Dear friends,
(Fr Richard is on annual leave, until Thursday, 23 September: in his absence, (i) please consult the pew sheet for changes to the Mass schedule; (ii) please see Fr Mike, for any matters pastoral or sacramental, and (iii) please speak to the churchwardens, about any other urgent matters concerning St Mary’s Church.)
This Sunday’s parable of the labourers in the vineyard reminds us of God’s extraordinary generosity and largesse: as one of the hymns at Mass last week put it, ‘In blazing light your Cross reveals / The truth we dimly knew, / How small the debts men owe to us, / How great our debts to you‘: to live humbly and generously is indeed and in truth to follow the Lord, and to grow into His likeness.
Thank you so much to all who supported last Saturday’s Macmillan Coffee Morning – which raised the amazing (and once more record-breaking) sum of £1,553.50! Further donations may be made throughout this month, either using one of the envelopes in church – or by giving online, here.
Please likewise pick up in church one of this year’s stewardship envelopes, to make your contribution towards the expense of sanding and resealing the church floor: this work cost £7,020 – and your offerings (in thanksgiving for God’s blessings, over the year past) will be much appreciated.
A week on Sunday, 27 September, we will celebrate our Patronal Festival (in honour of Our Lady of Walsingham) – when our guest preacher and principal celebrant will be the Rt Rev’d Tony Robinson, Emeritus Bishop of Wakefield. This Mass will include Sprinkling with Walsingham well water (which will afterwards be available, to take away in individual bottles), and will be followed by a bring-and-share parish lunch in the Hall: please let Pat know this week what you can bring, to share. Volunteers are also requested, to help set up the Hall on Saturday 26, from 6.45pm (after the Vigil Mass).
We will then celebrate our Harvest Festival, on Sunday, 4 October: attached is a list of items urgently needed by Harrow Food Bank – please bring these to Mass on 4 October. The soaring cost of living means that more and more local people are being pushed to crisis point, and forced to use the Harrow Food Bank. This crisis has led to a shortfall in essential items at the Food Bank – and thus to the Food Bank needing to purchase stock itself, to make up the shortfall.
Also attached is a flier for a children and young people’s Christmas card competition in Walsingham: the winning design may be used for the Shrine’s printed Christmas cards, and some of their online publications! The deadline is Friday, 30 October.
I will bless you day after day, and praise your name for ever and ever,
Fr Richard