Dear friends,
St Mary’s marked an important and very encouraging milestone last week, with attendance over an “ordinary” Sunday rising to more than 70 people, for the first time in my incumbency (and indeed, since before the pandemic): thank you for your faithfulness; to God be the glory, and keep up the good work!
Not least because, this weekend, we will welcome another guest preacher to St Mary’s: Fr Ben Jennings (Assistant Curate in the parishes of Failsworth, Blackley and Lightbowne, in the Diocese of Manchester) will be travelling more than 200 miles to be with us (both on Saturday at 6pm, and on Sunday at 10.30am) – and it is, surely, the least we can do to travel the few miles from our own homes to hear him preach, and warmly welcome him to Kenton.
Our Lent Course continues tomorrow evening (Friday) in church, beginning with Stations of the Cross at 7pm. You do not need to have attended the first two sessions to benefit from this third session – and it would be lovely to see more of us in attendance tomorrow.
Our first reading at Mass this Sunday is the story of Moses and the burning bush, which reminds us of the importance of sacred space and holy ground. The God whom we worship is sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, with whom we can converse anywhere; however, just as Christ’s Incarnation took place at a particular time and in a particular place, so sacred seasons (such as Lent) and holy places (such as our beloved church) have special significance in our pilgrimage in friendship with Jesus. We shall indeed contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation next week on Tuesday, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, when Mass will be celebrated, as usual, in church at 6.30pm. As our Orthodox brothers and sisters pray to the Virgin Mother of God, ‘It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos [God-Bearer], who art ever blessed and all blameless and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim, thou who without corruption bearest God the Word and art truly Theotokos: we magnify thee.’
Holy Week is fast approaching, and a summary of all the services from Palm Sunday to Easter is attached to this mailing. We would be very grateful for volunteers to deliver our Easter invitations to homes in this parish: you will find these cards in church, as well as a list on which to tick off the roads to which you can deliver. As explained in last week’s mailing, we will also soon be recruiting volunteers to help to serve refreshments after the Kenton Group of Churches Walk of Witness on Good Friday morning, 18 April – as well as welcoming “all hands on deck” to clean and decorate the church for Easter, and arrange the Easter flowers, on Holy Saturday, 19 April (from *9.30am – not 9am, as previously advertised). (A reminder likewise that there is a basket in church for your kind contributions to the cost of this year’s Easter flowers, which may be given in memory of departed loved ones, before 6 April: please PRINT their names clearly on the list beside the basket. If you would prefer to donate using our contactless terminal (or by bank transfer), please let me know.) And do speak to Ryan Davey if you would like to assist with the children’s Easter Egg hunt, after Mass on Easter Day!
Please, similarly, see Pat Edwards to confirm your contribution of sweet or savoury finger-food to the bring-and-share party after the Easter Vigil on Saturday, 19 April; Pat will also happily record your pledges of cakes, biscuits and baked goods for a sparkling afternoon tea on Saturday, 3 May, following our May Devotion. A poster for the May Devotion is attached: we will begin at All Saints’ Church at 2.30pm, and then pray the Rosary as we process an image of Our Lady along the Kenton Road to St Mary’s, where the preacher at our concluding devotions will be Fr Mario Lainez SDS, Assistant Priest in the Salvatorian parish of St Joseph, Harrow Weald.
Completed Electoral Roll forms are required from all regular members of the congregation aged 16+: please return these as soon as possible, and no later than 25 April.
Please also find attached an invitation from Bishop Jonathan to join him for two special services at St Andrew’s Church Holborn – namely, Stations of the Cross on Wednesday, 2 April at 7pm; and a Service for Passiontide on Wednesday, 9 April at 7pm. A reminder that there will be a Friends of the Holy Landpresentation by Bishop William Shomali on Monday, 31 March (at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church); and the Bereavement Care Spring Fair and coffee morning will take place the morning of Wednesday, 9 April at Harrow District Masonic Circle.
At our parish conference on Sunday, 14 September (Holy Cross Day), the Fulham Missioner, Fr Stephen Gallagher, will – after Mass, and over a complimentary lunch – guide us in a discussion about engaging everyone in our congregation, so that everyone gives, and everyone grows. With notice this far in advance, no one should have any excuse to miss this important occasion!
This week’s incense is Chertsey Carnation.
May God the Father, who does not despise the broken spirit, give to you a contrite heart,
Fr Richard