Fr Kevin writes…
‘Jesus is
coming. Look busy…??’
Dear Friends,
One of my favourite places to stay is up in the trees with
the monks! No, not monkeys (!) but monks, for the monks of Alton Abbey
live together as a small Benedictine community, high up in the wooded hills of
mid-Hampshire.
One of the most striking things about being on retreat at
Alton is how everything has an ordered rhythm. The monks’ day begins, continues
and ends with prayer in some form or other in the Abbey church; in between they
work hard, rest and take recreation and, of course, eat…and they do eat well!
‘Solemnities’ are very far from solemn….as they cheerfully pour the alcohol for
all, including their guests. On Sunday little or no work is done; one day a
month every monk withdraws from the everyday monastic life on silent retreat;
then they get one day’s leave every month away from the monastery, and take
three weeks holiday a year!
This Benedictine balance to life seems a world away from the
whirlwind rush of so many of our everyday lives. If we are honest, too many of
us can end up driven by our own need of self worth, or by the need to earn
others’ approval, or even by the legitimate everyday demands of family or work,
or the simple need to earn a living. ‘I ought to be doing that’ or, ‘they are
expecting this of me’, we say. This driven-ness can even infect the way
we think and act as Christians, and we can too easily load quite unfair
expectations onto ourselves and others. Our driven-ness can also
give us wrong ideas about God. The tea
shirt I came across recently summed it up when it said, ‘Jesus is coming.
Look busy!’
Now, while it its true that Jesus has given us work to do
for him, and yes, it is true that one day we shall have to give account of
ourselves, perhaps we need also to remember that this is the same Jesus who
took his disciples off to a quiet place for much needed rest. We continually need to recall that we cannot ever earn God’s
favour, because we have no need to! In Christ’s coming among us and dying for
us, God has already done everything needed to make us acceptable to him. God
loves us because he loves us…not because of anything we can ever do!
This is what the Bible calls grace. Those monks seem really
to have grasped that, with the ability to enjoy God’s material and spiritual
blessings, and the freedom to work hard and then leave it…to rest well. We would do well to emulate
them, by scheduling proper rest into our lives.
Yes, we may feel our church life is busy, and there will be
much to do for God in the autumn. But part of Christian discipleship
involves learning how to balance work and play, and to rest in the rhythm of
God’s love: to take time out…and enjoy his blessings…of a holiday.
I sincerely wish everyone a restful summer and for those who
are going away…. a really good, happy and safe holiday.
With love and prayers,
Fr Kevin.
Notes from Fr Kevin
Dedication
Festival
Thanks to all who helped with the visits of the Rt Revd
Cornell Moss, the Bishop of Guyana, and also our young American friends with Fr
Patrick and other adults. Thanks especially to those who hosted in different
ways. It was All Saints’ hospitality at its best, and I know your
kindness is much appreciated.
Confirmation
Confirmation preparation will start in early September in
readiness for the Confirmation by the Bishop of St Albans in late
October. If you have not been confirmed and would simply like to find out
what is involved, then please do have a word with me. As last year, we
are joining with Holy Trinity and St Michael’s churches to run two confirmation
classes: one for adults and the other for children of 11 years upwards.
Back to
Church Sunday – 27th September
There are many who used to come to church but, for various
reasons, have dropped away and who might welcome and appreciate an invitation
to a service. Experience elsewhere has shown that this is an effective
way to draw folk back but it does depend on everyone
doing their bit. Please use the quiet during August to consider, prayerfully,
whom you would like to invite. Invitation will be available from the end
of August. Just think…what would happen if everyone invited just one other
person?!
A gift in
memory….
I wish to record publicly our thanks for the generous gift
of a silver lavabo jug and bowl, used for the washing of the priest’s hands during
Mass. This has been given in memory of Mrs Muriel Lowe who worshipped
occasionally with us when staying with family in the parish.
I am sometimes asked if a gift to the church may be made in
memory of a loved one. I am always delighted when we are able to
perpetual the memory of a relation or friend in this tangible, physical
way. The PCC have considered what gifts might be especially useful and
welcome; so I thought it would be helpful to provide suggestions here, together
with an indication of approximate cost today:
Green Vestments
c. £450
Red
Vestments
c. £450
Violet
Vestments
c. £450
Green altar
frontal c.£1500
plus
Refurbish white altar frontal
c. £1000
plus
Refurbish existing ciborium
c. £400
Silver incense boat
£200
Refurbish silver thurible
c. £600
Info point double sided
literature
dispenser £350
Purificators £13 each
Lavabo
towels £16 each
Please do ask me if you have questions or need clarification.
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Updated 23.7.10