#521 Eagerly I seek you
Fr Sam writes
I have had the Psalms much on my mind this week. Partly this is because of preparations for the Quiet Day in a month’s time. Partly it is because I went to the Holt last week to play Psalm Consequences with their Christian Union. And partly it is because the Psalms are the bedrock of my prayer life, bookending the day at Morning and Evening Prayer, and often providing me with the words to pray in between.
Do take a look at the quiet day on 17 June and maybe take a look at a psalm, read it, and sit with it for a while. I’d suggest Psalm 42 might be a good place to start.
Image: Miniature of King David from the Daskal Philip Psalter
This Sunday: he is gone
This Sunday stands in the gap between Ascension Day, when we commemmorated Jesus’ ascension into Heaven, and Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down on the first disciples and filled them with life. We pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit to fill us with that life and joy.
In our first reading, we hear of Jesus’ Ascension and then of the election of St Matthias, who took the place of the traitor Judas Iscariot among the Twelve (Acts 1.6-14). Our Gospel reading comes from the Last Supper, with what is known as the High Priestly Prayer, where Jesus prays for his disciples as he is about to leave them (John 17.1-11).
Image: The Last Supper by Duccio di Buoninsegna
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 prelude: Prologue on ‘Ascension’ – Willan Anthem: If ye love me, keep my commandments – Wilby Voluntary: Grand chœur pour l’Ascension (Solemnis haec festivitas) – Marty | |||
| 10am | Woosehill Church | Morning Worship | Revd Cara Smart |
| 11am | St Nicholas’ | Community Eucharist | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
| 12.30pm | St Paul’s | Holy Baptism | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
| 6.15pm | St Paul’s | Choral Evensong with sermon | Fr Sam Tanna-Korn |
Greed
This Sunday is the next in our sermon series on the Seven Deadly Sins. Sarah Edwards, an ordinand and the Executive Director of the JustMoney Movement, is preaching on the topic of Greed.
Exploring the BCP
This Sunday, the sermon at the 8am mass will focus on the theology of the Book of Common Prayer communion service. We will look at two options for how we order this service, and the theological emphasis that each gives. Hopefully this will help us to choose which one will suit us best. If you are interested in this service, do try to be there!
Christian Aid coffee morning
This Saturday 16 May is the Christian Aid Coffee Morning, which takes place between 10.45 and 12.45 in the Parish Rooms. We welcome donations of books in good condition, items for raffle prizes and cakes to be sold on the cake stall. Please give contributions to stall holders at the start of the event.
Eagerly I seek you
The next parish quiet day will take place on Wednesday 17 June between 10am and 4pm. It will be at St James Finchampstead and will be led by Fr Sam. The theme is “Eagerly I seek you: Praying with the Psalms”. If you are interested, speak to Fr Sam or email Mary Cassidy mary.cassidy@spauls.org.uk
Tea and coffee are provided, but please bring your own lunch.
This week’s calendar: chosen by lot
Tomorrow, Friday 15 May, is the feast day of St Matthias, who was chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot among the Twelve Disciples. It is the only occasion he appears in scripture, a fact which prompted the theologian Eric Mascall to write this poem:
When Judas left, in ultimate disgrace,
Explosively, and went to his own place,
The eleven solved their problem in a trice
And filled the vacancy by casting dice.
They hailed Matthias’ apostolic reign
And no one ever heard of him again.
Image: Saint Matthias by Jusepe de Ribera
