Church Mouse Updates - 29th November 2020
Webmaster • November 28, 2020
The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . .
And so, another year in the Church’s liturgical life has come to an end and another begins this weekend with the First Sunday of Advent in Year B of the Lectionary. This year the Gospel Readings on Sundays are principally taken from St Mark’s account of Jesus’ ministry, the earliest, shortest and most immediate of the gospels.
On Monday evening Fr D was listening carefully to the announcement by the Prime Minister that the present ‘lock-down’ we have been experiencing is ending at midnight on Wednesday 2nd December. This means that we will re-commence our normal Mass schedule from Thursday 3rd December; well, I say normal, what I mean, of course, is as normal as we can get it!
Having lost Easter, sadly, earlier in the year it does now look as if we will be able to celebrate Christmas - even though we are not allowed to sing (including carols). Although it will not be as we would ideally wish we will make the best with what we are permitted..
On Tuesday after morning Mass Fr D read a little more from a marriage case that he is presently dealing with. Then some briefing notes for a Zoom meeting that he was having to attend in the evening. He’s not really very keen on Zoom sessions as he has trouble following what everyone is saying because they all try to speak at the same time.
On Wednesday, just as he was putting his breakfast bowl into the dishwasher, Fr D saw the heating engineer’s van pull up outside the kitchen window. The engineers were here to conduct the annual services and Gas Safety Certificates for the Presbytery, the church and the Parish Centre. Once he had celebrated Mass, Fr D went off down to Bishop’s House in Brighton once more - at the moment he is trying to clear his ‘in-tray’ before the offices close for Christmas. He got back in the late afternoon just in time to have something to eat before once more meeting with parents of this year’s First Reconciliation/Eucharist candidates for the second session of the Reconciliation Programme.
Thursday morning after Mass was spent reading minutes and new policy documents for another Zoom Meeting in the afternoon, this time as part of his role as a Trustee for the Bosco Catholic Education Trust. He said that he was very pleased that he could use a computer as if he’d had all the documents in paper form it would have required the felling of a small wood! In the evening watching the news he realised that our area was going to come under the new ‘Tier Two’ restrictions as far as the Covid situation was concerned . . . . . .
DO NOT FORGET ! Our annual ‘Lenten Reconciliation Service for Adults’ takes place THIS FRIDAY 27th March at 19.30 in the church of Our Lady of Sorrows, Effingham, KT24 5JP. We join with the Parish of Effingham & Fetcham in celebrating the Lord’s forgiveness ready for the great festival of Easter. We will be joined by four priests to aid us in this celebration. This is the major opportunity this Lent to ask for God’s forgiveness.
The first reading from Ezekiel is perfectly paired with the Gospel reading of the raising of Lazarus. Ezekiel hears God say very clearly that God will raise his people from the dead, animating them with the spirit that will bring them back to life. The second reading from St. Paul also addresses the Jewish and Christian theological question, “Is death the end of every thing?” Paul is as emphatic as Ezekiel. No. “The One who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also.” Of course, it might seem easy to believe in life after death until we have had a loved one die. Martha and Mary might have believed in an afterlife because, as Jews, they would have been familiar with the promise from Ezekiel. Yet when their brother died and the reality of him being gone for four days sank in, they doubted too. Not only did they doubt, but they grieved deeply, and even got angry at Jesus. Martha told Jesus she believes Lazarus “will rise, in the resurrection on the last day,” but believing that didn’t lessen her other perfectly normal human emotions. Even after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, mysteries remain. Why didn’t Jesus go to Lazarus immediately when the sisters summoned him? Why did he let them experience heart-breaking sadness for four days? Why did Jesus cry if he knew he would raise Lazarus from the dead? Why did Jesus raise Lazarus but not others who died during his lifetime? Why do some people today get to experience healing miracles, but others don’t? Why do we have to wait for the resurrection of the dead to see our loved ones again? These readings today don’t solve any mysteries of our faith. They don’t give us answers about God, but they point to the complete conviction of three different biblical writers who do not doubt that Jesus is “the resurrection and the life.” Questions of the week What most stands out to you when you hear the Gospel reading today? Why? If you have lost a loved one(s), did that affect on what you believe about the afterlife? How so?
The solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord was first celebrated in the fourth or fifth century. Its central focus is the Incarnation: God has become one of us. From all eternity God had decided that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity should become human. Now, as Luke 1:26-38 tells us, the decision is being realised. The God-Man embraces all of humanity, indeed all creation, to bring it to God in one great act of love. Because human beings have rejected God, Jesus will accept a life of suffering and a terrible death: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Since Mary is the instrument of Incarnation, she has a role to play with Jesus in creation and redemption. It is a Godgiven role. It is God’s grace from beginning to end. Mary becomes the eminent figure she is only by God’s grace. She is the empty space where God could act. Everything she is she owes to the Trinity. Mary is the virgin-mother who fulfils Isaiah 7:14 in a way that Isaiah could not have imagined. Together with Jesus, the privileged and graced Mary is the link between heaven and earth. She is the human being who best, after Jesus, exemplifies the possibilities of human existence. She received into her lowliness the infinite love of God. She shows how an ordinary human being can reflect God in the ordinary circumstances of life.
Wednesday 1st April, 18.00, Arundel Cathedral, BN18 9AY. People from across our diocesan family of faith are invited to join Bishop Gerard Bradley and members of clergy at the annual Chrism Mass – one of the most beautiful Masses of the year, celebrated in Catholic cathedrals across the world in Holy Week. All are welcome.
EASTER COLLECTION FOR THE SUPPORT OF PARISH CLERGY - This provides income to the Parish for the support of clergy and may be Gift Aided. Any cheques should be made payable to the ‘Sacred Heart Parish, Cobham’ (any cheques made out personally to a member of clergy are direct gifts and cannot be received into Parish funds or Gift Aided). You will find a supply of Gift Aid Envelopes for this collection in the Church Narthex
Our singers and musicians are busy in their rehearsals for leading our liturgies during Holy Week (Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, & Good Friday). Any and all parishioners are more than welcome to come along and join in, no previous experience necessary. If you enjoy singing as part of a group this could be for you! Dates of the remaining rehearsals: Sat. 28 Mar. (10.30); and Wed. 1 Apr. (19.30).
The latest Deanery Newsletter is now available in the narthex and on our Parish Website. Wondering what happened to all those postcards from last Advent? The results are in! If you'd like some food for thought on Mission - this is it! What's going on around the Deanery during Holy Week and Easter? Find out in the Deanery Newsletter, come along, and you’ll be made very welcome.
Every household within the Parish is requested to complete a ‘Parishioner Registration/Census’ form so that our Parish records may be kept up to date. These forms can be obtained from the Parish Office and should be completed fully before being returned to the Parish Office. Should you move address within the Parish at any time please complete a new form and write ‘AMENDMENT’ across the top of the form. Thank you.
At the rear of the church are a set of ‘sign-up’ sheets for our liturgies over the course of Holy Week. Would all Readers, Welcomers, Servers and Extraordinary Ministers please look at these lists and ‘sign-up’ if they can fill gaps. Also among the lists are a request for ‘Disciples’ to have their foot washed and for those who wish to take part in the tradition of ‘Watching’ at the Altar of Repose on Holy Thursday evening