Dear Friends
I’m sorry to bombard you with lots of messages, Hayley and I are attempting to get as much information out to you as it becomes available.
The London bishops wrote to all clergy yesterday, they began with a quote from Saint Paul’s second letter to Timothy, which I think kind of sums up our approach to this unique situation.
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim 1:7)
It is going to take all of us some time to get used to this new situation. We are going to have to explore how we communicate with each other, and how we worship together. It is vital that we remain the family, the community of St Nicholas, our public worship might be suspended but the life of God’s Kingdom is inextinguishable.
So here goes…
If you are on Facebook you will see that I have just posted my first video. Thursdays 9.30am Mass will be live on the St Nicholas Facebook page. This is a bit of an experiment. We will, following this posting, arrange for a service to be broadcast on Sunday morning.. I’ll let you know the time tomorrow, It will be about 9.30am and will last for 30 minutes. I will also post some liturgies, readings and prayers you can use at home.
Watch this space!
Keep safe, and be assured of my prayers.
Simon
x
Dear Friends
On Tuesday of this week my attention was drawn to an article in the Daily Mail by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, responding to the current Coronavirus crisis, and encouraging us to pray. They wrote as follows:
‘Three thousand years ago, a young king of shepherd background called David wrote a song. It was a hit in his day and has remained so ever since. The shepherd song is about real life, not an idealised picture. It speaks of suffering and of facing enemies. Whether we are confident and brave, or doubt-filled and fearful, God is the source of love and hope.’
They were, of course, referring to Psalm 23.
Unfortunately we have had to cancel our Lent groups from this week onwards, but as it happens I had chosen ‘Crimond’, one of the hymn versions of this psalm, as the hymn we were planning to reflect on this Thursday. I have therefore including the following link in order that you can read roughly what I had been planning to say. I hope you will find it a helpful form of reflection.
With every blessing
Mother Eileen