St Cuthbert’s Notes – Creation 3; Pentecost 17
20 September 2026
Music:
Introit Hymn 198 – For the healing of the nations
Gradual Hymn 146 – Creation sings!
Offertory Hymn 26 – All things bright and beautiful
Communion 166 – Faithful Shepherd, feed me
Post-Communion Hymn 767 -Thou, whose almighty word
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Collect
Almighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth, and ourselves in your image. Teach us to discern your hand in all your works and to serve you with reverence and thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
First Reading: Jonah 3.10-4.11
When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. He prayed to the LORD and said, ‘O LORD! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.’ And the LORD said, ‘Is it right for you to be angry?’ Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city, and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city. The LORD God appointed a bush, and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort; so Jonah was very happy about the bush. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint and asked that he might die. He said, ‘It is better for me to die than to live.’ But God said to Jonah, ‘Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?’ And he said, ‘Yes, angry enough to die.’ Then the LORD said, ‘You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labour and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?’
Second Reading: Philippians 1.21-30
For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again. Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well— since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Gospel: Matthew 20.1-16
‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers 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 market-place; 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 labourers 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.’
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Quiz Thank You!:
Thank you very much to everyone who came to the quiz on Monday, joined in so enthusiastically and helped clear up at the end… I very much appreciated the support. 26 people came and the donations to church funds came to £143. The next quiz will be in February or March, 2027. Caroline
Harvest Festival 2026:
This year we will celebrate Harvest Festival over two weekends. Our first celebration will be at 10.30am next Sunday, 27th September, when we are delighted to welcome Bishop Dagmar to St Cuthbert’s. Following this service, we will share a Harvest lunch together in the hall. On Sunday 27th September, we will collect non-perishable food items for our local food banks. Please support this if you can.
The following weekend, we will continue our Harvest celebrations. On Sunday 4th October, (the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint of Animals), we will take a monetary collection in support of the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home.
After our 5pm Harvest Evensong service on 4th October, cheese and wine will be served. All Welcome.
Financial donations towards both the Harvest Lunch and Evensong refreshments would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Art- Reach: October Theme – ‘Autumnal Felt Craft’
In Church, Thursday 8th October from 10am – 12 noon. Come for Craft, Cake and Community! All materials, instruction and refreshments provided. Book your place by 30th September please, by emailing: artgroupstcuthberts@gmail.com
Fresh Start Local Collection:
Saturday 10th October from 2pm – 4pm, St Cuthbert’s Church Hall. Please let Wendy Pearson know if you are available to help. Thank you.
Epiphany Group Prayer Course – God’s Invitation to Relationship:
This course starts on Tuesday 13th October at 1.30pm in our church hall. Please see our noticeboards for more details, or pick up a leaflet from the back of church. Thank you.
St Cuthbert’s Membership Booklet 2026:
Please email stcuthbertscolinton@gmail.com with any changes (if you have not already done so), by Sunday 27th September. Thank you.
Weekly Prayer:
Dear Father God, we pray that we can play a useful role in the order you have created for us. Help us to be more caring in our dealings with your creation and with other people. Help us to strive to speak to others with kindness, focussing on their concerns rather than on ourselves.
To a life of love in action
Help us rise and pledge our word. (From Hymn 198) Amen.
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