calendar for february
TRANSCRIPT
20
WEB SITE
Do have a look at our
website which is :
www.annunciationchislehurst.org
The Parish is also on Facebook
where you can find recent sermons and
weekly bulletins.
This Magazine is produced free each month,
and is normally available on the last Sunday of
the preceding month.
Contributions are invited, although the Editor
reserves the right to decline or amend !
Copy date for the March edition will be Sunday,
21st February..
Please note that items should be sent by midday
on the copy date.
Did You Know?
Each year The Annunciation spends
about £1,000 on purchasing candles !
Did you also know?
The Cambridge Dictionary has named
“QUARANTINE” as its ‘Word of the
Year’ for 2020. Seemingly, during
the period January to October it was
the word most looked up, beating
both “pandemic” and “lockdown”, two
other words that also attracted
attention.
HOME COVID TEST !
1. Pour a large glass of red wine. Try to smell it.
2. If you can smell the wine, then drink it and see if you can taste it
3. If you can taste it and smell it, it confirms you haven’t got
Covid !
Last night I did this test 10 times and all were negative, thank God. Tonight I am going to
do the test again, because this morning I woke up with a headache and I feel I may be
coming down with something. I’m so nervous !
1
CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY
1 - M Feria (4th week : year 1) Readings Hebrews 11:32-40 Mark 5:1-20
Intention Universities & Colleges and their staff and students
2 - Tu THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD
Readings Malachi 3:1-4 Hebrews 2:14-18 Luke 2:22-40
Intention Our Parish & People 6.30 pm Low Mass
3 - W St Blaise, Bishop & Martyr Intention The sick
Readings Hebrews 12:40-7,11-15 Mark 6:1-6
5 - Th Feria Readings Hebrews 12:18-19,21-24 Mark 6:7-13
Intention The Additional Curates Society
5 - F St Agatha, Virgin & Martyr Readings Hebrews 14:1-8 Mark 6:14-29
Intention Our Local Schools
6 - S SS Paul Miki & Companions, Martyrs Intention The Church in Japan
Readings Hebrews 13:15-17 Mark 6:30-34
7 * S FIFTH ORDINARY SUNDAY (2nd before Lent)
Readings Proverbs 8:1,22-31 Colossians 1:15-20 John 1:1-14
Intention Our Parish & People
8 - M St Jerome Emiliani, Priest Intention Victims of Human Trafficking
Readings Genesis 1:1-19 Mark 6:53 56
9 - Tu Feria Readings Genesis 1:20-2:4 Mark 7:1-13
Intention Our partner parishes : St George, St Mary, St Augustine
10 - W St Scholastica, Virgin Intention Benedictine Communities
Readings Genesis 2:4-9,15-17 Mark 7:14-23
11 - Th Our Lady of Lourdes Intention All Marian Shrines
Readings Genesis 2:18-25 Mark 7:24-30
12 - F Feria Intention The Society of the Holy Cross
Readings Genesis 3:1-8 Mark 7:31-27
13 - S Our Lady on Saturday Intention The Unemployed
Readings Genesis 3:9-24 Mark 8:1-10
14 * S SIXTH ORDINARY SUNDAY (Next before Lent)
Readings 2 Kings 2:1-12 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9
Intention Our Parish & People
2
15 - M Feria Readings Genesis 4:1-15,25 Mark 8:11-13
Intention Penitents & Confessors
16 - Tu Feria Readings Genesis 6:5-8;7:1-5 Mark 8:14-21
Intention The worthy keeping of Lent
17 - W ASH WEDNESDAY Day of Fasting & Abstinence Readings Joel 2:1-2,12-17 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10 Matthew 6:1-6,16-21
Intention Penitence 10.00 am & 7.30 pm Blessing of Ash & Mass
18 - Th Lent Feria Readings Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Luke 9:22-25
Intention God’s blessing on our Lenten devotions
19 - F Lent Feria Readings Isaiah 58:1-9 Matthew 9:14-15
Intention All who work in and for the National Health Service
20 - S Lent Feria Readings Isaiah 58:9-14 Luke 5:27-32
Intention All in the emergency services
21 * S FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT Intention Our Parish & People
Readings Genesis 9:8-17 1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:9-15
22 - M THE CHAIR OF ST PETER Intention Pope Francis
Readings 1 Peter 5:1-4 Matthew 16:13-19
23 - Tu Lent Feria [Comm. St Polycarp] Intention Theologians
Readings Isaiah 55:10-11 Luke 11:29-32
24 - W Lent Feria Readings Jonah 3:1-10 Luke 11:29-32
Intention The Departed (February anniversaries)
25 - Th Lent Feria Readings Esther 12,14-16,23-25 Matthew 7:7-12
Intention Judges and Magistrates
26 - F Lent Feria Readings Ezekiel 19:21-28 Matthew 5:20.-26
Intention Those preparing for Ordination
27 - S Lent Feria Readings Deuteronomy 26:26-19 Matthew 5:43-48
Intention Those preparing for Baptism & Confirmation
28 * S SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT Intention Our Parish & People
Readings Genesis 17:1-7,15-16 Romans 4:13-25 Mark 8:31-38
19
NOTES & NEWS
CANDLEMASS
Tuesday, 2nd February 6.30 pm Mass
It will not be possible to
h a v e t h e u s u a l
Candlemass procession
this year, but we will
observe the Feast of the
Presentation as best we
can with a Parish Mass at
7.30 pm. Please note the time.
ASH WEDNESDAY
17th February
10.00 am & 7.30 pm
Low Mass with
Blessing of Ashes
The 7.30 pm Mass this year will not
be sung, and there will be
modifications to the method of
imposing the ashes, to conform to
current safety rules.
DEPARTURE
Father Richard Norman has announced his
intention to resign the living of the Parish of St
George, Bickley with effect from 23rd April,
2021.
Fr Richard has also announced that he then
intends to seek membership of the Roman
Catholic Church.
Please pray for him and for the people of St
George’s.
We will especially wish to uphold that parish in
prayer, as The Annunciation is in a mission
partnership with St George/s, St Mary’s
Swanley and St Augustine’s Belvedere.
Swanley
Belvedere
18
SOME SAINTS FOR FEBRUARY
ST BLAISE, Bishop and Martyr
3rd February
St Blaise was
Bishop of Armenia
martyred in the early
4th century. An
early legend records
that he healed a boy
with a fishbone
stuck in his neck and
in danger of dying.
This has made him
the patron of those
w i t h t h r o a t
afflictions, and the
custom of blessing
throats with two
crossed candles perhaps associated with
Candlemass is still practised. His martyrdom
is said to have been with a wool carding comb,
which has become his symbol in art, and he is
the patron of wool-combers. A connection
with sheep farming may be the reason for a St
Blaise holy well in the Bromley Civic Centre.
There is a St Blaise Avenue nearby.
ST AGATHA, Virgin & Martyr
5th February
Although of uncertain date,
St Agatha was probably
martyred before AD 500 in
Sicily, whilst defending her
virginity. Part of the torture
she suffered was the cutting
off of her breasts. The bell-
like shape of these has led to
her being the patron saint of bell founders and
bell ringers.
ST PAUL MIKI &
COMPANIONS,
Martyrs 6th February
St Paul and his 25 companions
suffered martyrdom at Nagasaki in
Japan in 1597. Paul was a native
Japanese but many of the others were
Franciscan or Jesuit missionaries.
Victims of religious nationalism they
were first put on crosses and then
stabbed with spears. Renewed
persecution broke out in 1613 and
from then on until 1859 no foreigner
could enter Japan. When the country
was opened to the outside world it
was discovered that there were many
thousands of Christians in Japan, in
spite of having no priests, and with
only the sacrament of Baptism.
SS CYRIL, Monk &
METHODIUS, Bishop
14th February
These two brothers, natives of
Thessalonika in the 9th century were
ordained priest and went to
Constantinople. They were sent as
missionaries to Moravia as they could
speak Slavonic. Their mission was
very successful and they did much to
promote the use of Slavonic in the
service of the church. Cyril became a
monk and died in Rome where he is
buried in San Clemente. Methodius
went on to become bishop of
Pannonia and later Archbishop of
Moravia. He died in 885, some 16
years after his brother.
3
VICAR’S LETTER
Dear friends, ‘It’s like déjà vu all over again’, as the American baseball legend Yogi Berra supposedly
said. Not that I have ever been a fan of that particular sport, but Berra’s words
encapsulate what a lot of us are probably feeling at the present time as we begin Lent
2021 later this month in lockdown conditions very similar to those that were abruptly
imposed on us almost a year ago last Lent. Here we go again !
At least this time, churches have not been obliged to close up to this point
(although many have chosen to), and worship at The Annunciation is continuing
more-or-less as usual, albeit with some adaptations to ensure the church is as
safe an environment as possible, and that we comply with official guidance.
And on that note, I do need to stress how important our compliance is : the
concession to faith groups is ultimately dependent on our practising ‘safe
church’; which means not only masks and hand gel, but also not mixing with
people from outside our own households, however counter to our usual habits
that it.
It goes without saying also, that you should not come to church if you have been advised
to shield, or if for any reason you do not feel safe doing so. Your decision will be
respected, and I will continue to make resources available online for those able to access
them. We have been lucky so far that no one has caught COVID through an event in
church, and we do not want that to change !
That being said, some practical decisions have had to be made with attendance at barely
50% of normal numbers. In particular, you will probably already know that we have
temporarily suspended the Sunday 8.00 am Mass. We have also cancelled the planned
joint celebration of Candlemass on Tuesday 2nd February; and while there will be
morning and evening celebrations on Ash Wednesday, 17th February, both will be said
services, the likely numbers not justifying a sung Mass in the evening. (There will also
be changes to the way in which the ashes are imposed, but that is for the day itself !)
Elsewhere in this edition of the magazine, Father David has proposed some ideas for
how you might observe Lent this year when so many of our customary activities are not
possible; and I commend them to you. In addition to his suggestions, I will also be
offering a four-week Lent study group online, as we did in Advent. This will be on
TUESDAY evenings (note the change of day) from 8.00 pm for one hour, and in the
interests of simplicity will run on the first four Tuesdays in March, 1,8,15 & 22. Details
will follow in the weekly notice sheet and by email to those on my address list, as well
as in the March magazine.
4
At its heart, Lent is about identifying with our Lord’s forty-day trial in the wilderness, so
that we might focus on those things which are truly essential, and resist the temptations
of self-gratification, power, and the desire to be praised by others. The traditional Lenten
disciplines of fasting, prayer, and works of charity, aid in that process of discernment.
And it may just be that the privations we suffer in order to defeat the coronavirus can
also be turned to good as we focus on what matters in our lives.
There is, of course, an important sense in which Lent is always, ‘like déjà vu all over
again.’ Because by our yearly observance of this sacred season we are reminded that
Satan does not have the last word ; and that just as Jesus defeats his wiles in the
wilderness, so he defeats him in the greater struggle of the cross, and emerges as victor
over all that lessens life as God gave it to us, in the resurrection. Yes, here we go
again ! But we do so in the knowledge of the resurrection hope, and the victory that
awaits us when out trials are over.
Your priest and friend,
Father Paul.
LENT APPEAL
A s usual we have designated a charity for our annual Lenten
appeal. This year we have chosen the British Red Cross UK
Coronavirus Response, who write on their website :
This is the most difficult test of the pandemic so far. It’s a critical
moment for many who are wondering how they’ll put food on the
table, pay bills and help family and friends who are vulnerable or
isolated. Some are trying to cope with loss of loved ones, and the
emotional strain that the pandemic has brought since March 2020.
Last year we reached over 1.5 million people in the UK in communities across the
nation, providing essentials like food, medicine and financial support, and sharing
information and resources to help people look after their mental and physical health.
Please help us with a donation if you can. You could change someone’s life.
Please make sure any donation you make is clearly identified as for the appeal.
17
THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST
From the Constitiution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council
C hrist is always present in his
Church, especially in her
liturgical celebrations. He is
present in the sacrifice of the Mass
not only in the person of his minister,
“the same now offering, through the
ministry of priests, who formerly
offered himself on the cross”, but
especially in the Eucharistic species.
By his power he is present in the
sacraments so that when anybody
baptises it is really Christ himself
who baptises. He is present in his word since it is he himself who speaks when the holy
scriptures are read in the Church. Lastly, he is present when the Church prays and sings,
for he has promised : “Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I
in the midst of them.”
Christ, indeed always associates the Church with himself in this great work wherein God
is perfectly glorified and men and women are sanctified. The Church is his beloved
bride who calls to her Lord, and through him offers worship to the eternal Father.
Rightly, then, the liturgy is regarded as an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ.
In the liturgy the sanctification of man is signified by signs perceptible to the senses, and
if effected in a way which corresponds to each of these signs. In the liturgy the whole
public worship is performed by the mystical body of Jesus Christ, that is, by the head
and his members.
From this it follows that every liturgical celebration because it is an action of Christ the
priest and of his body, which is the Church, is a sacred action surpassing all others. No
other action of the Church can equal its efficacy by the same title and to the same
degree.
In the earthly liturgy we take part in a foretaste of that heavenly liturgy which is
celebrated in the holy city of Jerusalem towards which we journey as pilgrims, where
Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, minister of the holy things and of the true
tabernacle. With all the warriors of the heavenly army we sing a hymn of the Lord’s
glory ; venerating the memory of the saints, we hope for some part and fellowship with
them ; we eagerly await the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, until he our life shall appear
and we also will appear with him in glory.
16
PRESS RELEASE WORLD DAY OF PRAYER ZOOM SERVICE FRIDAY 5TH MARCH 2021 10.30 am
“BUILD ON A STRONG FOUNDATION”
World Day of Prayer Zoom Service Friday 5th March 2021
10.30 am The small matter of a global pandemic hasn’t been enough to defeat our World Day of Prayer team. The 2021 Service is happening as usual on Friday 5th March at 10.30 am. It will be a Zoom Service to be watched at home on your computer. World Day of Prayer 2021 has been prepared by the women of Vanuatu, a cluster of islands in the Pacific Ocean to the East of Australia. These beautiful tropical islands were discovered by Spanish explorers in 1606. Captain James Cook named them New Hebrides. In the 19th and 20th centuries the islanders suffered exploitation of many kinds until they gained independence as a parliamentary democracy in 1980.
This tropical paradise has its dangerous side. The islands are prone to earthquakes, there are seven active volcanoes, and cyclones are common. Education is neither compulsory nor free. Physical and/or sexual violence affect about 60% of women and girls. We will be praying for the people of Vanuatu, especially for the women and their needs.
The women of Vanuatu have entitled their Service “Build on a Strong Foundation”, echoing the words on their coat of arms: In God We Stand. They encourage us to act upon the words of Jesus in the parable of the house built upon a rock.
If you wish to attend the Zoom Service, please send your email address to [email protected], adding WDP in the subject box, and you will be sent a link to the Service. Closing date for receipt of addresses is Sunday 28th February.
Please note that by sending your details you agree to their being held on file for the purposes of World Day of Prayer. Your details will not be used for any other purpose than World Day of Prayer communications.
We only have space for 100 participants, so DON’T MISS OUT! See you there !
5
POINTERS FOR PRAYER
W hen the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he gave
them the prayer we know as the “Our Father” or “The Lord’s
Prayer”. This clearly is a prayer which has divine approval
and is very familiar to us not only from public worship but also in
personal use. But there is a danger in this. The “Our Father” can become
so familiar that sometimes we can only vaguely listen to what we are
saying, and not enter into the full meaning. I want therefore over the next
few editions of this Magazine to have a closer look at this prayer, so that
perhaps we can re-focus our attention on the fuller meaning.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
We note first of all that this is always a corporate prayer. It is Our Father, not my
Father. We cannot have God all to ourselves : he is shared with everyone, and indeed
not only our fellow Christians, .for his fatherhood is universal. This can have many
implications, but at the very least it means that we are praying for many and not just
ourselves.
Then we see that Jesus invites us to address God as Father. In past ages this would have
passed without much thought or comment. But we live now in politically correct times,
and there is in some places a fundament distrust of fatherhood. It seems to reinforce
patriarchy and to denigrate the position and rôle of women both in the Church and in
society generally. Whether we agree with that or not it remains true that to remove the
references to fatherhood from the Bible would involve a total rewriting of large sections,
although I believe that there are a few who might go that far.
Asking children what they associate with fatherhood will probably produce answers that
suggest features such as protection, provision, defending, nurturing and loving. These
might be designated as strong qualities. Yet fatherhood also contains what we might call
softer or motherly qualities such as caring, supporting and cherishing. References to
God as mother are rare in Holy Scripture, but they are there. The prophets in particular
use imagery of God looking after his chosen people as a mother does her children. For
example Isaiah 66:13 “Like a son comforted by his other will I comfort you”, or Isaiah
49:15 “Does a woman forget her baby at the breast, or fail to cherish the son of her
womb ? Yet even if these forget, I will never forget you.”
I believe that we gain the full force of thinking of God as Father (and it is only an
analogy) if we allow him to have all the qualities of parenthood, both the fatherly and
the motherly, and to think of him as One who creates, protects, defends, nourishes and
above all loves each of his human children. It is not a competition between fatherhood
and motherhood.
6
To speak of God as One who is in heaven, produces some slight difficulties. Because it
could suggest someone who is distant from us, that is, he is not here because he is
somewhere else, namely a place called heaven. Yet we also know that God is
everywhere and that he is always with us. We speak of Jesus as Emmanuel, God with
us, and it is this same Jesus who tells us that to have seen him is to have seen the Father
(John 14:9). Our Father is not some remote figure, but rather a constant companion.
Where then is heaven ? Is it even a place at all ? Heaven is where God is and therefore
perhaps is not somewhere different from here. Perhaps we need to revise our thinking to
consider heaven as a state of being and not an identifiable location. With God we create
our heaven by being in and with him, living fully in the life of the Blessed Trinity.
Similarly perhaps we should think of hell not as a place, but a state of being without
God. It is almost as if there is a parallel universe which is nowhere different, but where
rather we see things differently.
Hallowed be thy name. The Bible places great emphasis on
the importance of names. To know someone’s name is to
have some sort of power over them. When a police officer
asks for your name it is more than idle curiosity. It is the
first step in having you under control. Moses demanded to
know the name of the Being who spoke to him from out of
the burning bush. He got the reply “I am who I am”, which is usually rendered as
Jawveh (or Jehovah). God’s name was considered so sacred that the Jewish people
avoided actually using any name for God. But we know Jesus (“God saves”) and he is
God with us.
To pray that God’s name be hallowed, is not an expression of desire but rather a
statement of fact. That which is holy or hallowed is something which is other,
something set apart and removed from the ordinary. We are not asking that God’s name
be made holy, but rather we are asserting our recognition that he is holy, already set
apart from us, whilst at the same time knowing that in Jesus he wants to draw us to
himself and allow us to share in his holiness.
In further articles we will explore how the Lord’s Prayer petitions for a coming
kingdom, for our daily needs, for mutual forgiveness and how we are to be given
strength to resist the powers of evil.
DASH
“Prayer is the conversation of a child with its Father, of a
subject with his King ; of a servant with his Lord, of a friend
with the Friend to whom he confides his troubles and
difficulties.”
(St John Vianney, the Curé d’Ars)
15
The benefit of life experience
A n elderly lady handed her bank card to the bank teller and
said “I would like to withdraw £10”. The teller replied
“For withdrawals less than £100, please use the ATM”. The old
lady wanted to know why. The teller returned her bank card and
irritably told her “These are the rules, please leave if there is no
further matter. There is a queue of customers behind you”. The
old lady remained silent for a few seconds and handed her card
back to the teller and said “Please help me withdraw all the
money I have.” The teller was astonished when she checked the
account balance. She nodded her head, leaned down and
respectfully told the old lady, “You have £1,300,000 in your account but the bank
doesn’t have that much cash currently. Could you make an appointment and come back
again tomorrow please ? The old lady then asked how much she could withdraw
immediately. The teller told her any amount up to £3000. “Well please let me have
£3000 now.” Smiling sweetly, the teller handed over £3000. The old lady put £10 in her
purse passed back the remaining £2,990 and asked the teller to deposit it into her
account. The moral of this story is.... Don’t be difficult with old people, they spent a
lifetime learning these skills !
Persuasion, Tactics or the benefit of life experience?
A n old man calls his son and says, "Listen, your mother and I are getting divorced.
Forty-five years of misery is enough." "Dad, what are you talking about?" the son
screams. “We can't stand the sight of each other any longer,” he says. "I'm sick of her
face, and I'm sick of talking about this, so call your sister and tell her," and he hangs
up.... Now, the son is worried. He calls his sister. She says, "Like hell they’re getting
divorced !" She calls their father immediately. "You’re not getting divorced! Don't do
another thing. The two of us are flying home tomorrow to talk about this. Until then,
don't call a lawyer, don't file a paper. DO YOU HEAR ME ?” She hangs up the phone.
The old man turns to his wife and says, "Okay, they’re both coming for Christmas and
paying their own air fares !
TWO CAUTIONARY TALES : HOW TO WIN !
14
1. Who wrote the Enigma Variations?
2. Andre Rieu lives in which city?
3. How many times is the snare drum struck in “Bolero”?
4. Which country is associated to the November holiday ‘The Day of the Dead’?
5. J F Kennedy was assassinated on 22 November 1963. In which US State?
6. Myndos Gate is in which country?
7. Sumo wrestling is the National sport of which country?
8. Emma Watson was born in which European city?
9. Which famous author created the characters, Long John Silver and Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde?
10. In 1902 Elizabeth Magie created the earliest version of which popular board game?
11. Which female served for 11 years as prime minister in the UK?
12. In 1859 popularised which scientific theory with the publication of his book “On the Origin of Spies”?
13. With the failed gunpowder plot which English King was Guy Fawkes attempting to kill?
14. How many moons does the planet Mars have?
15. Lachanphobia is a fear of which type of food?
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUIZ Just for fun : answers next month
7
CULINARY CORNER
WINTER HOT POT
4 pork chops
2 pig’s kidneys (sliced)
2 large onions, peeled and sliced
900g potatoes, peeled and sliced
1 tsp mixed herbs
1 tbsp brown sauce
Seasoning to taste
Pre-heat the oven to 160oC, lightly grease a casserole dish before placing the ingredients
in it in layers. Season to taste before pouring 300ml of cold water over the ingredients.
Cover and cook in the oven for approximately 3 hours. Serve with seasonal vegetables
Serves 4
BANK CHARGES
I am sure that you are now aware that we have been trying to minimise our bank
charges by encouraging donations by means other than cash or cheque. At risk of
becoming a bore on the subject, I thought it might concentrate minds if you knew the
amounts involved. Charges are made according to the amount of cash paid in and the
number of cheques. Apart from the normal fees for running the account, we can pay in
up to £2,000 in cash in a month without further charges. This may seem a lot, but we
could easily exceed that amount in a 'good' month, particularly if there is an appeal or an
event of some sort. If we pay in over £2,000 we incur an additional £15, plus 75p for
each extra £100 pounds over the £2,000.
If we pay in more than 20 cheques in a month we are charged 60p for each cheque, a n d
so to pay in 21 cheques would cost us £12.60.
The contactless giving device is being well-used and has already paid for itself. Now
bearing in mind that we will soon have our usual Lent Extra appeal, please consider
using this, or donating online or by bank transfer.
MJW
8
LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY
L ent begins with Ash Wednesday on 17th February. We keep the 40 or so days of
Lent to remember that after his Baptism our Lord spent 40 days and nights in the
wilderness as he prepared for his ministry leading to his crucifixion and then his
resurrection. In so doing we prepare for Holy Week and Easter.
The wilderness features many times in the Biblical accounts. The principal one in the
Old Testament is the 40 years the Israelites spent travelling in the desert from the
Exodus until their entry into the promised land. In the New Testament we hear how St
John the Baptist spent his life in the desert places, strangely attired and living on a diet
of locusts and wild honey.
Jesus went further, in that he spent his time in the
wilderness fasting, after which in his weakened state the
Devil tempted him to sin by making false use of his God-
given powers. We learn that Jesus was able to call on his
reserves of moral strength to resist the blandishments of our
spiritual enemy ; and we hope in Lent to build up our
strength so that our powers of resistance will be
strengthened.
The wilderness, of course, is not lifeless. Clearly there is
insect life (locusts and wild honey) and there is mention
elsewhere of wild beasts, all present in an uncultivated and
rugged terrain stretching over many dozens of square miles.
But it is undoubtedly a place where human resilience is put to the test and therefore
lessons can be learned.
In a sermon on the Baptism of our Lord, earlier this year, I shared the thought that we
should see the wilderness not just as a place of deprivation, but rather a place where we
can learn and grow. The Israelites did not need 40 years to travel from Egypt to the
River Jordan : even on foot 40 days could have been long enough ! No : their time in
the wilderness was a time of cleansing and preparation so that they would be moulded
into God’s chosen people, truly ready to enter the Promised Land.
In a similar way we should see our annual Lenten observance as an opportunity to grow
in faith, in love for God and neighbour, and to be strengthened as we await our entrance
into the promised land of heavenly glory.
It is, however, very likely that this Lent will find us with continuing restrictions as a
result of the current virus. This means that all the usual opportunities to have special
Lent services and activities will be at least constrained, if not impossible.
13
THE WAY
OF THE
CROSS
1. Jesus is condemned to death by Pontius Pilate
2. Jesus receives his cross
3. He falls the first time under the weight of the cross
4. Jesus meets his blessed Mother
5. Simon of Cyrene is compelled to help Jesus carry the cross
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
7. Jesus falls the second time
8. He speaks to the women of Jerusalem who lament for him
9. He falls the third time as he reaches the summit of Calvary
10. Jesus is stripped of his clothes
11. Jesus is nailed to the cross
12. He pardons the thief, acknowledges his Mother and dies
13. Jesus is taken down from the cross
14. He is buried in the tomb prepared for Joseph of Arimathaea
15. Jesus rises on the third day
12
W e always knew that the turn of the year would not be the magic switch that
lifted restrictions, enabled freedom to go shopping, watch and participate in
sport, socialise, travel, etc., etc. As things stand the future remains totally
unpredictable other than the fact there is not going to be any “upward change” for a good
while. We must be grateful that, as I write, churches are allowed to be open, The
Annunciation remains open : a good number of neighbouring churches have chosen to
remain closed for no doubt good reasons. As I have made my way through life I have
met people who have held the view that you can only be a Christian if you attend church
every Sunday. Not my view ! Worship and prayer are central to our faith, but when
going to church is not possible, all you need is somewhere quiet so you are not distracted
and can concentrate. To worship and pray in Church is hugely valued but to not be able
to attend church does not mean that we lose or damage our faith.
Nevertheless, the ability to mix as a Christian
community is also essential, and we have lost this part
of our living faith. But we can still show that part of
living a Christian life is to care about and help others.
In these strange times spending a few minutes each day
to telephone two or three people is hugely valuable in
showing that you continue to care. I randomly contact a
number of people, particularly those who live alone. I
also randomly contact others, some of whom I have not
been in touch with for perhaps a few years. It gives me
pleasure but more importantly it seems to give the
recipients pleasure.
As the saying goes, “don’t be a stranger”, the
opportunity for face to face socialising may be limited
but modern communications mean we can still socialise
and care for each other !
John Symes
AND SO IT CONTINUES !
PALMS FOR ASHES
If you are able to get out and about, you are invited to return your palm
crosses from last (and earlier) years so that they may be burnt to provide
ashes for Ash Wednesday. The glory of Palm Sunday becomes the peni-
tence of a new Lent. Sic transit gloria mundi !
9
Nevertheless the basic disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving can be easily
undertaken from home. Our growth in prayer can certainly be helped by sharing in the
offering of the Mass and if we are able to get to church that is fine, but following
worship on line and making a spiritual communion can also be valuable as an
alternative.
People also value the opportunity to take part in The Way of the Cross, by following our
Lord’s last journey from Pilate’s court to the place of execution and burial. But if the
public sharing in this devotion is not possible, it is always possible for us to make the
Way privately and you may find a web site where there is help. There is also further
assistance with this on page 13.
Last year we placed great emphasis on Bible reading, and I hope that this has continued.
Lent is certainly a good time to use the Bible to inform our prayers.
Many also appreciate the opportunity to share in Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in
order to meditate before our blessed Lord. This can be done at home we will make a
picture of Exposition to aid your focus. This will be published on Facebook. More
information on the weekly Bulletin.
Almsgiving is not just about money : it might be better
called works of love. We can be generous with our time ,
skills and energy as well. There are various practical ways
in which those able to get out and about can help others.
But in you are confined to home it can be generous to give
someone a ring or write a letter. This idea is explored also
by John Symes on page 12.
Having said that money is also important. Many charities
are suffering greatly as a result of restrictions over almost a
year, and would welcome a boost to their funds, including
the British Red Cross our Lenten charity this year.
Similarly, your parish church still has continuing outgoings
and income has been restricted, although people have continued to be commendably
generous. Many have suffered financial hardship in recent months, but there are also
those who have a guaranteed income and have had fewer opportunities to spend money.
A good Lenten discipline will be to have a careful look at your economic position and
make suitable adjustments to your giving.
There is always a danger when we are shut up and even perhaps idle (!) to be over-
generous with ourselves in the matter of food and drink. Let us use Lent to take
seriously the need for self-discipline in this area, and not just on Ash Wednesday and
Good Friday, the designated fast days.
We may be living in unusual times, but Easter will still come and in one way or another
we will be able to celebrate the new life in Christ. So that we are truly ready for this let
us engage fully in the Lenten disciplines.
Fr David
10
A JOYFUL CHRISTMAS
W e were humbly privileged, health wise, and that our church was open for us
to attend Christmas Eve Mass at 9.00 pm.
On entering the church just afrter 8.30 pm we were overwhelmed with the actual warmth
and vision of the interior, dressed for Christmas to proclaim our Saviour’s birth.
We would like to share our experience with all of our Church family and visitors, who
for various reasons could not attend the service.
The magnificent tree, lit with twinkling lights and decorated with shining baubles stood
proudly by the west door. The Crib, well-let and standing close to the Baptistery had its
tableau of well-known and loved figures, depicting the Nativity scene.
Each church window was glittering with white, flickering candles,
nestled between tiny red poinsettia plants, so lovely.
Larger white and silver floral arrangements graced the areas in
front of the pulpit and the statue of our Lady. An arrangement
was also placed by the side entry doors to welcome all who
entered the building.
So many “thank you’s” to express our gratitude :
The team who erected the tree and crib and our flower arrangers.
Our choir, Carole, Ted and Simon who with organist Francis provided us with the
music that indeed enriched our Service. We couldn’t participate as such, but
some people (no names mentioned!) could have been humming behind their
masks !
Special thanks to the team who prepared the church to be clean for us and re-
sanitized after the service in preparation for the 11.30 congregation.
Last, but not least, our celebrants, Father Paul and Father David and our servers
who provided such a special, reverent, Christmas Mass for us.
Our thanks to you all for a true Christmas gift.
Jenny South
11
HAPPY NEW YEAR !
T his is being written in that
quiet space between Christmas
and New Year when we often mull
over the events of the past twelve
months and wonder about the
future, although you will be reading
it in the February magazine, with
Lent not far away. Regardless of all
the problems that faced us in 2020,
there were some good things to
celebrate, especially the many acts
of kindness and thought for others
that we have all seen. I myself had
more than enough food and drink
over Christmas and New Year, all
provided by others, and I received
more cards and gifts than usual. Much effort was put into decorating the church, and
despite the understandably reduced attendance we received generous donations to
ourselves as well as for Welcare and the Food Bank. We are all aware of the work being
done by all medical workers, and praise is also due to the many others who continue
their duties in difficult circumstances – shop workers, postmen and so on.
Some have done well out of the crisis – courier companies and delivery drivers, online
retailers, printers, not to mention manufacturers of sanitising soap and face masks,
although I am pleased to say that I have not had any sense of profiteering.
While it would be wrong of us to be smug, we at The Annunciation can, I think, derive
some satisfaction from the fact that we were the first church in Chislehurst to re-open
for services after the first lockdown (silly word ; what is its opposite : lockup?). More
importantly, we, under Father Paul's leadership, and as always with the support of
Father David, provided as good a selection of Christmas services as was possible under
the circumstances, while other churches simply shut up shop.
It is regrettable that there has been a lack of leadership from the Bishops, and I fear that
this has just supported the view of many in this country that the church in general, and
the Church of England in particular, is irrelevant to the needs of the Twenty-First
Century. We think differently, and I hope that we will have opportunities to show it in
2021. We might even be able to celebrate our 150th Anniversary.
MJW