Dear People & Friends of St. Clement’s,
Welcome to this week’s ‘Weekly Message’. Firstly, some details of our worship this coming Sunday.
Sunday 31st January at 11.00 – Sung Eucharist for the Fourth Sunday of Epiphany
Our Gospel reading, Luke 2. 22-40, tells of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, which is officially celebrated on Tuesday 2nd February, forty days after Christmas Day. But the Church of England slightly adapts the Revised Common Lectionary & also sets it as the Gospel reading for this coming Sunday!
We shall also hear the famous passage by St. Paul on the theme of ‘Love’ – 1 Corinthians 13. 1-13. But as with any Biblical passage, it is important to look at it’s context. These last two Sundays, we’ve had the whole of the previous chapter read – 1 Corinthians 12 – all about spiritual gifts and each Christian being part of the Body of Christ. It is in that context that we need to seek to understand what Paul is saying as he describes the ‘more excellent way’. We will also say Psalm 48 responsively. There will be parallel Children’s Ministry, and following worship, Coffee Hour in the hall on the third floor of Klimentská 18.
And on Tuesday evening……
Tuesday 2nd February – 18.30-20.00 in the small meeting room on the first floor of Klimentská 18.
Our regular Tuesday evening meetings for Study and Fellowship continue, looking at St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. As we normally do, the last 15-20 minutes will be spent saying Evening Prayer together. If the outside door of Klimentská 18 is locked, please press the bell marked Kancelář & you’ll be buzzed in!
Some notes on the Christian year……
The Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple on 2nd February, always marks the end of the Epiphany Season. On 3rd February, we enter what is known as Ordinary Time, when green is the liturgical colour. But because Easter Day is very early this year, falling on the last Sunday in March, we only have one week & one Sunday of Ordinary Time, before Lent begins on Wednesday 10th February – Ash Wednesday. Please note the date of Ash Wednesday when there will be a Eucharist with the (voluntary) imposition of ashes, starting at 19.00.
Finally for this week……
Don’t forget to bring some tinned food and warm winter clothing and place it in the correct red wheelie bin at the back of Church, to support the work of the Salvation Army with the homeless in Prague. Thank you to everyone who has started refilling the empty wheelie bins the last two Sundays. Likewise, if you have any used postage stamps, bring them & put them in the collecting envelope pinned to the noticeboard at the back of the Church to support the work of the Intercontinental Church Society, who in turn, support us. Again, thanks to those who have already helped to fill the collection envelope.
And if you missed my sermon last Sunday, or want to listen to it again, it is now posted on our Church website here.
Best wishes
Ricky
