#536 Back in top gear
Fr Sam writes
This newsletter definitely has a “new term” feel to it: after the long sleepy summer we are back at full speed: it will be very good to welcome the Choir back to St Paul’s this Sunday, along with children’s activities.
To mark the new beginning, this Sunday we will be doing a “bag blessing”. If you would like to do so, please bring a school bag or a work bag (or other bags as appropriate!) for a blessing at the end of the service.
Finally, we are planning for Confirmations and First Communions in November. If you are interested, please drop me an email.
Image: “St Joseph the Carpenter” by Georges de la Tour
This Sunday: dealing with sin
Our first reading this Sunday is from the prophecy of Ezekiel, where the prophet speaks about calling wicked people back from sin to righteousness (Ezekiel 33.7-11).
In our Gospel reading, Jesus speaks of sin in the Church, and about how the disciples should deal with someone in the church falling into sin and how they can bring them back (Matthew 18.15-20)
Image: The Lost Drachma by James Tissot
Services this Sunday
| 8am | St Paul’s | BCP Mass | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
| 9.30am | St Paul’s | Parish Mass | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
| Prelude: ‘Adoration’ – Florence Price Anthem: ‘A Gaelic Blessing’ – John Rutter Voluntary: Toccata in Seven – John Rutter | |||
| 10am | Woosehill Church | Holy Communion | Revd Cara Smart |
| 11am | St Nicholas’ | Community Eucharist | Revd Helen Charlton |
Rochester Cathedral
Saturday, 26 September 2026 – Choir singing Evensong at Rochester Cathedral – 3.15pm.
The cost of the coach to Rochester is £25 for adults, £10 for children. Please make payment, preferably by bank transfer, to: St Paul’s Parish Room Trust, Sort Code 20 11 74, A/c No. 50764582, reference Rochester.
Please, do not make payment to the church bank account!
If you prefer to pay by cheque or cash, either give it to Rhoda at church on a Sunday morning or put it through the Parish Rooms letter box marked with the above reference. Many thanks. Any problems, email rhoda297@gmail.com
Bible Study
The Zoom bible study group is starting up again on Tuesday 8 September at 7.15pm. The group will be looking at the book of Judges.
For more information, please email Revd Cara Smart.
A bit bazaar
For your diary: the parish Autumn Bazaar will take place on Saturday 7 November between 12 noon and 3pm.
People’s Emergency Briefing
There will be a showing of the People’s Emergency Briefing on 15 September, with a Q&A afterwards with Professor Chris Merchant of our parish.
More information and booking details available online.
Quiet Day – save the date!
The next parish quiet day will be on Saturday 17 October and will be led by the Revd Jane Kraft. Please save the date: more information to follow!
Image: Silence (The Holy Family) by Marcello Venusti
This week’s calendar: the missionary Pope
Today, 3 September, is the feast day of St Gregory the Great, who was pope in the late sixth century. He is renowned for many things, including his charity, his reforms to the liturgy, and his impact on church music.
The Venerable Bede tells of how Gregory was in a slave market in Rome and saw some young English men. He asked who they were: “Angli,” came the reply: “Englishmen”. Gregory replied “non Angli sed angeli“: “not Englishmen but angels”. He was then moved to send St Augustine to our shores in order to bring the Christian faith to England.
This story is, just possibly, a little fanciful, but we can give thanks to God both for St Augustine and St Gregory, and pray for a renewal of the Christian faith in these lands.
Image: St Gregory the Great, by José de Ribera
