Dearest friends,
On Monday I travelled to London to teach ordinands (people training for the Priesthood) about Catholic Spirituality.
I always love teaching this course and I enjoy the reaction to the discovery that whilst Faith is our search for understanding and our relationship with God – Spirituality is the HOW we walk on that journey.
Both of our churches enjoy incense, candles, bells, vestments, and other things that lift our experience in worship to be as close to heaven as we can mange on earth (as my Training Incumbent used to say, there are two smells in the after life – sulphur and incense – choose now!)
For others it will be the opening up of scripture in as much detail and depth as possible, or the emotional high of singing with a loud worship band.
For others still it will be the quiet of nature and the sweeping majestic views of God’s creation.
There are as many spiritualities as there are people and how we interact with each other, and how we engage with others spiritualities says a great deal about our faith.
If our faith is shallow we’ll connect with the *things* of our spirituality. Are the candles in the right place? Are the altar cloths the right length? Is that screen big enough for people to read and sing with the worship band? Is that the right cable for the super laser show we’ve got planned for the Eucharist?
If we only connect with the *things* we forget the *spirit*. Our faith and our spirituality go hand in hand and when we over-focus on the how we lose the depth of the journey towards God; when we judge other people’s faith through their spirituality we loose focus on our own.
Jesus repeatedly calls out those who focus on the law (the how) over their faith (the spirit).
St. Paul takes things even further and when the poor people in Galatia get overly focused on the Law he starts his letter to them by asking if they are mad?
“Are you people in Galatia mad? Has someone put a spell on you,” (Gal. 3:1)
In all things we are given the Grace of God to engage with charity. That Grace enables us to see past the *things* and to the heart of our own faith and to the heart of faith in others. Grace needs exercising, the more we use it, the easier it gets.
This week, go out and practice the Grace that God has given you and see if you can see the Holy Spirit at work in those you disagree with.
Fr. Matthew
Notices
The Rev’d Dr. Chris Moore
On the 1st December we’ll be joined by the Rev’d Dr. Chris Moore for an afternoon lecture on the Gospel of Mark. A time travellers guide to Mark will really open up the gospel in a new light. Refreshments will be served. 3pm, St. Luke’s. Sign up here.
Holy Habits
Starts on the 7th November and runs for 4 weeks. It focus on habits that help us deepen our relationship with God. Sign up on the website or let me know you’re coming in person.
Sunday 13th October
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
9:15am – Sung Parish Mass, St. John’s
11am – Sung Parish Mass, St. Luke’s
Divine Office Psalter Week 4, Trinity 20, Proper 23
Readings for Sunday 13th October
Upcoming Dates
October
19th – Table Top Sale [SJ] 10am-12pm
19th – Bay Brass Concert [SL] 7:30pm
20th – St. Luke’s Patronal Festival & Parish Lunch
November
7th, 14th, 21st, 28th – Holy Habits [SL] 7pm
10th – Remembrance Service [SL & SJ] 10:45am
Parish Lunch [SL]
16th – Table Top Sale [SJ] 10am-12pm
20th – Social Committee Meeting [SL] 6:30pm
30th – Advent Carols [SJ] 6pm
December
1st – A Time Travellers Guide to Mark [SL] 3pm
7th – Christmas Fayre [SL]
8th – Mayor’s Civic Service [SL] 3pm
11th – Over 60s Christmas Concert [SJ] 2pm
15th – December Parish Lunch [SL]
19th – Cantemos Carol Concert [SJ] 7pm
22nd – Christmas Carols [SL] 4m
Nine Lessons and Carols [SJ] 7pm
24th – Live Nativity [SL] 4pm
1st Mass of Christmas [SJ] 8pm
Midnight Mass [SL] 11:30pm
25th – Christmas Day Mass [SL & SJ] 10am
29th – Joint Mass at St. John’s 10am with dedication of Holy
Family Chapel
Christingle Services at both churches TBC