During the past weeks there has been a very positive response to the provision of Daily Worship. I see this as a profound tribute to our Lord and evidence of a real and living faith within our community. I am conscious however that the times are still fairly limited re 8am, 9.30am and 6.30pm, although on a Thursday we have moved the Celebration of the Eucharist from 9.30am to 6.30pm, with Evening Prayer at 6pm, so as to provide an opportunity of Eucharist Worship for those who cannot attend Church in the morning. If you would like to come to the Eucharist (i.e. Mass/Holy Communion) during the week, and the published times are not practical, then please do not hesitate to let me know, so as we can arrange our patter of weekday worship, in a way that responds realistically to the Pastoral needs of the Parish.

It is also my intention in visiting the Factories, Schools, Shops, and other Work Places) groups, within our Parish (which constitutes the nest stage of my Pastoral Visitation) to make provision for ministry within the Church for those who come into our Parish for the purposes of their employment. This might take the form of a Eucharist Celebration, a Service of Prayer during the day, or simply having the Church open for people to come in during a fixed period of time.

Finally, I have been very interested in the great breadth of Christian tradition represented within our congregation. I feel that there could be a lot of value in setting up two study groups within the Parish, one during the day and one in the evening, where people could learn more about the Christian Faith, with a special emphasis on what Christians share in common with one another, while also seeking to understand more fully our differences. There is a great strength in sharing together in Unity, while holding a total respect for Diversity. I would also be very willing to invite a Free Church Minister, a Priest from the Catholic Tradition, and a Priest from the Orthodox Church to Saint Augustine's (on different occasions), to share in worship with us, to speak about the Community of Faith which they represent and to answer any questions. Please do let me know if you feel this would be helpful and something positive for us to share together.

Out of fear of not wanting to become boring I shall sign off for now

Neil
1st July 2004