Yesterday
morning, Sunday 28 September, St Paul's was pleased to welcome Councillor Sarah
Dickinson, the Mayor of Oadby and Wigston for the Annual Civic Service. As all the
Guests, invited by Her Worship the Mayor, arrived, including the Borough
Councillors, there was a display of gold chains such as St Paul’s had never
seen before!
Apart
from a late start (a move to 11 a.m.) the service followed our normal pattern
with a mixture of hymns and modern worship songs.
Sarah
Dickinson had chosen the theme of creation for the service and the theme of the
wonder of God’s creation was echoed in the first reading, a Psalm. Our vicar, Steve
Bailey, in his sermon explained how, sadly, we have often misused and abused
the gift of creation and gone our own way – right from the earliest times.
But
the Christian message is one of a God who forgives all those who turn to him.
It
was Her Worship who read the second lesson, the parable of the three servants
given some of their master’s wealth to use. Two received different amounts but
used it well and were commended. The third was condemned for failing to use
what they had. We were encouraged to use our gifts in the service of God and of
the community.
The
collection was for the mayor’s chosen charities, the Alzheimer’s Society and Wishes
4 Kids.
Everyone was invited to a meal that was held was held afterwards in the Barnabas Centre.
It
was good that St Paul’s had been able to identify with our local community in
this way. We wish the Mayor, Sarah Dickinson, every success in her year ahead.
