Clifton Diocese in partnership with ‘Light of Truth’ are offering a Lenten retreat: ‘Transformed by Love’ in six online sessions, contemplating God’s grace at work in the lives of six persons, through scripture and artworks. The six sessions begin at 7.30pm on a Tuesday evening:
20 February, 27 February, 5 March, 12 March, 19 March, 26 March.
Read MoreSo today we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus. The Christmas season has now ended and we are starting Ordinary time.
Why did Jesus needed to be baptised? He was fully God and fully human but he never sinned. Mary was the only other human never to have sinned. But in the baptism of Jesus just as the Israelites were liberated from slavery in Egypt Jesus now liberates us from the slavery of sin.
If you remember in the Exodus there was a journey through the parted waters of the Red Sea to an earthly promised land with the help of Moses. However, in this baptism of Jesus, this New Exodus, we have a parting of the clouds and our final destination is into a heavenly promised land which will now be made possible through Jesus who is the New Moses.
Read MoreJust to remind you that:
• The Christmas ‘feast’ ends on the feast of Mary, the Mother of God, on January 1st. Which is usually 8 days.
• The end of the Christmas ‘season’ is today at Epiphany, which means that we have had at least 12 days of Christmas.
• However the official end of the ‘liturgical Christmas season’ is on the Baptism of Our Lord after which Ordinary Time begins. So we keep our nativity scene displayed to this day.
• Though many Churches keep their crib up until the Presentation of Our Lord which is 2nd February. I think that’s a lovely tradition to follow.
Read MoreThe council of Ephesus agreed that Mary is the true God bearer in the year 43l.
So Mary is not simply the mother of Jesus but is truly the mother of God. Now when the Church proclaims something like this about Mary it's not really about Mary it's so that the Church can safeguard some truths about Jesus.
In this case it is safeguarding the truth that Jesus is fully human and fully divine at the same time. The Church was going through some difficulties due to some people suggesting that Jesus couldn't be both of these at the same time. So in order to safeguard these truths about Jesus this proclamation was made about Mary - that she was Mother of God. So Mary is the patron saint of safeguarding too!
Read MoreToday we have the famous prologue from Johns Gospel. Matthew and Mark speak all about the birth of Christ in time in a manger in a stable yet John goes back further and speaks about Christ existing from all eternity.
In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.
When we speak words to another person we also tell something of ourselves. Who we are as a person cannot be separated from how we communicate when we speak words to another. But it is only in a restrictive way because of our human nature.
Read MoreOn today’s feast of the nativity of the Lord we celebrate Christmas. Or “Christs Mass”. And Christmas is above all else a meeting.
It’s a meeting between the vastness of heaven, and the small fields of earth. Between the splendour of heaven, and the poverty of a manger, And between the choirs of heaven, and the silence of a dark Bethlehem night as the stars looked down.
On that night, the infinite power of God meets the vulnerability of a small baby. God, of course, had many options of how he could come into the world. He could have appeared as a Supreme king, or a clever politician, or a mighty warrior. But he chose to become the most helpless person possible – a tiny baby.
Read MoreToday we hear about the annunciation of Gods plan to Mary through the Angel Gabriel. This reading prepares us for the birth of Christ. We have Christmas because Mary says yes to Gods plan without having all the answers.
Mary was a young, humble woman chosen from all ages for this role. And who was Joseph? Well he was a poor carpenter and builder but also he was from the line of King David. He was actually a member of the royal family.
Read MoreFr Dominic and 10 members of the parish Men’s Group met at Gigi’s restaurant in Glastonbury on the evening of 21st December. There was much discussion about various topics including food, football, tattoos and pilgrimage! This was all complemented with a fine meal.
Read MoreToday is Gaudate Sunday. It’s the day that we light the rose candle and the priest wears rose coloured vestments. The only other time that this happens is half way through lent on Laetari Sunday. Gaudate means Joy and Laetari means rejoice.
So why are we joyful on this Sunday? well it’s to remind us that during this rather serious and sombre period of Advent we prepare ourselves spiritually for the return of Christ – not just as a tiny baby in a manger in a stable but also as a glorious king at the end of time. We rejoice that the birth of Christ is near at hand and Christmas will soon be here.
Read MoreOn 14 December Fr Dominic, the Choir together with members of the Healing Team from St Mary's visited the Glastonbury Care Home for their Christmas Carol Service.
Read MoreSt Mary's held their Christmas Bazaar on Sunday 10 December. There were mince pies and mulled wine available and an opportunity to purchase a special gift for Christmas on one of the many stalls. There were raffles and games and the annual Christmas Draw. Also cakes for sale lovingly made.
Read MoreWe light our second candle. Last week represented hope, this week represents love. All the candles of course represent the light of Christ coming into the world.
Now we actually have no idea what day Jesus was born on. But the reason why we celebrate the birth of Christ in December is because it’s at the time of the shortest day. It is to remind us that Jesus is the true sun who brings light into the world.
Each year, the second and the third Sundays in Advent centre on John the Baptist, reminding us that if we want to prepare well for the birth of Jesus then we need to listen to John’s message. He actually fulfils the message of the prophet Isaiah all those years before when he speaks of a voice that cries in out in the wilderness.
Read MoreToday is the first Sunday of Advent. It’s a time of waiting and anticipation as we await the birth of our saviour as a tiny baby in a manger in a stable on the 25th December.
As you know Jesus was not necessarily born at that time or in that month. Also we know that in Roman times one of the Emperors designated 25th December as a feast of the Sun God because it is around that time that we have the shortest day of the year and the longest night. (Which is actually 21st December I think which is less than 3 weeks away)
Read MoreToday is youth Sunday. We are reminded of how precious young people are in the eyes of God. We have a duty and a responsibility to lead them to the truth. How we speak and relate to them affects them for the rest of their lives.
Next Sunday is the first week of Advent and today is the feast of Christ the King reminding us that Jesus is the king of the universe.
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