FROM THE URC MINISTER

In the September issue of ICN, following the ‘Showstoppers’ theme of Holiday Club, I wrote that in the middle of that month there was due to be a showstopping moment for Britain: the visit of Pope Benedict XVI.  “Not many of us may be able to attend the events,” I wrote. 

Great was my surprise, a week before the service in Westminster Abbey, when I received a ticket!  It came to me through the offices of Churches Together in England because I am one of the Ecumenical Officers for London.  It was a great pleasure to be there, and I would like to share with you what for me were some of the highlights. 

The Pope and Archbishops were greeted near the entrance of the Abbey by 12 other leaders of Churches in the British Isles, including Mrs. Val Morrison one of the current Moderators of General Assembly of the United Reformed Church.

During the service the Pope and the Archbishop honoured the St. Augustine Gospels, the book which has been in England longer than any other.  It is the oldest illustrated Latin Gospel book in existence, and was probably brought from Rome to Canterbury in 597AD.  I visited Canterbury on the ecumenical pilgrimage to mark the 1400th anniversary of Augustine’s arrival, and my wife and I have been involved in enabling people on the other side of the world to have the Gospels in their own language, so that was a particularly moving moment for me. 

Another was when Pope and Archbishop prayed together near the tomb of Edward the Confessor, King of England until 1066.  The Pope prayed to God, “Bring the hearts of believers together in your praise and in common sorrow for their sins.  Heal the divisions among Christians; that we may rejoice in the perfect unity of your Church, and move together as one to eternal life in your kingdom.”  In his prayers, the Archbishop said, “Grant the increase of peace and justice in this our nation and in the community of nations.” 

Prayers for peace will again be said this month, on Armistice Day, 11th November, and Remembrance Sunday 14th November.

Knowing that Pope Benedict as a boy was conscripted into the Hitler Youth, it was poignant to hear him pray alongside the tomb of the unknown warrior, “Lord God, you hold both heaven and earth in a single peace.  Let the design of your great love shine on the waste of our anger and sorrow, and give peace to your Church, peace among nations, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts; in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Bernie

 

FROM ST GILES’ CLERGY

I think I have made a big mistake – I’ve joined a gym.   I have only been a member for three weeks but already I am finding excuses for not going.  My reason for joining stemmed from my experience in Rukiga in Uganda.  When walking uphill through banana plantations to visit someone’s home I was puffing and blowing and realised how unfit I was / am.  So, I have joined a gym. 

The only good thing, so far, about joining the gym is that it has made me think about my prayer life.  Just as the body needs physical exercise to keep it fit, so to keep fit spiritually needs the exercise of prayer.  Both need to be regular and both need discipline; just as you need to make time for the gym so you need to make time for periods of prayer.  Also, just as you need a period of warming up before you launch into physical exercise so you need time to prepare for a period of prayer, a time when you quieten yourself down, release the tensions of the day and turn your attention to God. 

Prayer is not only about talking to God, it is also about listening, trying to discern what it is that God wants you to do with your life.  Prayer is also not only about asking for things but it is about giving thanks for what you have, it’s about praise and it’s about adoration.  Prayer is simply (although it’s not so simple!) about being in the very presence of God, resting in Him and He in you. 

The more regular your times of prayer, the better you get at it.  The better you get at prayer, the more you look forward to it and the more regular prayer becomes.  Indeed, when prayer becomes ingrained into your daily life you really miss it if for some reason or other you have to leave it out of your daily routine.  I wonder if the same can be said of going to the gym; I’ll just have to wait and see about that.

Ken Tombs

 

 

FROM THE CHURCHES’ REGISTERS

Baptisms at St Giles’
Sept 26th            Riley Roy Willans
Oct 10th             Benjamin Harrison Lambert

Weddings at St Giles’
Sept 24th            Neil Tolchard and Clare Allen
Sept 25th            Michael Jayes and Rebecca Bennett
Oct 16th             Dermott William Wilder and Sara Jane Parfitt

Blessing of Marriage at St Giles’ after Civil Wedding Ceremony
Sept 18th            Mark and Laura Bradbury

Cremations at Breakspear Crematorium
Sept 21st            Mollie Broom, aged 81
Sept 22nd           Robert Bailey, aged 78 (after service at St Giles’)

 

ST GILES’ CHURCH STREET PRAYER LIST

Each Sunday at St Giles’ Church we pray for all the people who live or work in a particular road in the Parish.  During November we will pray for the following roads: 

Nov 7th              Rectory Way
Nov 14th            Roker Park Avenue
Nov 21st            St George’s Drive
Nov 28th            St Giles Avenue

If you live in one of these roads why not join us at our 8am or 9.45am services?  You will be most welcome.