Thomasandbede.com



PARISH OF ST THOMAS OF HEREFORD, WEOBLEY HR4 8QS AND ST.BEDE THE VENERABLE, KINGTON HR5 3DWParish Priest, Fr.Simon McGurk, St Thomas’ Presbytery, Weobley HR4 8QSTel. 01544 318 325. Mob.07468 316231. R,C.Chaplain to the S.A.S. email (Parish) simon.mcgurk@ (Pers) sjsmcgurk@ Safeguarding Representative: Joanna Helme. 01432.760816 Hospital Chaplain: Fr. Patrick Lobo on 07568 669 300Parish Councillors: Pat Roberts (Ch.), Joanna Helme, Karen Lampitt, Andrew Palfreman, Kerry Poole, Stella Hurdidge, Keith White, Fr. Simon.. Finance Cttee: Jo.Helme, Pat Roberts, Peter Hereford. Accounts: Keith White.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Website: Go to the website, and click on ‘Contact’. Ian Campbell welcomes articles and photos. LIVE MASSES NOW CELEBRATED AT WEOBLEY & KINGTON. ‘ZOOM’ MASSES will also continue on Sundays at 11.00 until further notice, ID: 895 509 6618, PASSWORD: 857052 For the web-link see our website, ‘thomasandbede’. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------30th. WEEK IN ORD.TIME - ALL SAINTSSat. Oct. 31 Mass of 30th.Sunday, Kington 6.00pm – the parishSun.Nov.01 Mass of 30th.Sunday, Weobley 9.30 A-L, 11.00 M-Z ZOOM MASS from Weobley, 10.45 for 11.00. Mon. 02 Mass 10.00 Weobley Commem.of faithful Departed Brown envelopes for commemorative Masses are in the churches. Tues 03 Mass, Weobley 10.00 – St. Martin de Porres Wed 04 Mass, Kington 10.30 - St.Charles Borromeo Thur 05 NO Mass. – Feria . Fri. 06 Mass, Weobley 3.00 pm.– Feria Sat. 07 Remembrance Mass, Kington 6.00, Sun. 08 32nd, WEEK OF ORD. TIME. Remembrance Day Masses 9.30 & 11.00 + Zoom Mass at Weobley, 11.00. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------COLLECTIONS. Thanks to all who have continued their contribu-tions during this time. I know times are hard but the parish still needs your support. A plate will be at the back of the church where you ENTER. However, our much preferred and totally healthy option is that you pay by Banker’s Order. This avoids infection and helps us when you are away.PRAYER INTENTIONS Please pray for those of our parish or known to us who are sick or in need of special prayers: Kath Morgan,.Merryl & Chris Jennings, Kate Williams, Claire Burrows, Anthony Craig, Polly Greene & family, Rosemary Williams & family, Mary Baskerville, Pat Lyne, Baby Fiadh Conran (Downs & heart) John Fitness, Bo Wang, friend of Amoi Cochrane, Keith White, Erika Manley, Peter Hereford. We remember parishioners, relatives and friends recently dead. Robert Williams We pray also for Elizabeth our Queen, our country, for our Prime Minister and for members of the government at this very difficult time.Let us pray for our brothers and sisters in the United States as they prepare for an election with so many internal troubles. We pray for members of our health and public services who have died in the course of their duties related to Covid-19 or who are suffering from the virus: for police, public transport, post & refuse workers, shops, landlords, etc. We pray for our school children and college students that they may act responsibly, and we pray for all who are locked down.in Britain and other parts of the world. We remember all those of our parish whose anniversaries occur at this time. Josephine Wise (S.), Gladys Shirley (S.2002), Michael Cox (S.2012), William Bailey (W.), Frederick Ponsford (Th.) John Byrne (Th.’79), Betty Elliot-Smith (F.), Dorothy Ena Jardine (F.’95), Mary Banks (S.2005). DON’T FORGET THE FOOD-BANK: esp. Sugar, jam, biscuits, tin meat, pasta.. WEOBLEY CHURCHES TOGETHER* Remembrance Day service on Next Sunday, November 8th. will have to be held outside, at the war memorial with no procession and no singing. Further details to follow.* Bible Study meetings, to be held at Castle View (Jo Ware’s) on 3rd & 4th Mondays, beginning October 19th.KINGTON C.T. Remembrance service St.Mary’s church 10.00, Cenotpaph 11.00. PARISH FINANCE COMMITTEE. Members of the new Finance Committee met last Tuesday to decide their brief and to review our latest accounts. They will work with Keith White, our accountant and will liaise with Edmund Hayward the bursar of Belmont Abbey. RED BOXES. If you have an APF Red Box, could you please bring it to Church before the end of November so that it can be emptied and the money collected paid in. Thank you. P.T.O. SERMONETTEFirst Reading. With the coming of the prophets, from the 7th to 2nd.centuries b.C. emerged a clear sense of moral conscience in Israel. Not that it was lacking before but morality was judged simply against the letter of the 10 Command-ments. Keeping these, as we know, is not just cut and dried but requires much interpretation and reference back to the First Commandment, to love God and to love your neighbour as yourself. True love requires a profound sense of responsibility for our neighbour. To neglect this is to be complicit in his sin. Second reading. St. Paul to the Romans put the same message in other words. He repeats the first commandment of love. If we truly love our fellow men and women then all the other commandments are summed up in this commandment.. Gospel. Jesus follows closely on the words of Ezekiel. Morality is not just a private matter. Our sins, however private, are the concern not just of our neighbour but also of the whole community. A person who is sinning against himself, his family or his immediate neighbour is damaging the whole community. A hideous example today is the sexual abuse of children which has devastating consequences for the child, for their family, for their school and community and for the moral strength of perpetrator. the that is This weekend, we have the familiar story of Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah (or Christ). Peter is chosen to be the ‘rock’ upon which Christ will build his future church. There is consternation among the people as to who Jesus really is. Jesus ask his disciples plainly who they think he is. In his spontaneous way, Peter comes straight out with it: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” No argument. Jesus recognises that Peter could not have this insight from himself; it must have been his Father who revealed it to him. This is a sure sign that his Father has indicated to the Son that this is the person who must lead the evangelisation after Jesus has gone. The disciples don’t know where or how but they are soon to find out. The 1st reading from Isaiah is parallel in that it shows an unworthy leader of the king’s household, Shebna, who is sacked and replaced by a worthier man, Eliakim because he will be like a father to the people.In an age when we pride ourselves on our scientific achievements, particularly our conquest of space, St. Paul to the Romans paints gives us a more mystical vision of the cosmos, recalling to our minds the vast and impenetrable mind of God who provides it. We cannot we begin to understand why it is so. It is just God’s gift to us. CHURCH DIRECTIVES ON REOPENING DURING COVID-19Our churches are now ‘open for business’, i.e. Mass and sacraments. . Both our churches have been thoroughly cleaned with 99.9 anti-septic liquids, notices concerning liturgical and hygiene directives have been posted and after 4 months I hope that we are raring to go, Eucharistically.. 2 Stewards have been appointed to guide you on entry, to give you hand sanitizer, to note your name and address / email or phone. They will also guide you on exit with another gel-squirt.. Please note the latest seating arrangements at Weobley. Since we now have to wear face-masks throughout Mass, it is possible to reduce the ‘social distance’ from your neighbour. Please take a seat marked ‘USE THIS SEAT’. COUPLES / FAMILIES SHOULD TAKE A WHOLE ROW. There will be no communal singing or Bidding Prayers.. Arrangements for receiving Communion will be announced and will depend on the numbers present. After the blessing and dismissal, at Kington, please leave by the sacristy door. only. At Weobley, please leave from the back and out through the sacristy door. These provisions will probably last for a few weeks. FOR RECONCILIATION (CONFESSIONS) AND OTHER SACRA-MENTS, OR JUST A DISTANCED CHAT, ring 01544.318 325We remember the dead of our parish whose anniversaries occur this week: David MENTS, OR A (DISTANCED) CHAT, PHONE FR.SIMON 01544.318325 THE GOD WHO SPEAKS. In due course I will continue our Scripture notes but, for the present, it is probably more appropriate that we listen to what God is saying through our current tragic history. A continuation of our scripture notes.THE AGE OF THE PROPHETS. In the O.T. the word ‘prophet’ is often used of anyone who spoke the words of God, thus Moses was regarded as the supreme prophet for he was the one through whom God led the people to the Promised Land. In the age of the kings (c.1200-530 bC) , we read of later prophets who were religious advisors to the kings, such as Nathan and then Elijah and his pupil Elisha. Elijah was later referred to as the greatest of the prophets, who later appeared with Moses at Jesus’ Transfiguration.However, the real age of the prophets began shortly after Elijah when the kingdom was clearly split into Israel and Juda. They almost seemed to vie as to which had the worst kings, though Judah did better. The primary sin was following the false gods of local peoples or breaking the 3rd. Command-ment. Yahweh would send prophet after prophet to correct his people and to lead them away from idolatry, which included immolating their own children, and which was the main source of their defeats in the wars with their neighbours, Philistines, Syrians, Assyrians and Babyloniams, and not forgetting the old enemy Egypt.In our language today it is generally supposed that at prophet was one who foretold the future. That was sometimes so, but more importantly the prophet was the mouthpiece of God at any given time. ‘If you do not amend your current ways God will give your enemies freedom over you.’ The principal prophets before and during the Assyrian and Babylonian conquests were Isaiah I, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. More next week. DAVID AND THE TEMPLE. In Ch.7 or the 1st.Book of Samuel the people ask the prophet Nathan for a king like the other nations. Yahweh very reluctantly accedes. Saul is chosen who turns out to be a manic depressive. On his death, David succeeds him and is a great hero, the ‘ideal king’. At the height of his power, David protests to the prophet that he is living in a luxury “house of cedar” while Yahweh does not have house. David wants to build a temple, like the other nations. Yahweh is distinctly unfavourable, telling Nathan and David that he has never dwelt in a house before. From the time of the wilderness he has been a ‘travelling’ God, Nevertheless, He concedes again but does not allow David to build it because he has spilt too much blood in wars. His son, Solomon is commissioned to build it. From then on the temple in Jerusalem becomes the focus of worship, although when the kingdom splits under Solomon’s successor, Rehoboam, a separate temple is set up in Samaria which was not always faithful to Yahweh but favoured other cults too.During the succeeding centuries, c.850-540, The 2 kingdoms of Judah and Samaria ran in parallel, vying for who had the worst kings! Only Judah had 2 conspicuously good kings, Hezekiah and Josiah who both tried to redact and preach the Law of Moses. Both kingdoms were under constant threat from more powerful neighbours and it was during this period tha the prophets arose, sent by God to warn the people of their sins which were causing their own destruction. Most notable among the prophets before the Babylonian captivity The present liturgy of Holy Week and Easter are a modern revival of the Church’s ancient liturgy, as authorised by Pope Pius XII c. 1956, and revised by the second Vatican Council.The heart of the liturgy (though not the most popular!) is the Easter Vigil which is usually celebrated today around 9.00pm. on Holy Saturday, though more ‘correct’ churches would have it with the rising of the son, around 4.00am. on Sunday. The celebration, beginning around the most primitive energy source, fire, is not only about the rising of the Son of God but about his creation of all the elements and even the blessing of time itself. These are signified by the inscriptions on the paschal candle and its lighting from the primeval energy, fire. The candle is blessed and lit and incensed as the first symbol of rising. A varying number of lessons is read from the Old Testament to put the New into context.Finally the ‘Alleluia’ chant is sung anew and the Gospel of the resurrection is read. The people then reaffirm their baptismal promises and any catechumens are baptised. Baptismal water is sprinkled over all as an affirmation of our unity in Christ risen. The whole action is then completed by the act of Eucharist, or thanksgiving for all that has taken place from the beginning of time.NDAY shows a typical example of how a delirious crowd from ‘up-country’ can be swayed in just a few days by the city mob and their crooked leaders. The rabbi who so clearly taught the words of God, who healed so many sick and brought the word of God to the poor is marked out for death even before he arrives in Jerusalem.After reading of the palm gospel we have a reading from Isaiah. One of those known as the ‘Suffering Servant’ readings where the rejection of Christ is foretold 700 years earlier. The same theme is taken up by St.Paul professing the divinity of Christ who emptied himself of his divine status to become as lowly as we are. This is followed by the Passion narrative of St. Matthew, after which the Mass continues as normal.MONDAY, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY are normal ferial days.On MAUNDY THURSDAY we celebrate Jesus washing his disciple’ feet, followed by the defection of Judas, followed by Jesus’ giving us himself in the bread and wine which are the constituent elements of the Jewish blessing meal, or seder. The altar is then stripped in preparation for GOOD FRIDAY This begins with the prostration and readings on Christ’s divinity, followed by the Passion narrative of St. John. There follow the intercessions for the Church and the World, There follows the solemn adoration of the Cross. The service would normally conclude with the distribution of Holy Communion. Reading the Word. Notes continued.KING DAVID, the idyll of Israel. He was anointed King at the ancient cap[ital of Hebron but shortly captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites and established his reign from there. To this day it is seen as Israel’s capital. David was everything a people would want from their king: a successful warrior, an expansionist, faithful to Yahweh God but guilty of serious sins displeasing to God, especially having Uriah killed to steal his wife Beersheba who became by him the mother of King Solomon. David was artistic and a musician, and to him are attributed many of the psalms, especially Ps.50/51. .His son Solomon was precociously wise but squandered his gift on his harem. His father’s kingdom became weaker and his son Rehoboam, a man of no diplomacy, lost half of it to a rebellion led by Jeroboam who set up his throne at Hebron. From then on, the kingdom was divided into 2, Israel at Hebron and Juda at Jerusalem. It was a weak alliance at a time when big imperial attacks were being made from the east, Syria, Assyria, Babylon and Persia. I am sure you will realise that, despite your absence, the parish will still need your support.For those who give by direct debit there is obviously no problem.For those who give by gift-aid envelope, please find time to pass by either of our churches and put your envelope through the letter box.For those giving loose cash, please put it into an envelope marked ‘parish collection’ and put it through the church letter box. Thank you. The first 12 chapters of the Book of Genesis are pre-historical and contain a good deal of myth. That is, stories which are not less than true but so true that they cannot be expressed in ordinary language (like many epic poems.) After ch.12 we start to come across real historical figures, mostly verifiable by archaeology and concurrent manuscripts, stele, etc. Abraham comes across as the first truly historical figure. Abraham and his tribe were the first to put their whole faith in the one whom they perceived as God (El, Elohim – hence the Islamic Al, Allah), Abraham was commended by God for his obedience and was promised the fatherhood of a great nation – subsequently the Jews or Israelites (descendants of Abraham’s grandson Jacob or Israel). In Jacob’s time there was a famine in their land so many migrated to Egypt which was rich in crops. At first the Israelites were greeted with friendship but after about 450 years they had become so numerous as to be a threat to the Egyptians. The Pharaoh of the time tried various methods of extermination but one remarkable baby slipped through the net. See next week’s exciting episode. Following from last week, the one who slipped through the net was, of course, Moses who, though a Hebrew, grew up as an Egyptian and suited to lead God’s people out of slavery. Before that, however, he was personally called by God on Mount Sinai where God revealed to him his sacred name, ‘Yahweh’ – literally ‘I am who (I) am’. Through Moses was revealed the Torah, or Jewish Law which became the yardstick for their salvation until Jesus Christ. There are 5 books of the Law, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.. Genesis does not contain any actual legal code but is read as the prelude to the whole scriptures and especially to the laws. Exodus is the most historical book of Moses and the Israelites from their enslavement in Egypt, to their escape and establishment as a people under Moses and later his deputy, Joshua. Bible as we now have it is a kind of a library of different books, most written with different ‘publics’ in mind and certainly expressing the particular scholarship of the author or editor of any particular book. For about the last 200 years, scholars of all traditions have been applying a much more critical , historical and scientific approach to the various texts. If you have a bible like the Jerusalem Bible with good comprehensive notes, it is worth reading these. At the time of the Reformation, the Protestant churches sought to go back to what they believed to be the original Hebrew bible. They cut out many books belonging to what were known as the ‘apocrypha’: many of the Wisdom books, Judith, Esther, Maccabees, et al. They did not understand that the Hebrew text was only drawn up around 170 after Christ, whereas the standard text up to that time was the Greek Masoretic text drawn up from more original texts in Alexandria, Egypt, around 250 b.C. This also contained the apocryphal books. This may help explain why the chapter and verse references vary between Catholic and Protestant Bibles, though these numbers were only inserted in the 12th. century a.D. This week, try reading the first 3 chapters of Genesis and see if you notice a difference in style and message between ch.1 and chs.2+3.. Which do you think is earlier? Why?Get a taste of the Psalms with Following Moses and the reception of the Toray (Law), his chosen successor, Joshua, too leadership of the people (he who fit the battle of Jericho), after which Israel settled for a tribal system of government, each led by a Judge (the Book of Judges). This was quite democratic for its time but, given the nature of Israel’s neighbours, it came to be led more and more by unique strong men like Gideon and Samson until finally there was cry for a king to rule over all the tribes collectively, like other nations. Through his prophet, Nathan, God indicates his displeasure with the plan for He alone is their king and has ruled and protected them and given them everything. Nevertheless, He accedes to their wishes and he allows them to choose Saul, a strong warrior but a manic depressive. In his time David come to the fore by slaying the giant Goliath. Some introductory notes on the Bible. I suppose God could have chosen to dictate his story through one scribe at one long moment in time. Then we would all have a uniform vision of Him and no further discussion. Instead, He chose to inspire a whole disparate body of holy and not-so-holy people of varying cultures, over a long period of time to provide a mosaic of his being, his beauty, his mercy and his power. Many texts in what we call the Old Testament were based upon other ancient traditions and manuscripts from cultures far removed from the Jewish tradition. A large amount of the O.T. was derived from unwritten traditions emanating from such lands as Babylonia and Egypt and Persia, and many others whose religious histories were older than of Israel. The Author of the Letter to the Hebrews alludes to this when he writes in his prologue: “At various different times and in various different places God spoke to us by his prophets. Now in these last times he has spoken to us by his Son....” God also inspired writers of different talents and persuasions: Visionaries, Prophets, Poets and musicians, Historians, Lawyers, Apocalyptic writers and many others to compile this wonderfully document with something in it for allSt. Caesarius of Arles, one of the great Doctors of the early church, (5th.c.) realised that there was an imbalance in our devotions. He noted that when we see a fragment of the Lord’s Body fall to the ground we make all haste and diligence to gather it up. If a sentence of the Word escapes our mind we pay no further attention. Yet the Eucharist and the Word are the same Real Presence. `This week, see the enclosed summary of references to help you follow up this year of ‘The God who speaks’. As you will see, a lot of resources have been made available ‘on-line’. if (like me) you are not very good at ‘on-lineage’, then perhaps I can point you in an alternative direction. The most important things is that you read God’s Word (Bible) but this will need guidance. Bible. In past centuries, Catholics were not encouraged to read the bible personally but only under the careful guidance of a priest. This had the effect of making the bible a rarity and even somewhat suspicious,Meanwhile, our Protestant brothers and sisters were being encouraged to read the Bible, to interpret it and to live by it.Catholics, on the other hands, were encouraged to develop a devotion to the Eucharist and the saints. Many Catholics today feel that they were deprived of what their Protestant sister and brothers enjoyed. At the same time, many of our Protestant brethren are moving more and more to a faith in the Body and Blood of Christ. It is essential that by our reading and praying we join this spiritual confluence. Over the coming weeks we will be providing information of books and programmes to help increase your knowledge and love of God’s Word. ‘The God who Speaks’ website is .uk . Further information will follow. . “Let’s Talk Bereavement”. Short Course for anyone who has encountered a newly bereaved person and not been sure what to say or how to help. At Kington Parish House, Church Rd. Starts Jan.21st. Inf 01544 230525 or 231848, or office@.uk.NOT recommended for those who have themselves been recently bereaved.We remember the deceased of our parish whose anniversaries occur at this time: Bernard Elcose (W.’94), Lucy Torphreda Lady Ransford (F.’99), David Parrott (F.2001), DON’T FORGET THE FOOD-BANK. CHURCH DIRECTIVES CONCERNING REOPENING AFTER COVID-19We seem to be getting closer to the reopening of our churches as the pandemic appears to be on the wane. Our churches are now open for private prayer only. Regulations state that people should enter by one door and leave by another. At Weobley, entrance will be by the normal main door via the porch. Exit will be via the external door from the sacristy (where I usually stand to greet people after Mass). In order that we may use our churches safely, the following measures have been taken and the following precautions must come into practice.Both our churches, St. Thomas at Weobley and St. Bede at Kington, have been cleaned with 99.9 sanitizer, especially benches, door-handles and other tangibles. Hymn books have been removed and may be replaced by one-off printed sheets. To comply with (current) social distancing regulations, seats 2 metres apart have been marked in both churches with white notices saying ‘USE THIS SEAT’. Please only use these and do not move them.A bottle of 99.9 sanitizer will be provided at both doors, which must be used both on entry and on leaving.Because of the reduced church capacity due to social distancing I will have to celebrate 2 Sunday Masses at Weobley, at 9.30 and 11.00. To allow choice of times will only create more problems so, according to our parish census numbers, if surnames A – L would please come at 9.30, and M – Z at 11.00. If you wish to change your time then please make arrangements yourselves. Please do not ask me. There will only be one Mass at Kington, 6.00pm Sat..THE GOD WHO SPEAKS. In due course I will continue our Scripture notes but, for the present, it is probably more appropriate that we listen to what God is saying through our current tragic history. A continuation of our scripture notes.THE AGE OF THE PROPHETS. In the O.T. the word ‘prophet’ is often used of anyone who spoke the words of God, thus Moses was regarded as the supreme prophet for he was the one through whom God led the people to the Promised Land. In the age of the kings (c.1200-530 bC) , we read of later prophets who were religious advisors to the kings, such as Nathan and then Elijah and his pupil Elisha. Elijah was later referred to as the greatest of the prophets, who later appeared with Moses at Jesus’ Transfiguration.However, the real age of the prophets began shortly after Elijah when the kingdom was clearly split into Israel and Juda. They almost seemed to vie as to which had the worst kings, though Judah did better. The primary sin was following the false gods of local peoples or breaking the 3rd. Command-ment. Yahweh would send prophet after prophet to correct his people and to lead them away from idolatry, which included immolating their own children, and which was the main source of their defeats in the wars with their neighbours, Philistines, Syrians, Assyrians and Babyloniams, and not forgetting the old enemy Egypt.In our language today it is generally supposed that at prophet was one who foretold the future. That was sometimes so, but more importantly the prophet was the mouthpiece of God at any given time. ‘If you do not amend your current ways God will give your enemies freedom over you.’ The principal prophets before and during the Assyrian and Babylonian conquests were Isaiah I, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. More next week. DAVID AND THE TEMPLE. In Ch.7 or the 1st.Book of Samuel the people ask the prophet Nathan for a king like the other nations. Yahweh very reluctantly accedes. Saul is chosen who turns out to be a manic depressive. On his death, David succeeds him and is a great hero, the ‘ideal king’. At the height of his power, David protests to the prophet that he is living in a luxury “house of cedar” while Yahweh does not have house. David wants to build a temple, like the other nations. Yahweh is distinctly unfavourable, telling Nathan and David that he has never dwelt in a house before. From the time of the wilderness he has been a ‘travelling’ God, Nevertheless, He concedes again but does not allow David to build it because he has spilt too much blood in wars. His son, Solomon is commissioned to build it. From then on the temple in Jerusalem becomes the focus of worship, although when the kingdom splits under Solomon’s successor, Rehoboam, a separate temple is set up in Samaria which was not always faithful to Yahweh but favoured other cults too.During the succeeding centuries, c.850-540, The 2 kingdoms of Judah and Samaria ran in parallel, vying for who had the worst kings! Only Judah had 2 conspicuously good kings, Hezekiah and Josiah who both tried to redact and preach the Law of Moses. Both kingdoms were under constant threat from more powerful neighbours and it was during this period tha the prophets arose, sent by God to warn the people of their sins which were causing their own destruction. Most notable among the prophets before the Babylonian captivity The present liturgy of Holy Week and Easter are a modern revival of the Church’s ancient liturgy, as authorised by Pope Pius XII c. 1956, and revised by the second Vatican Council.The heart of the liturgy (though not the most popular!) is the Easter Vigil which is usually celebrated today around 9.00pm. on Holy Saturday, though more ‘correct’ churches would have it with the rising of the son, around 4.00am. on Sunday. The celebration, beginning around the most primitive energy source, fire, is not only about the rising of the Son of God but about his creation of all the elements and even the blessing of time itself. These are signified by the inscriptions on the paschal candle and its lighting from the primeval energy, fire. The candle is blessed and lit and incensed as the first symbol of rising. A varying number of lessons is read from the Old Testament to put the New into context.Finally the ‘Alleluia’ chant is sung anew and the Gospel of the resurrection is read. The people then reaffirm their baptismal promises and any catechumens are baptised. Baptismal water is sprinkled over all as an affirmation of our unity in Christ risen. The whole action is then completed by the act of Eucharist, or thanksgiving for all that has taken place from the beginning of time.NDAY shows a typical example of how a delirious crowd from ‘up-country’ can be swayed in just a few days by the city mob and their crooked leaders. The rabbi who so clearly taught the words of God, who healed so many sick and brought the word of God to the poor is marked out for death even before he arrives in Jerusalem.After reading of the palm gospel we have a reading from Isaiah. One of those known as the ‘Suffering Servant’ readings where the rejection of Christ is foretold 700 years earlier. The same theme is taken up by St.Paul professing the divinity of Christ who emptied himself of his divine status to become as lowly as we are. This is followed by the Passion narrative of St. Matthew, after which the Mass continues as normal.MONDAY, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY are normal ferial days.On MAUNDY THURSDAY we celebrate Jesus washing his disciple’ feet, followed by the defection of Judas, followed by Jesus’ giving us himself in the bread and wine which are the constituent elements of the Jewish blessing meal, or seder. The altar is then stripped in preparation for GOOD FRIDAY This begins with the prostration and readings on Christ’s divinity, followed by the Passion narrative of St. John. There follow the intercessions for the Church and the World, There follows the solemn adoration of the Cross. The service would normally conclude with the distribution of Holy Communion. Reading the Word. Notes continued.KING DAVID, the idyll of Israel. He was anointed King at the ancient cap[ital of Hebron but shortly captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites and established his reign from there. To this day it is seen as Israel’s capital. David was everything a people would want from their king: a successful warrior, an expansionist, faithful to Yahweh God but guilty of serious sins displeasing to God, especially having Uriah killed to steal his wife Beersheba who became by him the mother of King Solomon. David was artistic and a musician, and to him are attributed many of the psalms, especially Ps.50/51. .His son Solomon was precociously wise but squandered his gift on his harem. His father’s kingdom became weaker and his son Rehoboam, a man of no diplomacy, lost half of it to a rebellion led by Jeroboam who set up his throne at Hebron. From then on, the kingdom was divided into 2, Israel at Hebron and Juda at Jerusalem. It was a weak alliance at a time when big imperial attacks were being made from the east, Syria, Assyria, Babylon and Persia. I am sure you will realise that, despite your absence, the parish will still need your support.For those who give by direct debit there is obviously no problem.For those who give by gift-aid envelope, please find time to pass by either of our churches and put your envelope through the letter box.For those giving loose cash, please put it into an envelope marked ‘parish collection’ and put it through the church letter box. Thank you. The first 12 chapters of the Book of Genesis are pre-historical and contain a good deal of myth. That is, stories which are not less than true but so true that they cannot be expressed in ordinary language (like many epic poems.) After ch.12 we start to come across real historical figures, mostly verifiable by archaeology and concurrent manuscripts, stele, etc. Abraham comes across as the first truly historical figure. Abraham and his tribe were the first to put their whole faith in the one whom they perceived as God (El, Elohim – hence the Islamic Al, Allah), Abraham was commended by God for his obedience and was promised the fatherhood of a great nation – subsequently the Jews or Israelites (descendants of Abraham’s grandson Jacob or Israel). In Jacob’s time there was a famine in their land so many migrated to Egypt which was rich in crops. At first the Israelites were greeted with friendship but after about 450 years they had become so numerous as to be a threat to the Egyptians. The Pharaoh of the time tried various methods of extermination but one remarkable baby slipped through the net. See next week’s exciting episode. Following from last week, the one who slipped through the net was, of course, Moses who, though a Hebrew, grew up as an Egyptian and suited to lead God’s people out of slavery. Before that, however, he was personally called by God on Mount Sinai where God revealed to him his sacred name, ‘Yahweh’ – literally ‘I am who (I) am’. Through Moses was revealed the Torah, or Jewish Law which became the yardstick for their salvation until Jesus Christ. There are 5 books of the Law, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.. Genesis does not contain any actual legal code but is read as the prelude to the whole scriptures and especially to the laws. Exodus is the most historical book of Moses and the Israelites from their enslavement in Egypt, to their escape and establishment as a people under Moses and later his deputy, Joshua. Bible as we now have it is a kind of a library of different books, most written with different ‘publics’ in mind and certainly expressing the particular scholarship of the author or editor of any particular book. For about the last 200 years, scholars of all traditions have been applying a much more critical , historical and scientific approach to the various texts. If you have a bible like the Jerusalem Bible with good comprehensive notes, it is worth reading these. At the time of the Reformation, the Protestant churches sought to go back to what they believed to be the original Hebrew bible. They cut out many books belonging to what were known as the ‘apocrypha’: many of the Wisdom books, Judith, Esther, Maccabees, et al. They did not understand that the Hebrew text was only drawn up around 170 after Christ, whereas the standard text up to that time was the Greek Masoretic text drawn up from more original texts in Alexandria, Egypt, around 250 b.C. This also contained the apocryphal books. This may help explain why the chapter and verse references vary between Catholic and Protestant Bibles, though these numbers were only inserted in the 12th. century a.D. This week, try reading the first 3 chapters of Genesis and see if you notice a difference in style and message between ch.1 and chs.2+3.. Which do you think is earlier? Why?Get a taste of the Psalms with Following Moses and the reception of the Toray (Law), his chosen successor, Joshua, too leadership of the people (he who fit the battle of Jericho), after which Israel settled for a tribal system of government, each led by a Judge (the Book of Judges). This was quite democratic for its time but, given the nature of Israel’s neighbours, it came to be led more and more by unique strong men like Gideon and Samson until finally there was cry for a king to rule over all the tribes collectively, like other nations. Through his prophet, Nathan, God indicates his displeasure with the plan for He alone is their king and has ruled and protected them and given them everything. Nevertheless, He accedes to their wishes and he allows them to choose Saul, a strong warrior but a manic depressive. In his time David come to the fore by slaying the giant Goliath. Some introductory notes on the Bible. I suppose God could have chosen to dictate his story through one scribe at one long moment in time. Then we would all have a uniform vision of Him and no further discussion. Instead, He chose to inspire a whole disparate body of holy and not-so-holy people of varying cultures, over a long period of time to provide a mosaic of his being, his beauty, his mercy and his power. Many texts in what we call the Old Testament were based upon other ancient traditions and manuscripts from cultures far removed from the Jewish tradition. A large amount of the O.T. was derived from unwritten traditions emanating from such lands as Babylonia and Egypt and Persia, and many others whose religious histories were older than of Israel. The Author of the Letter to the Hebrews alludes to this when he writes in his prologue: “At various different times and in various different places God spoke to us by his prophets. Now in these last times he has spoken to us by his Son....” God also inspired writers of different talents and persuasions: Visionaries, Prophets, Poets and musicians, Historians, Lawyers, Apocalyptic writers and many others to compile this wonderfully document with something in it for allSt. Caesarius of Arles, one of the great Doctors of the early church, (5th.c.) realised that there was an imbalance in our devotions. He noted that when we see a fragment of the Lord’s Body fall to the ground we make all haste and diligence to gather it up. If a sentence of the Word escapes our mind we pay no further attention. Yet the Eucharist and the Word are the same Real Presence. `This week, see the enclosed summary of references to help you follow up this year of ‘The God who speaks’. As you will see, a lot of resources have been made available ‘on-line’. if (like me) you are not very good at ‘on-lineage’, then perhaps I can point you in an alternative direction. The most important things is that you read God’s Word (Bible) but this will need guidance. Bible. In past centuries, Catholics were not encouraged to read the bible personally but only under the careful guidance of a priest. This had the effect of making the bible a rarity and even somewhat suspicious,Meanwhile, our Protestant brothers and sisters were being encouraged to read the Bible, to interpret it and to live by it.Catholics, on the other hands, were encouraged to develop a devotion to the Eucharist and the saints. Many Catholics today feel that they were deprived of what their Protestant sister and brothers enjoyed. At the same time, many of our Protestant brethren are moving more and more to a faith in the Body and Blood of Christ. It is essential that by our reading and praying we join this spiritual confluence. Over the coming weeks we will be providing information of books and programmes to help increase your knowledge and love of God’s Word. ‘The God who Speaks’ website is .uk . Further information will follow. . “Let’s Talk Bereavement”. Short Course for anyone who has encountered a newly bereaved person and not been sure what to say or how to help. At Kington Parish House, Church Rd. Starts Jan.21st. Inf 01544 230525 or 231848, or office@.uk.NOT recommended for those who have themselves been recently bereaved.URGENT: FOOD BANKKINGTON C.T.. Until Jan. 7th. Christmas Tree Festival with various events and a super concert last Friday, Dec.6th. at St. Mary’s Church. BAPTIST CHURCH: “Let’s Talk Bereavement”. Short Course for anyone who has encountered a newly bereaved person and not been sure what to say or how to help. At Kington Parish House, Church Rd. Starting Jan.21st. Info 01544 230525 or 231848, or office@.ukWEOBLEY C.T.Epiphany service , Sunday Jan. 5th, 9.30 at the Methodist Chapel, before our Mass. Many thanks for your generous gifts of time and money to clean and decorate our churches, also to provide such lovely flowersIf anyone can cure this problem, please show me. Fr. Simonk. OUR PARISH AND CLIMATE CHANGE.During this time, could we give special thought to where we ‘are’, at home, in our parish, in our town, village or local community on the matter of climate change, thinking especially of developments since our last discussions: Greta Thunberg and the youth strikes, the Amazon rainforest disaster, nature and the pesticides, etc. Discussion soon. ................
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