20th Sunday after Trinity 2023 (Online Holy Communion)
Channel: Stour Valley Benefice
Date: 20/10/2023

Our services in our churches continue as normal, however, we recognise that through ill health, frailty, or infirmity, not everyone is able to join us every week. Therefore, if you are unable to attend in person, you are warmly invited to join in with our Rector, The Revd Mark Woodrow, who is joined by our new Curate, The Revd Dr Karen Smith, as he celebrates Holy Communion from the Vicarage. 

This week we continue our journey through the season of "Ordinary Time", but there is nothing ordinary about this period of the Churches year.  It is called this simply because the weeks of Ordinary Time are numbered.  The Latin word 'ordinalis', refers to numbers in series, from which we get the English word 'order'.

The numbered weeks represent the ordered life of the Church - a period in which we live our lives neither in feasting (as in the Christmas and Easter seasons), nor in reflection or penance (as in the seasons of Advent and Lent), instead the Church focuses on growth and renewal, and looks forward in expectation of of the second coming of Christ.

The readings for today are Isaiah 45:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, and Matthew 22:15-22.

The hymns for today are, "Jesus shall reign where'er the sun", and, "Father, we praise thee, now the night is over".

A service booklet to accompany this service is also available please email rector@stourvalley.org.uk for a copy.