In last Sunday's 10am Parish Eucharist we were very happy to welcome our friend of long standing, Fr Lindsey, who came to us at St Andrew's. In his homily, he based the content very much upon the day's Gospel Reading which was taken from Luke, X1, 1 - 13, where Christ, in response to a request from a disciple, explains the way to pray to the Father. The Lord's Prayer, as it is now universally known, is the 'leading light' for all corporate and personal prayer from where ever it comes. Fr Lindsey described the way in which we may often approach God in a prayer as "the chocolate machine" attitude. We put our coins in and expect an answer. When the mechanism fails to deliver we feel aggrieved or let down by Christ's promise that the Almighty always answers our prayers. In fact God does but it is here that we miss the point. We remain beginners because prayers build upon a relationship with God which incidentally already exists. We receive our 'daily bread' but this refers to more than just food because God is the answer to all our prayers and furthermore the Almighty is in charge, not us. Think of the Lord's Prayer and follow it.
With the School Holidays now on, and with at least six weeks of Summer still to go, life at St Andrew's re-adjusts to the present circumstances. No August Sunday Lunch because Holiday Club starts on the 11th. Our Team Mafambisa 2025 has been in South Africa over the past week and will be returning this Saturday, no doubt with many exciting stories to tell. Sunday School remains off the calendar until the new academic year begins in early September. Various repairs to the building are underway. Curiously, amid all the activities taking place, there is a sort of hush too, at least as far as normal routines are concerned. Please note that on this Tuesday, 29th and Wednesday, 30th, the church will be closed for work being done in the North Aisle.
This Saturday, 2nd August, from 10am to 12 noon, Coffee Shop will be available to all. On Sunday, 3rd August, there will be our usual two acts of corporate worship taking place: 8am Said traditional Holy Communion and 10am Parish Communion. As usual, all are welcome and please introduce yourself as a visitor or in the case of being local, if this is the first time you have been through the doors. We have votive candles for all who wish to leave a light as a form of prayer for loved ones, past and present.
Duncan Gauld, our Diocesan Director of Education has sent a special 'message of thank you' to all who work so devotedly in the church schools around our diocese. Its heartfelt content can accessed on-line, no doubt. 0n Friday, 15th August, as already publicised, there will be a VJ Day Service in the Market Square. Those few veterans and indeed, forebears, who saw and suffered action especially in the Far East, will be remembered and the service is for everyone and especially for anyone who has historic and family links with this time which is being remembered. On Sunday, 7th September, 8am Said Communion and 10am All Together Eucharist in what will be appropriately, Education Sunday. On Sunday, 14th September, for those who book in time, there will be Sunday Lunch in the Chapter House.