#538 It’s not fair
Fr Sam writes
It’s an exciting week in the parish, with a couple of big events taking place.
The first is the St Nicholas Eco Event, part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. This is taking place between 10am and 1pm in the field opposite Emmbrook School. Come along and help us take care of God’s creation and celebrate the church at the heart of Emmbrook. The weather looks promising – keep praying!
The second is the launch of the choral scholarship scheme thanks to much generosity from the choir godparents and others over the last few months. We are now advertising for young people to come to audition for these scholarships: if you know someone who might be interested, point them our way! More information on the website.
Image: The Creation of the Animals, Jacopo Tintoretto
This Sunday: it’s not fair
Our first reading this Sunday is from the story of Jonah. Following his escape from the whale and the repentance of the city of Nineveh, Jonah has a massive sulk and believes the mercy given to the people of the city is unfair (Jonah 3.10-end of 4).
In our Gospel reading, we hear the parable of the workers in the vineyard, as we ponder the mercy of God standing against human ideas of justice and fairness (Matthew 20.1-16).
At St Nicholas, this Sunday is the Harvest Festival.
Image: The Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard, Rembrandt
Services this Sunday
| 8am | St Paul’s | BCP Mass | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
| 9.30am | St Paul’s | Parish Mass | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
| Organ Prelude: Trio in D minor (BWV 583) – Bach Anthem: Ave Verum – Stopford Voluntary: Prelude in G (BWV 568) – Bach | |||
| 10am | Woosehill Church | Morning Worship | Revd Cara Smart |
| 11am | St Nicholas’ | Community Eucharist | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
| 6.15pm | St Paul’s | Evensong | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn Fr Peter Day |
Wrath at Evensong
This Sunday is the next in our evensong series focusing on the Seven Deadly Sins. This month we have Fr Peter Day, formerly curate in the parish, preaching on the sin of wrath.
Choral Evensong is at 6.15pm.
Image: The Great Day of His Wrath, John Martin
Choral Scholarships
We are now welcoming applications for the choral scholarship scheme at St Paul’s. Do share the information with anyone you know who might be interested: it’s a really great opportunity.
spauls.co.uk/choralscholarships/
Image: Music-Making Angels from the Ghent Altarpiece, Jan van Eyck
Ridden & Stridden
Saturday 12 September was Ride & Stride Day, to raise money for Berkshire Historic Churches Trust, and for St Paul’s.
Information about sponsorships and payments can be found in last week’s email newsletter.
Thank you to those who helped as Welcomers. Anyone who has taken part in Ride&Stride will know how nice it is to be greeted by someone at a church, rather than an empty church or locked door. It is good that we are able to continue to do this at St Paul’s Church.
Here is a collage of some of the places we visited on our ride around the “Greater Wokingham” area. How many places can you name? Click the photo to see a larger version.
Confirm, O Lord, your servant…
On 15 November, there will be a confirmation service at St John’s Crowthorne, celebrated by the Bishop of Reading.
If you have not been confirmed (and are in Year 7 or older) and would like to be, please let Fr Sam know. There will be preparation classes starting in October, times TBC.
Confirmation is the occasion where Christians take on their baptism promises from their own lips, while the bishop lays hands on them in a chain that is unbroken since the first apostles. It marks full, adult membership of the Church, and is the sacrament of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us and giving us life.
If there are any children under Year 7 who would like to receive Holy Communion for the first time, please also speak with Fr Sam.
Image: Seven Sacraments Altarpiece by Rogier van der Weyden
A bit bazaar
For your diary: the parish Autumn Bazaar will take place on Saturday 7 November between 12 noon and 3pm. Draw tickets are now on sale from Liz Gallagher and Teri Austen.
This week’s calendar: evangelist of the year
Monday 21 September is the feast of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. Called from a life of sin as a tax-collector, St Matthew followed Jesus and is traditionally credited with writing the gospel that bears his name. This is the gospel that we have been focusing on in our Sunday readings since last December. Matthew is a great example of hope and redemption in the Christian story.
Image: The Calling of St Matthew by Caravaggio
