NEWS & VIEWS

Today’s Gospel is the very familiar Parable of the Sower; our readings, psalm and offertory hymn lend air of Harvest Thanksgiving to the Mass – but we shall celebrate that in the autumn. Today we pray that with God’s grace we may hear and understand the ‘word of the kingdom’ (the ‘seed’) and thus be ‘good soil’ that ‘bears fruit’. Jesus says that the ‘yield’ may be a hundredfold, sixty-fold, or thirty-fold: We are all called to ministry in the church in different ways, and to be those who bear good fruit for the Kingdom of God.

VICARAGE SUMMER GARDEN PARTY Come and enjoy the Vicarage Garden and good company between 2 and 5pm this Saturday. Tickets are just £7.50 each (free for children) from Margaret Quinney and include unlimited drinks and strawberries-and-cream!

BLESSING AND DISMISSAL Please note the subtle change to the Blessing and Dismissal (now called Blessing and Commission). The change in the response reflects the sense that at the end of Mass we are not so much ‘dismissed’ as ‘sent out’ into the world and commissioned to proclaim the good news (Gospel) in our lives.

SPONSORED WALK On Saturday 9 September Nicky Tann is to walk 50km (31 miles) along the Thames path in aid of Dementia UK. She would welcome sponsors via justgiving.com/nickytannThamesPath23 and adds “I will also accept cash donations and prayers for my poor feet!”

PATRONAL FESTIVAL We will anticipate the celebration of Our Lady’s Birthday on Sunday 3 September with a Pontifical Solemn Mass at 10am followed by a buffet lunch with celebratory drinks. The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford, The Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Deqani will be our Principal Celebrant and Preacher for this important annual occasion in the life of our church and parish. This will be our Diocesan Bishop’s first visit to Ilford.  Please mark this in your diaries and plan to make every effort to be in church for this celebration.

SIM CARDS Fr Gareth has a number of Vodafone Sim Cards with free unlimited data, calls and SMS for 6 months. These are intended for those struggling to pay mobile phone bills. If you would like one, please speak to Fr Gareth in confidence and he will be able to discretely issue one to you.

ILFORD COMMUNITY GROCERY for £5 a year anyone can fill their grocery basket twice a week for £4 each time at City Gates, 25-29 Clements Road, between 9.30 and 4.30 Monday-Friday. The quality of the food available is very good and free support courses are on offer at the same venue. Details at communitygrocery.org.uk/ilford or from 020 3422 6511. There are flyers at the back of church.

REGULAR GIVING Giving to fund the ministry of the Church is an essential part of our Christian faith. Please, if you don’t already, would you consider giving a regular amount? No amount is too small. Using our parish giving plan is easy and you are in full control (and Margaret Quinney will be pleased to help you if needed). For one-off donations please use the card machine at the back of church or the offering plate for cash/cheques.

INTERCESSION

OF YOUR CHARITY, PLEASE PRAY FOR

the sick, distressed and bereaved
John & Joan Cassidy, Richard Holland, Lucy Ball, Amberly Crediton, Kathy Valentine, Margaret Harding, Mel Taylor, Bernard Street, Muriel Masters, Keith Holland, Helen Johnson, Sally Cox, Matthew, Jacqui & Leslie Haigh, Bibi Bacchus, Eddie Burns, Fr Michael, David Weller, Jacob Hope, Fr Elwin Cockett, Brenda Fitter; Renate Arnold

the recently departed 

those whose anniversaries of death fall this week

Sunday

Gwyn Joy

Monday

Lily Welch

Tuesday

Jane Fisher, Lilian Dawkin

Wednesday

Reginald Hurst

please pray especially for

transparency and decency in public life

ORDER OF SERVICE