Newsletter 23 April 2020
Hello again and greetings to all from your parish priest. Another week of glorious weather, and we can’t really get out to enjoy it. My sympathy to anyone who has not got a garden. More so I pray for any of you who is ill, and can’t get treatment because of the safety restrictions.
As I write, it is the feast of St George, a Turkish soldier who inspired several nations to adopt him as their patron, not least of them our own country, England. We are blessed in so many ways compared with other places in the world. All of us can offer our prayers (and our frustrations) at this time for the leaders of our country, for the
families of the thousands who have died, for the broadcasters who have so much responsibility, and for our neighbours, especially the ones we don’t particularly get on with. Some of these latter might be unhappy or in need.
In the readings for Mass this coming Sunday, we are treated to the story of another of the appearances if the risen Jesus, this time to two disciples on the journey to Emmaus. They only recognised him as he broke the bread with them, and they remembered ‘Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked to us and explained the scriptures to us?’ How the gathered believers must have welcomed this story as they shared in the Eucharist and listened to the scriptures in the early Church. Lacking the usual weekly gathering ourselves, we can perhaps appreciate the presence of Jesus in our homes and our very hearts, and perhaps experience more vividly the risen Jesus in our prayers.
“Therefore, overcome with Paschal joy, every land, every people exults in your praise,
And even the heavenly powers with the angelic hosts
Sing together the unending hymn of your glory, as they acclaim
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts”
More than ever it is a time for dipping into our missals or bibles, and hearing the joyful messages of hope preached by the apostles, and the encouragement given to those suffering because they had chosen to believe. All of us need to hear these things at times.
There is only one remaining intention for which I have been asked to offer Mass. I continue to pray on behalf of all of you, and thank you for the news and ideas you relay to me. Some of you have already found your favourite places for following services on the internet. There is a huge list of churches offering streamed Mass on www.churchservices.tv/timetable.
I am still available by e-mail and on the telephone and am always glad to hear from you.
Details as ever are on the top of this newsletter. I am trying to avoid attempting to think ahead, living and mostly enjoying each day as it comes. Melanie Robson has offered her services as a link person to put those in need in touch with all the amazing volunteers who are willing to help. Some people have asked about giving money. All the planned giving envelopes are set out in church ready for collection, but you can’t get at them. Peter Thomason can help you to arrange direct debits if you so wish. Do get in touch with me if you want their details.
Paschal joys to all.
Fr Tony Elder
