More for Holy Week

A further update from Mark Wisbey:

In addition to my previous post, I would like to bring the following statement from the Bishop of Ebbsfleet to everyone’s attention:

“The Society will be issuing a series of short videos to aid devotion and prayer at home during Holy Week. The videos will be made available at the following times via The Society Facebook Page (https://m.facebook.com/thesocietyofSaintWilfridandSaintHilda).

Palm Sunday at 8am.
Maundy Thursday at 3pm.
Good Friday at 12pm.
Easter Day at 8am.Those who use Facebook are encouraged to watch them there and to share them so that they reach as many people as possible. However, it is also intended to subsequently post the videos here (https://www.sswsh.com/fullposts.php?id=284), for those who don’t use that platform.

The videos have been produced by The Society and kindly funded by both Forward in Faith and The Church Union.”

Palm Sunday and Holy Week

More information from Mark Wisbey:

This Sunday, 5th April 2020, is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week.  It is important for all Christians to keep a regular pattern of prayer during this time of social and self isolation, but even more so in this week leading up to Easter.

 For those who are not good with computers, you will be glad to know that at 10:45 AM on BBC1 (earlier than advertised) will be Sunday Worship from Hereford Cathedral.  The Very Rev Michael Tavinor, Dean of Hereford, leads a service for Palm Sunday.

At 1:15 PM BBC1 will be showing Songs of Praise.
At 8PM on BBC1 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will give an address to the nation.

 These programmes can also be watched on BBC IPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer

Fr Iain Templeton, Priest in Charge of St. Andrew’s, Walsall, will be live streaming Masses over the church’s Facebook page through Holy Week (https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Church/St-Andrews-Birchills-108982647183429/).  Mass will be celebrated at the following times:

Sunday 5th April:      10:30 AM, Palm Sunday with blessing on the palms
Monday 6th April:      10 AM – Mass for Monday in Holy Week
Tuesday 7th April:     10 AM – Mass for Tuesday in Holy Week
Wednesday 8th April: 7:30 PM – Spy Wednesday Mass
Thursday 9th April:    7:30 PM – Maundy Thursday Mass

 If you are having problems connecting to Facebook, then Shrewsbury (Roman Catholic) Cathedral has a web cam, which is in operation 24-hours per day.  All the information required to join in with their services is all on one page.  Simply look down the page at the times of their services, and click the live button above the web cam when the service you want to view is about to start.  The Cathedrals website is: www.shrewsburycathedral.org.

 On Tuesday 31st March 2020 my friend Michael Heathcock died after becoming infected by the coronavirus.  On Friday 3rd April 2020 local Walsall nurse Areema Nasreen died after contracting the coronavirus.  Many other local people have died or are ill.  Many local people can no longer work, and are living on reduced incomes.  Many local people are isolated.  All churches are closed.  There are many suffering in body, mind, and spirit, so it is important for us all to continue to pray, and if we can, continue to do good works, during this difficult period.

 

From the Gospel of St John

Jon sends this, from the Gospel of St John:

‘There was a man named Lazarus who lived in the village of Bethany with the two sisters Mary and Martha, and he was ill.

It was the same Mary the sister of Lazarus who anointed the Lord with the ointment and wiped his feet with her hair.

The sisters sent a message to Jesus, ‘Lord, the man you love is ill.’

On hearing this Jesus said ‘This sickness will not end in death but in God’s Glory’

Let us as a congregation now spread and with so many under isolation, never forget to pray for those known to us who are ill; give thanks for all medical and support staff facing and fighting this virus.

Please take care and stay at home as much as possible.

God bless,

Jon

FR Michael

From Jon Harcourt:

My thanks to everyone for messages, cards, phone calls and other means of expressing their kind thoughts following Fr Michael’s call to Glory.

Because of almost daily changes necessary at this time, I have left this email until the last minute re funeral arrangements. Fr Michael’s funeral under strict guidance and restrictions on social distancing will be private.

Please join with me in spirit at 12.20pm Thursday 2nd April, and think about the Fr Michael you have known and loved, as I say “goodbye” to him on your behalf. Perhaps light a candle.

May he rest in peace, and Rise in Glory.

Music at the crematorium:

IN: Jesus Christ is Risen today.

CURTAIN CLOSING: Nunc Dimittis. (The Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz, Austria).

CHORAL: There is a green hill far away.

FINAL: God be with you till we meet again. (Mormon Tabernacle Choir) to watch on YouTube – the one with the ladies in red dresses.

A fitting memorial service will held later in the year.

God bless,

Jon

*Please pray for those suffering from the effects of the coronavirus; for all sections of the NHS; care home staff; and for the bereaved.

Church of England Website

From Mark Wisbey:

DoorWhilst our churches remain closed, the Church of England is continuing to update it’s website with online resources. Whether that be audio versions of Prayer During the Day and Night Prayer, intercessions around mental health, or even online training to help us understand computers and mobile ‘phones better, all these resources can be accessed here:
https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-online

Hope

From Jon Harcourt:

“Let us today open ourselves to Christ’s life giving Spirit.

In this time of global anxiety and disturbance we cast our hope on Christ, asking for His patience

And grace to be courageous and faithful to him.”