Dear brothers and sisters,
What a momentous few days we’ve had, with Joanna having joyfully taken receipt of the keys to our new church building in Rhydyfelin on Friday, a work party already in the building on Saturday, a committee visit after Sunday Liturgy and work today.
The generous donations of furniture and equipment from the local Methodist Circuit have been moved to Rhydyfelin, awaiting a new lease of life as the former Methodist Church now enters a new chapter in its life and history.
It is wonderful that people are coming forward to offer their time and skills, and we know that working shoulder-to-shoulder, the bonds of fraternity and friendship will be made yet stronger. Glory to God!
The building is in excellent condition, and everyone who has seen the video and photos that Joanna shared on WhatsApp have been surprised by the size of our new home and its wonderful state of repair. Congratulations have been pouring in from far and wide, and donations continue to come in, too, with 4K, excluding Gift Aid, having been donated since Friday!
Several of us have received numerous messages of congratulations from well-wishers, and Orthochristian has even reported on our wonderful milestone achievement.
We will soon, begin phase two of our fundraising, as we furnish the building to be an Orthodox temple, with the altar and ikonostasis being the obvious priority. As we look to begin worship in Advent, the setting will initially be simple, and we may go back to use of our large shrines until a temporary screen is in situ. The sanctuary floor will be raised in the coming days, and a more substantial temporary icon-screen installed in due time, unless we are able to collect funds quickly, to install a permanent screen – with painted icons gradually filling the apertures, according to our means and opportunities.
For the moment, Sunday worship remains in St Philip’s, and in the week ahead, we look forward to chanting Small Compline in Nazareth House on Thursday at 18:00.
As usual we will chant a moleben for the intention of the parish in the Oratory Church on Friday at 15:00.
Confessions will be heard before and after these services.
As announced, we will celebrate the Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God on Wednesday 4 November at 11:00 and in the Oratory Church. We look forward to Pedro da Costa, the leader of the cathedral youth choir, and Kolya chanting the service.
Sunday 8 November will see a combined celebration of the Kazan Icon and the Holy Great-Martyr Demetrius. Given that the community hall has been booked for post-Liturgy trapéza, would you please consider what you are able to offer for our festal lunch – the last such occasion in St Philip’s.
Those of you who have read updates on Facebook and WhatsApp will be aware that Vladyka has issued an instruction forbidding the continuations of confessions during celebration of the Divine Liturgy. This means that communicants must be in church to confess before the service, or confess on other days of the week. I will endeavour to begin confessions more or less immediately on arrival at St Philip’s – hearing confessions from 08:30 until 09:30, apart from time taken for the entrance prayers and vesting. If you leave confession until last minute, there may be no time or opportunity. Confessions are as always heard on Thursdays and Fridays, and we look forward to the possibility of Saturday confessions in Rhydyfelin.
Our practice, until now, of extended confessions was with Vladyka’s blessing from our Nazareth House days, with Fr Luke’s heroic help, but this will now be discontinued, apart from emergency situations.
Vladyka also reminds the faithful that those communing at Liturgy should arrive before the service, to ensure they are present for the opening blessing: “Blessed is the Kingdom…”
To quote Vladyka, “Those who arrive late and yet dare to approach the chalice are to be gently but firmly told by the Priest that they may not commune at that Liturgy, but that he will speak to them following the service and instruct and aid them in properly preparing to receive the sacred Mysteries at the next Liturgy.”
Whilst economia may be applied, this is for exceptional need.
So, please do not approach the chalice if you were not in church at the beginning of Liturgy, unless you have a blessing due to specific circumstances.
On Friday, the feast of St Luke the Evangelist, we commemorate the martyric death of Brother José Munoz-Cortez, the guardian of the Holy Myrrh-Streaming Montreal Icon of the Mother of God, in 1997. As we keep him in our prayers, we trust that he is interceding for us!
May God bless you.
Asking your forgiveness for Christ’s sake.
In Christ – Hieromonk Mark