Fr Adrian suffered a retinal bleed (which, if untreated, is often the precursor to a detached retina) and underwent laser surgery this morning. He is now back home and his dilated pupils are returning to normal but he will require a follow-up surgery session on Tuesday (which, sadly, will prevent him from attending the funeral of Henry Frier). All being well the risk of permanent damage has been averted and Fr Adrian is full of praise for the Eye Section of Royal Bournemouth Hospital. His swift action and the hospital's priority response has probably helped to avoid a disaster but please keep him in your prayers.St Ambrose Church - 12th September, 2021: The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity.▶ THE COLLECT ◀God, who in generous mercy sent the Holy Spiritupon your Church in the burning fire of your love:grant that your people may be ferventin the fellowship of the gospelthat, always abiding in you,they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service;through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,who is alive and reigns with you,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever. Amen.▶ THE FIRST LESSON (Isaiah 50.4-9a) ◀The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher,that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backwards.I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced;therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near.Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together.Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me.It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?▶ THE SECOND LESSON (James 3.1-12) ◀Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh. ▶ THE GOSPEL Mark 8.27-end) ◀Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’▶ POST COMMUNION PRAYER ◀Keep, O Lord, your Church, with your perpetual mercy;and, because without you our human frailty cannot but fall,keep us ever by your help from all things hurtful,and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
To the PCC and Congregation of The Parish of Bournemouth St Ambrose,I am writing on behalf of the Bishop’s Council to sincerely thank your parish for meeting your requested contributions to the 2020 Common Mission Fund in full.This year has been unprecedented and different to anything that we have ever faced. I have been astonished by the generosity and commitment shown by our parishes across the diocese throughout the lockdown period, and proud at the dedication shown to our mutuality and commitment to our collective mission and ministry.Now more than ever, the Common Mission Fund remains a vital element of our diocesan life, ensuring we can provide mission and ministry where it is needed, not just where it can be afforded. We know that many parishes are facing increasing financial pressures, so we want to emphasise our thanks for your ongoing sacrificial and generous giving.In 2020 your gift to the Common Mission Fund contributed to the costs of our stipendiary clergy and curates, the development of Licenced Lay Ministers, as well those that enrolled in The Bishops’ Commission for Mission programme. We were also able to continue our significant ministry across 100+ Church of England schools. The Common Mission Fund makes it possible to serve the Lord’s people across our communities; thank you for playing your part, as it is only though your generosity that our diocese can continue to resource our current mission and ministry whilst also looking to the future of our Church. Yours faithfully,ColinColin HarbidgeDirector of Operations
<div><div data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_3un"><div><div><div><div>If you have a "smart phone" you may already have the NHS COVID-19 contact tracing app for England and Wales. This is the fastest way to see if you're at risk from coronavirus and research suggests the app alone has prevented up to 600,000 coronavirus since its launch. </div></div><div><div></div><div>When two phones running the app are near each other, they will make contact through Bluetooth. If they are close for a long enough time, and one of the two owners later shares a positive coronavirus test via the app, then the other will receive an alert. </div></div><div><div></div><div>With the app you can also scan Quick Response code (QR code) panels in countless participating venues (supermarkets, shops, surgeries, public buildings, etc) for a "venue check-in" and, if someone tests positive for the virus who has been to that venue, you can be alerted and, in case of close contact, offered appropriate advice. You will find St Ambrose Church QR code panels in the tower porch entrance and inside the church.</div><div>https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/nhs-covid-19/</div></div></div></div></div></div>
<div id="paragraphs-text-141568"> <div> <div> Following Monday's statement by the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, detailing new restrictions in England to control the spread of Covid-19, The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, who chairs the Church of England’s Covid Recovery Group, said: “The Prime Minister’s words tonight underline the severity of the situation for the country, as the virus continues to spread rapidly. At a time like this, the Church is here to offer comfort and spiritual support to everyone. We have a duty to care for each other, but particularly those who are vulnerable or who may be most at risk.“The Government has chosen not to suspend public worship in England at this time and we will continue to follow the guidance and ensure that churches remain as safe as possible. The Government guidance on the safe use of places of worship makes clear that those attending a place of worship must not mingle with anyone outside their household or support bubble.“However, some may feel that it is currently better not to attend in person, and there will be parishes which decide to offer only digital services for the time-being. Clergy who have concerns, and others who are shielding, should take particular care and stay at home.“I would urge everyone in our churches to pray for those on the front line in our public services - the NHS and those working in social care, for schools and many others on whom we depend; and for parents and carers of children at this anxious and stressful time.“There is hope. The vaccination programme is underway and, as Christians, we have a deeper hope in God that comforts us beyond fear itself. As we have been remembering this Christmas Season, even in the midst of our darkest fears, that hope brings light.”https://www.churchofengland.org/news-and-media/news-and-statements/response-bishop-london-new-covid-19-restrictions </div> </div> </div>
