A service to do at home.

Use the service for last Sunday see "tab" above but substitute the following:

Collect

Almighty God, who built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,with Jesus Christ himself as the chief cornerstone:so join us together in unity of spirit by their doctrine,that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; and aided by the intercession Saints Simon and Jude; we make this prayer through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,who lives and reigns with you,in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Readings for Saints Simon and Jude

O.T. Reading Isaiah 28: 14-16. I lay in Zion a foundation stone.

Psalm 117 Go out to the whole world: proclaim the good news.

Epistle Ephesians 2:19-22 In Christ you are no longer foreigners, but citizens like us.

Gospel Luke 6: 12-16. Jesus chooses his twelve apostles.

Reflection

Simon is eleventh in the list of the twelve apostles. He is known as Simon the Zealot but nothing else is known about him. His other name of “Simon Cananaeus” simply adapts another Hebrew word for zeal and has nothing to do with the town of Cana.

Jude also called Thaddaeus, is the disciple who at the Last Supper asked the Lord why he showed himself only to the disciples and not to the world. For many centuries he was scarcely venerated because people confused him with Judas Iscariot. He is the patron saint of lost and desperate causes.

The national shrine of Saint Jude in England is at Faversham in Kent and is under the care of the Carmelite order. Faversham any way is a lovely place to visit on pilgrimage.

The feast day of Saints Simon and Jude is the foundation day of the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield, Yorkshire, that trains men and women (incl. me) for the priesthood in the Church of England. The great thing about being trained by monks is they teach you how to PRAY so that you are well prepared for anything that will come at you as a vicar! It was a great grounding basis in spirituality.

Services and Church openings are exempt from the new restrictions that come into force from Monday 14 September.  We will therefore continue to open the church on Sunday mornings. The Parish Mass will be celebrated at 10.00 a.m and you are welcome to attend (please wear a face mask and observe social distancing).  The church will then remain open for private prayer  until 12.00 noon.

Fr. Edd Stock at Holy Trinity Sydenham – is continuing to raise money for families who are experiencing serious hardship due to the financial impact of the crisis – St Philips is supporting this important initiative and have made a donation of £500 – but individuals can also donate via the Citizens U.K. Lewisham website.  Over £12,000 has been raised so far.