Weekly letter from St Luke's - 16 July 2021

Dear Parish Friends

I look forward to welcoming you in person, or via Zoom, to our services this Sunday, the 8th Sunday after Pentecost. With the extension of the mask mandate in SE Queensland, we will once again adjust our services to reduce the amount of congregational singing and speaking which is uncomfortable with a mask. The 9am service is, as usual, also streamed over Zoom, and there will be Children's ministry. The week's notice paper and service sheet for the 9am service are available via the links below.

This Sunday we will also be offering thanks for the Stewardship pledges made over the weeks following our Stewardship Sunday. If you have not returned your pledge card, please bring it this weekend.

Our reading from Ephesians chapter 2 focuses on reconciliation. As we look round the world this is something that is often lacking. St Paul tells us that this reconciliation between those who belong and those who do not, between residents and aliens, between insiders and outsiders is not merely aspirational but something that the Gospel assures us is there already for those who are attune to the Kingdom. It is this 'peace of God', one with another, that is promised. We are reminded of this when, at our services we usually (but not this weekend) sing the Agnus Dei, which ends with the line "Jesus, Lamb of God, grant us your peace".

Dona nobis pacem (give us peace).

Yours in Christ

Rev'd Timothy