Dear Friends
Thy Kingdom Come
I thought I would commend this national initiative to you all, as the preface tells us…
“Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement, which invites Christians around the world to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus Christ. What started out as an invitation from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York in 2016 to the Church of England has grown into an international and ecumenical call to prayer.”
Prayer is at the heart of our relationship with God and the worship of his Church. Obviously prayer is about developing a proper and fruitful relationship with God our creator, offered to him through his Son Jesus. We pray for many things. Can I commend this initiative to you. All you need is a few minutes each day. I think everything we do as a Church community must be steeped in prayer; our life, our work, our witness, offered to God and offered in thanksgiving. Can I suggest you use this time between Ascension Day 10 May – Pentecost Sunday 20 May, to pray for the Church, but also to pray that God will bless our Flower and Music Festival. This is one of the most involved and complicated events we have ever undertaken at St Nicholas.
Please pray for all those who behind the scenes are working incredibly hard for the success of this event. For all those..
Organising the event.
Arranging flowers
Arranging publicity
Making music
Preparing food
For our stewards and hospitality team and for many others.
Please pray that many people will hear about us and visit us, please pray that God will bless our endeavours in his name.
Just a few minutes of your time each day.
Every blessing
Simon
Dear Friends
I went to visit a parishioner in St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington last week and was somewhat taken aback to be greeted by TV cameras and lots of people on the pavement waving Union Jacks. I soon realised that they were already camped out there awaiting news of the new royal baby! Thankfully the child has now been delivered safely, the crowds can go home, and patients who have been unable to use the hospital car park, which had been temporarily closed, can gain access again. The Church of England has offered the following prayer:
Heavenly Father, we give thanks for the birth of a new son to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; surround him with your blessing that he may know your love, be protected from evil, and know your goodness all his days. May God give wisdom, patience and faith to his parents; and by their example reveal the love and truth that are in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Tuesday of this week marks the anniversary of the death in 624 of St Mellitus, first Bishop of London in the Saxon period, and third Archbishop of Canterbury.
During his tenure he was alleged to have miraculously saved the cathedral, and much of the town of Canterbury, from a fire. After his death in 624, Mellitus was revered as a saint. His name lives on now through the work of the flourishing St Mellitus College which offers a range of courses in theology, ministry and mission, and where many ordinands in this diocese are now trained.
With every blessing
Mother Eileen