Weekly letter from St Luke's - 4th July 2025

Dear Parish Friends

This Sunday we return to our reading through of St Luke's gospel with Jesus' sending out of 72 in pairs to bring a message that the kingdom of God was near. They were sent into a world where many either were indifferent or openly antagonistic. This is a prefigurement of both the work of the early church, as recoded in the book of Acts, and indeed of the church throughout the ages. As I read this passage, the words of a Cuban hymn by José Aguiar seemed very relevant. In English translation:

Sent out in Jesus' name, our hands are ready now

to make the earth the place in which the kingdom comes.

The angels cannot change a world of hurt and pain

into a world of love, of justice and of peace.

The task is ours to do, to set it really free.

O help us to obey and carry out your will.

Our services are as usual at 7am and 9am (also on Zoom). Children's Church is in recess for the school holidays, but children are always welcome to our services and there will be a children's talk at 9am. The service sheet for the 9am service and the week's Notice Paper are available under menu item, "This week".

As we approach our special service on 20th July to celebrate our 100th anniversary and the conclusion of our redevelopment, we are preparing a photographic record of the parish and gathering personal histories of St Luke's. This is the last call for contributions. There is also a meeting in church at 2pm this Saturday to discuss what we have received - all welcome.

Yours in Christ

Rev'd Timothy