#494 I mean to be one too
I had my paws away from the keyboard last week, but I’m glad to be back today, warm and cosy on the Rector’s desk. It’s a busy Sunday this week, so I’ve been doing my inspections around the church, making sure we have orders of service and candles all prepared. I made sure to quality-assure all the biscuits too. If yours has a mouse-sized nibble in one corner, that’s just proof of how thorough my testing is…
Fr Sam writes
This Sunday is All Saints’ Day, one of the great festivals in the Church calendar. It is a reminder that the saints are not just famous individuals who did great deeds, but countless millions of souls made holy by God.
When I was a curate, the rector was keen on a particular All Saints hymn written for children: ‘I sing a song of the saints of God’. Musically, I can’t say I’m a fan (I didn’t even suggest it for Sunday!) but the sentiment is rather good. To be a saint doesn’t ask us to be extraordinary or to be famous through countless ages. It merely needs us to be loved by God.
They lived not only in ages past;
there are hundreds of thousands still.
The world is bright with the joyous saints
who love to do Jesus’ will.
You can meet them in school, on the street, in the store,
in church, by the sea, in the house next door,
they are saints of God whether rich or poor,
and I mean to be one too.
This Sunday
This Sunday is All Saints’ Day, calling to mind the uncountable congregation of saints worshipping God in Heaven. In our first reading, St Paul tells the Ephesians about the hope to which they were called, the hope of eternal glory. In the Gospel, we hear St Luke’s account of the Beatitudes, and the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
In the evening, we keep All Souls’ Day, where we pray for our loved one departed, that they may enjoy the fullness of eternal life.
Services this Sunday
| 8am | St Paul’s | BCP Mass | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
| 9.30am | St Paul’s | Parish Mass | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
| Organ preludes: Adagio and Andante (Quatre Pièces Contemplatives) – Denis Bédard Anthem: O for a closer walk – Charles Stanford Voluntary: Grand Chœur – Théodore Dubois | |||
| 10am | Woosehill Church | Morning Worship | Revd Cara Smart |
| 11am | St Nicholas’s | Community Eucharist | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
| 6.15pm | St Paul’s | All Souls’ Service | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn & Revd Cara Smart |
| Organ prelude: Spiegel im Spiegel – Arvo Pärt (arr. Mazza) Anthem: Jesu, the very thought of thee – Edward Bairstow Organ voluntary: In Paradisum – Ghislaine Reece-Trapp | |||
All Souls service
Sunday 2 November 6.15pm
On 2 November, we will be celebrating All Saints’ Day in the morning, giving thanks for all the countless unknown souls who have been made saints, the holy ones of God who rejoice forever in Heaven. In the evening, we have our All Souls service, praying for those we love who have died, that they may be filled with the life and light of Christ’s Resurrection.
Before the service, candles will be lit in the churchyard, showing that it is a place of rest and hope rather than just sadness. The service itself will be a Mass, filled with the hope of the Resurrection. And afterwards there will be refreshments offered in the Parish Rooms.
If you have names that you would like to be read out in prayer during the service, please email them to the parish office or add them to the list at the back of St Paul’s.
Sacristy fund
In January a restricted Sacristy Fund was established, with the intention of appealing three times a year, approximately in line with the festivals/seasons of Candlemas, SS Peter & Paul, and Remembrance, for sponsorship for the consumables needed for the following 3-4 months, mainly items such as communion wafers and wine, candles, incense and charcoal.
Thank you to all who have responded so generously to the first two appeals.
As happens, the fund is now in need of topping up again!
The new Remembrance-tide appeal list of requirements will be on display at St Paul’s, together with a sign-up sheet where you indicate what you wish to sponsor and how you will manage your donation – electronic card reader, online transfer or cash.
Please be generous in your response.
Autumn Bazaar
Saturday 8 November 12–3pm
The choir is running the Tombola and would be grateful to receive donations of suitable items such as bottles, cans, packets, toiletries, sweets etc. Please hand them to members of the choir or put in the box labelled Tombola at the back of church.
Tina Selwyn-Smith has volunteered to run a stall dedicated to jigsaw puzzles. If you would like to donate a jigsaw, then pass onto Tina or Jerome after the 9:30am service on Sunday or leave at the back of the church. If necessary, Tina may be able to pick up from anywhere in the Parish – contact Tina on 0118 979 2819.
Grand Draw tickets are on sale now, available from Liz Gallagher or Teri Austen. The first prize is a Lovely Luxury Hamper, the second prize a Wine Hamper and there are many more prizes. We would be grateful for donations for the hampers – there is a sign-up list at the back of St Paul’s and St Nick’s. Also, we would be very grateful for donations of suitable prizes – please give them to either Liz or Teri. The draw will take place at the end of the Bazaar.
We would be most grateful for saleable items for the Bric-a-Brac stall. It is helpful to have donations beforehand where possible, although on the day are also welcome. Elizabeth Hunter can collect smaller items from church or you can deliver to her home; she is also happy to collect from you. If you have large items eg that will not fit easily on or under the tables, please would you be kind enough to discuss with Elizabeth first as disposal and storage of unsold items can be awkward. Elizabeth Hunter 0118 978326 / 07956 280413 37 Chestnut Avenue RG41 3HW
This week’s calendar: a socialist Archbishop
Next Thursday 6 November is the Church’s commemmoration of William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury between 1942 and 1944. He was a socialist and therefore was a somewhat unlikely candidate for the role, but he was seen as an outstanding bishop. Winston Churchill described him as “the only half-a-crown article in the sixpenny bazaar”.
Temple’s influence on the Church was massive, especially his social teaching. He is undoubtedly one of the most significant Anglican figures of the twentieth century.
The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members.
