WWJD stands for What would Jesus do? and is intended to help the Christian consider a situation from the Lord’s perspective.

Of course, looking at things from differing perspectives is a good and laudable thing to do. And if that perspective is a divine one so much the better.

A student connected with St Chrysostom’s  felt it would help to see events, and consider decisions from other (including feminine) perspectives too.

And so our friend invites us to consider WWMD  What would Mary do? and to help us she has designed a poster to encourage us to consider this different perspective.

However, a design for a tattoo or underwear with WWMD is not under consideration – at present.

Then straight into school and just after 6am St Chrysostom’s School was live on ITV’s Daybreak Breakfast show.

Under Miss Michael’s leadership, St Chrysostom’s School has risen from being Satisfactory to become what inspectors have rated as ‘Outstanding’ a ‘Church school at its very best.’

Daybreak commented that David Cameron, the Prime Minister, has said that if inner city schools like St Chrysostoms can do so well then so can others.

Louisa James, from the Daybreak programme interviewed Miss Michael in the Reception classroom about the school. Miss Michael commented that strong leadership, good self evaluation and putting the pupils first lay at the heart of the best schools.

West Kensington

We are encouraging people to pray for God’s blessing on our homes this January.

The chalk blessed at our Epiphany mass at Church has travelled.

We had a special blessing ceremony of St Chrysostom’s School, and the school lintel was chalked above the main entrance. Our blessed chalk has gone beyond the parish.

Knowsley, Liverpool

We have entrusted it to the Royal Mail and it has been used to mark the doors of homes beyond Manchester. Here there are photographs of three different locations where our blessed chalk has been used.

Our blessings and prayers travel around the country and beyond!

Epsom

Have you seen the 20 + C + M + B + 12 markings anywhere? Let us know.

The sacrament of Baptism had a holy and intimate feeling as we gathered, a small group, around the font for Ayham’s baptism. The care and gentleness with which Fr Chris celebrated the sacrament helped make this a special moment for us all. The anointings, the baptism, the robing in white reminded us of our own baptisms and renewed our common faith.

Epiphany Benediction was wonderful, filled with prayer and cake! A few of us tried our hands at Epiphany cake, using recipes from Italy, Portugal and northern France.

Kings’ Cake, or in French Galette des Rois consists basically of pastry and frangipane. It was delicious and Yvonne’s extra ingredient of West Indian rum was the magic touch! Bolo rei, from Portugal, with a touch of Italian panetone, was especially delicious when dipped in coffee – or, on Sunday night, red wine.

Old and new friends celebrated the Epiphany in characteristic Chrysostom’s  style – beautiful worship, cake, and “laughter and good red wine.”

You can find the recipe for Galette des Rois here and for Bolo Rei here.

If you would like to join in with this tradition here is what to do:

A marked doorway of one of our family's homes

Using blessed chalk, (or if not blessed any chalk) either above the door, outside, or at the side of the door outside or inside, the markings 20 + C + M + B + 12 are made. 20 and 12 being the year, C, M, B being the intitials of the traditional names of the wise men, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, they can also stand for Christus Mansionem Benedicat, the Latin words meaning, May Christ bless this home.

If you prefer you may instead make a simple cross mark with chalk +

These prayers are used in our parish:

God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this home and all who live in it. Fill us with the light of Christ, that our concern for others may reflect your love. We ask this through Christ who dwells among us. Amen.

Loving God, may all who come to our home this year rejoice to find the love of Christ here; and may we seek and serve, in everyone we meet, that same Jesus who is your incarnate Word, now and forever. Amen.

If you use this to do a blessing of your home we’d love you to send us a photograph of the marked doorway.

Fr Ian writes:

The Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks, wrote an inspiring piece for the New Year in Saturday’s edition of The Times. Copies were given out on New Year’s Day at church and you can read it online by clicking here

Lord Sacks encourages us in the New Year to bless God, to love our families and loved ones, and to pray. Wise advice for us all.

I believe we have been blessed with many gifts at St Chrysostom’s and I hope and pray that during 2012 we will develop and use these gifts more and more. Let’s not hide our light! Let’s tell others and encourage them to join us.

We delight in our Catholic Anglican tradition at St Chrysostom’s. For us the Mass is central to our lives, love of Our Lord is a focus of our faith and joyful and rich worship is a priority.

Please read Lord Sacks’ article. For St Chrysostom’s people I’d like to add a postscript. At our 125th anniversary Mass a dear friend, Fr Mark Dalby, reminded the people of St Chrysostom’s of Hilaire Belloc’s words:

Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine,
There’s always laughter and good red wine.
At least I’ve always found it so.
Benedicamus Domino!

Along with blessing God, loving and praying let there also be laughter and good red wine at St Chrysostom’s in 2012!

Please pray this prayer which we said together at the Angelus on New Year’s Day:

God of all times and places, in your love you have brought us safely to the beginning of another year: Accept our thanks for the blessings of the past, renew our strength and courage in the present, and direct all our ways in the future. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord for ever and ever. Amen.

Each year at the Geat Easter Vigil at St Chrysostom’s we hear the wonderful Easter Sermon of St John Chrysostom read out. This Christmas, at the Mass during the night on Christmas Eve, Fr Ian read the wonderful Nativity Sermon of St John Chrysostom. Has this begun a new tradition?

The sermon begins:

BEHOLD a new and wondrous mystery. My ears resound to the Shepherd’s song, piping no soft melody, but chanting full forth a heavenly hymn. The Angels sing. The Archangels blend their voice in harmony. The Cherubim hymn their joyful praise. The Seraphim exalt His glory. All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead here on earth, and man in heaven. He Who is above, now for our redemption dwells here below; and he that was lowly is by divine mercy raised.

Bethlehem this day resembles heaven; hearing from the stars the singing of angelic voices; and in place of the sun, enfolds within itself on every side, the Sun of justice. And ask not how: for where God wills, the order of nature yields.

(Click here for: Nativity Sermon of St John Chrysostom)

The scroll which Olympias holds on the icon

It is St Olympias’ day today, and a candle burns in church in honour of this great supporter of St John Chrysostom.

We pray that we may be hospitable and generous in our faith as St Olympias was.

We pray that we may have courage to share our faith, and to come to terms with ourselves. (Olympias suffered from depression).

On our icon of St Olympias she holds a scroll. The words are in Greek. Could some kind person translate them, please?

The whole event was enriched by snow falling as the children walked to school – helping create a special atmosphere.

It was a lovely gathering, St John’s children are mainly of Muslim background, and we were delighted to welcome them into church and were so pleased that many parents came along too. The church was full, and there was a lovely atmosphere of joy and peace. It was a treasured meeting of christians and muslim people. Here are some things which staff or children said:

” I think it was a wonderful service, I felt very welcome and I think we
should go to the church more often” (Tesreem Butt, Yr 1 Teaching Assistant)

 ” The acoustics were excellent but I was really nervous saying my part in
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’. I thought it was a great way to end the
term.” (Shakil, yr 6 and Chair person of St John’s student council)

“The church is a wonderful place to sing” (Arika Yr 6)

” I really enjoyed going to the church to sing Christmas Songs ” (Mahira, Yr 6)

Isobel Booler, Head Teacher
” It was a fantastic end to the term; walking to the church in the snow
made it extra special. I was delighted that so many of our parents joined
us. The choir sang beautifully and the african drumming groups were
brilliant. Thank you to St Chrysostom’s church for making us so welcome “