3rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Today extra chairs had to be brought into the church to accommodate the large congregation who were there to welcome into the church  Elena Marie at her Baptism during the Sunday Mass. Father Martin presided and preached; Father Mervyn was officiating at St. Mary’s, Ilford. In his sermon Father Martin commented on the appropriateness of today’s reading for the Sacrament of Baptism. Elena was being baptised into the worldwide Church of God not the Church of England. Father Martin reminded us that we are all one body as it said in the second reading

Yesterday’s Saturday Shop took £203.

SNOW HAD FALLEN, SNOW ON SNOW

The snow kept some people away from Mass this morning but never-the-less we had a very good attendance. Our Organist phoned early to say he wouldn’t be able to come so Father Mervyn played the organ, preached and led our intercessions whilst Father Martin presided. The numbers in our Sunday School were down too, due to sickness and,of course, the snow. Father Martin cancelled Evensong suggesting people said it at home.

In his sermon Father Mervyn related the story about a small boy who was asked by a relation if he attended Sunday school. When he said he did, he was asked, "What have you learnt?" "Last week," came the reply, "our lesson was about when Jesus went to a wedding and made water into wine." "And what did you learn from that story?" the relative inquired. After thinking for a moment, the boy answered, "If you're having a wedding, make sure Jesus is there!" Father Mervyn pointed out that Jesus should be in every wedding. Jesus responded to the request Mary made,telling the servants to listen to him. We need to listen to Jesus in all that we do. In the course of the sermon Father Mervyn reminded people that later in the year we would be visiting Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed this, his first, miracle. As the number in the choir was affected by the adverse weather the Choir sang “In the bleak midwinter” for which Father Mervyn arranged an organ accompaniment.

The Saturday Shop was open as usual yesterday despite the snow and took £97 which in the circumstances was quite remarkable

CONFIRMATION PREPARATION

Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation will begin on Sunday 3rd February. Following the Parish Mass there will be a meeting in church to discus the time and venue of both adult and children’s preparation.

Future Events

Tuesday 15th January: THE ROSARY in the Lady Chapel at 7.30 p.m.

Friday 25th January: The 4th Friday Club meet in the Lady Chapel between 1.00 p.m. and 3.00 p.m. and will examine the Book of Ecclesiastes.

CHURCH ELECTORAL ROLL

Every 6th year all churches in the CofE are required by law to recompile their Electoral Roll and 2013 is such a year. In February everybody on the current roll will receive a letter about this and a new enrolment form which they should complete and return to the Electoral Roll Officer or to Father Martin by 3rd March, if they wish to stay on the roll. Any person not already on the roll should complete a form to apply to be on the new roll.

THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD

A  near capacity congregation came to St. Augustine’s today to celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord. Father Mervyn presided and preached and Father Martin read the Gospel and prayed with  the Sunday School before they went to the hall. The Mass began with Asperges to remind us of our own Baptism and this theme was taken up by Father Mervyn in his sermon when he reminded us that Jesus, unlike us, did not need to be baptised. Never-the-less Jesus allowed his cousin John the Baptist to baptise him and he received the reassurance from his Father when he said: ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.’ These words show that from the beginning the very close involvement of the Father in Jesus’ ministry. They mark the start of his public ministry and they show the Father’s approval of all that he was to achieve. Probably the most important thing our parents did for us was to bring us to church as babies to be baptised. Now as adult Christians we must bring the Good News of the Gospel to others; we need to remind ourselves of the promises that were made at our Baptism: that we would  not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and we would manfully fight under his banner, against sin, the world, and the devil; and continue His faithful soldier and servant unto our life's end.

Yesterday’s Saturday Shop took £204

CONFIRMATION PREPARATION

Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation will begin on Sunday 3rd February. Following the Parish Mass there will be a meeting in church to discus the time and venue of both adult and children’s preparation.

Future Events

Tuesday 15th January: THE ROSARY in the Lady Chapel at 7.30 p.m.

Friday 25th January: The 4th Friday Club meet in the Lady Chapel between 1.00 p.m. and 3.00 p.m. and will examine the Book of Ecclesiastes.

CHURCH ELECTORAL ROLL

Every 6th year all churches in the CofE are required by law to recompile their Electoral Roll and 2013 is such a year. In February everybody on the current roll will receive a letter about this and a new enrolment form which they should complete and return to the Electoral Roll Officer or to Father Martin by 3rd March, if they wish to stay on the roll. Any person not already on the roll should complete a form to apply to be on the new roll.

 

THE EPIPHANY

Today Father Mervyn presided and Father Martin read the Gospel, preached and concelebrated. At the beginning of Mass the procession stopped at the Crib and gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh were placed into it together with statues of the Magi with suitable prayers said. After censing the Crib the Mass proceeded as usual.

In his sermon Father mentioned his memories as a child going from Barkingside on a coach with other children to the Golders Green Empire for the annual pantomime. He talked about how things often started with a journey which is what the Magi undertook. Their reward was to become the first gentiles (non-Jewish people) to see the new born King who was to be a light to lighten the gentiles.

Tonight, at 6.00 p.m. there will be Solemn Evensong & Benediction.

Yesterdays Saturday Shop took £160