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.
