This week's Mass-paper/Newsletter
07_13_thirteenth_ot_b.pdf
File Size: 1244 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
  • Today’s mass is being offered for Rakeem J. Simpson and Raekwame K. Simpson, and for Miquela (birthday); on Friday it was offered for Mrs Bamboo Johnson.
  • Today’s readings: Wisdom: God did not make death, nor does God rejoice in the destruction of the living. The creation of the earth are wholesome. 2 Corinthians: Just as you are rich in every respect, may you also abound in works of charity. Jesus made himself poor that you might become rich by his poverty. Mark 5:21-43: Jesus cures the young daughter of one of the officials of the synagogue. Prayer: Lord, you change my mourning into dancing. If I am weeping at nightfall, with the dawn you will bring rejoicing. Enable me to continue in faith through the night, knowing that the gifts of eternal life and complete health are awaiting me. Prepare me for this eternal home by a generous spirit in my earthly home.
  • On Wednesday, our choir rehearsal is as usual, 7-8 pm. We will perform on 7th July, Grahame Park Festival, 1 pm (?).
  • On Thursdays, 7-8 pm: in our Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays, we start Pope Francis’ letter to the Church, On Care for Our Common Home (Laudato Si’). It is a very important teaching about our responsibility for the creation and nature as our environment. All of us are accountable for our Earth in the age of global warming and climate change. Focusing on our sins against nature is a great opportunity to develop our sense of ‘sin’, and our pastoral aim to recover the tradition of sacramental confession here at Saint Augustine’s. Sacramental confessions/ spiritual conversation/advising: in the second part of the holy hour.
  • Sunday, 17th October – Confirmation day with the Bishop of Fulham.
  • Bible readings for the Week (Day: Morning // Evening). Sunday: (1 Samuel17:1-16; Romans 13:1-14 // 1 Samuel 20:1-17; Acts 14:1-28) Monday: (1Kings 6:1-14; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12// 1 Kings 8:1-21; Matthew 14:22-34) Tuesday: (1 Kings 8:22-53; 2 Thessalonians 2 //1 Kings 8:54-9:9; Mark 8:1-26) Wednesday: (1 Kings 10:1-29; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18 // 1 Kings 11:1-13; Matthew 16:13-28), Thursday: (1 Kings 11:26-43; Galatians 1:1-23 // 1 Kings 12:1-24; Matthew 17:1-27) Friday: (1 Kings 12:25-13:10; Galatians 2:1-21; // 1 Kings 13:11-34; Mark 9:33-49) Saturday: (1 Kings 14:1-20; Galatians 3:1-29 // 2 Chronicles 12:1-16; Matthew 18:12-14)

  • Spiritual Toolbox 3 - WHAT ARE ICONS? We now have in our church the icons of ‘Loving Tenderness’ and ‘Christ the Ruler and Judge of All’.
     
    Icons are part of the Church's preaching and part of the Church's prayer. The icon-painter prepares for the work of icon-making with prayer, fasting and study for the icon must be truth. They come from prayer to be used in prayer and worship. Icons play several roles. Icons teach: they represent sacred persons, sacred events, they show us the reality of the Divine Kingdom. They teach history, doctrine, morality and theology. They remind us what we are and what we should be. They show us the importance of matter and of material things. They show us the transfiguration of matter under the power of the Holy Spirit.
    Icons challenge: we see the saints, transfigured by God's grace and by their own free response to Him. We are challenged to follow in their footsteps.
    Icons witness: the icon of Christ witnesses to the Incarnation. The Divine Word came down into our humanity. He is human as we are human. Humans can be portrayed; portraying the incarnate Word (Logos), Jesus Christ, we witness to His true humanity.
    Icons sanctify: The presence of an icon in a church or house blesses the house and claims it and all who live in it for Christ. The Torah commanded the Jews to place "the Commandments I shall give you this day" in their doorposts. We Christians set up the holy icons to sanctify our churches and houses and declare our adherence to Christ.
    Icons Unite: photographs, films, videos of people we love can make them seem very close. The icons can make us feel very close to Christ and the saints. And this feeling of closeness is no illusion, the saints are alive in Christ, and He dwells in the depths of our own being - if we let Him. Christ dwells in us by His grace, and the saints and angels are already present with us, through their love and their prayers; the icon reminds us, and makes us aware of that presence.


Spiritual Toolbox: Saint Benedict’s Rule 2.
 
Saint Benedict wrote his Rule in a time of uncertainty and turmoil. The founder of the Benedictine religious community was born into a world of turbulence and violence. The fall of Rome in 410 CE, seventy years before his birth, had shocked the civilised world. The sixth century was an age characterized by danger, mass injustice, dislocation of population, and the apparent collapse of almost all high culture. It was into this chaos that Benedict brought the promise of an ordered, Christ centered life!
 
‘It is all about love. It points to Christ. Ultimately the whole meaning and purpose of the Rule is simply, “Prefer nothing to the love of Christ.”’
 
We often read from the Rule in our week-day mass. At first, seemingly, we feel a hidden resistance to Benedict’s message. It sounds so distant! We live in a world known its rugged individualism, independence, competitiveness, and focus on goals. Words like stability, obedience, rule, vows, ordinary, monastery, monastic life may be less comfortable to us than words like self-expression or self-development. When you read the Rule, try to lsit any words or concepts that you think might have a negative connotation in our modern age. Does it imply a loss of individuality, independence, or my freedom? Then, as you continue, keep an open mind to discover the Benedictine interpretation of these words. Remember that Benedict is advocating that we set aside our individual agendas for the sake of nurturing and strengthening our relationship. Can we do it?


  • God in all things (‘toolbox’) 1. Finding God in all things is a theme of Benedictine spirituality. Our response to that God is present everywhere is one of profound thanksgiving. The tool: Pick a task that you can perform regularly. It can be anything from driving a car to preparing a meal to making particular phone calls. Then, each time you do this task, put on a heart of love and listen for God. Do a nightly thanks review. At the end of each day record three to five things for which you were thankful. My guess is that over time, your daily list will expand as you put on the glasses of thankfulness as you view the world. Take a Thankfulness Walk. Begin with your sight. As you walk, look around. Give thanks for the ability to see. Then move to hearing. Give thanks for your ability to hear. Give thanks for each and offer prayers for those who cannot hear. Be a spontaneous give of thanks. When something wonderful happens, give thanks. When something bad happens, try to give thanks, too. The latter is difficult. Give thanks for the people who are helping you through a difficult time, or who share your joy!
DURING THIS WEEK:

Monday, 25 June – Feria
8.00 am Morning Prayer (BCP)
6.00 pm Evening Prayer (CW)
6.30 pm MASS
 
Tuesday, 26 June – Feria
8.00 am Morning Prayer (BCP)
6.00 pm Evening Prayer (CW)
6.30 pm MASS
7.00 pm Bible Group
 
Wednesday, 27 June – Memoria
St John Southworth, Priest, Martyr

8.00 am Morning Prayer (BCP)
12.00 pm MASS + Lunchclub
6.00 pm Evening Prayer
 
Thursday, 28 June – Memoria
Saint Irenaeus, Bishop, Martyr

 Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious
9.00 am Morning Prayer (BCP)
18.00 pm Evening Prayer and Mass
19.00 –Confession and Adoration in the Church (CoE: vestry, Orthodox in the Chapel)
 
Friday, 29 June – Feast
Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
8.00 am Morning Prayer (BCP)
6.00 pm Evening Prayer (CW)
6.30 pm MASS (Chapel)






  • FROM FATHER JOSEPH

  • Our next DCC meeting is on Monday 9th July 19.00 pm – 20.00 pm.
  • Now you can request a mass to be said for your intention on a specific day (a person, a cause, birthday, graduation, anniversary of death, etc.). Approach Fr Joseph and he will put the date into ‘The Book of Mass Intentions’. On a voluntary basis, you can offer 5 pounds, as part of your sacrifice/offering. This is a new form of supporting our community financially, as the amount is added to our weekly collection.
  • A warm welcome to Mark Walley who is training for the priesthood. He spends the coming week in our two churches as his pastoral placement and part of his studies.