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Category: Pew Sheet

  • News for Sunday 28th June 2020: The Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

    It may be a while ago now … but can you remember Easter morning? We had not long been in “lockdown” and we had struggled through the most bizarre of Holy Weeks, unable to attend the Triduum and trying to put the bravest of faces on our Joy of The Ressurection. Can you remember the account from John’s Gospel as Simon Peter runs to the tomb to discover the linen cloths and Our Lord “missing”; and Mary weeping in the garden as Jesus approaches her and says her name? Jesus calls each of us by our name as we rejoice at the opportunity to re-enter our church building and celebrate the Joy of The Ressurection on Sunday 5th July (and hopefully, for every day thereafter!)

    We have waited a long time, but the time is drawing nearer when we will be able to celebrate Mass together. It won’t be anything like “normal” – as we will have to maintain strict social distancing, hygiene, refrain from singing, no physical sign of peace and we WILL be restricted on the numbers of people we can safely accommodate … but there is light at the end of a very long tunnel. Perhaps we will just re-kindle some of that Easter Joy! Alleluia!

    Saint Peter was, as we know from Matthew’s Gospel, the disciple of whom Jesus said: “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church.” So this Sunday we celebrate Saint Peter and Saint Paul, whose travels as a missionary, prolific letter writer and preacher following his conversion to Christianity places him very close to the foundations of our faith. Let us give thanks for these two great apostles, and hope that we can merely strive to follow their examples of sharing the Joy and the Good News of The Ressurection.  

    Margaret Davies has brought the following YouTube webinar to our attention, which was part of the recent Refugee Week. 

    David Griffiths (St. Mary’s)

  • News for Sunday 21st June

    “Do not be afraid!” We haven’t heard these words very often during this recent pandemic. It’s been “Stay Alert” , “Don’t put others at risk” or “Save Lives”. Yet this Sunday’s Gospel from Saint Matthew begins:

    Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: “Do not be afraid.”

    How reassuring the words of Jesus are – and we know that he is with us still, present in the Blessed Sacrament, but always with his loving hand upon our shoulder, whispering the words “Do not be afraid”. There is little doubt that many people will have been afraid at different times over the past few months. Perhaps when a close friend or relative has been taken unwell or in hospital, or for our national or global situation generally, with the constant threat of Covid-19 and its indescriminate character. Yet, whatever the severity and nature of our fears, Our Lord and Saviour stands alongside us and helps us through each moment when we may be at our lowest ebb. Do not be afraid!

    Father Edward writes:

    Beloved Friends, this is a difficult time as we say farewell to a priest who in a short time, has become so special to so many of us. With Catherine and Edmund, the Cashmore family soon became the St. Mary’s Family – and brought many gifts to us all. The gift of priestly care, friendship, consideration. The gifts of technical skill so that for the first time in years we have a proper sound system and the web-casting in harmony with it.
    More than all of that each of you will have a special thanksgiving, memory and joy from this Ministry. As we say farewell, we look forward to a proper party after lockdown ends; and we also assure this little family of our gratitude, love and prayers for this new chapter in their lives and in Father Matthew’s ministry as a priest. THANK YOU!

    This Sunday is Father Matthew’s last Sunday as Assistant Curate at St. Mary’s and there will be a short presentation to him immediately after the 10.30am Mass. Tune in on Sunday morning via the web-cam to join in with the celebration of the Mass and to give thanks for all our blessings. Stay safe and well – and Do Not Be Afraid!

    David Griffiths (St. Mary’s)

  • News for Corpus Christi

    This Sunday’s celebration of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is more commonly referred to as Corpus Christi (or to give it the full title Corpus et Sanguis Christi). It is the day on which we can give thanks for the gift of The Eucharist – the commemoration of The Last Supper, when Jesus broke bread and shared wine with his disciples. As Matthew’s Gospel recounts: “Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread , and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them , saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” These are the Words of  Institution (or Words of Consecration) that the priest says during the Mass; repeating the same words that Jesus used at The Last Supper. Perhaps, one may argue, that we don’t need to keep the Feast of Corpus Christi, since we remember this special gift every time we come to Mass! But it it such a special gift, that we can never say “thank you” enough. So having a special date on which to do it seems like a very good idea. As John’s Gospel reminds us on Sunday:

    “Jesus replied: … For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him.”

    You may have heard on the news and in the media that there are some changes due to take place regarding access to churches. From Monday 15th June, it will be possible to St. Mary’s, Kenton, FOR INDIVIDUAL / PRIVATE PRAYER ONLY. St. Anselm will remain closed for the moment.

    This is not a return to anything like “normal” and there will not be opportunites to join in collective worship. St Mary’s will be open at SET TIMES. These will be published on the web-site.

    It is a START and we should give thanks for this small concession and pray for a gradual increase in access, until we can once again join together and celebrate the gift of The Eucharist as one body in Christ.

    As a special treat for Corpus Christi, there will be Evening Prayer, Benediction and Te Deum at 4.00pm on Sunday afternoon. Please come and join us online.

    David Griffiths (St. Mary’s)

  • News for Trinity Sunday 7th June

    Why do we (and many others) spend so much time trying to understand the mystery of The Holy Trinity? God in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Do we spend as much time contemplating the mystery of The Incarnation, or The Transfiguration or Our Lady’s Assumption? They are all mysteries of our faith and we accept them wholeheartedly. As the Archangel Gabriel explained to Mary at The Annunciation:

    “For with God nothing will be impossible.”

    So we profess our belief in The Most Holy Trinity every time we say the Creed:

    “I believe in one God, the Father almighty…”
    “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ …”
    “I believe in the Holy Spirit….”

    LUKE 1:37

    and in the belief and understanding that nothing is impossible for God! So instead of trying to explain it, or understand it, let us just use this Sunday to give thanks for God in the three persons of The Most Holy Trinity and for the merciful love which he shows to each one of us.

    Just as we are getting used to different ways of coping with this pandemic, changes are afoot! We are being obliged to wear masks on public transport and there are signs of more shops and shopping centres opening their doors from Monday. Some children have returned to school – with all manner of social distancing measures in place … but no signs yet of a return for worshipping communities. The House of Bishops met on Monday to discuss issues related to the phased re-opening of churches and it could be a long time before we are back to anything that we would perceive as “normal”, particularly with regard to singing of hymns etc. (as there is evidently greater chance of spreading any potential infection). Meanwhile, we must prepare to say goodbye to Father Matthew, as he in turn gets ready for his move to St. Anselm’s, Hayes later this month. We have been in “lockdown” for the best part of 10 weeks and it is very frustrating and we have had to draw on our faith and inner strength. Imagine how much more of a challenge it has been for ACAT (Harrow)’s Prayer Case of the Month, Aklilu Desbele, who has been imprisoned in Eritrea for 12 years for sharing his Christian faith. Please pray for him, as you feel led.

    Most of all, keep safe and well and let us pray that it won’t be long until we can all meet together again. At the end of some of our gatherings, we often say “The Grace” together which comes from Sunday’s Second Reading in St. Paul’s Letter to The Corinthians: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, evermore. Amen.”

    David Griffiths (St. Mary’s)

  • News & Pew Sheet for Sunday 31st May

    Thank goodness there was no coronavirus pandemic on that first day of Pentecost some 2000 years ago. The disciples would have only been able to meet in groups of six, and they certainly wouldn’t have been able to gather in the upper room! This weekend we celebrate “the birthday of the church” and it has been customary at St Mary’s for several years that we all wear something RED to re-create that symbol of tongues of fire appearing on the heads of the disciples as the Holy Spirit was sent to them.

    From the Acts of the Apostles we read:

    When Pentecost day came round, the apostles had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.

    We won’t be able to gather in church in a “Mass” of red clothing, but we can still wear our red garments at home and join together by watching the Mass from St Mary’s at 10.30am on Pentecost Sunday.

    Father Edward writes:

    We call upon the Holy Spirit to come and renew us, refresh us, and transform us – even in “lockdown”!! The Spirit hovered over the Earth at Creation, hovered over Our Blessed Lady as she said her “Fiat”, her “Yes” to God. After the Ascension Jesus promises the gift of the Spirit, and so the Spirit descends on the disciples, the Apostolic College, on Our Blessed Lady and others gathered in that room. Immediately the work of the Church begins and people began to hear the Good News of Jesus. And led by that Spirit, that work has continued to our day – and will go on until the Lord returns.

    These are very strange times and it is easy to feel “alone” – even if we have family around us and are in touch with family and friends on the telephone, social media or online video messaging. Amongst all the loneliness and the “doom and gloom” there is the reassurance and comfort of the Holy Spirit who was sent by God to be with us. Let us rejoice at this time of Pentecost and pray for an end to the pandemic; that we may soon be able to come together in fellowship, just as the disciples did all those many years ago.

    Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people and kindle in them the fire of your love. Amen.

    David Griffiths

  • News for Sunday 24th May

    TODAY (Thursday 21st May) is ASCENSION DAY (or more formally, The Ascension of The Lord). Forty Days after Easter, Our Lord is taken up to Heaven, but he makes a promise to his  disciples: I will send an Advocate to be with you – and as we know, just a short while afterwards, the Holy Spirit comes to be with them, and us, for all time. Mass for Ascension Day is celebrated at 10.00am this morning.

    For the past few years, the period between Ascension Day and Pentecost (Sunday 31st May) has been a time of prayer. The Church has used the theme “Thy Kingdom Come”, which quite aptly reinforces Jesus’ promise to his disciples. There are several different resources that can be found on an internet search, but the most important aspect is prayer. When “Thy Kingdom Come” was initiated, there were some key objectives:

    During the 11 days of Thy Kingdom Come, it is hoped that everyone who takes part will:

    • Deepen their own relationship with Jesus Christ
    • Pray for 5 friends or family to come to faith in Jesus
    • Pray for the empowerment of the Spirit that we would be effective in our witness

    We may not be able to get to church during this period of “lockdown”, but if there is one thing that we do have is some additional time, time to pray. So please spend the next 11 days with particular focus on prayer – and of course, at this time, we can add an additional prayer focus for those with Coronavirus, for those key workers who are helping us all through the pandemic, for those who have died and for those who have been bereaved.

    With so much going on, this Sunday – the Seventh Sunday of Easter – prepares us for the great gift of Pentecost which will soon be with us. However, it is appropriate that the Gospel reading also focuses on the importance and power of prayer, as Jesus himself raises his eyes to heaven and prays.

    Stay safe and well.

    David Griffiths.
    (St. Mary’s)

  • News for Sunday 17th May

    Thank you for getting in touch and letting us know how you and yours are getting on. Your clergy are here for you to help in whatever way we can. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch if we can help. 

    We are thrilled to be able to broadcast from our parish Church once again. 



    The latest predictions are that nothing much will happen before July in terms of returning a congregation to Church in one way or another. 😰😰😰

    The daily mass, offices and other devotions are offered for you and with you. Numbers watching vary from 250 to 700 and we know that they span from Barbados to Lugano to York to Hayes to Kenton. 

    Being unable to receive the most Blessed Sacrament is the hardest thing for the devout soul. However The Good Shepherd will provide a pasture for his people. That moment of Spiritual Communion is an open and welcome heart saying YES to God, as Our Lady did, in a different way. 

    This Sunday will see our May Devotion at 4pm. Evening Prayer with devotions and a short  webcast homily from Fr Harri Williams the Vicar of Walsingham, who was due to preach for us before the lockdown. Let us honour our Patron in her month of May. 

    We then have Ascension Day  to celebrate. As a youngster it was always great to have time off from school to go to Mass on this great day. But more seriously, Ascension sees the culmination in the earthly ministry of Our Lord. ‘He who came down to earth from heaven’ now returns to the throne from whence he came. 
    But He promises not to leave the apostles desolate. They will NOT be left alone…

    This week we are grateful to receive the ACAT Monthly Newsletter which we attach below.

    We can only hope and pray that we will meet together soon. We miss you so much. However please remember St Augustine’s words  ‘ we are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song.’

    Please pray for each other and for us your unworthy servants. 

    Fr. Edward.

  • News for Sunday 10th May

    Hope. 
     
    It’s a simple word. 
     
    Do not be afraid.
     
    It’s a simple sentence.
     
    We hear the word Hope and the sentence Do not be afraid so often at the moment. It’s part of the funeral liturgy and we talk of it when we encourage one another in our dark moments. But what do they really mean? When we say that we live in ‘sure and certain hope’ what does that really mean?
     
    It means that in the middle of all of this we are assured of our place with Jesus in the next life. When the hardship of this one is over, and we believe in Jesus Christ, we have a home to go to that he has prepared for us with his Father. It means that the troubles of this life are transitory and because of that the burdens that we carry in this life are of little importance. 
     
    When our hearts are heavy, when our burdens overwhelm us, we need to reach for this simple and powerful truth. 
     
    When we are tempted to snap, when we’re tempted to be grumpy, when we’re tempted to shout and scream and rail against everything and everybody… reach for this simple truth. You can do that in the words of the rosary, you can scream to our Mother for help. She will always come. 
     
    Be at peace. Hope in the Lord. Do not let your hearts be troubled.
     
    With all our love & prayers,

    Frs. Matthew, Edward, Mike & John

  • News & Pew Sheet for Sunday May 3rd

    From Fr. Edward at St. Mary’s

    At last we were able to have the graveside funeral for beloved Trevor. Janet who is so full of faith wants to thank everyone for their cards, flowers, prayers and support during this time. We await Austin’s cremation and continue to keep, Ira, Janet and all who have lost loved ones in our prayers. 

    Sadly Fr Colin Tolworthy who often covered mass for us and loved coming to St Mary’s, died recently after a short illness. Jesu mercy Mary mother of priests pray. 

    Bishop Jonathan sends his love and prayers to all of you. He also thanks us for our perseverance with broadcasting from our homes. We want to be broadcasting from church as soon as we can,  so you can see our beautiful church and our spiritual home, once again. Please God we can all worship together sooner rather than later. 

    Keeping together is so important so do join the daily mass and other services as you can. Thank you for the kind comments you send in. Thanks to those who are contributing to the Sunday mass by reading. 

    Father John sends his love and prayers too. He is worshipping daily in his home and so we are very united in prayer and praise. 

    You will be delighted to know that we have at long last received the settlement from the nursery. The work to refurbish the hall and make it ready for the next nursery proceeds apace. I know that you will be delighted when you see it. Wojtek and his colleagues have done an amazing job and we must have a reopening party. I am very grateful to Fr Matthew for leading on the legal and contractor side. 

    The one certainty in the midst of so much uncertainty is Jesus Christ. He is with us and we go forward with our hand in His. We are here for you. If we can help you please don’t hesitate to ring or email Fr Matthew or Me. 

    You are in our prayers each and every day.

    May God richly bless you and as we enter her month of May let Our Lady’s prayers support and strengthen you. 

    With our love and prayers,

    Fr. Edward, Matthew, Mike & John

  • News for Sunday 26th April

    This week it feels as if things should be returning to ‘normal’. Children are supposed to be going back to school, those early quick little holidays are over and after the stunning weather of the Easter weekend we should be going back to work, going back to school or slipping back into the everyday routine – whatever that was!
     
    Routine can sometimes feel very dull. The everyday slog that simply ensures that one thing happens after another. But sometimes, in that routine we can miss something absolutely vital. So perhaps, we can look at this unusual time, this break in the routine to try to notice the unusual and the vital. Perhaps, with a great deal of effort we can look on this time as an opportunity to see Jesus where we haven’t seen Him before. 
     
    This Sunday’s gospel is the story of the two disciples – who utterly broken and bereft – have fled Jerusalem after the death of Jesus. In their dejection and upset they are joined by a man on their journey who knows nothing of the huge events that have just happened. They tell him the shattering story of the past few days and invite him to stay. They don’t recognise Jesus because they are so caught up in their own grief and pain (and who can blame them) and it’s not until Jesus breaks bread with them that they see his true face. It is a powerful example of how in our darkest and longest nights if we turn to Jesus and open our hearts to Him, He will take us up and comfort us. 
     
    We continue in these unusual days to search for Jesus in the different routines that have developed. In the new ways of living and being that none of us invited into our lives, but with which – none the less – we now have to grapple.
     
    We don’t do this alone (just as the disciples on the road were never alone), we do it as a community of Christians – praying, loving and caring for one another in the only way we know how – the way Jesus taught, and continues to teach us. 
     
    We miss you all a great deal, we pray for the day we are physically re-united – but until that day know that we continue to pray for you and that we continue to break bread with Jesus every single day – in your name, and for your journeys. 

    With all my love,

    Fr. Matthew