Dear friends,
Our beautiful church is an oasis 🌊🌴 in the current soaring temperatures, and a spot of stillness amidst the busyness of life. Join us this Sunday, not least to celebrate Fathers’ Day 🍻, and to welcome as our guest preacher at 10.30am the Rev’d Preb. Andrew Corsie: Fr Andrew is the Willesden Area Director of Ministry.
Before then, on Friday morning (16 June), we will mark the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart with a delicious continental breakfast after the 9.30am Mass – completely free of charge.
Sunday morning is also your opportunity to secure your tickets for our forthcoming Parish Barbecue 🍖, on Saturday 15 July, in the memorial garden from 3pm. Tickets are just £12.50 for adults, and £5 for under-18s: please bring your own drinks, and bring a friend! Offers of sides, salads and desserts (to Gloria) will be very gratefully received.
Thank you to those who have so far signed up to come to St Alban’s Cathedral with Bishop Norman, on Saturday 5 August: we will be travelling by coach with our friends from St Andrew’s Kingsbury – a return ticket is only £10 (£5 for under-18s), and you need otherwise only bring a picnic lunch. There will be an opportunity after lunch to explore the picturesque city of St Alban’s, or perhaps to attend Evensong in the Cathedral. Please note that there will therefore be no 6pm Vigil Mass at St Mary’s on 5 August.
On Saturday, 8 July we are invited both to St Andrew, Kingsbury for their Open Day (poster attached) and to St Mary, Willesden for the annual Pilgrimage to the Shrine (poster attached). We are lucky to receive such stalwart support from nearby parishes – please reciprocate the love!
Also attached to this post is the monthly prayer case (for June) from ACAT (Action by Christians against Torture) (Harrow).
In Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus compares the Church’s ministry and mission to a ripe harvest. This is now in fact one of the times in the year when our focus is drawn to contemplate God’s calling – particularly to those soon to be ordained – but also to the important part we each have to play in His work and as His witnesses. ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few‘: there are so many opportunities to make a difference in Christ’s name, but we are of course also so easily distracted. In the heat of the day, let us not forget the priority of our calling as Christians: let us not fail each day to make a difference in Christ’s name.
May the love of God comfort and inspire you,
Fr Richard