29/08/2026
TRINITY 13
30 AUGUST 2026
1st reading. Exodus 3.1-15
Psalm. Psalm 105.1-6, 23-26
2nd reading. Romans 12.9-21
Gospel. Matthew 16.21-28
Between the Cross and the Crib
We are half way between Easter and Christmas, the twin poles around which the Christian life revolves. Both festivals are represented in our readings. In the Gospel, Our Lord tells his disciples that He must suffer betrayal and death, and that they too must take up their cross if they are to follow Him. Then in our epistle reading, Paul encourages the Church in Rome (and us, too) to conquer hate with love and vanquish evil with goodness. But how? The answer brings us to the Incarnation. We must prepare our hearts as cribs in which Christ can be born if we are to live truly Christian lives. It is not us, but Christ living in us, who alone can stand against this unhappy, warring, and impious world as a beacon of love, light and truth. Both Easter and Christmas – death, resurrection, and incarnation – are made present at the altar of God. It is here that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is relived, His new life is made present, and we feed upon the living, incarnate graces of God. By feeding on what is holy, may we too become holy.
Fr Sam
CHURCH DIARY
Sunday 23 August. Trinity 13
9.30 am. Eucharist (St Barnabas)
11.00 am. Solemn High Mass
Monday 31 August. St Aidan of Lindisfarne
6.30 pm. Mass
Tuesday 1 September. Feria
10.30 am. Eucharist (St Barnabas)
Wednesday 2 September. Feria
10.00 am. Mass
11.00 am. Organ recital
Saturday 5 September St Teresa of Calcutta
9.00 am. Mass
GLASTONBURY PILGRIMAGE
Sunday 6 September. Trinity 14
9.30 am. Eucharist (St Barnabas)
11.00 am. Solemn High Mass
2.30 pm. Confirmations, Swansea Minster
CHURCH FLOWERS.
Fr. George celebrated Rhona's birthday on St. Monica's Day, 27 August with a Mass and has donated the pulpit flowers in her memory. The Madonna's flowers are given by Val and David Tolley celebrating David's mother, Rhonwen's, birthday on 23 August.
WEDNESDAY MUSICAL RECITAL
The final recital in the series will be on Wednesday at 11.00am. Thanks to Simon Price for organising such a stimulating and varied programme this summer.
RIP JOY MILLIGAN.
Joy’s Requiem Mass will take place at 11.00am on Wednesday 9 September. We hold her husband, Peter, and her sons, James and Andrew, in our hearts.
CONFIRMATION
Please pray for our confirmands, Jack Raddenbury, Sylvia Stevenson, Eleanor Nethell-Jones, and Gwendoline Davies. They will join others from across the Ministry Area to be confirmed at Swansea Minster by John Lomas, Lord Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, at 2.30pm on Sunday 6 September. I hope many from St Gabriel’s will attend the Confirmation to support our candidates.
GLASTONBURY PILGRIMAGE.
For those getting the coach to Glastonbury on 5 September, a reminder that it will leave from outside Swansea Minster at 9.00am, so ensure you are there in plenty of time. If you can park elsewhere please do, as the car park will get very busy. Bring a picnic. The cost to enter the abbey and receive an order of service is £11, payable on the gate. Children are admitted without charge.
QUENTIN LETTS TALK, 10 SEPTEMBER.
We will soon welcome Quentin Letts to talk on his novel “Nunc!” Quentin is an extraordinarily funny and engaging speaker. He is also a devout Anglican, and his latest novel is an exploration of Simeon the God Receiver, who holds the infant Christ in the Temple. Tickets are £10, to include a glass of w**e. Evensong is at 6.00pm with the talk to follow. Books will be available to purchase and Quentin will be delighted to sign them. Do spread the word.
For a description of the book and a few reviews click here.
And here you’ll find a bit more about Quentin Letts himself.
NUNC!
