Julie's Jottings for February

In a few weeks’ time, we will arrive at Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.  Lent holds both cultural and religious significance, Many will see this as a time to abstain or fast, and to clear the way to a more wholesome mental and spiritual life. For the church, this is time when we prepare ourselves for Easter, Christianity’s central feast.

At St Mary’s Church, those preparing for Confirmation on Easter Eve put themselves in the place of disciples as they learn about faith and how it connects with their life now. Others take Lent as an opportunity to reassess their commitment to living in service to God and others.

Traditional practices such as removing flowers from the church and not singing the Gloria help focus attention on repentance and self-examination. St Mary’s also offers opportunities for deeper reflection through study groups like the Pilgrim Group and a series of four Lent Talks. The first, led by Dr Karen O’Donnell on 19 February, at 7pm will explore “Where is God in Trauma?” and discuss how church liturgy can better support those facing trauma. Karen’s book ‘Survival’ looks at key themes of Lent and Easter such as forgiveness, anger, demands for justice and grief, and how the liturgy and practice of the church could be more helpful to those who have experienced trauma.

Laurentius, a newcomer to Christian faith was asked by St Augustine for a simple guidebook of the Christian faith.  St Augustine summed it up in three words, faith, hope, and love. Love for St Augustine was not just a feeling, but loving action.   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Rev Julie Norris        

Reflection for February

Every week, we pray for Charles our King. And that his kingdom might be marked by quietness and godliness, by the true and fair administration of justice, and by the maintenance of true religion and virtue. We yearn to live in such a kingdom on earth.
 
And every week, we pray for the coming of a greater kingdom, the Kingdom of God. For the coming kingdom which will be marked by peace, by the living presence of God. For the coming of the kingdom of which Isaiah spoke when he said “They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
 
But more than that, for the coming time when God will be with us.“For he is our peace,” as St Paul says. That kingdom will be built on the foundation of Christ the living stone, on which we will be built into “a spiritual house, a holy priesthood.” For that kingdom will not just be marked by the absence of war, but by the presence of peace; not just by the absence of oppression, but by the presence of justice; not just by the absence of darkness, but by the presence of light.
 
Prayer
We pray for peace in our world,
for the laying down of weapons,
for all peoples of the earth to walk in your ways,
for all rulers to wait before you in silence.
Open the gates of righteousness
that your pilgrim people may enter
and be built into a living temple
on the corner-stone of our salvation,
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.                                                 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Rev Chris Shore