Today's gospel, Sat 11 October, plus notices

 

Please scroll down for notices and information.







Today's gospel   Luke 11:27-28

While he [Jesus] was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!’ But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!’


Christian Art

A helpful reflection on this gospel and an artwork can be found here:

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-11-27-28-2025/



The word of God

In Christian thinking, "the word of God" refers to, (1), Christ the Living Word, and (2), the Bible, the written Word of God. Bearing in mind this double meaning helps us avoid 'bibliolatry' - idolising the Bible or almost worshipping the Bible rather than God. This is not to say that the Bible should not be revered; a tenet of the Christian faith is that the Bible is a central way in which God continues to speak to us, human beings, and reveal God's self to us. But it does remind us that our faith is reliant on the Living Word to whom the written word points. We encounter the Living Word, our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ in our hearts through faith and baptism by water and the Holy Spirit, in the Eucharist/ Holy Communion, and in prayer. 

All this is part of a bigger subject, but the following short song, based on the story of the Woman at the Well (John chapter 4) and her response to Jesus, expresses simply the important idea of our need for Christ who is the Living Word, the Living Bread, and Living Water/ Water of Life:


Song: I'm feeding on the living bread

 https://youtu.be/rJgNicqZ9mA


Video

You can find a short (5 min) dramatisation of the story of the Samaritan woman's meeting with Jesus here:

https://www.jesusfilm.org/watch/magdalena.html/the-woman-at-the-well/english.html


For further reading and reflection:

John 7:37-39    Jesus Promises Living Water

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.


The Living Word provides Living Water


Notices




  • Sunday Club is on this coming Sunday, 12 Oct, starting at 12 noon in the Holy Trinity service in St Mary's and moving next door to Carrowbeg house.
  • Turlough Select Vestry meeting, Sat 11 October, after the 7pm service.
  • Diocesan Synod, Sat 18 October, at Hotel Woodstock, Ennis, Co Clare. 
  • Inishbiggle Harvest Thanksgiving, Sat 25 October. Gather at Doran's Point, Ballycroy at 9.30am, for 10am departure. Returning around 2.30pm. Everyone is  welcome but please let us know if you wish to book a seat in the currach or if you need more information. Recommended: Bring a packed lunch, water, sturdy footwear, warm weather-appropriate clothes, and 10 euros towards the ferry cost. 


A Special Weekend of Sacred Music, 24-26 October  

The Choir of St Philip's and Sandford, Dublin, led by Mr David O'Shea, will be with us in Westport for a series of musical events including, in St Mary's Church, Westport, and St Thomas's Dugort, Achill:

    - Compline on Friday 24 Oct at 8pm;
    - Fundraising concert for Holy Trinity Church, Westport, on Sat 25 Oct at 4pm;
    - Contribution to worship, The Eucharist, on Sunday 26 Oct at12 noon;

   -  Compline, on Sunday 26 Oct at 3.30pm in St Thomas's Dugort, Achill. (Rehersal from 3pm. You are welcome to come early, observe and enjoy.) 

Please save these dates and spread the word! Thank you!



A date for the December diary:

Christmas musical event, Friday 5 Dec, 8pm in St Mary's Church, Westport 

- A special evening of Christmas music by the Roscommon Solstice Choir, with guests appearance and contribution by Eriko Hopkinson and Westport Children's Choir.

This is a very special Christmas music fundraising event in aid of the scheduled repairs to Holy Trinity Church. Please save the date and spread the word! Thank you!




Regular Service Pattern in the Aughaval Group of Parishes:


Turlough
Saturdays Weekly at 7pm:  
Holy Communion on 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month.
Morning Prayer on 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month.

Castlebar *
Sundays Weekly at 10am: 
Holy Communion on 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.
Morning Prayer on 2nd and 4th.
Open church every Friday from 11am - 1pm. "Drop in, say hello, say a prayer, have a look around."

*Christ Church Castlebar is a registered charity: Registered Charity Number  20206867


Westport
Sundays Weekly at 12 noon.
Wednesdays at 10.30am. 
Services are n St Mary's RC Church, South Mall, Westport, until further notice while Holy Trinity Church is closed for safety repairs.

Dugort, Achill: October - April inclusive
2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 3pm. Evening Prayer/ Holy Communion



Pastoral care and enquiries:  

Revd Suzanne Cousins
Rector, Aughaval Group of Parishes 
United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe, Church of Ireland 

Tel. 083 800 3233  
Email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org
Aughaval Parishes' Website  aughaval.tlk.ie

 




 



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