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Let the children come to me.

Last Tuesday I and Fr. Matthew went to the licensing of Fr. Robert in Ruislip and after the blissful service I had the opportunity to chat with a parishioner who made a very important point about why the church should focus on giving more opportunities to the young ones including children to become an integral part of worship and all activities of the Church.

Jesus said to His disciples

“…Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 

Matthew 19:14

Children are very precious in the sight of God because God created the family and children are an important part of the family, children are the gift of God, the nurturing and raising of children on the path of Christ is key in the assembly of God, and the faith of the church must be handed on from one generation to the other. This means children are the future of the church so the way we engage and direct them will determine the growth or otherwise of the church.

When we put more energy in organising and encouraging children to do things in the church, we will experience a lot of fire and growth in the assembly of God. This will then move to our homes and families, and it will draw more people to the church through the power of the Holy Spirit.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.” 

Matthew 18:10

Fr. Josiah

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This Sunday we have our family led mass put together by Fr. Josiah and Susan. It will be a wonderful opportunity to share the gifts of our children with the whole congregation.

Alpha started last Thursday evening and continues for the next 10 weeks. If you’re interested, or know someone who you think may find it helpful, given them a flyer or point them to our website at stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/alpha

The foodbank is still in need to tinned fish, long life milk, sugar and most of all… bags! Can you please have a dig around and bring some in on Sunday.

Thank you to our online family who have sent money and amazon deliveries to supply the foodbank – there have been days this week where your deliveries were the only thing keeping us going. 

Our new coffee bike is now in place alongside our new cafe area. We’ll be advertising shortly for somebody to come and run the cafe on our behalf for a set daily fee – if you know of anyone who may be interested please speak to Fr. Matthew.

PCC meeting on the 5th February immediately after mass – to include a special meeting for appointing Fr. Matthew as Vicar. 

There will be a special service of Benediction and Healing next Sunday at 6pm – with anointing and laying on of hands for healing.

Love one another, as I have loved you.

Being a Christian is not always easy. For a start there are all these other people who claim to be Christian but don’t behave the way I do… so they can’t be Christians!

Sadly, this kind of thinking is all too common in our churches. It’s the kind of thinking that Jesus preached and taught against so often. 

We need to start with the simple understanding that anyone who loves Jesus is a brother and sister – and then work from there.

There are enough reasons to disagree and argue with people in the world without us finding new ways to fall out with our own family.

As I return from the Holy Land I’m prompted to consider the part that I play in division and hatred. It may sound overly dramatic, but my own small part is a cog in a wheel that results in the hatred and hurt we see in the middle east. 

In the same way that our small acts of good add up to change the world, or small acts of nastiness or gossip or unkind comments add up to make the world a worse place.

So in this Week of Christian Unity, I urge you to keep an eye out for your brother and sister Christians around the world and to pray that one day, with the Grace of God, we will once again be one in Him.

Not divided by doctrine and dogma, but united in love and in a joy of being a family in Christ.

Fr. Matthew

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Alpha started on Thursday evening and continues for the next 12 weeks. If you’re interested, or know someone who you think may find it helpful, given them a flyer or point them to our website at stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/alpha

The foodbank is in need to tinned fish, long life milk, sugar and most of all… bags! Can you please have a dig around and bring some in on Sunday.

Next Sunday we have our family led mass put together by Fr. Josiah and Susan. It will be a wonderful opportunity to share the gifts of our children with the whole congregation. It will be a very special service.  

Our new coffee bike is now in place alongside our new cafe area. We’ll be advertising shortly for somebody to come and run the cafe on our behalf for a set daily fee – if you know of anyone who may be interested please speak to Fr. Matthew.

PCC meeting on the 5th February immediately after mass – to include a special meeting for appointing Fr. Matthew as Vicar. 

Fr. Matthew has brought Holy Water back from the Holy Land (the Well of Mary in Nazareth) and this will be available on Sunday. 

It’s easy to bring people to church.

As I sat to write this weeks pew sheet I was visited in the vestry by a regular member of the congregation – I shall not reveal their name to save their blushes. 

They sat opposite me and we had a good natter about the parish, about life in general, about schools and Hayes Town – all the usual and interesting things.

They then told me they’d been to have their hair done and overheard some people talking about the church and how they’d seen it was now open after so many years of being closed.

So, they piped up and told them it was their church and it had never been closed, but it was certainly very much alive these days.

The people in the shop were amazed and told her how they had started going to a church in Ealing before COVID because they thought we were closed.

The stalwart of St. Anselm then invited them to come here, but didn’t stop there – they got their numbers and has arranged to meet them ahead of mass and bring them here… messaging them during the week to remind them where and when to meet. 

What a brilliant thing to do! It is exactly what Bishop Philip North encourages us to do when we invite people to church.

‘I’m going to church on Sunday, it’s great – you should come. What time shall I pick you up?’

So thank you to this wonderful person – this evangelist of God – who has shown us how easy it is to bring new people to the Love & Grace of Jesus Christ.

Amen, amen, amen!

Fr. Matthew

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Thank you to all who have brought provisions in for the foodbank, we are now back up to full strength – but the need is great and continuing so do please keep the donations up over the coming weeks.

Alpha starts this week! (19th Jan) If you’re interested, or know someone who you think may be close to becoming Christian, given them a flyer or point them to our website at stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/alpha

You’ll have noticed our new coffee bike is now in place alongside our new cafe area. We’ll be advertising shortly for somebody to come and run the cafe on our behalf for a set daily fee – if you know of anyone who may be interested please speak to Fr. Matthew.

Fr. Josiah is organising our first family mass at the end of this month. If your child would like to take part, please speak to him. We’re very keen for children to lead the readings and the prayers – we have much to learn from them!

PCC meeting on the 5th February immediately after mass – to include a special meeting for appointing Fr. Matthew as Vicar. 

Fr. Matthew is in the Holy Land this week (returning Wednesday evening) If you have any special prayer requests for him to take to this special place please be in touch.

Alpha, Stay Curious.

We’re really excited to share that in January 2023 we’ll be running Alpha at St. Anselm in partnership with our dear friends at St. Edmund’s.

Thursday evenings (7:30pm) from January 19th at St. Anselm church hall. (UB3 4DF)

You’re invited.

You are invited to Alpha for a time of great food, even better conversation and talks that make you think.

If you come along, we won’t call you after, write, or ask you to pick up the cheque — the balls are completely in your court.

What have you got to lose?

What is Alpha?

Alpha is a place to explore the Christian faith in an easy and friendly environment.

There’s no cost, and no pressure. Just lots of great conversation and space to think.

Each session starts with food and a short talk. Then there’s plenty of time to share your thoughts.

There’s no follow up, charge, or pressure. No matter your background or beliefs, everyone’s welcome.

Head to our website to find out more

stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/alpha

Fr. Matthew

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We’re running Alpha from the 19th January. If you don’t know what Alpha is or want to sign up, head to the website at stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/alpha It’s a place to ask big questions about life, faith and love. We start each session with a hot meal and good chat.

A huge thank you to everyone who made Christmas at St. Anselm such a huge success. We saw over 50 people at each of our major services which is huge growth and very encouraging for the year ahead. 

You’ll have noticed our new coffee bike is now in place alongside our new cafe area. We’ll be advertising shortly for somebody to come and run the cafe on our behalf for a set daily fee – if you know of anyone who may be interested please speak to Fr. Matthew.

In the coming month we’ll be launching a new after school lego club, if you’d like to help or be involved please be in touch.

Fr. Josiah is organising our first family mass at the end of this month. If your child would like to take part, please speak to him. We’re very keen for children to lead the readings and the prayers – we have much to learn from them!

Parent and toddler group will return in January, details to be confirmed but look out for posters and leaflets to share.

Sunday School also makes a comeback from the first Sunday in February. 

The Arrival.

Part 2.

During Advent it is always important to take note of our approach to scripture in our Christian journey. 

II Timothy 3:16 – 17 “All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 

So, we must allow scripture to inform us in all that do although sometimes it becomes difficult to defend our faith with the scripture due to the dynamics of our societies today, we must not give up but find other innovative ways to make the word of God known to the world.

The Collect for 2nd Sunday in Advent from the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) shows it is The Lord who caused holy Scripture to be written for our learning and that we should hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them. 

This Collect admonishes us to make time for the word of God and be ready to always hear them, spend some time in our personal devotions to read and make it a point to take note by marking them spiritually in our hearts. It goes on to tell us to avail ourselves for scripture learning so that it will move us to inwardly digest and or discern the will of God in our lives, be able to know God better to prepare well for His coming and be able to meet Him with confidence. Amen.

Fr. Josiah

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Ecumenical Carols – join with Christians from across Hayes on Monday evening at 7pm at the Golden Disk in Hayes Town to sign carols and hand out flyers with details of all our Christmas services on. A great act of mission, faith and invitation – not to mention a great opportunity to prepare for Christmas. 

Advent & Christmas Dates:

• Advent Course, Thursdays after mass (10:30am)
  and online via zoom (7:30pm) – 8/12, 15/12, 22/12
• 5th December – Ecumenical Carols at the Golden Disk, 7pm
• 18th December – 9 Lessons and Carols, 6pm 
• 24th December – Crib & Carols Service, 3pm
• 24th December – Midnight Mass, 11:30pm
• 25th December – Christmas Day Mass, 10am

You can set up regular giving by direct debit with Parish Giving by calling 0333 002 1271 and quoting our Parish Giving Code – 230 623 503 (or online via stanselm.matthewcashmore.com/giving)