Category: Saint George’s latest news

Remembrance Sunday is always held on the Sunday nearest to 11th November, Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of hostilities in the first World War at 11am in 1918. 11th November is also the feast day of St Martin of Tours – the soldier who became a saint. He served in the Roman cavalry in Gaul, but left military service at some point prior to 361. The story is related that when he was on duty one bitterly cold night he took his sword and, after cutting his soldier’s cloak in two, gave half of his cloak to a beggar on the roadside. Later that night Martin dreamed that he had given half of his soldier’s cloak to Christ.

We all know that our world today is existing in very troubled times. It is very important that we nurture our Christian hope in times like these. No matter how hard or threatening things become, it is very important that we continue to live our lives in hope. The central Christian message is a story of hope. God in the person of Christ was crucified – but God raised Jesus from the dead. What was true for Jesus, can be true also for us.

God’s inclusive love, as revealed to us in Jesus Christ, is what we are all about.  May God continue to bless you all as you seek to further the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ through love of God and our neighbour, as you live out that love here in the Eastbourne area and beyond in our very needy and troubled world. 

The prayer of consecration of the gifts of bread and wine ends with the words:  “Do this in memory of me.” ,These words were spoken by one who will never forget us, never abandon us, never overlook us. As our Lord remembers us, we need to remember him. His teachings. His miracles. His mercy. His example.

This is part of our prayer during this month of November as we remember those we love, those we have lost — but also remembering and praying for those we don’t even know. This year due to the trouble caused by Covid-19, in a departure from our usual practice of entering names ourselves of those we wish to be remembered please phone the Parish secretary, Jackie, and leave the names you wish to be added and I will ensure that they are added regularly during November.  As we pray for those we love in this month of November we ask God to increase our trust that all will be well. Our faith tells us that when we die we will be safe in the hands of God.

Let us now pause in silence for 2 Minutes as we remember all those who have died in war and also those whose names are in the Book of Remembrance.

…………………. 2 MINUTE ………………………

When the Irish writer Frank McCourt died, Mitch Albom, a friend of his, wrote: “Smiling is the best cradle in which to rock your memories.” So, as you recall your memories of those you love, do try to ensure that they make you smile.

Let us pray: May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Godly Play:  Godly Play is a creative and engaging way of praying with children, young people and even adults!  Telling stories helps us explore God’s story, Bible stories, our own story, and where we fit in to it all.  Are you involved with, or interested in Godly Play?

Join members of the Diocesan Formation Team on Zoom, on Saturday 21^st November at 10.30am.  Please contact [email protected] for booking information.

St George’s Book of Remembrance:  As usual the Memorial book will be placed near the altar.  However, due to the Coronavirus this year we will unfortunately not be able to invite our parishioners to add the names of their deceased friends or relatives.  If you would like your friends/relatives names added to this book please email or send to the office.

St Wilfrid`s Book of Remembrance: will be placed on the altar as in the past but you will not be able to enter the details of those you wish us to pray for.  Please contact Jean Barham-Wyatt by phone or email and she will enter the names for you.  Tel:  842824 and leave a message or email: [email protected]

Monday Nov 2nd is All Souls’ Day and Mass at St George’s will be 10am followed by Deacon John blessing graves in the Memorial Garden and then at Willingdon Cemetery.  Mass at St Wilfrid’s will be 11.30am.  Fr Rory will celebrate the Mass for St Wilfrid’s Community.   Please inform Margaret Piegrome on 870990 if you wish to attend the 10am Mass at St. George’s On All Souls’ Day.

Live Streaming of Masses:  St Wilfrid’s Church – Sunday 1st November 2020 and thereafter fortnightly.  St George’s Church –  Sunday 8th November 2020 and thereafter fortnightly.

This Sunday is All Saints Day and is the day on which we honour the memory of countless unknown and uncanonised saints who have no feast days in the Church’s Calendar. All baptised Christians who have died and are now with God in glory are considered saints. So, today, we thank God for giving ordinary men and women a share in His holiness and Heavenly glory as a reward for their Faith. We honour them in two ways: firstly by imitating their lives and secondly by asking them to intercede for us through Christ, who, as Timothy tells us in his first letter is the only mediator between God and man. The Church reminds us today that  we are all called to live in His love and to make His love real in the lives of those around us. We can all do this by living lives of integrity, truth, justice, charity, mercy, and compassion, sharing our blessings with others.

Three saints each gave us a guide to how we can follow the teaching of the Church. St. Teresa of Avila said: Recharge your spiritual batteries every day by prayer, listening to God and talking to Him. St.Therese of Lisieux said: Convert every action into prayer by offering it to God for His glory and for the salvation of souls and by doing God’s will to the best of your ability. Thirdly, St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) said: Do ordinary things with great love. Do something beautiful for God.

These are three sound methods which we can all follow in our endeavours to live the lives of the saints. The Church gives us over 300 days in the year when we can remember a particular saint. Every now and again the Church changes the calendar and a new saint is entered into the calendar. I want to suggest that we all create our own list of men and women who have been influential in our lives and so are worthy of being included in the calendar if there were enough days in the year. 

The following day is All Souls Day when we pray for all who have died— our loved ones, and also those people around the world whom we will never meet— that through the mercy of God, they will rest in peace.   There will be Mass at St George’s at 10am and at St Wilfrid’s at 11.30am. Following the Mass at St George’s I will bless the graves in the Memorial garden and then at Willingdon Cemetery. I go to all graves, including those of ashes, I know about and all those of which I have been told. Anyone is welcome to accompany me. At each grave we say together the following prayer: “Almighty God, we remember before you today your faithful servant ……… may he/she share in the eternal victory of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” We then sprinkle the grave with holy water. If the weather is inclement we do all graves collectively from the big tree.  With my love and prayers for you all. DJ

Thank you very much for your donations to World Mission Sunday last week.  Your prayers and contributions will help missionaries work alongside communities throughout the world that are poor or in need, regardless of their background or belief.  Please pray for the work of Missio and all those working to offer the love of Jesus, that we may remain strong in our witness to Christ’s love for all peoples.  To continue supporting mission throughout the year, please go to missio.org.uk or call 020 7821 9755 (office hours).

St George’s Church:  As usual the Memorial book will be placed near the altar.  However, due to the Coronavirus this year we will unfortunately not be able to invite our parishioners to add the names of their deceased friends or relatives.  If you would like your friends/relatives names added to this book please email or send to the office.

The month of the Holy Souls’ is November and traditionally people have Mass offerings for the repose of the souls for friends and family.

Many of you will have heard that St John’s Seminary in Wonersh is to close in its present form. The Seminary has served the Church for 130 years and there is great sadness that formation must now end at the site.

Unfortunately there was no new intake this September. With the seminarian body numbering just 17 the community is small, with the building and staffing costs too high to sustain. Arrangements have been made for the remaining seminarians to join the community at Allen Hall, Chelsea in September 2021.

Archbishop John Wilson and Bishop Richard are committed to providing priestly formation that will serve the people of our Dioceses and parishes into the future. St John’s will remain a legal entity so that consideration can be given to the ways in which the tradition of priestly formation established at Wonersh in 1891 will continue.

The Trustees of St John’s are extremely grateful to rectors, staff and seminarians, past and present, and to all those who have supported the Seminary over the years. We ask our Diocesan church family to pray for vocations to the priesthood, keeping our seminarians in their thoughts and prayers over the coming months.