This Sunday the church remembers Luke the Evangelist. Tradition has him as the author of one of our Gospels and also the Acts of the Apostles. He’s thought to have been a Gentile and also a physician. He’s often symbolised in art by an ox or bull, to represent sacrifice, service and strength. He was an evangelist, proclaiming the good news of Christ, something we are all much in need of hearing at this challenging time. The church colours change to red for Sunday.
We might all pray for the health of our nation and for medical staff in the power of Luke the doctor and healer.
Following the announcement on Monday October 12th of a new three-tier risk alert system for COVID-19, we are advised that churches can remain open at all tiers – although at the ‘high’ and ‘very high’ tiers there should be no mixing between households. The Church of England writes:
‘This recognises the important role churches and other places of worship continue to play in serving their communities and providing vital comfort and support to people amid very difficult times.’ We continue to be vigilant in how we manage our worship together. I do hope you can join us either in person or on the internet.
Collect
Almighty God, you called Luke the physician, whose praise is in the gospel, to be an evangelist and physician of the soul: by the grace of the Spirit and through the wholesome medicine of the gospel, give your Church the same love and power to heal; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Readings
Psalm 147.1-7, Isaiah 35.3-6 or Acts 16.6-12a, 2 Timothy 4:5-17, Luke 10:1-9
Sunday Sales
Cards, crafts, books and other items will be on sale in the fresh air of the car park after the Sunday service this week. Last week’s sale was a great success raising in excess of £200! Thank you to everyone who helped.
Parking
To allow more space for the stalls it would be helpful not to park on the gravel part of the car park. If you can park instead on the grass area of the car park or on the street, this will give everyone more room to spread out.
Sunday school
The children had a lovely first session with Daisy. It continues this week, Sunday 18th October in the church hall. The session will be run in a Covid-secure way and the numbers are limited. We have decided that the best way to run Sunday school safely is for parents to drop their children off at 10am and pick them up at the end of church. Parents can book into the service if they wish. Communion will be taken over to the hall and the children will watch the Eucharistic prayer on an iPad.
You need to let Daisy know if you’d like your child to attend.
Delayed APCM
This is our meeting that was meant to have happened in April. The paperwork was sent out last week. The new date is 7.30pm, Tuesday October 27th on Zoom.
Bike Repairs
If any of you have punctures or minor bike repairs Jonathan Marshall is offering to help fix it for a church donation. Contact Jonathan if you’d like his help. Email: jonathan@marshall-uk.com
ShoreLine
The October issue is a little late, but worth waiting for. It’s attached to this email. Thank you Adam for putting this together for us, and all those who contribute.
Memorial Healing Service for All Souls, Sunday 1st November, 6pm
Our annual service to remember those we love but see no longer will happen in church this year, but with reduced numbers.
During the service a list of names of those who have died will be read out. If you would like the name or names of those whom you have loved and lost
included, please write them on the sheet available at the back of church after the Sunday service. Alternatively you can email your names to Sheila Powell.
You can do this whether you attend the service or not. We do hope you will be able to join us – either in person or in spirit – for this opportunity for remembering and healing. The service will require booking and the details for this will be available in next week’s newsletter.
Newsletter
If want to include an item in the newsletter, please email Rev’d Jane by Wednesday 1pm.
Bible Art
Revd Jess looks at the alternative reading for this week, Matthew 22.15-22:
‘Jesus asked whose head was on the denarius. The emperor's. Jesus also asks, whose title. The writing says that Tiberius has the title of the son of the god Augustus, ie divine. Jesus said that they should give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's.
I have used this verse in my life in a rather authoritarian manner in the sense that I took it to mean that I should obey the laws of the land in which I live, whether that is here in the UK or when I lived in Africa, or travel in Greece or elsewhere. I have had an underlying feeling that, if I don't obey the law ... eg by speeding on roads, then I am not protected. I know that is not right, in the sense that doing right does not mean that you are protected from evil, and that if I have an accident because I am speeding that is a practical result not a spiritual one, if that makes sense.
But this painting is about something else ... Jesus asked whose image was on the denarius, and what is their title? If we think about whose image is in us, and their title. What does that mean for us and how should we interpret Jesus's words about giving to the emperor what is the emperors' and to God that which is God's?’.
And finally...
A beautiful pink sunrise over the church, photographed this week by Fiona West. Just what we need to raise our spirits.