Dear friends,
The third session of our shared Lent Course will take place tomorrow (Friday) evening, at All Saints’ Church (531, Kenton Road HA3 0UL), beginning with Stations of the Cross at 7pm.
In the previous session, we learned that prayer is often less complicated than we imagine, but does require us to make a conscious effort to dwell with the Lord for a time. We explored how prayer is a wholeheartedrelationship with God, premised upon frankness and honesty – and how, among the many ways and means of praying, we should lean into those which resonate most with us personally. If you would like to discover more about how to pray, come along tomorrow – to learn, in this session, about the prayer of adoration, praise and worship…
Then, this coming Sunday (the Third of Lent), our guest preacher will be Fr Simon Walsh, who serves currently at St Michael, Camden Town. Fr Simon is also an established PR consultant, specialising in corporate, financial, international and crisis communications. In addition a journalist and writer, he has previously edited New Directions and Together, and is currently the editor of The Prayer Book Today – also contributing regularly to the Church Times and Seen & Unseen. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Fr Simon is a trustee of Pusey House Oxford, and of the £6m St Pancras Lands Trust; and chairs the governing body at Christ Church School, Spitalfields. Do join us on Sunday at 10.30am, to welcome Fr Simon!
We will also welcome back, as our cover organist this week, Bel Comeau FRCO BA (Hons) (Cantab) LRSM.
Our beautiful Easter lilies may be sponsored in memory of a departed loved one: please PRINT CLEARLY on the list in church the names of those you wish remembered, and then place your donation (suggested £5/name) into the basket at the back – or ask to use the contactless facility.
There are six spare seats on the ‘bus to Wolverhampton for the funeral Requiem of our dear friend and sister Katherine Lewis, on Tuesday, 17 March, at St Joseph RC Church, East Park WV1 2QN, at 12.30pm. The cost to travel by minibus is £40pp return, and the vehicle will leave St Mary’s promptly at 9am. Please sign up in church. Those unable to travel to Wolverhampton, but who wish to watch the funeral service online, can do so here or here (two different camera angles!) We continue to hold Fr Edward, and all who mourn Katherine, in our prayers.
Included with this mailing are a summary of the principal liturgies of Holy Week; a flier for this year’s May Devotion, and an invitation to Bishop Jonathan’s Chrism Mass for the Fulham family of parishes – on Tuesday in Holy Week, 31 April at 11am (at St Andrew, Holborn): if you would like to travel together to the Chrism Mass, please write your name on the list in church. We will be leaving from Northwick Park station, just after 9.30am.
On Saturday in Holy Week, 4 April, we will first gather in church at 9.30am for the Maria Desolata devotion, followed by the “Great Big Church Spring Clean”: this really requires all hands on deck, to prepare the church for Easter – come for as long or as little as you can manage, with tea, coffee and hot cross buns on tap! That evening, after the Vigil and First Mass of Easter at 8pm, there will be a bring-and-share parish partyin the Hall: please see Pat, to confirm your kind contribution of food.
Please also speak to Johnette or Lizz to help with the children’s Easter Egg Hunt after Mass on Easter Day, Sunday, 5 April; and see Johnette too if you can help with a proposed church Open Day on Saturday, 9 May (10am-3pm).
We will be taking a group again to the Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage this summer, 3-7 August – a fun-filled week of worship, fellowship and outdoor activities in the beautiful north Norfolk countryside, for young people aged 11-18. The PCC will generously subsidise participation in the Pilgrimage, with just £50 asked for each young person from their families. Please see me (before Sunday, 22 March), to put your name down to attend.
I will go on annual leave after Mass this Sunday, for one week, returning to work on Tuesday, 17 March: in my absence, please see Fr Mike for matters pastoral, spiritual or liturgical; and please speak to the churchwardens about any pressing concerns about the church or parish. Please likewise consult the attached pew sheet for changes to the usual schedule of services.
Abiding in the love of the Lord and of our neighbour, may we fulfil the whole of God’s commands,
Fr Richard