All Saints Parish Newsletter
Third Sunday of Epiphany
Dear Friends,
Today marks the beginning of the week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Every week at All Saints on Thursday’s we burn a candle throughout the day. Attached to the Candle Stand is a prayer for Christian Unity. I am sure we all have a good intention and hope for the long awaited (though possibly illusive) unity in and between the churches that I am sure Christ desires also. The official text chosen for this week of prayer is from Micah Ch. 6, vv 6-8, ‘With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?’ He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Though Unity is longed for by many, it seems often, it is only acceptable on one or others terms. For some unity over one issue is the be all and end all. Yet it seems convenient and a little foolish to ignore two centuries of disunity and discord, believing that the time for unity is now. However, this knowledge shouldn’t stop us praying about our togetherness in Christ. Some might be delusional over some matters, however, perhaps Elizabeth I (even though she doesn’t have the best reputation of dealing with those who disagreed with her) gets it right when she says, “There is only one Christ, Jesus, one faith. All else is a dispute over trifles”. The Church and its unity cannot be built upon anything other than Christ. The Unity of the church cannot be built upon an agreement on this or that issue. I suppose we simply need to decide: ‘There is only one Christ, Jesus, one faith. All else is a dispute over trifles’. Can we build a church on Christ or do those issues which we allow define us, matter more than the one who saves us? Unity is up to us… one by one.
We look forward to seeing you on Sunday or soon.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. John
A little something for this week.
Please pray for Christopher Ryan, Michael Harris, Linda Orme, Mary Barnet, Joshua Levy, Audrey Patterson, Celia Shore, Michael Sullivan, Rachel Clayton, Heather Walker, Richard Tann, Brian Sparkes, John Rogers, Mason Jacobson, Barbara Laws, Marguerite Crill, David Day, Timothy Montgomery, Timothy Harding, Andrew Tillyard, Stephen Finch, Jonathan Jennings, Caroline Chartres, Melanie, Angela Thompson, Rosie Flack The Recently Departed: Nicholas Assheton, Polly Rafter, Jacintha Saldhana, Fr. Richard Eyre, Dunbar Bryan, Geoffrey Oakeshott, Trisha Oakes, Fr. David Jowitt, Belinda Hill, Fr. Maurice Slaughter at the anniversary of their death: Albert Sheppard, Arnold Lawson, Kate Gorge, Josephine Whittley, Harris Charlton, William Clark, Hannah Berry, John Snoswell, Gwyneth Bishop, Virginia Smith, Amony Lay, Annie Waggett, Derek Allen, Ernest Swanton, Edith Lang, Kenneth Christie.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: 18-25 January
Every good wish and blessing to Aiden Hargreaves-Smith who will be sworn in as Registrar of the Diocese of Chelmsford tomorrow (Saturday, 19th January) by the Bishop of Chelmsford.
Sunday 20th January – Fr. Alan is preaching at 11:30 Eucharist at St Paul’s Cathedral
PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE – Friday 1st February 2013 at 6:30 pm – Preacher: The Venerable Malcolm Squires, former Archdeacon of Wrexham Music: God is light, Harry Bramma; Missa Bell’amfitrit’altera, Lassas; Nunc dimittis (Service in D), Dyson.
Solemn Evensong & Benediction – St Cyprian’s Church. Presentation of Christ in the Temple 2nd February 2013 at 3:00pm – Responses: Thomas Ebdon – Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis: Stanford in G, Anthem: Edward Bairstow – ‘Save us O Lord’ – With the St. Cyprian’s Singers Directed by: Julian Collings
February 10th – 11:00am High Mass – Fr. John Pritchard’s Last service as Assistant Priest at All Saints.
ASH WEDNESDAY 13th February 2013 – Low Masses 8:00am & 1:10pm (with Ashing)
High Mass – 6:30pm with Ashing. Preacher: The Vicar.
St Cyprian’s Lent Course– Will be studying "Feast and Fast" by Christina Rees.
Evening one is at Mary Ashwin’s home on Thursday 14th February at 7.15pm.
Further details from Fr. Gerald Beauchamp. Email: gerald.beauch@btconnect.com
All Saints Lent Course– "Joy: The Meaning of the Sacraments"
We will be using the book of this title by Peter Wadell, Dean of Chapel at the University of Winchester.
Published by Canterbury Press at 12.99. – Thursdays at 11am in the Vicarage – Please let the Parish Office know if you would like to take part and if you would like us to order a copy of the book for you.
Feb 14. Immersed in joy: Baptism and Confirmation.
Feb 21. Sharing Joy: the Eucharist.
Feb 28. Joy Heals: Reconciliation.
Mar 7. Joy Heals: Anointing the Sick.
Mar 14. Joy Bears Fruit: Ordination.
Mar 21. Joy Bears Fruit: Marriage.
11th March 7:30pm –The Licensing by The Bishop of Southwark of Fr. John Pritchard as Priest-in-Charge, St John The Evangelist, Upper Norwood SE19 2RX – (Nearest Train Station – Crystal Palace). ALL WELCOME
The retreat this year will be atBishop Woodford House, Ely, from Friday 15th March to Sunday 17th March. At this stage a conductor has yet to be chosen and a definite price to be fixed. Martin Woolley will happily receive expressions of interest, and enquiries, on 020 7436 2858, 07976 275 383 or at m.g.woolley@btinternet.com (The order of receipt will be carefully noted to enable peaceful allocation of rooms and facilities.) A fully informative letter will be issued in due course to those who put their names down.