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HOLY TRINITY’S NEWS
LAST WORD MONTHLY PAGE 1
THE LAST WORD KINGDOM 1 SUNDAY 2nd. NOVEMBER 2008
All Saints is observed on 1st November – a feast to remember and give thanks for all who have lived and died as
Christians, and especially those who are not remembered by name (including those who we remember as having
helped our own faith).
It is observed at a time when pagans (including modern neopagans, and Wiccans) observe various days. Samhain (usually pronounced “Sawin”) is partly a festival of the dead, and sadly has influenced the customs of Halloween.
The next day, 2nd November, is observed by some as All Souls’ Day, a commemoration of the faithful departed. This only makes sense if you believe that some dead Christians are still “being processed” and need help getting to heaven. Not surprisingly at the Reformation, Protestants found no Biblical backing for this, and merged this commemoration with All Saints day.
Nevertheless, All Souls keeps popping back! Our sister church in Tycoch was named partly as a Memorial to the War Dead. (The danger is the confusion of the Christian dead with those who died without faith). Elsewhere a number of pagan beliefs survive, including the expectation that the dead return on All Souls’ night and eat the food of the living.
What are we to believe? That those who die are in the hands of God, who looks for saving faith, and is always fair and merciful. We can appropriately remember and give thanks for those no longer with us, but should never imagine that our prayers will bend the justice of God – or be needed to awaken his mercy. As we give thanks and praise, let us beware of pagan belief creeping in by the back door! Our standard is the New Testament, which gives hope.
Andrew Knight
THE LAST WORD KINGDOM 2 SUNDAY 9th. NOVEMBER 2008
Thanks to all who helped give Sue a good send-
we have to consider how to work with just one priest. We will use Readers, the retired will fill in for holidays, Canon’s
duties and emergencies, but the regular rota we have to manage ourselves.
After much thought, and some dismay, the PCC has a draft to offer – not the last word, for we hope for positive suggestions. This, then is the best we have discovered so far:
8am 9.30 St P 11 StP 11 HT 6.30
1st Sunday
HC Family Service Sung Eucharist -
2nd Sunday
-
(Reader) Eucharist StP Choral Evensong
3rd Sunday
-
4th Sunday
-
5th Sunday
-
For “holiday time”: (August, Sunday after Christmas, Sunday after Easter) 9.30 in St Pauls and 11 in HT only. (Weds in HT only).
This is hard on several congregations -
Andrew Knight
