St Gabriel’s Brynmill – Holy Week Bulletin: a prayer and Gospel reading for the great days of Holy Week

(Click on the Gospel readings for the full text)

In the passion of Jesus we behold the total outpouring of God’s love (Mother Julian of Norwich)

April 5^th: Palm Sunday

Everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross: grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Gospel: St Matthew 21:1-11

Christ enters his own city to complete his work as our Saviour, to suffer, to die and to rise again.  Let us go with him in faith and love so that, united with him in his sufferings we may share his risen life.

Call to mind the palm branches the crowd waved and contemplate the humble kingship of the Lord, meek and riding on a donkey…meekness and majesty…

The Easter Triduum: the 3 Great Days

April 9^th: Maundy Thursday: the journey deep into the heart of God begins

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ has taught us that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters we do also for him: give us the will to be the servant of others as he was the servant of all, who gave up his life and died for us, yet is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Gospel: St John 13:1-15

Jesus had always loved those who were his in the world, but now he showed how perfect his love was.

Call to mind the bread and wine of the Eucharist and reflect on the total self- giving of Jesus: this is my body given for you. He opens his life to us without reserve or limit

The watch of the Passion: Gethsemane

Gospel: St Matthew 26: 30-56

Jesus said: wait here and stay awake with me.  We keep vigil with the Lord.

 

April 10^th: Good Friday: there was a cross in the heart of God long before there was a wooden cross on Calvary

Lord, by shedding his blood for us, your Son Jesus Christ, established the paschal mystery.  In your goodness make us holy and watch over us always.  We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Passion Narrative:  St John 19: 1-30.

Jesus said: it is accomplished; and bowing his head he gave up his spirit. Love’s victory is complete.

Gaze at a crucifix…and adore…allow yourself to be drawn into the love poured out upon the world.

 

April 11^th Holy Saturday: we journey into the fullness of Love’s victory

On this most holy night when Our Lord Jesus Christ passed from death to life, the Church invites her children throughout the world to come together in vigil and prayer. This is the Passover of the Lord: if we honour his death and resurrection we may be confident that we shall share his victory over death and live with him for ever in God.

Light a candle-which will be your paschal candle – and say:

Christ yesterday and today, the beginning and the end, alpha and omega.  All time belongs to him and all the ages.  To him be power and glory through every age and for ever. Amen

By his holy and glorious wounds may Christ our Lord guard us and keep us. Amen

May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.  Amen

By the light of the paschal candle-the Risen Christ- slowly read the scriptures:

Exodus 14: 15-15:1. Moses led the people through the waters of the Red Sea to freedom.  We are led through the waters of baptism to the freedom of new life in Christ

Romans 6: 3-11.  St Paul teaches us the meaning of Baptism: through the waters of baptism we die and rise with Christ; we are made partakers in his resurrection.

St Matthew 28: 1-10.  We greet the Risen Lord in the joy and beauty of his Resurrection.  Love’s redeeming work is done.

And wherever we are it is our Galilee, where we are called to be disciples, where we are called to keep walking, where we will always find that Christ has gone before us, a peacemaker in a world that has no peace, a healer in a world that is broken, a saviour in a world that needs to be saved form its selfishness, its pride, its violence and its greed.  Before we lose sight of Jesus, let’s find him again in the poor and forgotten, let’s find him in the breaking of the bread, let’s draw our strength, let’s find our forgiveness, let’s walk towards wholeness, the wholeness of life that he offers.  And though we may walk through valleys of despair and through times of crucifixion, we are never without this resurrection hope because we are the community of hope, the community of love, the community of Jesus ( Garth Hewitt: Pilgrims and Peacemakers)

 

May the Risen Christ bless you with his Easter gift of Peace

St Gabriel’s Brynmill Weekly Bulletin

Sun 29^th March   5^th Sunday of Lent.  Christ the Resurrection & the Life.

Prayer for the Week:

Most merciful God, who by the death & resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, delivered & saved the world: grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross we may triumph in the power of his victory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive & reigns with you In the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now & for ever.

Readings for Sunday’s Mass

Ezekiel 37:1-14  The exile of the people to Babylon is described in terms of death; their return home is described in terms of resurrection & spiritual renewal   ;  Psalm 130  a psalm of trust in the power of God’s love to raise us up;  Romans 8:6-11  It was the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.  Now the same Spirit lives in us  St John 11:1-45  By raising Lazarus from the dead , Jesus shows that he is Lord of life & death.  Resurrection is now.

Daily Prayer

Let us join together each day, in union with Christ our Lord, in a fellowship of prayer each morning & evening.  Join your prayer with the continual prayer of the Church in a fellowship which extends beyond physical boundaries & unites us with one another wherever we are & to Christ the Lord ‘who ever lives to make intercession for us’

You may like to use the following at the start of your prayer time:

Morning Prayer

Blessed are you, Sovereign God, King of the nations, to you be praise & glory for ever.  From the rising of the sun to its setting your name is proclaimed in all the world.  As the Sun of Righteousness dawns in our hearts, anoint our lips with the seal of your Spirit that we may witness to your gospel & sing your praise in all the world, Father, Son & Holy Spirit.  Blessed be God for ever.

Evening Prayer

Blessed are you Sovereign God, creator of light & darkness.  As evening falls, you renew your promise to reveal among us the light of your presence.  May your word be a lantern  to our feet & a light upon our path, that we may behold your glory coming among us.  Strengthen us in our stumbling weakness & free our tongues to sing your praise, Father, Son & Holy Spirit.  Blessed be God for ever.

You may find it helpful to have some sort of structured support for your prayers.  Church House Publishing (the Church of England’s official publishing house) offers a selection of prayer apps that you can download (iOS or Android) including ‘Time to Pray’ which is completely free.

https://www.chpublishing.co.uk/apps

 

Continue to pray for:

All working in the NHS & for all frontline carers; for those working to maintain the food supply-all farmers, delivery drivers, supermarket & shop workers; for those working in essential infrastructure; for teachers looking after vulnerable children & the children of key workers; for those whose jobs & income has been lost; for scientists working to produce a vaccine; for all the vulnerable

Keep in touch

By telephone, email, social media, parish website, St Gabriel’s Facebook.  Fr Mark can be contacted any time by phone-464011-please don’t hesitate to ring-& by email, mark.griffiths35@btinternet.com

(worship: live streaming  etc )

A prayer that may be said each day

Heavenly Father, in you we live & move & have our being.  Guide us  by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares &  occupations of our life we may not forget you, but remember that we are held in your gaze & enfolded in your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Your news and contributions

Richard Verge recommends this YouTube video clip of Eric Clapton, Luciano Pavarotti and the East London Gospel Choir singing ‘Holy Mother’.  https://youtu.be/x9uYu4R2nk8

Chris Luxton sends this (rather disconcerting) clip about the temporary Nightingale Hospital that is being created in London.  It certainly brings home the scale of the crisis.  Let’s hope we never see any more of it than this.

Chris also sends a prayer from Canon Arani Sen, Rector of St Olave Hart Street who is also the chaplain to the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners (97)

Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may rejoice in your comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.

Any news you would like to share, please email  or telephone Paul Reynolds, Fr Mark, Keith Rogers or Chris Jones

St Gabriel’s Brynmill Weekly Bulletin

Sun 22^nd March -4^th Sunday in Lent (Mothering Sunday): Prayer for the Week:

Lord God, whose blessed Son our Saviour gave his back to smiters and did not hide his face from shame:  give us grace to endure the sufferings of this present time with sure confidence in the glory that is to be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.

Readings for Sunday’s Mass

1 Samuel 16:1-13;  Psalm 23;  Ephesians 5: 8-14;  St John 9

Daily Prayer

Let us join together each day, in union with Christ our Lord, in a fellowship of prayer. Every day in St Gabriel’s Morning Prayer will be said at 8am and Evening Prayer at 6pm. Join your prayer with the continuous prayer of the Church in a fellowship that extends beyond physical boundaries and unites us to one another wherever we are  and to Christ the Lord ‘who ever lives to make intercession for us’

Intercessions

Pray for all working in the NHS and for all frontline carers; for those working to maintain the food supply: all farmers, delivery drivers, supermarket and shop workers; for those working in essential infrastructure; for teachers looking after vulnerable children and the children of key workers ; for those whose jobs and income has been lost; for scientists working to produce a vaccine; for all the vulnerable.

Keep in touch

…by telephone, email and whatever social media you use.

Visit St Gabriel’s website and Facebook page.

News

Any news you would like to share, please email  or telephone Paul Reynolds, Fr Mark, Keith Rogers or Chris Jones

A prayer for every day

Father of light, yours is the morning and yours is the evening:

let Christ the Sun of righteousness, shine in our hearts

and draw us to that light where you live in radiant glory.

We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

TO KEEP A TRUE LENT  by Robert Herrick
Is this a fast, to keep the larder lean
And clean
From fat of veals and sheep?

Is it to quit the dish
Of flesh, yet still to fill
The platter high with fish?

Is it to fast an hour
Or ragg’d to go
Or show a downcast look and sour?

No; ‘tis a fast to dole thy sheaf of wheat,
And meat,
unto the hungry soul.

It is to fast from strife,
From old debate and hate;
To circumcise thy life.

To show a heart grief-rent;
To starve thy sin, not bin;
And that’s to keep thy Lent.

Source: Herrick, Robert. Works of Robert Herrick. vol II. Alfred Pollard, ed. London, Lawrence and Bullen, 1891.

Thoughts after reading Robert Herrick’s poem

Is it Lent to give up cake
Then eye the biscuits on the plate
And take?

Is it Lent to see the need
To hear the plead
And turn away because we’re mean?

Is it Lent to see the shame
Of a queue of people for food again
And say, ‘They are to blame!’

Is it Lent to avoid the eye
Close your ears to the beggar’s cry
And walk on by?

Is it Lent to see the aged
Held prisoner as if caged
In loneliness, and you’re not fazed?