Sunday 25 August 2013

21st SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Today Father Mervyn presided at the well-supported Parish Mass, preached and led us in our Intercessions. After several of our severs having been away for holidays we had a full complement today. In his sermon Father talked out how children would often exclude other children from games etc. He recalled how at a Bible Study when he was in Bristol quite a few years ago a number of people present had talked about whether some one “was one of us”. It was only later that he discovered it meant whether a particular person supported a certain political point of view. Father pointed out that as Christians we should always seek to include people as we ourselves hoped and trusted that Jesus would included us.

THE SATURDAY SHOP WAS CLOSED ON THE 24TH BUT WILL REOPEN FOR BUSINESS NEXT SATURDAY THE 31ST AUGUST

NEXT SUNDAY THERE WILL BE A MASS AT 8.30 A.M.

Sunday 18 August 2013

20th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

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Today Father Mervyn presided at the Parish Mass, preached and led our Intercessions. Father Mervyn took as his text part of the Letter to the Hebrews which formed our second reading:  “surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses” He pointed out that the witnesses are the Communion of Saints which include people from every nation and, of course, people who have been worshippers at St. Augustine’s, people who have served here faithfully. We are grateful to those who gave themselves for us. No one compelled them, no one forced them, but they freely gave their time, abilities and financial resources. It is because of their faithful witness that we have our parish today. As their successors it is our responsibility to "persevere in running the race"  with our eyes fixed on Jesus, through the Sacraments but especially through receiving Him at Mass.

Yesterday’s Saturday Shop took £202.

THERE WILL BE NO SATURDAY SHOP NEXT SATURDAY THE 24TH AUGUST

Please note there will be no Sunday Evensong during the month of August.

Sunday 11 August 2013

19th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

As Father Martin is now away on holiday, Father Mervyn presided and preached at the Parish Mass. Our prayers of Intercession were led by Pamela. In his sermon Father Mervyn talked about the statement often heard from teenagers: “it isn’t fair".  He quoted President J F. Kennedy who said at a press Conference in the 1960’s  “Some men,” he said, “are killed in a war and some men are wounded, and some men never leave the country, and some men are stationed in the Antarctic and some men are stationed in San Francisco. It is very hard in the military or personal life to assure complete equality. Life is unfair.” 

Natural disasters are not fair; illness is not fair neither are storms and tornados. But we need to remember that life was unfair to Jesus; he suffered and was crucified.  It will only be fair when we reach the perfection of God that everything will be fair. The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews wrote “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” Such things as Justice, Truth, Beauty, Knowledge and Goodness exist in an ordered universe that far transcends our natural world. They are ideals, ideals that are found in God, not in our world.  As one writer said “(These) are things hoped for, not yet fully realized. Fairness is one of them.” We will only achieve these things in the perfection of God.

Yesterdays Saturday Shop took £174.

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“O Sing to the Lord with joyful voice”

We need more voices for our choir. Could you join and help “Sing to the Lord” For more details come to church on Sunday morning at 9.15 a.m. Preparations will begin, after the Summer Holiday, for our Christmas Music.

Monday 5 August 2013

IT’S NOT TOO LATE!

PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND 2013

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21st – 30th October 2013

There are still a couple of places available for our comprehensive 10-day pilgrimage based in Jerusalem and Galilee fully escorted and with a Daily Mass.

led by

FATHER MARTIN HOWSE SSC

AND

FATHER MERVYN JENNINGS

Fully inclusive (breakfast, lunch, dinner, gratuities, entrance fees)

organised on behalf of the Parish of St Augustine of Canterbury and Ilford Hospital Chapel of St. Mary & St. Thomas of Canterbury by McCabe Pilgrimages.

Contact Father Mervyn for more details

Congratulations to Matt–from THE PIONEER

clip_image002Congratulations to Matt  and his success in the 2013 Thames Water London Youth Games Regatta held in London Dockland on Saturday 9th June.  Matthew canoed in the single Kayak Sprint and the K4 (Four Man Kayak) for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The Barking and Dagenham Team gained second place overall and gained a Silver Medal.  Matt made the semi final on time difference and coming fourth gained a place in the final.  However at the start of the final he unfortunately fell in, but still gained two points for the team.  His K4 made the semi finals whereby they came fourth.

On the Sunday Matt canoed again Leaside in East London in the single sprints and gained a bronze medal in the under 16s sprints.

Janet

Sunday 4 August 2013

18th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

“So it is with those who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich towards God”

bynToday Father Martin presided and Father Mervyn preached and concelebrated. In his sermon Father Mervyn reminded us that the message of today’s Gospel was that we none of us knew either the time or place when God would call us to himself. Father Martin led our Intercessions.

Yesterday’s Saturday Shop took £182.

(THERE WILL BE NO SATURDAY SHOP ON THE 24TH AUGUST)

So far this year the Saturday Shop has contributed £5,075.55 towards our family purse with a further £900 from our trading on E-Bay

Please note there will be no Sunday Evensong during the month of August.