The morning Eucharist on the last Sunday after Pentecost was well attended, despite the inclement weather. The service was in the caring hands of Rev. David Hammon. The processional hymn was 'Disposer supreme and judge of the earth.' Rev. David welcomed all to the service and was delighted that no one had turned up too early despite the clocks 'going back.' After the reading of the Collect, Mrs. Joy Griffiths read from the Book of Jeremiah and Mr. Darrel John read from St. Paul's second Letter to Timothy. After the singing of Psalm 84, Rev. Hammon read the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector from the Gospel of Luke. He went on to deliver the sermon and took his reading as his text. When he was a hopeful ordinate in college, he had been asked to write a report on his own strengths and weaknesses. Knowing full well that the principal sent these reports to the Bishop, it was a very difficult report to write. He was afraid that too many weaknesses would put paid to being ordained yet, addressing weaknesses was the way to be honest with himself. "We all have strengths and weaknesses, but never in the right balance," he said. "In the parable from Luke, the Pharisee prays to God listing his supposed strengths, whilst the tax collector asks 'God, be merciful to a sinner like me.' I had to have faith that the principal would know the characteristics required to be ordained, and we here today have to have faith that God keeps a record of us. Our merciful Father will remember all that needs remembering and forgive us all our sins, as no one is perfect. We can translate the mercy that we ask for, into mercy for others. "We Christians make an impact on society, what we give and do is in our hands. Do not worry if society misrepresents us, we must carry on, for God knows the secrets of our souls. Dear God you know our strengths and weakness, be merciful to sinners like us." Mrs. Kate O'Neill led the congregation in prayer. The offertory hymn was 'Jesus, lover of my soul.' Rev. Hammon gave the Eucharist at the High Altar and invited all to share in Communion with our risen Lord. During Communion, the choir sang, 'How blest are they' by Bach. The service ended with the hymn 'Thou whose almighty word.' Today (Friday) is All Souls Day and there will be a service at St. Mary's at 9 am. Tomorrow (Saturday) there will be an RNLI coffee morning at Church House. On Remembrance Sunday, there will be a service in St. Mary's at 11.15 am following the service at the Cenotaph, that begins at 10 am.
