his name,
he gave power to become children of God,
who were born, not of blood
or of the will of the flesh
or of the will of man,
but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us,
and we have seen his glory,
the glory as of a father’s only son,
full of grace and truth.
21 December 2025
Isaiah 7:10-16
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
The Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying,
“Ask a sign of the Lord your God;
let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask,
and I will not put the Lord to the test.”
Then Isaiah said, “Hear then, O house of David!
Is it too little for you to weary mortals
that you weary my God also?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.
Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son
and shall name him Immanuel.
He shall eat curds and honey by the time
he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.
For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good,
the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.
Romans 1:1-7
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus,
called to be an apostle,
set apart for the gospel of God,
which he promised beforehand
through his prophets in the holy scriptures,
the gospel concerning his Son,
who was descended from David according to the flesh
and was declared to be Son of God with power
according to the spirit of holiness
by resurrection from the dead,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
through whom we have received grace and apostleship
to bring about the obedience of faith
among all the gentiles for the sake of his name,
including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
To all God’s beloved in Rome,
who are called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 1:18-25
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
The birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.
When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit.
Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man
and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace,
planned to divorce her quietly.
But just when he had resolved to do this,
an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife,
for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will bear a son,
and you are to name him Jesus,
for he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place
to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
“Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke from sleep,
he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him;
he took her as his wife
but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son,
and he named him Jesus.
14 December 2025
Isaiah 35:1-10
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and shouting.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.
Strengthen the weak hands
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
“Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.”
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf shall be opened;
then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert;
the burning sand shall become a pool
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp;
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
A highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it,
but it shall be for God’s people;
no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
James 5:7-10
A reading from the letter of James.
Be patient, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.
The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth,
being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.
You also must be patient.
Strengthen your hearts,
for the coming of the Lord is near.
Beloved, do not grumble against one another,
so that you may not be judged.
See, the Judge is standing at the doors!
As an example of suffering and patience, beloved,
take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Matthew 11:2-11
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing,
he sent word by his disciples
and said to Jesus,
“Are you the one who is to come,
or are we to wait for another?”
Jesus answered them,
“Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind receive their sight,
the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
and the poor have good news brought to them.
And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
As they went away,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John:
“What did you go out into the wilderness to look at?
A reed shaken by the wind?
What, then, did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in soft robes?
Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.
What, then, did you go out to see?
A prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom it is written,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
“Truly I tell you, among those born of women
no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist,
yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
07 December 2025
Isaiah 11:1-10
A reading from the book of the propht Isaiah.
A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see
or decide by what his ears hear,
but with righteousness he shall judge for the poor
and decide with equity for the oppressed of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
The wolf shall live with the lamb;
the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the lion will feed[b] together,
and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze;
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
On that day the root of Jesse shall stand
as a signal to the peoples;
the nations shall inquire of him,
and his dwelling shall be glorious.
Romans 15:4-13
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.
Whatever was written in former days
was written for our instruction,
so that by steadfastness
and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement
grant you to live in harmony with one another,
in accordance with Christ Jesus,
so that together you may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you,
for the glory of God.
For I tell you
that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised
on behalf of the truth of God
in order that he might confirm the promises given to the ancestors
and that the gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
As it is written,
“Therefore I will confess you among the gentiles
and sing praises to your name”;
and again he says,
“Rejoice, O gentiles, with his people”;
and again,
“Praise the Lord, all you gentiles,
and let all the peoples praise him”;
and again Isaiah says,
“The root of Jesse shall come,
the one who rises to rule the gentiles;
in him the gentiles shall hope.”
May the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that you may abound in hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 3:1-12
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
In those days John the Baptist
appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’ ”
Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair
with a leather belt around his waist,
and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea
were going out to him,
and all the region around the Jordan
and they were baptized by him in the River Jordan,
confessing their sins.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism,
he said to them,
“You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Bear fruit worthy of repentance,
and do not presume to say to yourselves,
‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’
for I tell you, God is able from these stones
to raise up children to Abraham.
Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees;
therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit
is cut down and thrown into the fire.
“I baptize you with water for repentance,
but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me,
I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fork is in his hand,
and he will clear his threshing floor
and will gather his wheat into the granary,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
30 November 2025
A beautiful sunny day welcomed two new members into our church as Ruby and Milo were baptised. Fr Chris had a shy helper, an owl who was a reminder of the three requirement of baptism, oil, water and light. He also recommended a short prayer for us to say during Advent, I may not have it word perfect, but I think I have the jist of it:
Lord, let your light guide our steps today.
Isaiah 2:1-5
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord!
Romans 13:11-14
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.
Brothers and sisters,
you know what time it is,
how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep.
For salvation is nearer to us now
than when we became believers;
the night is far gone, the day is near.
Let us then lay aside the works of darkness
and put on the armour of light;
let us live honourably as in the day,
not in revelling and drunkenness,
not in debauchery and licentiousness,
not in quarrelling and jealousy.
Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Matthew 24:36-44
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ accroding to Matthew.
Jeus spoke to his disciples:
"About that day and hour no one knows,
neither the angels of heaven,
nor the Son, but only the Father.
For as the days of Noah were,
so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
For as in those days before the flood
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
until the day Noah entered the ark,
and they knew nothing
until the flood came and swept them all away,
so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Then two will be in the field;
one will be taken and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding meal together;
one will be taken and one will be left.
Keep awake therefore,
for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
But understand this:
if the owner of the house had known
in what part of the night the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and would not have let his house be broken into.
Therefore you also must be ready,
for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
23 November 2025
Fr Chris spoke to us about Christ The King and the children made beautiful crowns to signify Christ as King. Fr Chris was a little put out that no one made him a crown. They said they had thought about it!
Don't forget that Friday evening is the fun night for year 6 and above. Fr Chris says he has something new and hopefully exciting.
Also, Saturday 29th is our Christmas Fair. Your chance to support St Mary's and maybe pick up a few stocking fillers, gifts and treat yourself to a bowl of hot soup for lunch! Don't forget Santa's grotto for the kiddies.
A reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah.
Woe to the shepherds
who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!
says the Lord.
Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel,
concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people:
It is you who have scattered my flock
and have driven them away,
and you have not attended to them.
So I will attend to you for your evil doings,
says the Lord.
Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock
out of all the lands where I have driven them,
and I will bring them back to their fold,
and they shall be fruitful and multiply.
I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them,
and they shall no longer fear or be dismayed,
nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.
The days are surely coming, says the Lord,
when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,
and he shall reign as king and deal wisely
and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety.
And this is the name by which he will be called:
“The Lord is our righteousness.”
Colossians 1:11-20
A reading from the letter of Paul tot he Colossians.
Brothers and sisters:
May you be made strong
with all the strength that comes from his glorious power,
and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience,
while joyfully giving thanks to the Father,
who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
He has rescued us from the power of darkness
and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation;
for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created,
things visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—
all things have been created through him and for him.
He himself is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
so that he might come to have first place in everything.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things,
whether on earth or in heaven,
by making peace through the blood of his cross.
Luke 23:33-43
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
When they came to the place that is called The Skull,
they crucified Jesus there with the criminals,
one on his right and one on his left.
Then Jesus said,
‘Father, forgive them;
for they do not know what they are doing.’
And they cast lots to divide his clothing.
And the people stood by, watching;
but the leaders scoffed at him, saying,
‘He saved others;
let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’
The soldiers also mocked him,
coming up and offering him sour wine,
and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’
There was also an inscription over him,
‘This is the King of the Jews.’
One of the criminals who were hanged there
kept deriding him and saying,
‘Are you not the Messiah?
Save yourself and us!’
But the other rebuked him, saying,
‘Do you not fear God,
since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
And we indeed have been condemned justly,
for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds,
but this man has done nothing wrong.’
Then he said,
‘Jesus, remember me when you come into[g] your kingdom.’
Jeus replied,
‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’
16 November 2025
Fr Chris was busy in the church hall with Crafty Communion and Matins was taking place in church. The choir sang Stanford's Benedictus in C and the anthem was Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.
Don't forget our Christmas Market held in church. The poster says it all.
A reading from the book of the prophet Malachi.
See, the day is coming, burning like an oven,
when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble;
the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts,
so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.
But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise,
with healing in its wings.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians,
We command you, beloved,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
to keep away from believers who are living in idleness
and not according to the tradition that they received from us.
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us;
we were not irresponsible when we were with you,
and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it,
but with toil and labor we worked night and day
so that we might not burden any of you.
This was not because we do not have that right
but in order to give you an example to imitate.
For even when we were with you,
we gave you this command:
anyone unwilling to work should not eat.
For we hear that some of you are living in idleness,
mere busybodies, not doing any work.
Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ
to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
Luke 21:5-19
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
When some were speaking about the temple,
how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God,
Jesus said,
“As for these things that you see,
the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another;
all will be thrown down.”
They asked him,
“Teacher, when will this be,
and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?”
And hJesus said,
“Beware that you are not led astray,
for many will come in my name and say,
‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’
Do not go after them.
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified,
for these things must take place first,
but the end will not follow immediately.”
Then he said to them,
“Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom;
there will be great earthquakes
and in various places famines and plagues,
and there will be dreadful portents
and great signs from heaven.
But before all this occurs,
they will arrest you and persecute you;
they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons,
and you will be brought before kings and governors
because of my name.
This will give you an opportunity to testify.
So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance,
for I will give you words and a wisdom
that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.
You will be betrayed even by parents and siblings,
by relatives and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name.
But not a hair of your head will perish.
By your endurance you will gain your souls."
09 November 2025
Job 19:23-27a
A reading from the book of Job.
Job said to his companionsL
"O that my words were written down!
O that they were inscribed in a book!
O that with an iron pen and with lead
they were engraved on a rock forever!
For I know that my vindicator[a] lives
and that in the end he will stand upon the earth;
and after my skin has been destroyed,
then in my flesh I shall see God,
whom I shall see on my side,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another."
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17
A reading from the second letter of Paul to the Thessalonians.
As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
and our being gathered together to him,
we beg you, brothers and sisters,
not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed,
either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us,
to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.
Let no one deceive you in any way,
for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first
and the lawless one is revealed,
the one destined for destruction.
He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god
or object of worship,
so that he takes his seat in the temple of God,
declaring himself to be God.
Do you not remember that I told you these things
when I was still with you?
But we must always give thanks to God for you,
brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord,
because God chose you as the first fruits
for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit
and through belief in the truth.
For this purpose he called you
through the proclamation of the good news,
so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So then, brothers and sisters,
stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us,
either by word of mouth or by our letter.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself
and God our Father, who loved us
and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope,
comfort your hearts
and strengthen them in every good work and word.
Luke 20:27-38
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection,
came to Jesus and asked him a question:
“Teacher,
Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies
leaving a wife but no children,
the man shall marry the widow
and raise up children for his brother.
Now there were seven brothers;
the first married a woman and died childless;
then the second
and the third married her,
and so in the same way all seven died childless.
Finally the woman also died.
In the resurrection, therefore,
whose wife will the woman be?
For the seven had married her.”
Jesus said to them,
“Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage,
but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age
and in the resurrection from the dead
neither marry nor are given in marriage.
Indeed, they cannot die anymore,
because they are like angels and are children of God,
being children of the resurrection.
And the fact that the dead are raised
Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush,
where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
Now he is God not of the dead but of the living,
for to him all of them are alive.”
02 November 2025
As we have done for many years, there was a service for the dead. The names of friends and relations who have passed as well as the many people whose names are know only to God. The choir, swollen by many friends sang the Requiem by Gabriel Faure, as an integral part of the communion service.
Requiem Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)
Gabriel Fauré, born in 1845, was appointed titular organist a La Madeleine, Paris, in 1896 and director of the Paris Conservatoire in 1905.
Fauré started to think about the composition of a requiem in 1885 after the death of his father. Unlike Berlioz and Verdi he removed the Dies Irae sequence, which he considered over theatrical. Hence the Offertorium comes up much sooner than is usual in a requiem mass setting. He permits himself only a brief reference to the “day of wrath” in the Libera me baritone solo.
Gabriel Fauré
Fauré’s Requiem happily lends itself to a liturgical performance by amateur choirs, being particularly popular with English choirs, with the organ taking the place of the orchestra. This seems to have been recognised early on its life, coinciding as it did with liturgical experimentation in the Church of England in the late 19th and early 20th centuries – experiments now adopted and sanctioned for universal use with the introduction in 1980 of the Alternative Service Book and more recently the Common Worship services. These owe their formation to the proposed 1928 Prayer Book and the English Missal (1933) and their structure, including additions to the Book of Common Prayer, fit best with Fauré’s arrangement of sections. The 1928 Prayer Book and English Missal largely formalised a variety of liturgical practices which had been used in sung Communion services previously.
The service is an act of worship, to include remembrance of the departed, and may sound something like a similar service in an English church at about the time of Faurés death in November 1924, when sections of his requiem were sung at his funeral at La Madeleine.
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| Faure in 1907 from Wikipedia |
After torrential rain overnight, we went to church is beautiful autumnal sunshine.
Today we celebrated All Saints Day. The children had coloured in shoelds with the symbols of the various apostles and we had to name all twelve.
Join us for Evensong this afternoon at 3.30pm, the winter timing as the clocks went back last week. It also means we have tea and cake after the service.
A reading from the book of Daniel.
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon
Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed:
then he wrote the dream, .
I, Daniel saw in my vision by night,
the four winds of the heaven stirring up the great sea.
And four great beasts came up out the sea, different one from another.
As for me, Daniel my spirit was troubled within me,
and the visions of my head troubled me.
I approached one of the attendants,
to ask him the truth concerning this.
So he said that he would disclose to me the interpretation of the matter:
as for these four great beasts,
four kings shall arise out of the earth.
But the holy ones of the most High shall receive the kingdom,
and possess the kingdom for ever - for ever and ever.
Ephesians 1:11-23
A reading from the letterof Paul to the Ephesians.
In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance,
having been destined according to the purpose of him
who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will,
so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ,
might live for the praise of his glory.
In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him,
were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit;
this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people,
to the praise of his glory.
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus
and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason
I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation
as you come to know him,
so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened,
you may perceive what is the hope to which he has called you,
what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,
and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power
for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
God put this power to work in Christ
when he raised him from the dead
and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all rule and authority and power and dominion
and above every name that is named,
not only in this age but also in the age to come.
And he has put all things under his feet
and has made him the head over all things for the church,
which is his body,
the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Luke 6:20-31
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Jesus looked up at his disciples and said:
Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you
and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you
on account of the Son of Man.
Rejoice on that day and leap for joy,
for surely your reward is great in heaven,
for that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.
But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
Woe to you who are full now,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
But I say to you that listen,
Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you;
bless those who curse you;
pray for those who mistreat you.
If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also,
and from anyone who takes away your coat
do not withhold even your shirt.
Give to everyone who begs from you,
and if anyone takes away yur goods,
do not ask for it back again.
Do to others as you would have them do to you."
26 October 2025
It was lovely to see Fr Chris back leading our worship. A lovely sunny day and an excellent sermon reminding us not to judge.
The children were busy preparing shields of the twelve Apostles ready for worship next Sunday, All Saints.
Next Saturday is our service for All Souls, a liturgical setting of Faure's Requiem. The service is at 6pm. If you have someone you would like remembered and prayed for at this service there is a list at the back of the church where you can add their name. If you would like to sing with the choir, there is a rehearsal at 3.30pm with tea and cake at 5pm before the service at 6pm. If you do have a copy of the work, please bring it, we do have a few spares.
Ecclesiasticus 35:12-17
A reading from the book of Ecclesiasticus.
Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
and as generously as you can afford.
For the Lord is the one who repays,
and he will repay you sevenfold.
Do not offer him a bribe,
for he will not accept it;
and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice;
for the Lord is the judge,
and with him there is no partiality.
He will not show partiality to the poor;
but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.
He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan,
or the widow when she pours out her complaint.
2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
A reading from the second letter of Paul to Timothy.
As for me,
I am already being poured out as a libation,
and the time of my departure has come.
I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the race,
I have kept the faith.
From now on
there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge,
will give to me on that day,
and not only to me
but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
At my first defence no one came to my support,
but all deserted me.
May it not be counted against them!
But the Lord stood by me
and gave me strength,
so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack
and save me for his heavenly kingdom.
To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Luke 18:9-14
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Jesus also told this parable to some
who trusted in themselves that they were righteous
and regarded others with contempt:
‘Two men went up to the temple to pray,
one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector.
The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus,
“God, I thank you that I am not like other people:
thieves, rogues, adulterers,
or even like this tax-collector.
I fast twice a week;
I give a tenth of all my income.”
But the tax-collector, standing far off,
would not even look up to heaven,
but was beating his breast and saying,
“God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
I tell you,
this man went down to his home justified rather than the other;
for all who exalt themselves will be humbled,
but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’
19 October 2025
Genesis 32:22-31
A reading from the book of Genesis.
At night Jacob got up and took his two wives,
his two maids, and his eleven children,
and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
He took them and sent them across the stream,
and likewise everything that he had.
Jacob was left alone;
and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob,
he struck him on the hip socket;
and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.
Then he said,
‘Let me go, for the day is breaking.’
But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go, unless you bless me.’
So he said to him,
‘What is your name?’
And he said, ‘Jacob.’
Then the man said,
‘You shall no longer be called Jacob,
but Israel, for you have striven with God
and with humans, and have prevailed.’
Then Jacob asked him,
‘Please tell me your name.’
But he said, ‘Why is it that you ask my name?’
And there he blessed him.
So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying,
‘For I have seen God face to face,
and yet my life is preserved.’
The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel,
limping because of his hip.
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
A reading from the second letter of Paul to Timothy.
Continue in what you have learned and firmly believed,
knowing from whom you learned it,
and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings
that are able to instruct you for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is inspired by God
and is useful for teaching,
for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient,
equipped for every good work.
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,
who is to judge the living and the dead,
and in view of his appearing and his kingdom,
I solemnly urge you:
proclaim the message;
be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable;
convince, rebuke, and encourage,
with the utmost patience in teaching.
For the time is coming
when people will not put up with sound doctrine,
but having itching ears,
they will accumulate for themselves teachers
to suit their own desires,
and will turn away from listening to the truth
and wander away to myths.
As for you, always be sober,
endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist,
carry out your ministry fully.
Luke 18:1-8
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Jesus told his disciples a parable about their need to pray always
and not to lose heart.
He said,
‘In a certain city there was a judge
who neither feared God nor had respect for people.
In that city there was a widow
who kept coming to him and saying,
“Grant me justice against my opponent.”
For a while he refused;
but later he said to himself,
“Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone,
yet because this widow keeps bothering me,
I will grant her justice,
so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.” ’
And the Lord said,
‘Listen to what the unjust judge says.
And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones
who cry to him day and night?
Will he delay long in helping them?
I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them.
And yet, when the Son of Man comes,
will he find faith on earth?’
aGk he
12 October 2025
Fr Tom, our new Arch Deacon, took our service today. This children made little wreaths and wrote onto them the things that they were grateful for.
A reading from the second book of Kings.
Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram,
was a great man and in high favour with his master,
because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram.
The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy.
Now the Arameans on one of their raids
had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel,
and she served Naaman’s wife.
She said to her mistress,
‘If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria!
He would cure him of his leprosy.’
When the king of Israel read the letter,
he tore his clothes and said,
‘Am I God, to give death or life,
that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy?
Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.’
But when Elisha the man of God
heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes,
he sent a message to the king,
‘Why have you torn your clothes?
Let him come to me,
that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.’
So Naaman came with his horses and chariots,
and halted at the entrance of Elisha’s house.
Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying,
‘Go, wash in the Jordan seven times,
and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.’
But Naaman became angry and went away, saying,
‘I thought that for me he would surely come out,
and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God,
and would wave his hand over the spot,
and cure the leprosy!
Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus,
better than all the waters of Israel?
Could I not wash in them, and be clean?’
He turned and went away in a rage.
But his servants approached and said to him,
‘Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult,
would you not have done it?
How much more, when all he said to you was,
“Wash, and be clean”?’
So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan,
according to the word of the man of God;
his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy,
and he was clean.
Then he returned to the man of God,
he and all his company;
he came and stood before him and said,
‘Now I know that there is no God in all the earth
except in Israel.
2 Timothy 2:8-15
A reading from the second letter of Paul to Timothy.
Remember Jesus Christ,
raised from the dead, a descendant of David—
that is my gospel,
for which I suffer hardship,
even to the point of being chained like a criminal.
But the word of God is not chained.
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect,
so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus,
with eternal glory.
The saying is sure:
If we have died with him,
we will also live with him;
if we endure,
we will also reign with him;
if we deny him,
he will also deny us;
if we are faithless,
he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.
Remind them of this,
and warn them before God
that they are to avoid wrangling over words,
which does no good
but only ruins those who are listening.
Do your best to present yourself to God
as one approved by him,
a worker who has no need to be ashamed,
rightly explaining the word of truth.
Luke 17:11-19
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
On the way to Jerusalem
Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee.
As he entered a village,
ten lepers approached him.
Keeping their distance,
they called out, saying,
‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’
When he saw them, he said to them,
‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’
And as they went, they were made clean.
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed,
turned back, praising God with a loud voice.
He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.
And he was a Samaritan.
Then Jesus asked,
‘Were not ten made clean?
But the other nine, where are they?
Was none of them found to return
and give praise to God except this foreigner?’
Then he said to the Samaritan,
‘Get up and go on your way;
your faith has made you well.’
05 October 2025
A really beautiful day for our Harvest celebration taken by Fr Roger. Please remember Fr Chris in your prayers for a quick recovery. As usual, the ladies who do the flowers put on a stunning display and the church looked wonderful. The choir sang "Thou Visiteth The Earth" ad their anthem.
A reading from the book of Deuteronomy.
Moses spoke to the people, saying:
When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you
as an inheritance to possess,
and you possess it, and settle in it,
you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground,
which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you,
and you shall put it in a basket
and go to the place
that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name.
You shall go to the priest
who is in office at that time, and say to him,
‘Today I declare to the Lord your God
that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.’
When the priest takes the basket from your hand
and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God,
you shall make this response before the Lord your God:
‘A wandering Aramean was my ancestor;
he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien,
few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous.
When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us,
by imposing hard labour on us,
we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors;
the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction,
our toil, and our oppression.
The Lord brought us out of Egypt
with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,
with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders;
and he brought us into this place and gave us this land,
a land flowing with milk and honey.
So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground
that you, O Lord, have given me.’
You shall set it down before the Lord your God
and bow down before the Lord your God.
Then you, together with the Levites
and the aliens who reside among you,
shall celebrate with all the bounty
that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house.
Philippians 4:4-9
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Philippians.
Rejoiceain the Lord always;
again I will say, Rejoice.
Let your gentleness be known to everyone.
The Lord is near.
Do not worry about anything,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, beloved,
whatever is true, whatever is honourable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable,
if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think aboutd these things.
Keep on doing the things that you have learned
and received and heard and seen in me,
and the God of peace will be with you.
John 6:25-35
A reading from the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
When they found Jesus on the other side of the sea,
the crowd said to him,
‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’
Jesus answered them,
‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me,
not because you saw signs,
but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
Do not work for the food that perishes,
but for the food that endures for eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you.
For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’
Then they said to Jesus,
‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’
Jesus answered them,
‘This is the work of God,
that you believe in him whom he has sent.’
So they said to him,
‘What sign are you going to give us then,
so that we may see it and believe you?
What work are you performing?
Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness;
as it is written,
“He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” ’
Then Jesus said to them,
‘Very truly, I tell you,
it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven,
but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God
is that which comes down
from heaven and gives life to the world.’
They said to him,
‘Sir, give us this bread always.’
Jesus said to them,
‘I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
28 September 2025
Amos 6:1a, 4-7
A reading from the book of the prophet Amos.
Thus says the Lord,, the God of hosts:
Alas for those who are at ease in Zion
and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria,
Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory
and lounge on their couches
and eat lambs from the flock
and calves from the stall,
who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp
and like David improvise on instruments of music,
who drink wine from bowls
and anoint themselves with the finest oils
but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!
Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile,
and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.
1 Timothy 6:6-19
A reading from the first letter of Paul to Timothy.
There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment,
for we brought nothing into the world,
so that we can take nothing out of it,
but if we have food and clothing,
we will be content with these.
But those who want to be rich fall into temptation
and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires
that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,
and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith
and pierced themselves with many pains.
But as for you, man of God, shun all this;
pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,
love, endurance, gentleness.
Fight the good fight of the faith;
take hold of the eternal life to which you were called
and for which you made the good confession
in the presence of many witnesses.
In the presence of God, who gives life to all things,
and of Christ Jesus,
who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,
I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame
until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which he will bring about at the right time—
he who is the blessed and only Sovereign,
the King of kings and Lord of lords.
It is he alone who has immortality
and dwells in unapproachable light,
whom no one has ever seen or can see;
to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
As for those who in the present age are rich,
command them not to be haughty
or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches
but rather on God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
They are to do good,
to be rich in good works,
generous, and ready to share,
thus storing up for themselves
the treasure of a good foundation for the future,
so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
Luke 16:19-31
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Jesus told this parable
to those among the Pharisees who loved money.
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen
and who feasted sumptuously every day.
And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who longed to satisfy his hunger
with what fell from the rich man’s table;
even the dogs would come and lick his sores.
The poor man died
and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried.
In Hades, where he was being tormented,
he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away
with Lazarus by his side.
He called out,
‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me,
and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water
and cool my tongue,
for I am in agony in these flames.’
But Abraham said,
‘Child, remember that during your lifetime
you received your good things
and Lazarus in like manner evil things,
but now he is comforted here,
and you are in agony.
Besides all this,
between you and us a great chasm has been fixed,
so that those who might want to pass from here to you
cannot do so,
and no one can cross from there to us.’
The man who had been rich said,
‘Then father, I beg you, to send him to my father’s house—
for I have five brothers—
that he may warn them,
so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’
Abraham replied,
‘They have Moses and the prophets;
they should listen to them.’
He said,
‘No, father Abraham,
but if someone goes to them from the dead,
they will repent.’
Abraham said to him,
‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be convinced
even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
21 September 2025
A beautiful sunny day greeted us for Matins in church and Crafty Communion in the parish hall.
Fr Roger preached today about Matthew, apostle and evangelist. He also explined that Matthew the tax collector turned disciple would not be the same as the writer of the gospel according to Matthew. He also explained many similarities in the gospel between Moses and Jesus, but with the emphasis on Jesus being just a little bit better.
There is no said Eucharist on Thursday as Fr Chris is on holiday until 1st October. Mary's Place will go ahead as normal. All welcome for tea, coffee, cake and most of all, a jolly good chat!
The first weekend of October is our Harvest celebration with things happening over the weekend.
A reading from the book of Proverbs.
Happy are those who find wisdom
and those who get understanding,
for her income is better than silver
and her revenue better than gold.
She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honour.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called happy.
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
A reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians.
Since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry,
we do not lose heart.
We have renounced the shameful things that one hides,
we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word,
but by the open statement of the truth
we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.
And even if our gospel is veiled,
it is veiled to those who are perishing.
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers,
to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,
who is the image of God.
For we do not proclaim ourselves;
we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord
and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’s sake.
For it is the God who said,
“Light will shine out of darkness,”
who has shone in our hearts
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 9:9-13
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mathhew.
As Jesus was walking along,
he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth,
and he said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed him.
And as he sat at dinner in the house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and were sitting with Jesus and his disciples.
When the Pharisees saw this,
they said to his disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
But when he heard this, he said,
“Those who are well have no need of a physician,
but those who are sick.
Go and learn what this means,
‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’
For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
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