St Thomas’ Church - keeping in touch
Building the Kingdom...................................
Thank you to Margaret (and Lynn) for the photo of her garden and also to Sue and Joe for the photo of one of their Hostas – I wish mine looked as healthy !
As we continue to read God’s word and pray for the church, the world and ourselves, thanking God for His goodness. Please let’s continue to pray for the people and situations we see in the news as well as those known to us personally. As I type this, the West Coast of America is being ravaged by widespread fires. The Yemen is a country suffering from internal conflict, war and now Covid-19 – and there are very few hospitals still open. We need to pray for all those who have lost loved ones and for those in desperate situations, through natural disaster or conflict.
You will see in this coming week that Wednesday, Friday and Saturday are called ‘Ember Days’. There are 4 sets of 3 days in the Western Christian calendar called Ember Days. These are days of fasting and prayer. Let us respond to the call to pray and to fast for the people and situations that God puts on our hearts. Our world, our community and those we love need us to come before God in prayer – if this year has proved anything to us it is that truth. We know there is power in the name of Jesus – let us call upon the Lord, without ceasing, trusting in His goodness, mercy and grace.
Collect for 21 September – Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
O Almighty God,
whose blessed Son called Matthew the tax collector to be an apostle and evangelist;
give us grace to forsake the selfish pursuit of gain and the possessive love of riches
that we may follow in the way of your Son Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and for ever. AMEN.
Our readings for this week
SUNDAY 20th September : Morning - Communion: Gospel reading Matthew 20: 1 - 16
Evening – Psalm 34; Isaiah 33: 13 – 17; Matthew 6: 19 – end
| Morning Readings | Evening Readings |
Monday 21st Sept Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist | Psalms 49, 117; 1 Kings 19: 15 – end; 2 Timothy 3: 14 - end | Psalm 119: 33 – 40, 89 – 96; Ecclesiastes 5: 4 – 12; Matthew 19: 16 – end |
Tuesday 22nd Sept | Psalm 36; 1 Kings 8: 63 – 9: 9; Acts 16: 25 – end | Psalm 33; 1 Chronicles 28: 11 – end; Mark 11: 12 - 26 |
Wednesday 23rd Sept Ember Day | Psalm 34; 1 Kings 10: 1 – 25; Acts 17: 1 – 15 | Psalm 119: 33 – 56; 1 Chronicles 29: 1 – 9; Mark 11: 27 - end |
Thursday 24th Sept | Psalm 37; 1 Kings 11: 1 – 13; Acts 17: 16 – end | Psalm 40; 1 Chronicles 29: 10 – 20; Mark 12: 1 - 12 |
Friday 25th Sept Ember Day | Psalm 31; 1 Kings 11: 26 – end; Acts 18: 1 – 21 | Psalm 35; 1 Chronicles 29: 21 – end; Mark 12: 13 - 17 |
Saturday 26th Sept Wilson Carlile, founder of the Church Army Ember Day | Psalm 42; 1 Kings 12: 1 – 24; Acts 18: 22 – 19: 7 | Psalm 46; 2 Chronicles 1: 1 – 13; Mark 12: 18 - 27 |
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord makes His face to shine on you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn His face towards you and give you peace. Amen. (Numbers 6: 24 – 27)
