Dear People & Friends of St. Clement’s,

As I promised in my last ‘Weekly Message’ that I sent out four weeks ago, here is an update about what is happening at St. Clement’s during August. We are still in ‘summer mode’ but there will be worship on each of the five Sundays in August.

Sunday 3rd August at 11.00 – Sung Eucharist for the Seventh Sunday after Trinity
The Gospel reading set for this Sunday, Matthew 14. 13-21, tells the familiar story of Jesus feeding the 5000. This event has the distinction of being the only miracle by Jesus that is recorded in all four Gospels. Clearly the Gospel writers regarded it as being significant! The supporting readings are Isaiah 55. 1-5  and Psalm 145. 8-9 & 14-21. As usual during the summer months, Cool Drinks & Light Refreshments will be served at the back of Church following worship.

On the following two Sundays, Sunday 10th August at 11.00 and Sunday 17th August at 11.00, the service will be one of Morning Prayer. On Sunday 10th, the preacher will be Rev’d Dr Karen Moritz whilst on Sunday 17th, the preacher will be Jack Noonan. I am very grateful to Karen & Jack for looking after worship on these two Sundays, whilst I’m taking two weeks of my annual leave. Please note that I will be on holiday and away from Prague from Thursday 7th – Thursday 21st August inclusive.

On Sunday 24th August, the first Sunday I’m back on duty, we look forward to being joined by the Choir of St. Thomas on the Bourne, Farnham, UK. They will sing for our Sung Eucharist at 11.00. If you would like to hear some of their singing in advance of Sunday 24th August, there is a You Tube video with excerpts from various past choir tours which you can listen to & watch here

Can you help?
I am most grateful to the many people who help in various ways at St. Clement’s. I’m particularly pleased that, following my appeal for more help with providing Cool Drinks & Light Refreshments after worship during July & August, we now have every Sunday covered. However, one area where we really could do with a few more volunteers is with Welcoming. It involves getting to Church by around 10.30 on a Sunday, to help set up things at the back of Church, and then greet people as they arrive, ensuring that each receives a hymn book, order of service and a weekly bulletin. You then need to be alert during worship, to the arrival of latecomers & tourists wandering in at the back. At the end of the service, hymn books, orders of service etc need to be collected back & put away.

In an ideal world, I would like to have two Welcomers on duty each Sunday. At the moment, we struggle to find one, with a small number of people being on duty far more often than they should have to be. Please consider whether you could join those on the rota as Welcomers. Interested? Then email me or speak with me or Tasci Gibson on Sunday.

Wherever you are – enjoy August! I look forward to seeing many of you back at St. Clement’s during or later this month.

Best wishes

Ricky