Saint Paul's Church, Landkey
In Brief
Next Service:
Holy Communion
(Pentecost)
The next village event will be Parish Council Meeting on 2nd June 2021 at 7:00 PM in The Old School Centre, Manor Road
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More ImagesService Times and Themes
Services are usually held in St Paul's Church at 10:30am on Sundays. Variations to this routine occur occasionally so we publish our services diary here to give more precise information. The services shown are those that we expect to take place during the next month.
Whenever a fifth Sunday falls within the month, our congregation joins with those of the other churches in our Mission Community for a service of united worship. The church in which this service is held is selected on a rotational basis.
Service Times
Click or tap on any of the services to reveal fuller details:
Service Themes
Our services, like those organised in other churches, usually have a theme associated with them and the chosen theme is inspired often by the current date in the Christian calendar. Easter and Christmas are the two most notable dates in the Christian calendar but there are many more which we celebrate at the appropriate time. In the article below, we explain briefly the main theme that is featured in our listed services in order to help worshippers unfamiliar with Anglican services to better understand the meaning behind each one.
Service Themes
Pentecost
Following his crucifixion, Jesus appeared several times to his disciples (followers), demonstrating that he had miraculously risen from the dead and encouraging them to hold fast to the faith that they had found through him.
Naturally, his disciples were surprised and even afraid when he appeared to them, but Jesus reassured them each time by saying, "Peace be with you" (John 20, v21). Doubt that this person who appeared to them really was Jesus began to creep in, though, with Thomas saying that he would not believe that it was Jesus unless he could place his fingers on the wounds in his hands and side (John 20, v25).
A week later, Jesus again appeared in the room where the disciples were gathered and he invited Thomas to touch the wounds that were inflicted during his crucifixion, saying, "Do not doubt but believe". Thomas answered, "My Lord and My God".
After a period of forty days had elapsed since the resurrection, Jesus told his disciples not to leave Jerusalem but to "wait there for the promise of the Father" (Acts 1, v4). Shortly afterwards he ascended to heaven for the final time. We refer to this event today as "Ascension".
Several days later, while still gathered in Jerusalem and preparing for the day of Pentecost (known then as a Jewish harvest festival), the disciples became aware of a "sound like the rush of a violent wind and it filled the house where they were sitting". "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them ability". (Acts 2, vs 2 and 4).
The Holy Spirit was a gift from God, promised by Jesus and its power enabled the first Christians to have the spiritual strength to live according to their faith despite opposition from non-believers, and to spread this faith to others.
Pentecost (the name means "the fifty days") marks the "official" end of Easter, but what is its significance in today's world? The Holy Spirit was not limited just to those who were present in Jerusalem all those years ago. Its power is accessible to all who seek it in this day and age and can be seen as a kind of "helper" that enables us to confront the challenges that life puts in our way and to fulfil the purpose that God has for us. The only effort that we need to make to benefit from the power of the Holy Spirit is to make a commitment to Jesus through Baptism and Confirmation and through regular church worship.