Bishop Jonathan has produced (with The Society and Church Union) a wonderful video talking about All Saints – and why it is central to our understanding of living a full Christian life.
The Saints of God surround and encourage you in the highs and lows of life. They run the great race with us and will always pray for us – reach out and ask.
We have now received the news that as of Wednesday 2nd December Lockdown 2.0 will come to an end and we will enter Tier 2 (with the rest of London). This is wonderful news and means we return to our usual pattern of public worship in person – as well as continuing to live-stream.
Morning Prayer & Mass at 9am, Evening Prayer at 5pm – all open to the public. Sunday Parish Mass at 10am – doors open wide!
We’ll be announcing how Tier 2 restrictions will affect Christmas services shortly. What we do know so far is that we will have:
3pm Christmas Eve – Crib & Christingle Service (with the Mayor of Hillingdon)
11:30pm Christmas Eve – Midnight Mass
10am Christmas Day – Christmas Day Parish Mass
We have now been directed by the government to once again suspend public worship. I wanted to write to let you know how this will affect St. Anselm and our normal pattern of prayer and worship.
Daily
From Thursday 22nd October. We’re are opening for private prayer – this will mean that I will open the church doors after Morning Prayer and Mass each day at about 10am and the church will be open for an hour. I’ll do the same after Evening Prayer at about 5:30pm.
You are very welcome to come, pray, spend time with God – to light a candle or if you need a chat with me I’m always available. If you’d like to pray the rosary a new supply is available along with single-use how-to guides (pick these up at the door as you come in).
We will live stream Sunday Parish Mass from church from Sunday 8th November. The doors will be closed for people to physically be in church – but you will be able to join with us remotely. I will offer mass on your behalf and you can follow along using the CTS Mass Card – details of which can be found on the Live Stream webpage. Each week I will publish the news as usual – and as we will be joining in along at home we will be able to sing the hymns – a wonderful upside. The weekly update will include useful resources for praying at home.
Staying in touch
Since we re-opened in July so many new and wonderful people have joined our community. Over Lockdown 2.0 I will post news and useful information to you – to those who don’t have an email address this is particularly important. If you have not yet given us your details via the Sign Up page – now is the time to do that. Without these details we will not be able to stay in touch over the lockdown period and let you know when church opens again. Do this now!
Foodbank
The Foodbank will continue to operate on Wednesdays between midday and 2pm.
First Class Tutoring
First Class Tutoring will continue to hold education sessions for children on Friday evenings between 4pm and 6pm
Local Ward Councillor Surgeries
The local Ward Councillor Surgeries run on alternate Wednesdays have been suspended for the time being. The councillors can be contacted via their office on 01895 250 780 during office hours or via their email:
There is a great deal of confusion and folk-law about why we pray for the dead. It is one of those things that can really get Anglicans tied up in knots – but there is no need, the reason is very simple.
We pray for people when they are alive, so why then should we stop when they die?
There are two things at play here. One is the belief that when we die we immediately go to Heaven or Hell and the prayers of our loved ones on earth will make little difference to either outcome.
The second is the belief that the saints in Heaven can not pray for us or encourage us on this earth – in this great race.
Both of these things are very easy to understand, but are ultimately wrong.
God does not operate in our ways – our ways are not His ways – and when it comes to time and things like ‘immediately’ what does that mean to Him? Do you think for one moment that when we die the concept of time as we understand it means God is not able to hear the prayers of our loved ones made after we die? Of course He hears our prayers, and if He hears them then we should make them.
The second idea that the saints and angels don’t pray for and encourage us in this life is just contrary to scripture. We know (read Hebrews) that the departed run this race with us and alongside us – so why then not ask them to pray for us in Heaven?
The point of praying for the dead is to pray for the repose of their souls, to bring comfort to the living and to remind us of our own mortality. All of these things are good and healthy. So pray for your departed loved ones with confidence that God hears you.
Three weeks ago I stood at the lectern and asked you to help me feed those most in need in Hayes. Those who are not supported by the Foodbank or other charities in Hayes. The difficult to connect with, the difficult to deal with, the difficult to love.
Last Sunday at our Harvest Festival you responded in the only way you knew how. You poured out your love in bags and bags and bags of food, toiletries and treats that will make cold nights on the streets of Hayes just that little bit easier.
But you’ve done far more than just provide a bag of food. You have shown forth the love of Jesus Christ in Hayes in a way that nobody can deny.
You have taken hold of the hand of the most vulnerable and told them that you love them.
As we move into the colder months of the year these bags of food will go a long way to warm up the stomachs of those in need – but your love has gone a long way to warming their hearts as well.
These gifts are a gentle reminder that they are not lost. That they are part of our family and we love them just as Jesus loves all of us.
Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
If you would like your loved ones prayed for at one of the two masses on All Souls (2nd November – 9:15am & 5:15pm) please make sure you write their names on the sheet at the back of the church or email Fr. Matthew
Fr. Matthew is away this week for half term – if you need a Priest in an emergency call the office number – 020 3855 0113 and you’ll be connected to a Priest who will be able to help.
There are many things about this time that have been less than great. However, some things have been wonderful – and I have to admit that being allowed to install our wonderful Churchwardens, rather than the Archdeacon doing so at a special service, was a real treat.
To be able to admit into office Cynthia and David was truly a delight – and what a team we are going to make. The future of St. Anselm is in very good hands with David and Cynthia.
It has been a very tough week. First, the news that one of the children at Dr. Triplett’s Primary School had been run over and killed on Sunday evening. Then, the tragic news of a violent act of murder in the heart of the parish.
How can we possible react to such horrible and heartbreaking news? How can we support each other in our hurt and pain?
As ever when we struggle to know what to do we can turn to scripture and to the example of the saints. St. Teressa of Avila (who’s memorial we celebrated on Thursday) was no stranger to hurt and pain. She reacted by taking it all to God in prayer. She would reproach God in the strongest terms. Through that prayer she would seek out the peace of God’s love for her and attempt to be healed by it.
Easier said than done perhaps. So how do you take this anger and pain to God in prayer? What words can you possible use?
St. Paul helps us…
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Romans 8:26 (ESVA)
Take it to the Lord in prayer, in the power of the Spirit.
A huge thank you goes to David & Stan for their sterling work in cleaning the outside of church. What an amazing difference it has made – thank you.
Cleaning – after mass on Sunday 25th we’re going to stay to give the church a big clean. Please bring your own packed lunch and refreshments. We’re going to tackle the brick dust on all the surfaces, sweep and mop the whole church. Bring your dusters!
At St. Anselm we strongly believe that in order to bring people to Jesus we need to be deeply rooted in Scripture and Sacrament. With that in mind we have a growing Sermon & Teaching section of the website, but we’ve also created the St. Anselm Sunday Sermon Podcast for you.
Our three guiding principles are designed to keep us strong in our faith and in our community. They are:
Rooted in the Parish
Rooted in Scripture & Sacrament
Rooted in a Love of Proclaiming Christ
Perhaps the most important is being rooted in scripture and sacrament. I say that because it’s the one principle that is utterly unmoving. It is the one place where we will ALWAYS find Jesus.
When the world rocks, when our faith stumbles, when we question those around us our ability to come back to mass and receive Jesus in the sacrament and in our ability to read scripture is what will still us.
Those things that we take for granted – our ability to read scripture – our ability to come to mass – are often those things that we dismiss first. We may not come to church for a few weeks – 10am is very early after all! We may say we are too busy to pick up our bible this week.
It’s when we start making these small excuses that we start to run the risk of tearing ourselves away from Jesus.
But don’t worry, because Jesus never abandons us, and even when we have been away for a while He will be there to welcome us home.
You may find it helpful to bring your worries to confession. To lay before God your sins and ask for forgiveness, be forgiven, to start again with a clean sheet. Why not come for the first time this Tuesday evening after Evening Prayer – or arrange a time with me.
You’ll be pleased to know that the dodgy wiring has been replaced. The sound engineer is returning on Monday to complete the instal of the new system now we have safe cables.
Your generosity in prayer and in money towards helping those most in need in Hayes this week has been hugely appreciated – thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Have you set up Parish Giving yet? It’s the easiest and most tax-efficient way to give to St. Anselm. Call them on 0333 002 1271 with our Parish Code (230 623 503) and have your bank details to hand – it takes just 10 mins.
James and Jagdish will welcome your child for tuition in English and Maths each week. They care deeply about the eduction of your child.
At First Class Learning, we aim to develop your child’s knowledge and understanding, providing them with a solid foundation in maths and English, relevant to their current studies and future goals.
Whatever your child’s ability – whether they’re aiming high or need a little bit of extra help – we want to make sure that THEY COUNT.
If you have any questions or would like to book in you can find their contact details on the First Class Tuition website or you can pop in between 4pm and 6pm on Friday afternoons.
The Botwell Ward Labour Councillors have decided to cease meeting people at St. Anselm Church and are now meeting them in the library. We were very happy to provide a COVID-safe space when the council was unable to, and continue to support community groups in Hayes. If you would like to use the church or the church hall for your community group do get in touch.
Botwell ward councillors Farley, Gardner and Oswell are holding fortnightly ward surgeries at St Anselm’s Church Foodbank, Station Road, Hayes Town, UB3 4DF.
The St Anselm’s Foodbank operates every Wednesday between 12pm and 2pm.
At least 2 of the Botwell ward councillors will be available at the foodbank every fortnight, to help with any resident’s council related concerns between 12.30 and 2pm.
The schedule for the coming months (Covid-19 restrictions permitting are as follows:
Wednesday 14th October 2020
Wednesday 28th October 2020
Wednesday 11th November 2020
Wednesday 25th November 2020
Wednesday 9th December 2020
Wednesday 6th January 2021
However, you do not need to wait for the surgery at the foodbank. If you have any council related concerns, your councillors can be contacted by email as below or by telephone on:
