Dear friends,
This Sunday at Mass, our responsorial psalm will be the two, succinct verses of Psalm 117(116), familiar to us perhaps from the service of Benediction. The response text which accompanies them comes from St Mark’s Gospel, and is Jesus’ instruction to his disciples – and so to us as well – to ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news‘. This, in a nutshell, is the essence of evangelism, confidently, creatively and courageously to share with the world the good news that we are saved from sin and death in the Lord Jesus. As we pray and sing this psalm, may we make the words our own – looking for those opportunities in daily life to speak of our faith in Christ our Saviour, and to explain with integrity and enthusiasm the meaning of God’s mercy and faithfulness towards us.
Thank you to all who supported last Saturday’s parish barbecue – a wonderful occasion, enjoyed by all! Special thanks to those who worked so hard to make it happen, setting up and clearing away, cooking and providing food and drink. The barbecue also raised the fantastic sum of £662 for parish funds!
There are a number of last-minute spare seats (£25/£5)on the coach to Walsingham, for the Pilgrimage for Healing and Renewal, next week on Bank Holiday Monday, 25 August: please see me ASAP if you would like one, and please gather at St Mary’s at 7.30am (Morning Prayer, 7.15am), and bring a packed lunch, or money to purchase something to eat in the village.
At the back of church is a sign-up sheet for a parish lunch and conversation after Mass on Sunday, 14 September (the Feast of the Holy Cross), when our guest preacher – Fr Stephen Gallagher, Missioner to the See of Fulham – will lead us in a discussion about our parish’s future direction and priorities. A buffet lunch will be provided free of charge, and with no need for personal contributions of food – but please sign up before 7 September, to help with judging numbers for catering, and also to inform us of any dietary requirements. (The lunch and conversation will likely not last longer than two hours.)
A week later, Sunday, 21 September, there will be another(!) parish lunch after Mass, in celebration of our Patronal Festival, in honour of Our Lady of Walsingham: please speak to Pat to confirm your contribution of (sweet or savoury) finger food to a bring-and-share meal.
We are doubtless all aware of the disastrous decisions taken recently by the UK Parliament to move forward with the provision of assisted suicide, and to liberalise the availability of abortion. Later this year, we will again be working with our friends from All Saints RC Church, Kenton on a project to support those cared for by St Luke’s Hospice, as a practical response to the anti-life activity of our legislators. However, it is also important for us to support this year’s March for Life UK, on Saturday, 6 September. This annual event is a significant time of prayer and witness to the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death, and involves thousands of Christians (and others) processing through central London. The march will begin at 1.30pm, from the Emmanuel Centre – but, beforehand, there will be celebrations of Mass, and workshops, in venues around the city-centre: please see the official website for more information.
And advance notice of this year’s Macmillan Coffee Morning, which will take place in the Hall on Saturday, 4 October between 10.30am and 3pm: please refer to the attached poster, and please start to spread the word! Bernadette will in due course begin to invite donations of cakes and baked goods, and to recruit volunteers.
May the Lord guide and direct us on life’s journey in safety, and be our companion along the way,
Fr Richard