Speak Lord: Through shadow and shade…

Living Eucharist

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘In those days, after the time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will lose its brightness, the stars will come falling from heaven and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then too he will send the angels to gather his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the world to the ends of heaven.

‘Take the fig tree as a parable: as soon as its twigs grow supple and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. So with you when you see these things happening: know that he is near, at the very gates. I tell you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all these things will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away…

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Taste and See: Goodness for us

Living Eucharist

Nourished by this sacred gift, O Lord,
we give you thanks and beseech your mercy,
that, by the pouring forth of your Spirit,
the grace of integrity may endure
in those your heavenly power has entered.
Through Christ our Lord.

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Prayer after Communion

The Eucharist is sacrament of the Sacrifice which is love for God and love for us. It is given to us as nourishment for our communion with God, joining us with Jesus’ worship of his Father and his service of humankind.

It is offered as an enabler of our living what it is.

It is offered for the beginning of the rest of our lives, that we might journey to God, and reach out to our brothers and sisters.

Detail of stained glass window. Southwark Cathedral. (c) 2016, Allen Morris.

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Taste and See: Living well…

Living Eucharist

In his teaching Jesus said, ‘Beware of the scribes who like to walk about in long robes, to be greeted obsequiously in the market squares, to take the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets; these are the men who swallow the property of widows, while making a show of lengthy prayers. The more severe will be the sentence they receive.’

He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the treasury, and many of the rich put in a great deal. A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘I tell you solemnly, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; for they have all put in money they had over, but she from the little she…

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Taste and See: Enough?

Living Eucharist

Elijah the Prophet went off to Sidon. And when he reached the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks; addressing her he said, ‘Please bring me a little water in a vessel for me to drink.’ She was setting off to bring it when he called after her. ‘Please’ he said ‘bring me a scrap of bread in your hand.’ ‘As the Lord your God lives,’ she replied ‘I have no baked bread, but only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug; I am just gathering a stick or two to go and prepare this for myself and my son to eat, and then we shall die.’ But Elijah said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, go and do as you have said; but first make a little scone of it for me and bring it to me, and then make some…

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Candidacy

Congratulations to Gary O’Brien, who is discerning a vocation to the Diaconate, and who was admitted to Candidacy* on Saturday.

* Candidacy is a recognition of a person’s readiness to continue in preparation for ordination to service.

More photos of the Liturgy at Oscott on https://www.facebook.com/oscottcollege/

Speak Lord: Generous giver…

Living Eucharist

Elijah the Prophet went off to Sidon. And when he reached the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks; addressing her he said, ‘Please bring me a little water in a vessel for me to drink.’ She was setting off to bring it when he called after her. ‘Please’ he said ‘bring me a scrap of bread in your hand.’ ‘As the Lord your God lives,’ she replied ‘I have no baked bread, but only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug; I am just gathering a stick or two to go and prepare this for myself and my son to eat, and then we shall die.’ But Elijah said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, go and do as you have said; but first make a little scone of it for me and bring it to me, and then make some…

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This week’s newsletter…

The full newsletter is available as a PDF below.

32 A4

Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA)

The Archdiocese hearing in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) begins in London on Monday 12 November, and runs until Friday 16 November.

The Archdiocese believes that the work being done by IICSA is of great significance and supports the aim of strengthening and improving safeguarding practices and cultures within the Church.

The welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults is a fundamental priority for the Archdiocese. Fostering a culture which has safeguarding at its very heart remains a key part of our work.

If you would like to speak to someone about safeguarding and the Church’s work, please call0121 230 6240.

If you would like to speak to someone independent of the Church you can contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.

Please pray with us for all victims of abuse, and for all those involved in the work of this important Inquiry.

Last weekend’s Pastoral Letter on this matter can be found on the Archdiocese websitehttps://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/

Speak Lord: Compassionate friend

Living Eucharist

My soul, give praise to the Lord.
or
Alleluia!

It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,
who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
the Lord, who sets prisoners free.

It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,
who raises up those who are bowed down.
It is the Lord who loves the just,
the Lord, who protects the stranger.

The Lord upholds the widow and orphan
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever,
Zion’s God, from age to age.

Responsorial Psalm for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Psalm 145(146):7-10

The Lord does great things for the benefit of his people – especially the poor, the most vulnerable.

He so often does this work through the saints…

• Where do you do the Lord’s work?
• Where else might you ?

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Speak Lord: heavenly Lord

Living Eucharist

It is not as though Christ had entered a man-made sanctuary which was only modelled on the real one; but it was heaven itself, so that he could appear in the actual presence of God on our behalf. And he does not have to offer himself again and again, like the high priest going into the sanctuary year after year with the blood that is not his own, or else he would have had to suffer over and over again since the world began.

Instead of that, he has made his appearance once and for all, now at the end of the last age, to do away with sin by sacrificing himself. Since men only die once, and after that comes judgement, so Christ, too, offers himself only once to take the faults of many on himself, and when he appears a second time, it will not be to deal…

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