Strawberry Tea

Another brilliant, sunny day, just the weather for a strawberry tea which was held this afternoon in two adjoining gardens in the parish. Gazebos protected us from some of the sun and in addition to the strawberries and cream we enjoyed wine or ice cold beer, soft drinks, tea, coffee, tea bread, scones and an iced cake. It was a wonderful social occasion and at the end of the afternoon we joined together for Prayer Book Evensong in the garden. The event made a profit for church funds of over £300. Many thanks to all those who worked hard to make this a very successful and enjoyable afternoon.

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

It was good to welcome to Mass this morning some of our congregation who had been away for some time due to illness, now recovered or abroad. At the start of the Mass Father Martin welcomed everybody.

As well as playing the organ Father Mervyn preached on this Sunday’s Epistle from S. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. He pointed out that all people are equal regardless of colour, sex, social status or nationality. All were made in God’s image and to treat people with disdain or by any form of prejudice was to deny God and his wonderful creation. We were all brothers and sisters by nature of our Baptism. He quoted a black priest who once said: “If you do not like me because I am ignorant, I can be sent to school and educated. If you do not like me because I am dirty, I can be taught to wash and be clean. If you do not like me because of my unsocial habits, I can be taught how to live in society. But if you do not like me because of the color of my skin, I can only refer you to God who made me. “

During the Notices Father Martin reminded everybody about the Confirmation with Holy Baptism and Pontifical Mass on Friday 2^nd July with Bishop Keith Newton SSC the Bishop of Richborough. The service would be followed by refreshments in the hall.

Every Sunday the Choir sing an anthem or quiet hymn during the Communion of the people. During the absence of our Organist and Choirmaster Choir practice on a Sunday morning has been led by Father Mervyn. We have a loyal adult choir who give freely of their time and talents and this is much appreciated by our congregation.

11th Sunday of the Year

 

Today, at the Parish Mass we celebrated, and gave thanks for the achievement of the Saturday Shop which over the last 8 years has raised £50,000 plus an additional £10,000 from our sales on EBay. Father Martin observed that during the time the shop has been opened some 500,000 people had been to the shop. Not only did this give us a chance to get to know people, it also provided the opportunity for visitors to speak to a member of the clergy in a welcoming atmosphere.

We also prayed for Church Musicians, our Choir and our Organist, on this Music Sunday. It was good news to hear that our organist will be returning to play the organ on the first Sunday in July after his recovery from a serious operation. Father Mervyn will continue playing the organ and training the choir until then.

Confirmation Classes continued after the Parish Mass in readiness for the Confirmation and Solemn Mass at 7.30 p.m. on the Friday the 2^nd July by the Bishop of Richborough, the Rt. Revd. Keith Newton SSC.

Our Saturday Shop – an Appreciation

The Saturday Shop first opened in April 2002 using the Vicarage and later transferred to the Hall. With 8 years of experience, we now have more expertise in pricing items, getting the best possible price for everything donated. Items that we can’t sell, such as old clothing and ancient books, we recycle through a local source for cash.

Over the 8 years we have raised £50,000 with an additional £10,000 by selling items on EBay. Many weeks local charities have a stall, enabling them to raise money as well. In addition we keep back certain items to sell. or to use in Raffles, at either our May Fair or Winter Bazaar. In total we have now been open for 455 weeks and the Saturday Shop is staffed by a dedicated band of people.

The Saturday Shop provides a much loved community facility, recycling items which people have generously donated. Many people come every week to seek for bargains or just to have a coffee, cakes and a chat with friends. Our grateful thanks to all those who support our Saturday Shop especially those who collect items, man the stalls and clean and tidy the hall after wards also to our many regular customers.

CORPUS CHRISTI

Today we celebrated the Solemnity of Corpus Christi with a Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction at the end of the Parish Mass. It was good to see our Organist and Choirmaster back in church today although he hasn’t recovered sufficiently from his recent operation to start playing the organ yet. During the notices Father Martin told us that the Quiz Evening made a profit of around £250 whilst the Saturday Shop made £207.

THE NATIONAL PILGRIMAGE TO THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF WASLINGHAM

Yesterday 12 members of St. Augustine’s went to the National Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. Leaving at 7.15 a.m. we picked up four members of St. Francis of Assisi, Barkingside en route. Father Martin drove the minibus despite having a bad back. We stopped at Brandon Woods for breakfast and then continued to the little village of Walsingham where hundreds of others, Bishops, Priests and pilgrims, had gathered for this annual event.

The procession from the Shrine Church began at 11.50 a.m. and we made our way to the Abbey Grounds singing Marian and other hymns. There was a very good representation of Catholic Bishops this year and the Mass was concelebrated at 12 noon led by the Bishop of Whitby the Rt Revd Martin Warner. At the end of Mass, Bishop Lindsey Urwin OGS the Administrator of the Shrine welcomed some important guests, including the Bishop of Norwich, the Bishop of Kings Lynn, the Administrator of the Roman Catholic Shrine, a contingent from the Orthodox Church, The Bishop of Stafford and the Bishop of Venezuela and he then gave the notices. Amongst the Anglo-Catholic Bishops present were the Bishops of Richborough, Ebbsfleet, Beverley, Chichester, the retired Bishop of Richborough, and many others.

After lunch we had an excellent and thoughtful sermon, preached this year by the Bishop of Stafford, the Rt. Revd. Gordon Mursell. Following the sermon we assembled to process back to the Shrine reciting the Rosary interspersed with the Walsingham Pilgrims Hymn. At the Shrine there was the service of Benediction led by the Bishop of Chichester the Rt. Revd. John Hind.

Members of our party visited the Shrine Church before heading back to the minibus for the journey home. We stopped at Swaffham for Fish and Chips at Old Mother Hubbard’s Fish and Chip Shop somewhat daunting the waitress when 16 hungry pilgrims arrived. After a very good meal we then set of home arriving back at around 10.00 p.m. A great day and one which those who attended will long remember.

Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us