St Mary's and St Peter's Church, Montrose

08/06/2026

Reflections from Cate: (Matthew 7:21-29)
St David’s /St Mary’s & St Peter’s, 31 May 26

Today we celebrate the great mystery of the holy Trinity, one that has confounded Christians from the earliest of days. Many have tried to find images to describe the Trinity, St Patrick for example used the three leafed clover, for musicians it is the sound of three individual keys on the piano, each has its own sound but played together there is only one harmonious cord. And for me, the female Episcopal priest spoke of her deep understanding of the Trinity when she was pregnant with twins – a perfect image of three-in-one.

I will stick to the ever practice Matthew the tax collector, recording the Sermon on the Mount.Today I am going to ask you a very simple question (you don’t have to answer it out loud). When you buy a new piece of furniture or an item that requires assembling do you attempt to do so before reading the instruction, give them a cursory read and forge ahead or read them diligently but not adhere to them? I tend to rush in and hope for the best.

Thinking about Matthew’s gospel I realised how relevant this is to our response to faith. Many of us read the Bible, attend church regularly but are we merely reading the instructions without doing what they require of us? The very thing Jesus warns us against in this passage.

This is the last part of the Sermon on the Mount, previously Jesus preached about those who are blessed; the poor in spirit, those who hunger and thirst for what it right, those who mourn, those who do the will of the Father. But now he warns about those who do not do the Father’s will.

He uses the metaphor of two individuals building houses to illustrate what God requires of us (or in our case assembling flat pack) reading the instruction is not enough. Our daily lives must reflect his teachings; mere words, performance of deeds, even miraculous ones or random acts of mercy alone will not suffice.

Matthew affirms for us that to hear the words of Christ and put them into practice is to build a life on firm foundation, like the man building his house on rock; when difficulties or hardships arise, we have the firm faith to sustain us. Are we that firm?

I’m sure, like me, you often reflect on whether you are doing enough but let’s not despair, what we are asked to do is simple. Bishop Robert Barron, in June 2024 said: “Your heart is your deep centre, the place where you are most authentically yourself. That is your point of contact with God. If you are rooted in God at the level of your heart then you will be following the intentions and commands of God, and you can withstand anything.” To hear what Jesus is saying and then doing it; this is the person building on rock, that way we survive the storms.

There are many who ‘hear’ the teachings of Christ, they never miss Sunday service, they sit where they will be seen, they read the bible every morning but don’t put any of what they ‘hear’ into practice. As James 1:22 tells us: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says – faith without works is dead”.

I often ask myself that although I profess to be a follower of Jesus and I come regularly to church, outside my church community would others know I am a Christian by my works? What I do have is the manual/the instruction book – the Bible and the Sermon on the Mount, both tell us all we need to know.

We also have the challenge that Rev Jim left with us:
1. What could our church do to embed regular bible study into your life?
2. How can our church strengthen its relationships with its members, both with the ones we see
regularly and the ones we perhaps don’t?
3. How might our church develop its worship?
4. What would a vision for prayer look like for our church?

I think you will agree that these are difficult questions to address. We are a small and aging congregation and it’s a challenge for us to move forward but I know we are all committed to doing the work of the Lord, and let’s not forget Jesus’ warning: “Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven(v21) AMEN

31/05/2026

More pictures from the afternoon tea yesterday

30/05/2026

Lovely time had by all at out afternoon tea.

28/05/2026

19/05/2026

A huge thank you to the wonderful local businesses and organisations who have kindly agreed to display our Afternoon Tea posters and help spread the word within our community. ☕🍰

Your kindness and support are greatly appreciated, and it means so much to our church family to see local businesses and community organisations getting behind this event.

A special thank you as well to Point Studio for helping with the printing of our posters — your generosity is truly appreciated.

Please do support these lovely local places whenever you can, and if you happen to spot one of our posters around town, do let us know! 👀❤️

Our Afternoon Tea takes place on Saturday 30th May at 2:00 p.m. at St Mary’s & St Peter’s Church — everyone is most welcome!

Thank you to:
✨ Oriental Food Mart
✨ & Quill Montrose
✨ -Angels
✨ Lucky Stores
✨ Rosie’s
✨ ' Fidelity Records
✨ Montrose Playhouse
✨ Library
✨ Point Studio

We are so grateful for the kindness and wonderful community spirit here in Montrose.

16/05/2026

Still times left, please text 0791 999 2064.

14/05/2026

We are delighted to invite you to our Afternoon Tea at St Mary’s & St Peter’s Church on Saturday 30th May at 2:00 p.m. ☕🍰

Please come along and enjoy a lovely afternoon of tea, sandwiches, freshly baked scones and sweet treats in warm company. It will be a wonderful opportunity to spend time together, catch up with friends, and welcome new faces from our community.

Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for children.

Bring along family and friends, and do help us spread the word by sharing this post — we would be delighted to welcome everyone for this special afternoon.

We look forward to seeing you there!❤️

10/05/2026

It was lovely to have Bishop Andrew leading us today and Mary joined members of our 3 linked charges for a joint service at St Mary's & St Peter's this morning.

27/04/2026

Rev Mike writes (Acts 2:14a, Ep.: 36-41; 1 Peter 1: 17-23 (Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17, Luke 24: 13-35) St David’s 19 April 2026

Memory is a marvellous thing. We’d struggle without it and dementia can rob us of it as we well know from relatives and friends who suffer or have suffered from it. Some of the best elements of the post-Easter events portrayed in the scriptures, is how they trigger memories for those who were witnesses of Jesus’s life and death on the cross. Today’s gospel reading from Luke is a supreme example.

It begins with two travellers leaving Jerusalem for the village of Emmaus. As they travel they talked about the events that had taken place in the City. Another traveller joined them and they continue together along the road – no car, no public transport, just three people on foot, sharing their recollections of recent events.

What is of immediate interest here, is the surprise of the travellers that the mystery man knew nothing (apparently) of what had been taking place there, which had obviously become the talk of the town! Jesus was not lying when he asked “What things?” though he himself was at the centre of them. Maybe they could have been talking about some scandal he knew nothing about! However, they were focused on the death of this ‘prophet’, Jesus of Nazareth and their hope of his being the redeemer of Israel. Redemption is a key element in the sacrifice of the hoped for saviour. Not here, a warrior Lord, but a dawning realisation that through his death would come life for all. It was the High Priest, Caiaphas who said to those clamouring for Jesus’ death: “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” John 11:50.

The travellers then enlarge on their recent memories of their women friends and fellow followers going to his tomb, only to find it empty. For some reason they didn’t recognise Jesus – v.16 states that they were kept from recognising him, rather like being blinkered. You know that feeling, when you see someone in different surroundings which clouds your ability to recognise them. It happens often to me, until they say “Hi”! But Jesus could not keep quiet any longer! “How dull you are”, he said. Then gave a perfect rendition of all that the scriptures had predicted about his death – and resurrection, beginning with Moses (v.27).

So, what did Moses say about Jesus? The key verse is from Deuteronomy 18 in Moses’ teaching the people as to how they should live and prepare for the future: 15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. As the travellers continue on their journey, Jesus recollects the prophecies which become more and more specific about what the Messiah would have to endure and eventually die for in order to bring about the promised redemption. We are all aware of Handel’s Messiah. Isaiah 52,53 is a wonderful summation of the suffering servant – pointing to Jesus.

The group arrive at Emmaus. The stranger appears to be going further, but is encouraged to stay as a guest of these travellers. It has even been suggested that one of them was Luke, as his recollection is so vivid. The unknown traveller accepts their hospitality and, as it is now nearly evening, they prepare a meal for him. This is where something amazing takes place. I’m sure we can all recollect times in our lives where loved ones, who are no longer with us, have left indelible memories tucked away in our brains. Just every now and then, something stirs those memories; maybe a phrase they used, or something you did together; possibly visiting a place which brings those memories streaming back. Suddenly it is as though they were present, tangible, touchable – there with you at that point. You might shed a tear and want to hold on to the moment – but you can’t.

There, at the table, the stranger broke the bread and shared it with them. Memories came flooding back – not only the last supper, but maybe the feeding of the 5,000, or the numerous meals they shared together on the road. These were genuine disciples, yet they were genuinely caught by surprise by this moment when everything came flooding back like a wave. And then – he was gone from their sight! As they collected their wits, they recollected what had happened on the way: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us”? (v.32).

They couldn’t keep something so special to themselves and even then, late into the evening, they returned to Jerusalem, to their friends to report what had happened to them amidst all the other stories of the risen Lord and the excitement that came with it! Memories, born again here and now.
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed. Hallelujah!

26/04/2026

Today we joined with our linked churches of St Andrew's Brechin and St David's Inverbervie for a joint service at St Andrew's in Brechin.

It was good to join them for a special service when Penny renewed her baptismal vows.