#514 The veils are on
Fr Sam writes
This week we enter the fifth week of Lent, and with it the focus of the season changes. The last few weeks have been all about the desert, fasting, and repentance. Now we enter Passiontide, where we focus more closely on the Passion and death of Jesus. This means our music changes, and in St Paul’s it will be seen very visibly in the veiling of images and crosses.
It is often hard to find space in our lives, but in Passiontide I would urge you to try. Spend a little time in the presence of Christ and his Cross.
Image: “Christ carrying the Cross”, Titian
This Sunday: unbind him and let him go
This Sunday we hear of one of the great stories of the New Testament: the raising of Lazarus.
In our first reading from the Epistle to the Romans, St Paul tells us that “to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8.6-11). The second reading takes us to Bethany, where Jesus weeps at the grave of his friend Lazarus, and then calls him forth to prefigure his own Resurrection and ours (John 11.1-45).
Image: Detail from “The Raising of Lazarus” by Eduard von Gebhardt
Services this Sunday
| 9.30am | St Paul’s | Parish Mass | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
| Anthem: Crown of Roses – Tchaikovsky Voluntary: Herzlich thut mich verlangen (BWV 727) – Bach | |||
| 10am | Woosehill Church | Holy Communion | Revd Cara Smart |
| 11am | St Nicholas’ | Community Eucharist | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
Seven Deadly Sins: Lust
Bishop Mary preached an amazing sermon at Evensong last week on the theme of Lust, the first of our Seven Deadly Sins. Her sermon is available on the parish website and printed copies are also available at the back of St Paul’s.
Lucky Numbers
The March Lucky Numbers winners are:
£50 No. 76 Lyn Austen
£25 No. 98 Jane Bingham
£15 No. 58 Yvonne Pett-Ridge
£10 No. 86 Alan Harrison
Lucky Numbers raises money for the church restoration fund. Shares cost £2. For more information contact Tony Roberts at St Nicholas or Jenny Perris at St Paul’s.
BCP mass
Fr Sam has been exploring making some slight changes to the order of service for the 8am BCP mass to bring it closer in line with what is actually in the BCP. There are a couple of alternatives available: if you come to the 8am mass, however infrequently, your feedback would be warmly appreciated. The options are Option A and Option B. The content is (mostly) the same but various elements are in a different order.
Feedback or any questions to Fr Sam: rector@spauls.co.uk or 07440 338056.
Woosehill Magazine
The March/April edition of the Woosehill Magazine is now available to download or at the back of church.
Good Friday children’s activities
A children’s activity morning is being planned for Good Friday along the lines of previous years. We would be very grateful for volunteers to man the various stations. Please let Pauline Wells know if you are interested in helping – paulinewells@ntlworld.com
This week’s calendar: Lady Day
Next Wednesday 25 March is Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, when the Angel Gabriel came to Mary and she responded “Let it be with me according to your word.” This day used to be considered New Year’s Day as it marks the beginning of the story of our salvation.
It is always an interesting contrast when the Annunciation falls in Passiontide. In 1608 it fell on Good Friday itself and prompted John Donne to write his poem “Upon the Annunciation and Passion Falling upon One Day”.
Image: “The Annunciation” by Henry Ossawa Tanner
