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Category: Announcements

Announcements and news from the parish of St. Anselm, Hayes.

  • News for 3rd March

    Lenten Sacrifice

    Lenten Sacrifice is when we decide to give up something we love eating or doing. When we give up those things, we can save a few coins that we then give to the less privileged. In the community, many people find it challenging to get standard well-being kinds of stuff like clothing to keep themselves warm and even food to eat. We are encouraged to give alms and support the less privileged during Lent. Our Lenten sacrifices will help us save some coins, and we must give these out to support others. What is little for you is many for someone; nothing to you is something to a brother or sister, and what is old is new for the other.

    God first demonstrated giving by giving unto us His only begotten Son so that we will receive salvation. We must support others not only when we feel comfortable but whenever the opportunity arises because through giving, we receive the blessings of God. 

    Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Every child of God must be able to give freely to support others because giving is a virtue.

    It is the will of God that we give, and whenever we give, we become more prosperous. “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” (Proverbs 11:25). During this lent, let us make our Lenten Sacrifices a blessing to others because whenever we bless others, we bless ourselves.

    Fr. Josiah

    Other News

    The funeral services of the late Wayne Campbell is on Tuesday 12th March at 11:00 am and that of the late Simone Gomez is on Wednesday 13th March at 1:30 pm, here in St. Anselm.

    There is Sunday School after Mass

    Fr. Matthew and Family are extending an invitation to us for his Leaving Party, drop by and say farewell to Fr. Matthew, Catherine and Edmund this Friday 8th March at Hayes Working Men’s Club. Time is 7pm.

    Please take note that the new parish whattsapp number has changed to  07452709238 (It’s whattapp only, no texts) 

    The Torfaen Male Voice Choir, The Internationally acclaimed Welsh Male Voice Choir Present an Evening of Amazing Male Voice Music on this Saturday 9th March at 7pm here in St. Anselm. Early Bird Ticket is £3 Standard Ticket is £4 and On The Door Ticket is £5. Tickets and more information at stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/

    Please support the church generously through your giving at stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/giving

    Downloads

    Readings-for-3rd-MarchDownload
    Bulletin for 3rd MarchDownload

  • News for 18th February

    Praying in Lent

    It is essential to note the importance of prayer in the spiritual life of every Christian. When we are in Lent, Prayer becomes even more crucial because our focus is always on God.

    Lent is a period where we focus on prayer, penance, fasting, and almsgiving. Most of the time, when we hear about Lent, all that may come to mind is fasting, and we tend to forget about the other things that come with Lent to make this holy period blissful. Prayer is an integral part of Lent and is essential in our Christian journey. 

    We pray during Lent to ask for God’s unmatched mercy and love. When we pray, we establish a relationship with God, allowing us to tell Him who he is to us, praise Him, present our humble request to Him, and express our appreciation. When we fail to pray, our relationship with God breaks down. 

    Our relationship with God, i.e. the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is that of speaking to him and listening. When we pray during Lent, we meditate on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that led to man’s salvation; this helps us connect and cement our relationship with God.

    It is worth noting that prayer is the lifeblood of every Christian and must be the foundation of our spiritual life. Martin Luther wrote this clearly: “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” Let us not belittle the importance of prayer because it is our way of communicating with our maker and opening ourselves up for his response. Let us not worry too much, rather, we must speak to the Lord in prayer because “the fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16b)

    Fr. Josiah

    Other News

    The Torfaen Male Voice Choir, The Internationally acclaimed Welsh Male Voice Choir Present an Evening of Amazing Male Voice Music on Saturday 9th March at 7pm here in St. Anselm. Early Bird Ticket is £3 Standard Ticket is £4 and On The Door Ticket is £5. Tickets and more information at stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/

    The funeral services of Lisa Welch is on Friday 23rd February, Late Wayne Campbell is on Tuesday 12th March at 11:00am and that of the Late Simone Gomez will take place on 13th March at 1:30pm, here in St. Anselm.

    We need more people to read in church, so if you are interested please sign up on the sheet at the entrance or speak to Susan.

    We are encouraging those who would like to be volunteers of the Boys’ Brigade to please speak to Fr. Josiah. Ladies and gentlemen are welcome.

    Please support the church generously through your giving at stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/giving

    Downloads

    Bulletine for 18th FebruaryDownload
    Readings-for-18th-FebruaryDownload

  • News for 11th February

    Ash Wednesday: Lent Begins

    Lent is about to start all too soon and will begin with Ash Wednesday. We will collect all the palms blessed and distributed on Palm Sunday last year. Fr. Matthew and I will collect all the palms and make ashes out of them for Ash Wednesday, which occurs this 14th of February. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of our Lenten period, leading to Easter or Day of Resurrection. Lent is a period where we exhibit repentance and show signs of remorse. 

    The essential things that help us experience Lent’s holy nature and not like any other period are fasting, prayer, giving, and penance. During Lent, our focus must always be on God; therefore, whatever we do must be jeered towards things that will enhance our relationship with God. Lent is a period where we seek the face of God and, most importantly, his mercies. Pope Francis once said, “God never tires of forgiving us: we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy”. We must always know that humans are frail; we always make mistakes, which is when we seek God’s mercy through penance.

    During Ash Wednesday, the imposition of the ashes on our forehead reminds us of what God said to Adam in Genesis 3:19b: “… for out of it you were taken; for you are dust,” and to dust you shall return.” This is a time of grief; we must not be happy with our misdoings but grieve over them and get the opportunity to reflect on our errors, pray, and repent from them.

    It is our prayer that we make this lent a very blissful one, humble ourselves and seek the face of God. 

    Fr. Josiah

    Other News

    We are encouraging all those who would like to read in church to please sign up on the sheet at the entrance or speak to Susan.

    We are encouraging those who would like to be volunteers of the Boys’ Brigade to please speak to Fr. Josiah. Ladies and gentlemen are welcome.

    We will be making the Ash for Ash Wednesday  immediately after Mass so we will collect the palms after Mass today. 

    We are very low on food at the foodbank, all are welcome to donate.

    Please support the church generously through your giving at stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/giving

    Downloads

    Bulletine for 11th FebruaryDownload
    Readings-for-11th-FebruaryDownload

  • News for 4th February

    God is God

    Last Wednesday at the food bank, after the volunteers and I helped to give some food out to families and individuals who came around, we sat at our usual place (The café area at the back of the church) waiting for those who came in while having tea and coffee. Although we were low on food, after some appeals, more people donated to make the day for the families and those who came to the food bank. Many exciting topics arise every time we sit down for a hot drink. This time, we had about five volunteers. 

    One of the volunteers asked a question I cannot remember the number of times I have been invited, “Why did you become a priest?” my first statement was “Do you have the time?”. After giving some reasons, Lou asked a very probing question: Isaiah 55:8-9 was the answer: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”. For Lou, it is difficult to understand why God sometimes hides himself so wondrously, as though he does not see when things go wrong. 

    It may be that a friend, sibling, mum, dad, or even you are going through some struggles, heartbreaks, or challenges that are shaking your faith considerably. Is the constant streaming of alarming news about acts of evil going on all over the world making you afraid and begging to ask, “Where is our God in whom we trust?”. We must always know that God is God, and he knows best, and we must also understand that “…for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).

    Other News

    St. Anselm will be launching Boys’ Brigade, if you would like to know more or volunteer, please speak to Fr. Josiah, ladies and gentlemen can volunteer.

    We are all reminded to bring back the palm crosses we received on Palm Sunday last year to make the ash for Ash Wednesday.

    We are very low on food at the foodbank, all are welcome to donate.

    The Torfaen Male Voice Choir will be with us for another concert on the 9th March. This is a great fundraiser for us – we raised over £500 the last two times they came. Save the date, tickets available soon. Tell everyone!

    Please support the church generously through your giving at stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/giving

    Downloads

    Readings-for-4th-FebruaryDownload
    Bulletine for 4th FebruaryDownload

  • News for 28th January

    Alone With God

    In our seminary years, one of the spiritual exercises we were constantly encouraged to do was a series of silent prayers and recollections. This was a discipline that all seminarians must master to build the habit of being still before the Lord, and we had the opportunity to do this at least once every week. In the initial stages, we had difficulty being still and being alone with God, but today, we appreciate how being still before God has helped and continues to shape our Christian and priestly life.

    Mother Theresa tells us the importance and benefits of being alone with God, and she puts it this way, “We need silence to be alone with God, to speak to him, to listen to him, to ponder his words deep in our hearts. We must be alone with God in silence to be renewed and transformed. Silence gives us a new outlook on life. In it, we are filled with the energy of God himself that makes us do all things with joy.” 

    Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ had to withdraw and spend time alone, praying or meditating. In Matthew 6:6, he said that when we pray, we must go into our rooms, shut the door, and pray in secret and that our Father who sees in secret will reward us. Jesus did the same: “But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” (Luke 5:16)

    Alone with God is spending time with God, having a chat, telling him your fears, joys, and challenges, thanking him, asking him what he expects from you, etc., without interruptions from the outside world. To know God and know him better, we must spend uninterrupted time with him, reading His Word, speaking, and listening.

    Other News

    Our gas & electric bill for December and January was over £2500. If you could make an additional one-off donation towards these costs we really need it. We have struggled to pay our bills this quarter, please do dig deep.

    Please consider moving your donations to the Parish Giving Scheme. It automatically claims the Gift Aid for us adding an additional 25% to any money you give. You can set it up by calling 0333 002 1271 and quoting our parish reference 230 623 503. Other ways to donate can be found at stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/giving

    Please check if you have a Christmas Card on the table at the back of church, because the table will be moved after Mass.

    If we cannot cover our bills we could be in very serious trouble.

    The Torfaen Male Voice Choir will be with us for another concert on the 9th March. This is a great fundraiser for us – we raised over £500 the last two times they came. Save the date, tickets available soon. Tell everyone!

    Please support the church generously through your giving at stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/giving

    Downloads

    Bulletine for 28th JanuaryDownload
    28th-January-ReadingsDownload

  • News for 21st January

    Ashamed of The Gospel?

    During a short meditation on Romans 1:16, which says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek”. Several thoughts came to mind regarding our willingness as Christians to share the word of God with people. Are we naturally shy or ashamed of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ? Why is it that we are never shy when sharing, for example, our holiday experiences, exciting achievements, an interesting movie we watched in the theatre, a new recipe we prepared, a football match we watched, etc., with friends and family and yet when it comes to proclaiming the Good News to people, we instantly become uncomfortable?

    Charles Darwin explained shame through its physical expression as ‘casting the eyes downward, lowering the head, blushing and a slack posture’. Do these expressions apply when preaching the salvific message to friends and family? We should see the proclamation or sharing the Good News with people as a privilege and an opportunity to move angels to celebrate in heaven because a soul has been won for Jesus. We must, therefore, feel proud, bold, and joyful whenever we get the opportunity to talk about Jesus to people. Instead, we should be ashamed when we do things that do not glorify God and not when we proclaim the Good News.

    Christians are to announce the Gospel unashamedly because it brings hope, comfort, love, peace, joy, healing, deliverance, and eternal life to those who believe. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news…” (Isaiah 52:7)

    Other News

    We have PCC meeting after Mass today in the Church Hall.

    Thursday Fun and Fellowship every Thursday in the Church Hall from 7pm to 8:30pm. 

    If you are interested in serving on the Altar, please speak to Fr. Josiah or Susan

    We would like to improve the participation of children and young people in church activities so If you’ve got ideas on what we can do to encourage children to be fuller members of our family, please be in touch with Fr. Josiah or Susan Chick. 

    Next Sunday, we will have a visitor from the Boys’ Brigade, National to do a short presentation about Boys’ Brigade.

    Please support the church generously through your giving at stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/giving

    Downloads

    Readings for 21st JanuaryDownload
    Bulleting for 21st JanuaryDownload

  • News for 14th January

    New Beginning

    “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19) 

    We must be very grateful to God for bringing us into the New Year, and we must continue to pray for His continuous protection and guidance in this fresh year. It is not everything we were happy with in the previous year, but it is worth noting that we had some happy moments. God is saying in Isaiah 43:18-19 above that we should not dwell on the past because he is doing a new thing and that the new thing cannot be understood because He is going to make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. God is telling us that regardless of the mistakes we may have made last year, He will not look at those because they are past; instead, he will do something new in our lives. Every missing piece of the jigsaw will be replaced and fixed in its proper place. 

    God has begun something new in everybody and will see it to its perfect end. It is OK to be discouraged at certain times, but we must always Know that He is with us, and all we need to do is believe in him and stay focused. Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”God is the creator; everything he does is for our good, and everything we can do or achieve is through His Spirit. So, let us allow him to make things new in our lives this year.

    Other News

    Thursday Fun and Fellowship is back after the Christmas break and we will be meeting on Thursday 18th January in the Church Hall from 7pm to 8:30pm.

    If you would like to read at Church on Sunday Mornings please be in touch with Susan Chick. We’ve loved hearing from new people and hearing new languages. There is a rota on the display board at the back of church to sign up. 

    We would like to improve the participation of children and young people in church activities so If you’ve got ideas on what we can do to encourage children to be fuller members of our family, please be in touch with Fr. Josiah or Susan Chick. 

    Please support the church generously through your giving at stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/giving

    Downloads

    Bulletin for 14th JanuaryDownload
    Readings-for-14th-January-1Download

  • Announcement & News

    A season for everything.

    A sad goodbye.

    This is not an easy letter to write. But when God calls, we must answer. 

    A few weeks ago the Bishop of Plymouth invited me to take up the post of Vicar of Bovey Tracey St John with Heathfield and Team Vicar in the Newton Abbot Team Ministry with special responsibility for the parish of St Luke, Milber in the Diocese of Exeter. I have accepted this offer and subject to the completion of all legal formalities will be leaving St. Anselm on Easter Sunday before taking up my new post in mid-April. 

    This news was shared at mass on Sunday in both St. Anselm and in the parishes in Exeter Diocese, you can read the full announcement below. 

    Catherine, Edmund and I have shared the most amazing 4 and a bit years with you. I was writing letters and covering masses from October 2019 and was put in officially in July 2020 in between lockdowns. 

    It was a tough old time for everyone, but we pulled together and over the last 3 years in particular have seen a huge resurgence in St. Anselm. 

    We have re-grown the congregation and worshiping community to over 100 people, we have sorted the finances, we have two new amazing church wardens and a keen PCC. We have a new Mission Priest and we have ‘unsuspended’ the parish – meaning a new Vicar will be with you after I leave.

    St. Anslem is in a strong place and I know that my departure will open up new opportunities, ideas, and thinking. 

    We love you all very much and look forward to sharing the next few months together; celebrating what has been achieved and working to look to the next season of praising God at St. Anselm – where will the Holy Spirit take us next!?

    Fr. Matthew, Catherine & Edmund. x 

    The following letter was read out in all parishes on Sunday 7th January.

    AnnouncementDownload

    Notices for this week

    If you would like to read at Church on Sunday Mornings please be in touch with Susan Chick. We’ve loved hearing from new people and hearing new languages. There is a rota on the display board at the back of church to sign up. 

    Sunday School returns for the new year NEXT week (14th). We’re so grateful to our volunteers but it would be really helpful for others to help out. If you’ve got ideas on more we can be doing to encourage children to be a fuller member of our family, please be in touch with Fr. Josiah or Susan Chick. 

    Fr. Matthew will be offering home blessings this coming week as we celebrate Epiphany. If you would like your home blessed please be in touch with him directly or use the sign up sheet at the back of church. 

    Please support the church generously through your giving via – stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/giving

    Downloads

    Bulletin for 7th JanuaryDownload

    Readings for Sunday.

  • News for 7th January

    Notices for this week

    There will be an announcement at Mass this Sunday.

    If you would like to read at Church on Sunday Mornings please be in touch with Susan Chick. We’ve loved hearing from new people and hearing new languages. There is a rota on the display board at the back of church to sign up. 

    Sunday School returns for the new year NEXT week (14th). We’re so grateful to our volunteers but it would be really helpful for others to help out. If you’ve got ideas on more we can be doing to encourage children to be a fuller member of our family, please be in touch with Fr. Josiah or Susan Chick. 

    Fr. Matthew will be offering home blessings this coming week as we celebrate Epiphany. If you would like your home blessed please be in touch with him directly or use the sign up sheet at the back of church. 

    Please support the church generously through your giving via – stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/giving

    Downloads

    Bulletin for 7th January Download

    Readings for Sunday.

  • News for Christmas & New Year

    The Holy Family, a model of love.

    A new year means turning over a new leaf.

    When I was younger I remember thinking that we had to go our and find a leaf to turn over. I was irritated because I couldn’t write on the leaf and physically turn it over. So I made my own leaf and wrote on it all the things I was going to do that year.

    I was going to be better behaved. I was going to stop ‘answering back’. I was going to be a better son. 

    In many ways my behaviour in those years was born out of the fact my family was broken through divorce. I lived out the reality of hurt and pain that for years coloured my understanding of what a family was supposed to be. 

    When people talked abut the perfect family I would laugh at them, “there’s no such thing”. Even though I went to chapel every week nobody ever told me we had the perfect model of  family before us all the time – The Holy Family. 

    A model of motherly love, of fatherly sacrifice, of a family who held together in the darkness and for whom God (quite literally!) was a the centre of all things.

    Our families are all different. They are broken in many ways, they are big and small, over the top, quiet, difficult, fun. Loud, noisy, difficult, quiet.  The Holy Family experienced all of these things and endured them. 

    Sometimes that is what we must do as well. Endure. Be obedient and open to what God is calling us to do in our families and make sure above all things God is right in the heart of them. 

    It doesn’t matter that we don’t always get it right, what matters is that God is there in the middle of it all. 

    Then, when things do go wrong, there’s a chance that something beautiful may come out of it. 

    Fr. Matthew

    Downloads

    Bulletin for 24th December – 7th JanuaryDownload

    Readings for Sunday 24th December

    Readings for Sunday 31st December

    Other news

    Services for the next two weeks and for Christmas Day are listed on the pew sheet and on the website. Do try to come to the carols and crib service at 3pm on Christmas Eve. It’s a lovely service that will warm your heart ahead of the big day.

    Midnight mass will be as usual at 11:30pm on Christmas Eve – a powerful service to welcome and celebrate the incarnation of Jesus Christ!

    All of us at St. Anselm wish you a very merry Christmas and a prosperous and blessed New Year. 

    There will be a special announcement at Mass on the 7th January.

    Please support the church generously this Advent through your giving. stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/giving