Weekly letter from St Luke's - 27 August 2021

Dear Parish Friends

There is a lot to look forward to this Sunday at St Luke's. At 9am we have a new format of service that we will use when there is a 5th Sunday in the month. This seeks to be inter-generational - our children will stay in church for the whole service and there will be activities for them (and others who wish) - and we have a band to lead our music. Note that there will not be communion at this service but it will be streamed over Zoom as usual. The 7am service will remain as a Prayer Book communion service.

Then at 5pm, in church, we will have a special service of Evening Prayer, with Bishop John Roundhill who is coming to receive Jen Basham into membership of the Anglican Church. All are welcome.

As next Tuesday is the day in the church calendar to remember St Aidan, we will acknowledge the part that the former church of St Aidan has played in the life of this parish at our services.

The text we will focus on at both morning services is from the beginning of the letter of James. This is a very practical letter which encourages us to have a courageous faith that helps us deal with the trials of life. Our passage this week, tells us that we need to be not just hearers, but doers of the word (James 1:22-25). This echos Jesus' parable of the houses built on the sand and the rock (Matthew 7:24-27) and reminds us that even though God's promise to us are freely given, a response is required if we truly accept and believe.

Yours in Christ

Rev'd Timothy