Today's gospel, 20 Aug: The Parable of the Landowner
Wed 20 August.Coffee in the Clew Bay
Join the small group that will meet in the Clew Bay Hotel, James Street Westport, from 11am. The coffee/tea is on us, the company is good, and the chat is healthy and hearty! Everyone is welcome.
Today's gospel "The last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Matthew 20:1-16
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’
So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’
When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.
Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Sacred Space
You can find a gentle prayer guide and a short and helpful reflection on the gospel here:
https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-08-20/
Sat 23 August
- Return to Inishbiggle. Gathering at Dorian's Point, Ballycroy, at 9.30am for 10am departure by currach (open boat) to the island. Returning around 2.30pm.
Sat 23 August
- 7pm in Turlough Church, Service of Holy Communion
Sunday 24 August
- 10am, Morning Prayer in Christ Church Castlebar
- 12 noon, Service of Holy Communion (for Holy Trinity Westport congregation and visitors) in St Mary's Church, Westport (South Mall).
- 3 - 5pm, Aughaval Group All Parishes Afternoon Out, meeting in Turlough at the National Museum of Ireland carpark. Please bring picnic food for you and your family, and perhaps a little to spare for anyone who may come without. Thank you. Everyone is welcome, including friends and family members.
- 3pm in St Thomas's Dugort, Achill - Evening Prayer
Regular Service Pattern
Open Church Weekly Drop-in, Christ Church Castlebar, Fridays 11am -1pm.
- Online Prayer and Bible Study, Weds at 8pm. (However, please see note below re. August.)
Please note that during the remainder of August there will be no Midweek Holy Communion services and no Online Prayer meetings.
Pastoral care and enquiries:
Revd Suzanne Cousins, 083 800 3233
Email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org
Website aughaval.tlk.ie
