Dear friends,
‘Then Joshua said to all the people, ‘…[C]hoose today whom you wish to serve’
– so says this Sunday’s first reading. Not for nothing do the Ten Commandments prohibit the worship of idols – for it is instinctual in human beings to seek something to worship; and, if we do not find something in the heavens or in the earth around us, alternatively to put something to worship in God’s place. Joshua asks whether the people of Israel will worship the gods of their ancestors – whether, in other words, they will idolise the past as a golden era, and suppose that nothing so positive as this time will come again; or, instead, they might choose the gods of the Amorites – of the surrounding civilisation and culture: will they lose their distinctive belief in the God of Israel, and simply imitate the futile ways of the world? To look back with unrealistic nostalgia; to look around us with an uncritical naivety – these remain risks for us today as Christians. However, with Joshua, and with the people of ancient Israel, we must daily put away any intention of serving other gods! When the temptation arises to make idols – to put something in the rightful place of the Almighty – we must do as they did and instead recall His redemptive wonders: we must remember all that the Lord has done for us – and all that He continues to do in our lives, and so serve Him with thankfulness and praise.
There are now four spaces remaining on the coach to Walsingham for the Pilgrimage for Healing and Renewal next week, on Bank Holiday Monday, 26 August: first come, first served – please be in touch with Fr Richard ASAP. Please gather on the day at church at 7.15am (Morning Prayer, 7am), and please bring a packed lunch.
Our young adults 18-30 may also wish to sign up for the Adoremus pilgrimage to Walsingham in November: further details here. Financial help may be available from the parish, for the cost of travel – please see Fr Richard.
This Sunday is the final opportunity to bring to church your promised household essentials for our incoming pastoral assistant, Ryan Davey – as these will be delivered next week on Tuesday. Please also let Pat Edwards know if you can contribute a dish to share at a parish lunch to welcome Ryan, after Mass on Sunday, 1 September.
There will also be welcome drinks with the 2024-25 (Willesden Area) Ministry Experience Scheme cohort – who will be living with Ryan in St Cuthbert’s Vicarage, North Wembley – after the 6pm Vigil Mass on Saturday, 31 August. The MES volunteers will attend Evening Prayer at 5pm, and Mass at 6pm: please turn out likewise, to support them.
This Sunday is also the final opportunity to donate in support of Caritas Bakhita House: next month in September, we will be collecting both food and financial donations, for the Harrow FoodBank. (Our Harvest Festival will be on Sunday, 29 September – when we will also have a parish outing to Westminster Abbey for Evensong at 3pm: please sign the list in church.)
Please likewise sign up in church to come to Evensong and a barbecue at St John, Kensal Green on Sunday, 8 September at 5pm: we will depart from Kenton Station at 3.50pm – please meet on the platform.
Next week, on Thursday, 29 August the Willan Singers will return to join us for a special Sung Mass at 6pm, featuring Ireland’s Communion Service in C (no public Evening Prayer). Could you contribute a cake for the party afterwards? Please bring these with you to Mass on the day – and please see Johnette Clarke to assist with the provision of other refreshments.
Our annual Macmillan Coffee Morning will take place on Saturday, 28 September in the Hall, 10.30am-3pm. Please see Bernadette LaBastide to help, and please take home and distribute some publicity fliers.
A reminder, finally, that we will enjoy yet another bring-and-share parish lunch together after Mass on Sunday, 22 September, as we celebrate our Patronal Festival in honour of Our Lady of Walsingham (and mark my own second anniversary as your parish priest!) Please let Pat Edwards know what you can bring – it may be simplest just to repeat your offering for 1 September!
Please find attached a poster for the Patronal Festival at St Cuthbert, Philbeach Gardens on Wednesday, 4 September at 7pm – and please note that our friends at St Matthew, Willesden will also celebrate a Patronal Festival, on Sunday, 22 September at 6pm.
As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord,
Fr Richard