LENT 1

Today Father Martin celebrated the Parish Mass, Pamela led us in prayer, and Father Mervyn played the organ and preached. In his sermon Father Mervyn referred to the play by Dennis Potter  “Jesus of Nazareth” In the play Jesus is depicted having doubts about who he was and about his mission. In the temptation the devil says to Jesus “if you are the Son of God”  inviting him to provide proof that he is by turning the stones into bread to satiate his hunger (a sort of divine conjuring trick) Father Mervyn pointed out that Jesus was truly human and experienced the same human doubts we all have. The wording of the temptation has echo’s of the challenge given to Jesus on the cross: "Let him come down from the cross. He said 'I am the Son of God', Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down from the cross. He saved others let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God". When we are plagued by doubts we have the consolation of knowing that Jesus, truly human and truly God, experienced the same dilemmas as we do.

Lent Course

This year the Lent Course is being organised in conjunction with the YMCA on Wednesdays from 1.00 p.m. until 2.00 p.m. This Wednesday 20th February the session is being led by Father Martin. Wednesdat 27th February the session is going to be led by the Bishop of Chelmsford.

Stations of the Cross

• Monday 18th February 7.30 p.m.
• Tuesday 26th February 7.30 p.m.
• Wednesday 6th March 7.30 p.m.

SATURDAY SHOP

Yesterday’s Saturday Shop took a magnificent £225.

CONFIRMATION PREPARATION

Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation has now started and will continue after the Half Term Holiday.

A REMINDER - 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.If you haven’t yet completed your enrolment form and wish to continue to stay on the roll please do so and return it to the Electoral Roll Officer or to Father Martin by 3rd March. If you are not already on the Roll but would like to be please collect a form from Father Martin or Shirley

ASH WEDNESDAY

SOLEMN MASS

with the Blessing & Imposition of Ashes 7.30 p.m.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

from the Book of Common Prayer

5th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

At the Parish Mass this morning Father Mervyn presided and Father Martin read the Gospel, preached, led us in our Intercessions and concelebrated. In his sermon Father Martin talked about the way we should prepare to use the season of Lent, due to begin on Wednesday – Ash Wednesday. We should keep the three Pillars of Lent: Fasting, Prayer, Almsgiving and he suggested various ways we could do so.  He would amplify this in his homily on Wednesday evening he said.

The Confirmation Preparation Course commenced this Sunday after the Parish Mass.

Yesterday’s Saturday Shop took £193 with a further £200 from our eBay trading.

ASH WEDNESDAY 7.30 p.m.

Solemn Mass with the blessing and Imposition of ashes

4th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

Today  we started Mass in the Parish Hall where candles were blessed, the Nunc Dimittis  sung, and this was followed by the procession into church for the rest of the service. Father Martin presided and Father Mervyn read the Gospel, preached and concelebrated. In his sermon Father stressed the importance of family life. Mary and Joseph brought Jesus up in the faith and this was a responsibility of all Christian families to bring their children up in the Christian Faith. He mentioned the fact that on Tuesday there was the vote in the House of Commons to legitimise gay marriage; he asked everybody to make this the subject of their prayers that those voting remembered that they are subject to God’s divine laws which defines marriage as a Sacrament between a man and a woman not between two people of the same sex.

Yesterday’s Saturday Shop made £212.

Those preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation began their course today after Mass today.

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.