#493 A troubling week

Image: the hanging pyx above the altar at Portsmouth Cathedral

Fr Sam writes

Last week, the Church of England’s House of Bishops issued a press release about the status of the Living in Love and Faith process, which discussed issues around relationships and sexuality, and in particular about same-sex relationships.

A couple of years ago, Prayers of Love and Faith were issued, which allowed blessings of same-sex couples to take place in churches in the context of Sunday worship. Work was taking place to allow such blessings to take place in separate ‘bespoke’ services. The process also explored whether clergy could enter same-sex marriages.

The House of Bishops decided to pause this process. The press release says that they have concluded that these changes would amount to a change of the doctrine of the Church of England and would therefore require a two-thirds majority in General Synod (the Church of England’s governing body). This majority is currently not present. The House of Bishops is returning to consultations and deliberations about the way forward; whatever steps they choose will not happen swiftly.

Along with many others, I find this profoundly upsetting. Our parish is committed to the full inclusion of all people in the Church (and, as a relative newcomer to the parish, I should make it explicit that so am I). I am upset that, once again, LGBT+ people are treated by the Church as a problem to be solved. I honestly have few words of comfort or consolation here.

But I would ask you to pray. Please pray for those personally affected by these decisions. Please pray for the bishops. Please pray for the Church of England, that God’s Church may truly embrace all God’s children.
And if you would have the Church change, please consider what you might do and what role you might play. Consider whether you might be called to play a part in the Church’s governance, perhaps as a member of Diocesan Synod or General Synod. Write to our bishops to tell them how you feel. I will be inviting the PCC to consider how we might corporately respond.

Above all, continue to have trust in God, whose love knows no boundaries and embraces everyone.

Thy nature and thy name is Love.

Fr Sam
Rector

This Sunday

This Sunday is the ‘last after Trinity’. After this, our eyes begin to look towards the end of the Church’s year with Christ the King and Advent on the horizon. The readings focus on honesty and self-knowledge. Our first reading is from Ecclesiasticus, where we are told the value of an honest sacrifice, and are given the startling statement that God ‘does not give partiality to the poor’. In our Gospel, we hear the parable of the Pharisee and the tax-collector, where the tax-collector’s knowledge of his sinfulness brings justification.

Services this Sunday

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.

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: not a lost cause

On Tuesday 22 October the Church of England celebrates two of Jesus’ disciples: St Simon and St Jude, who by tradition travelled to Persia and were martyred together there.

St Jude is a particularly interesting character because of his name. In Greek and Hebrew, it is the same as Judas Iscariot. He is known by the shortened version to distinguish him from the traitor. One name uniting betrayal and faithfulness: an image, perhaps, of the conflict of the human soul.

St Jude is perhaps best known as the patron saint of lost causes: nothing and no one is beyond the redemptive love of God.