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PARISH POST BAG
The Church of England alive and kicking Rita and I attended Manchester Cathedral on the 28th July to observe 12 people being ordained priest. One of these we were especially supporting was Daniel Richards. For a while Daniel attended St. Peter’s to be instructed by Michael Williams our then Vicar prior to attending theological college at Durham. He was always accompanied by Rachel his wife. He also preached and conducted the intercessions. Apart from the personal interest what we saw was a packed cathedral involved in when the dear old C of E can really display its glorious heritage with the pomp that goes with it. The choir was superb, the Precentor’s intoning was very moving and we had three Bishops to conduct the Service. Canon Michael Williams delivered a very good sermon to the level we were accustomed at our Parish Church. The congregation singing was uplifting. I came away thinking there isn’t much wrong with our Church when it can unite as it did that evening. (but read the following section) As a matter of interest there were in fact three ordination services on the same day and in one, Celia McCulloch, the wife of the Bishop of Manchester, was ordained by the Bishop to serve as a curate in the parish of Cheetham, North Manchester.
Is the Church really united? I have been reading a lot just recently about the apparent schism in the church with views which have polarised about the ordination of homosexual bishops and the marrying same sex people in church. The conservative branch of the Church currently meeting in Jerusalem are opposed to these practices though the 300 bishops and archbishops do not want to split from the 80m.-strong Anglican Communion. In a statement they challenged the Archbishop of Canterbury. The new fellowship would return to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer and the 39 articles of religion, train its own priests and insist on more orthodox practices in its churches. Although the instigators claim they are focused on reform within it is said to represent the worst blow to church unity in the West since the Protestant reformation of the 16th century. The danger is that the Church could be split apart. I am making my views public by saying I support the stand being made by the conservative branch meeting in Jerusalem Let us get back to the basic tenets and support the biblical basis on which the Church was founded. The Bible says Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.
This has left me in a dilemma as I support the consecration of women Bishops.
Travel where you can I have written a full page article in this Newsletter to demonstrate that there are facilities around town to journey to far off places at a reasonable cost. If there are more facilities please let me know and I will publish.
Sitting in comfort I have heard a rumour that the PCC is considering providing the pews with cushions. Wouldn’t this be marvellous? Adding a little more to the piece about the Cathedral Rita and I sat for two and a half hours on plain wooden seats, and as a result we were so full of aches and pains the following morning to the point we could hardly walk so we could not attend the Eucharist at St. Peter’s on Sunday!
A celebration Much to my annoyance I forgot to write up an important date in the last month’s newsletter and this was to congratulate Joyce Partington on reaching her 80th birthday. This was on 6th July but better late than never. Well done!
Tackle only what you can achieve Be vigorous in differentiating between what is achievable and what is a waste of time. Then devote your energies only to those tasks you can achieve and pass on the others to someone else.
Postman David |
