St Cuthbert’s Notes – Pentecost 20 – 11 October 2026
Music:
Introit Hymn 668 – Songs of praise the angels sang
Gradual Hymn 166 – Faithful Shepherd, feed me
Offertory Hymn 442 – Light’s abode, celestial Salem
Communion 83 – Bread of heaven, on thee we feed
Post-Communion Hymn 770 – Through the night of doubt and sorrow
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Collect
Almighty God, in our baptism you adopted us for your own. Quicken, we pray, your Spirit within us, that we, being renewed both in body and mind, may worship you in sincerity and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
First Reading: Isaiah 25.1-9
O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will praise your name; for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the palace of aliens is a city no more, it will never be rebuilt. Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you. For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat. When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm, the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place, you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds; the song of the ruthless was stilled. On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-matured wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-matured wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death for ever. Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
Second Reading: Philippians 4.1-9
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Gospel: Matthew 22.1-14
Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. ‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’
Fresh Start Collection:
Following the collection in the church hall yesterday, this is a call out for additional help to load Fresh Start vans tomorrow morning (Monday). We need a few more volunteers who are able and willing to help carry boxes and bags of donations from the church hall into the Fresh Start van. Please contact Wendy Pearson soonest. Thank you!
Epiphany Group Prayer Course – God’s Invitation to Relationship:
THE COURSE PLANNED TO START ON TUESDAY 13TH OCTOBER IS NOW NOT GOING AHEAD – Thank you for your understanding.
New to St Cuthbert’s?
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It also helps us to keep our church records up to date and accurate!
‘Welcome to St Cuthbert’s — we’re glad you’re here!’
Christmas Fayre – Mary’s Meals:
I am hosting a stall at the Christmas Fayre here on Saturday 28th November, and the money raised will go to Mary’s Meals. The charity, which started in Scotland, is tackling child poverty and hunger through the promise of a daily school meal. You can help in two ways – firstly by giving donated items for the stall and also by coming along on the day and buying or giving a financial donation. Thank you! June Bungay
Christmas Fayre – Saturday 28 November 2026 – Tombola Stall:
We are delighted to have lots of different stalls booked into our Christmas Fayre and we would like once again to have a church Tombola Stall as this has always been a great success. We hope to have a wide range of good quality items and any contributions for this stall will be most welcome. Please put your contributions into the red box at the back of church, or speak to Judith Mackintosh or Joan Smith. Thank you!
Phoenix Group’s Christmas Lunch:
Please let me or Margaret Kieran know if you would like to come to the Christmas Lunch at Kingsknowe Golf Club on Thursday, December 10th. I can then email you the menu so you can choose your two courses (£27 + £3 tip). It would be very helpful if we could know the numbers by the end of October so we can let the Golf Club know how many they would be catering for. Many thanks, Caroline Seville
Weekly Prayer:
Our Father, We pray that we may heed the Christian message by doing our best to live according to your word – hallowing you, doing your will, forgiving others when we feel wronged, resisting temptation and recognising your power and glory. As St Paul urged the Philippians, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always.’ Amen.
Scottish Charity Number: SC007578
www.stcuthbertscolinton.org.uk
Facebook: @stcuthbertscolinton
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