The stuff of legends....

Many thanks to Fr Ed Tomlinson on his recent blog post regarding the Ad clerum some of us in this See have received this week: see http://sbarnabas.com/blog/. I must point out that I am not the little bird.

What surprised me about Fr Ed's post was that he wasn't made aware of the Bishop's confusion. Now as anyone knows I frequently have my Winnie-the-Pooh moments, but I don't think my guilty enjoyment of the BBC's series, Merlin, is confusing me theologically as much as it is the Bishop who ends his Ad clerum, "and thanks for all you do for the Once and Future King."

Isn't that wonderful? In the Diocese of Oxford we priests are all now Knights of the Round Table - but then surely King Arthur got it completely wrong for there were no Knightesses around his table! Perhaps Arthur has returned already to correct T H White's reworking of Sir Thomas Malory's and Geoffrey of Monmouth's earlier works which so cruelly gave some knightesses male names in a typical patriarchal fashion. Could someone please tell me if this is a new clerical society to rival those Red Badge wearers and if so where is their Round Table? Please also can I be advised of Morgana's whereabouts as she is best avoided. Perhaps trying to pull the sword out of the stone will be the new way to decide who gets to be Archbishop and perhaps jousting will be used to decide who gets a Canonry.

The only trouble is the age old practice of chivalry towards women will have to be ditched as being patronising...........

I could go on, but I am sure many of you could add far more thoughts on this!

All Hallows Eve....

On this evening children are trampling the streets with adults (many of whom will not have undertaken risk assessments or had CRB checks) pestering with people with threats of "trick or treat" in the expectation that these people.... many of them vulnerable elderly people.... will have stocked up on sweets with which they can ensure that nothing nasty happens to their house, garden, car or person.


These young people are dressed as witches and wizards, vampires and Frankenstein's monster, and all many of other creatures that have as little to do with light and goodness as is possible. As fast as many organisations are ditching any official recognition of Christmas they are embracing and even encouraging children to celebrate the forces of darkness. "Oh, but the children love it," said one mother to me. Of course, the reality is that these parents are trivialising evil and do not understand that this simply is not Christians being party poopers.


Many years ago I went to see a family about baptising their toddler who was less than two years of age. During the visit the said toddler came into the sitting room and proceeded to switch the television on and the video recorder, then to insert a video cassette into the player and press play. As the toddler sat down the mother informed me "Oh, X likes this one" and lo and behold up came the title of the film on the screen: "Poltergeist." With such an appalling lack of parental responsibility today, bolstered by companies out to make a profit (even M&S !) and encouraged by educationalists and others in positions of power and influence it does not take a lot of working out to see why we have so many problems in society today.


Of course, it is all to easy to identify the problem, but The Church needs to be more proactive in countering this situation. Simply condemning it will not work. Perhaps leading by example would be better. We need to recover the observance of ALL HALLOWS EVE and see it as a festival of light and goodness.


Here at the Vicarage we have tried to do our bit to reverse the trend and hope to pass this practice on next year to all of our folk and who knows, perhaps it might catch on elsewhere - and others may have good suggestions too. What we did was buy a large pumpkin (why should it be used to make ghoulish faces?) and, having hollowed it out the Holy Name of Jesus and a Cross were carved in it. This evening it was placed outside the front door with a living flame inside. Unfortunately, the flash on my camera is a tad too powerful and the effect of the light shining through the Holy Name is not brilliant but I hope this picture gives you an idea of what we did.

Statement from our Bishop....

The Bishop of Ebbsfleet and the Bishop of Richborough have issued the following statement in response to the historic announcement today from the Holy See with regard to those seeking full and visible communion with the Catholic Church. I note that the blogosphere is awash with comment and not a little despicable invective. May I draw the attention of all in our parishes to the words of Bishops' Andrew and Keith: This is not a time for sudden decisions or general public discussion. We call for a time of quiet prayer and discernment.

Statement by the Bishops of Ebbsfleet & Richborough on the Apostolic Constitution on a Personal Ordinariate for former Anglicans

WE WARMLY WELCOME news on Tuesday 20th October of the forthcoming publication of a Apostolic Constitution outlining a fresh initiative in the search for Unity with the Holy See which many Anglicans in the Catholic tradition have prayed for and pursued.

This is not a time for sudden decisions or general public discussion. We call for a time of quiet prayer and discernment. The coming season of Advent and the celebration of the mystery of the Incarnation at Christmas, seem to us to provide a good opportunity for this quiet prayer and discernment to take place, as well as some pastoral discussions. Some Anglicans in the Catholic tradition understandably will want to stay within the Anglican Communion. Others will wish to make individual arrangements as their conscience directs. A further group of Anglicans, we think, will begin to form a caravan, rather like the People of Israel crossing the desert in search of the Promised Land. As bishops we would want to reassure people that, whatever decisions people, priests and parishes make, they will find peace and blessing in following what they discern to be God's will for them. We have chosen 22nd February, The Feast of The Chair of Peter, to be an appropriate day for priests and people to make an initial decision as to whether they wish to respond positively to and explore further the initiative of the Apostolic Constitution. Many, understandably, will need a much longer period of discernment and we would counsel against over-hasty reactions of whatever kind.

The Bishops of Ebbsfleet and Richborough visited Rome in Eastertide 2008 and, graciously, were given a hearing in the Vatican. We were becoming increasingly concerned that the various agendas of the Anglican Communion were driving Anglicans and Roman Catholics further apart. It was our task, we thought, to take the opportunity of quietly discussing these matters in Rome. We were neither the first nor the last Anglicans to do this in recent years. Following the decision of General Synod of the Church of England in July 2008 to proceed with the ordination of women to the episcopate, we appealed to the Holy Father for help and have patiently awaited a reply. This Apostolic Constitution, addressed worldwide, feels to us to be a reply to concerns raised by others and by us and an attempt to allow all those who seek unity with the Holy See to be gathered in without loss of their distinctive patrimony.

+ Andrew Burnham, Bishop of Ebbsfleet

+ Keith Newton, Bishop of Richborough

Links to the Statement from the Holy See can be found here: http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/24513.php?index=24513&lang=ge

and to the Statement by the Archbishop of Westminster and the Archbishop of Canterbury can be found here: http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/24514.php?index=24514&po_date=20.10.2009&lang=ge

Appointment of an Assistant Curate....

I am delighted that in the notices at the end of the Parish Mass this morning at St Mary & St Giles I was able to announce that I have offered the Title of Assistant Curate to Daniel Lloyd who is undergoing Ministeral Formation at St Stephen's House, Oxford and who is due to be Made Deacon next Petertide.

It goes without saying that everyone was as delighted as I am about this news and we look forward to welcoming Daniel and Alexandra amongst us next year. Please continue to pray for Daniel as he continues his Ministerial Formation.

Wormtongue is at it again....

I read that that most revered of moderate people and well known restorer of the glories of the Episcopal Church in the USA (OK so I don't mean that) accuses the present Holy Father of speaking with "embarassing ineptitude," and then goes on to accuse the present Archbishop of Canterbury of believing that "rude behavior, intolerance and even killing prejudice is somehow acceptable, so long as it comes from third-world religious leaders." See Ruth Gledhill's blog for more of his ranting. The words pot, kettle and black come to mind - but that would be grossly insulting to the common, but extremely useful, clay pot.

Unsuspecting worshipper....

My source has to remain anonymous to protect his identity and the sensibilities of the diocese involved, but someone I know attended an Ordination Rite in one of our Cathedral Churches this year. From what he reported it is small wonder that the wider public see us as out of touch.

As is usual at a Rite of Ordination many of the congregation are not regular worshippers as they have come to support a member of their family who is being ordained. For a good many of these "relations and friends" this may well be their first experience of Christian Worship for a very long time. In such circumstances, and given that the Dioceses always go to the expense of having Service Booklets printed especially for the occasion, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Principal Celebrant would stick to the Order and not interject with notices, explanations and inane asides at every possible opportunity.

You might also think that the music would befit the setting of one of our cathedral churches with glorious and well known hymns and spiritual songs. You might also think that the most cherished prayer of the Christian Church: the Our Father would be the traditional version.

Instead what were this congregation with a high proportion of irregular worshippers (at best) subjected too? Yes, you've guessed it music that was some of the worst examples of the modern and banal individualistic choruses - the sort of me, me, me claptrap that might provide some sort of spiritual high for one or two selfish individuals, but do precious little for the vast majority who find them badly written, musically discordant and, of course, impossible to sing as they have never heard of them and, in all likelihood, would not mind if they never heard them again.

Given that a Rite of Ordination is a longer liturgy than one would expect in the average Parish Church on a Sunday Morning the constant interjections by the Principal Celebrant made it far longer than it needed to be. The preacher, who had never been heard of before by most of the congregation, gave an omelette (rather than a Homily befitting the occasion) which betrayed a lack of education (not to mention theological formation) and the fact that Christian content in sermons is no longer expected.

So the unsuspecting worshipper is sitting, standing and kneeling through all this and wondering what on earth has become of the Church of England they remember from when they attended worship some years ago now. As they reach the end of the Eucharistic Prayer they may spot the heading "The Lord's Prayer" and breathe a sigh of relief for at last there is something they can join in with only to find that as usual the Cof E has decided to do what many other denominations had the sense not to do and use the modern version of the Our Father. Chaos ensues as the unsuspecting worshippers begins to say what they would normally expect to say and those wired for sound booming over them with the modern version, and all find that "art" is gone and "sesspasses" ensue!

So in this liturgy those unsuspecting worshippers will surely have wondered even more why their relation or friend wanted to join this outfit. Most of our relatives think we are most odd wanting, as they put it, "to enter the Church", this sort of pratice will only confirm that view and make prophets even less honourable in their own country.

New Blogger....

Simply a brief post to let folk know that Bishop Edwin Barnes, for it is he, has joined the blogging community.

His blog can be found at http://bishedwins.blogspot.com/ or see the link in my list of blogs and websites on the right of this page.

Pilgrimage to Fatima 2010....

Two years ago I was privileged to participate in the "Ecumenical Friends of Fatima Association" Pilgrimage to Our Lady's Shrine in Fatima, Portugal.

Bishop Edwin Barnes has asked some of us to raise awareness of the Pilgrimage next year when EFFA's Pilgrimage will conincide with the planned Pastoral Visit and Pilgrimage of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.

The pilgrimage in 2007 was for me a very profound spiritual experience and one that I look back on with immense gratitude to the Lord that I was able to go. It is a very different Shrine to Lourdes with a greater emphasis on spiritual discipline and penitence, but these emphases are mixed through with hope and a deep joy.

The next EFFA Fátima Pilgrimage is from 10 to 17 May 2010
7 days full board approx. £650

(to be confirmed - was £626 in 2009)

Scheduled flight from Heathrow to Lisbon through MANCUNIA Travel.

Deposit £200.

Bookings CLOSE 31st December 2009
If you are interested please Fr Gray frcmg.stanmore@btinternet.com

The Story of Fatima

DURING WORLD WAR 1, on May 13,1917, in the first of six apparitions, a beautiful Lady who said She came from Heaven appeared to three shepherd children, Jacinta, Francisco, and Lucy in Fatima, Portugal.

Two months later, the Lady gave the heart of Her message to the three children, in what is known as the great Secret of Fatima. This Secret is composed of three distinct parts. The first two parts have been released by the Church as related by Lucy:

"As Our Lady spoke these last words, She opened Her hands once more, as She had done during the two previous months. The rays of light seemed to penetrate the earth, and we saw as it were a sea of fire. Plunged in this fire were demons and souls in human form. . . . Terrified and as if to plead for succour, we looked up at Our Lady, who said to us, so kindly and so sadly:

"You have seen hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart.

"If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace. The war is going to end, but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out in the reign of Pius XI.

"When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that it is the great sign given you by God that He is about to punish the world for its crimes, by means of war, famine and persecutions of the Church and the Holy Father.

"To prevent this, I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of reparation on the First Saturdays.

"If My requests are heeded, Russia will be converted and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated.
"In Portugal, the dogma of the Faith will always be preserved. . . ."

"In the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to Me, and she will be converted, and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world."

The Lady had promised that on October 13, She would perform a great public miracle so all would believe. Secular newspapers from around the world reported that while 70,000 people stood in the pouring rain, what appeared to be the sun suddenly came out, whirled madly like a pinwheel, casting all shades of color on land and people. It then plunged three separate times directly over the astonished crowd, many of whom threw them selves on their knees pleading for God's mercy.

After about twelve minutes of this phenomenon, the sun returned to its natural place and appearance in a clear sky. The people were completely dry, as well as the ground around them. During this miracle, the beautiful Lady identified Herself: "I AM THE LADY OF THE ROSARY."

The apparitions, which are now formally approved by the Catholic Church, were an appeal for prayer, sacrifice, reparation, consecration, and especially the daily recitation of the Rosary.

Bishop of Exeter's Statement following the Director of Public Prosecution's Interim Policy on Assisted Suicide....

The Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Revd Michael Langrish, has released a statement responding to the Director of Public Prosecutions’ Interim Policy for Prosecutors in Respect of Cases of Assisted Suicide.

He said: "The Church of England has consistently argued – and Parliament has consistently voted – against any change in the law governing assisted suicide, even when this is motivated by compassion. Guidance from the DPP about the application of the present law to particular circumstances has the potential to provide greater clarity and is in principle to be welcomed, so long as there can be confidence that it will not in practice lead to an erosion of respect for the present law. There are serious moral, ethical and practical issues to consider – for example in relation to concepts such as ‘encouragement’ and the nature of ‘informed decision making’. The Church of England is therefore reserving its position on the detail of the draft guidance at this stage. Its formal submission will be made public in due course."

The Archbishops’ Council’s Mission and Public Affairs Division has created a website section called Protecting Life – Opposing Assisted Suicide at www.cofe.anglican.org/protectinglife.

Musical Bites....

A series of 5 coffee mornings at St Mary & St Giles on winter Saturdays from 09:30 to 12:00 with musical themes ...

For children and adults of all ages; come and join in; bring your instrument; all skill levels. Pop in even if it’s just for half an hour.

October 17th:

Pull Out All The Stops on our 3 manual Willis Pipe Organ - blow through a pipe, look inside, Play a chord, listen to mini recitals and more.

November 14th:

Sing-along-a-Lorra-Songs – well known melodies for all to join in – lots of fun to brighten up your shopping trip.

December 12th:

A Choral Workshop directed by James Wharton; come and sing from our gallery.

January 16th:

A Brass Ensemble workshop led by Ian Facer and Julia Benham; for all ages.

February 20th:

A Percussion Workshop led by Caz Wolfson; for all ages.

At every coffee morning there will be delicious refreshments available:

Soup, teas/coffees (cappuccino, filter, or if you must: instant) biscuits, cakes, juice.

==========================================

Want to join in and have a go? Want to find out more?

Then contact:

St Mary & St Giles Organ Refurbishment Fund

www.smsg-organ-fund.co.uk

Harvest Thanksgiving in our Parishes....

This evening at Calverton sees the start of our annual Harvest Thanksgiving celebrations. At 6:00pm we gather as evening falls o begin to thank God for all his blessings to us in providing for our bodily needs. It is so easy for us to take for granted the things that we eat and drink each day, but countless people are thankful for the smallest crumb or sip. We so easily take for granted the roof over our heads as we lay in bed at night as the colder nights draw in while so many sleep without adequate shelter.

Our Harvest Thanksgiving celebrations should always be marked with mindfulness of the needs of others.

After the Sung Mass at All Saints on Sunday 20th September there will be a Bring and Share Harvest Supper during which the produce will be auctioned.

At 9:30am on Friday of this week the children of our Church School will come to church for their annual Harvest School Mass and afterwards volunteers to help display their Harvest Gifts would be appreciated. Everyone is welcome to this very special Mass in the life of our Church and School.

Next Sunday sees St Mary & St Giles Harvest Thanksgiving celebrations with the Parish Mass, the Blessing of the Harvest Gifts, and a retiring collection in aid of the Church in Papua New Guinea.

Then at 6:30pm in the Evening will be yet another splendid Bring and Share Supper in our Church School to which all are invited. Harvest Gifts from St Mary & St Giles this year are going in two directions. The fresh produce will go to the Sure Start Centre on Fullers Slade to help needy families there. The tinned, packet and dry goods will be taken to Oldbrook and donated to the work of the Food Bank which helps families across the city.

The Silly Season.... yet again....

Three items that have struck me as silly in the news today...

A) I see that the old chestnut about the date of Easter is raising it's head once again - boring! Just another ploy to do away with our own culture and impose one that ignorant people have devised to suit their own vanity.

B) I see that the London Borough of Camden doesn't do God. Apparently, certain apparatchiks have required all posters from a Parish in Kentish Town for a campaign with regard to Climate Change to be removed as they mention the Almighty. It seems that such busybodies are not happy to be seen to be "promoting religious ideas", but I just wonder how many things opposed to religion that they are happy to promote within the criteria they describe as "community events?"

C) I see that Tesco's are getting it in the neck - not that this is necessarily a bad thing - for selling Mince Pies with a use by date of October 28th. While I buy into the idea of eating foods that are in season and also do not like the extended 3 month binge that is now "Winterval" (at least in Brum) I do think that some people would be better encouraging a proper observance of the Nativity of the Lord rather than simply pointing out the negative.