Welcome to St Nicholas on Sunday 30th July (Trinity 8)

The Gospel reading for this Sunday is Matthew 13.24-30, 36-43

Many gardens are looking their best now, with flowerbeds in full bloom offering a magnificent profusion of colour, and vegetable gardens producing scrumptious, mouth-watering crops. 

There are so many gardens to enjoy: our own (if we are keen gardeners) or, perhaps, our neighbours’ (if we’re not). Then there are those wonderful gardens associated with grand houses, or national RHS flower shows which deservedly draw in countless hosts of admiring visitors.

As we wander around our gardens, enjoying the rich colours  and beautiful shapes and scents of flowers, or anticipating the tastes of newly cropped fruit and vegetables , perhaps questions come to mind, like ‘Does it really all begin with a small seed? How does anyone know what to sow, where and when to sow it? Where do you start? “

This Sunday’s Gospel tells of Jesus “sowing seeds” and being a gardener. In nearly all his parables he “sows seeds”, seeds of wisdom and encouragement, seeds of knowledge and confidence, which will grow in our hearts and minds. Some are about the way it grows and spreads; others stress its value compared to anything else in life.

This week we explore how to slow down and open our eyes to notice the small signs of the treasures of God’s reign already around us. Jesus offers us images of God’s reign to help us recognise its presence like an unstoppable weed that can grow from tiny beginnings of love if we wait and trust. We are all part of God’s kingdom. Let us sow and share the kingdom seeds with all around us, and so help God’s kingdom flourish and grow. 

Our service on Sunday morning begins at 10.30 am. We look forward to welcoming Rev Augustine Ihm from St.James and Emmanuel  to preside. Our organist and MD, Ollie Mills will accompany the hymns and lead the singing. Here are details of the readings and hymns for the service: