Letter from the out-going Vicar Neil BunkerDear FriendsAt the time of writing we have just finished the Christmas and Epiphany Celebrations, and look forward to celebrating The Presentation of Christ in the Temple on the 2nd February, and Ash Wednesday on February 9th. In mentioning Christmas, I would like to thank all those who so kindly sent me Christmas cards, and indeed those who so generously gave me Christmas presents. It has been (and still is) an enormous privilege to be amongst you all, and I have been deeply moved by your generosity.During the Christmas Octave we experienced some very beautiful worship, and many parishioners carried out acts of devotion by visiting the crib and making use of the Holy Water, the Rosary, candles, and taking the opportunity for private prayer. On the Feast of Epiphany we held a very beautiful service using incense, and at the end, placed the figures of the 3 wise men with Jesus and his mother Mary, the shepherds and the animals having been removed. Following the celebration of the Baptism of Jesus on the Sunday after the Epiphany, we put the figures, and the Crib away for another year, and changed the Altar cloths to Green to indicate our entry into what the Church calls "Ordinary Time". this allows us a period for reflection on the early Ministry of Jesus, until we come to the beginning of Lent, which is marked by the Imposition of Ashes during the celebration of the Eucharist on Ash Wednesday. The origin of the season on Lent marks a time when in the Early Church, Christians underwent the final preparation for their Baptism and Confirmation into the church at Easter. It was also a time when those who had been excommunicated for grave and public sin would be readmitted into the Church (provided they were sorry), in preparation for participation in the Easter Liturgy. In a similar way Lent will also be a period of preparation for us, in Saint Augustine's. In addition to the Daily Eucharist, there will be some Devotional meetings including the "Journey to the Cross" and hopefully one or two schools of Religion. At Easter we shall celebrate the full Liturgy with the Eucharist at the Lords Supper, followed by the Watch of Passion on Maundy Thursday, the Solemn Liturgy on Good Friday, the Easter Vigil with the First Eucharist of Easter, and our usual three services on Easter day. We shall also be welcoming to one or two of our services The Archdeacon of Bromley and Bexley, The Venerable Paul Wright. Paul and I have known one another for many years going back to the tome when we were both students together at Kinds College London. I know that you will make him very welcome at Saint Augustine's, and I hope that you will all work and pray closely together with Paul in discerning the right person to become my successor.
Neil.
|
The above is the lead article from the parish magazine for February 2005.
Index of the previous magazine articles
If you wish to receive the full magazine it is available for a subscription of £3 per year from Mrs Mavis Bradley on 01322 338654 or email parishmag at sladegreen dot org