Llanelli: 15 December
Dear brothers and sisters,
I should begin with congratulations to Joseph and Maxim on the anniversary of their baptism. The year has passed seemingly quickly since the Sunday in St John’s when they entered the Church: the only adult baptism we celebrated in Canton. May God bless them and rant them “Many, blessed years!”
It was a great joy to be back with parishioners for Sunday Liturgy, after three weeks of rest following fifteen days in hospital, and a previous two and a half weeks suffering from a post heart-attack infection.
It’s hard to believe that my last previous visit to Cardiff was on Sunday 2 November, to baptise baby Ezra, ignorant of what was happening health-wise.
How blessed the parish has been in the intervening weeks, visited and strengthened by the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, and so efficiently cared for and ministered to by Father Mark the Younger. Many thanks to all who have ensured that Sunday arrangements and worship have gone smoothly.
Through God’s mercy, my recovery is going well, though each day throws up limitations as well as possibilities and is a lesson in common sense, and humility. For a while, tiredness will be a companion on this journey, but I look forward to increased energy and stamina. I will hopefully get a “fit note” from the G.P. and ease back into parish work, but this will be gradual and Father Mark the Younger will effectively remain acting rector until the new year.
I’m glad to report that in the coming month, despite the internal building work in St Philip’s, the hope is that Sunday use of the building will not be affected if all goes to plan. However, as we were warned, there will be no vestry storage and no kitchen, so food on the affected Sundays MUST be finger food, as we will have no washing up capability. Should the need arise, the community hall, next door remains as a safety net.
In the coming week, I need to see various people in Cardiff before western Christmas, and I have arranged to make the most of my visit and hear confessions in Nazareth House on Wednesday. I will be pleased to hear confessions in the late afternoon / early evening, but please drop me a line to let me know you’re coming.
This coming Thursday will see St Nicholas celebrations in Llanelli, with Great Vespers for the altar-feast being chanted in Father Luke’s garden chapel at 19:00 and the Divine Liturgy on Friday morning at 10:00. It will be a joy to support Father, who has given me immense care and support since leaving Morriston Hospital. Cardiff visitors are always very welcome in Llanelli.
Saturday will see our St Nicholas celebrations continue for the sake of our Gloucestershire parishioners, with the Cheltenham Divine Liturgy celebrated in the United Reformed Church in Deep Street, Prestbury. The Hours and Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:00, and Liturgy will be followed by a bring-and-share lunch.
As announced, due to St Philip’s being unavailable on Wednesdays, I have arranged for us to use the Oratory for our Nativity celebration on the morning of the 7th January at 11:00, followed by trapeza in the hall. Unfortunately, the evening Mass for the Latin celebration of Epiphany, on Tuesday 6 January makes a vigil service impossible. We were fortunate that there was no evening Mass last year. I am trying to make a alternative arrangements for the evening service.
As Theophany (Богоявление) falls on a Monday and during the St Philip’s building work, with no kitchen water supply, we will bless water the previous day after our Sunday Liturgy of the eve, as is the tradition for the first blessing of the feast. Given logistics and length of services, as in previous years, I hope a group of us will keep the feast with the second blessing of Jordan in our cathedral the next day.
As requested at Liturgy, we ask your prayers for the new-born Edmund, grandson of Father Mark and matushka Katy-Elizabeth Tattum-Smith, and for his parents Aiden and Mary; for the sick and suffering Metropolitans Areseny of Svyatogorsk and Tychikos of Paphos; for Marina, as she travels to Ukraine; for the sick servants of God, Pavel and Irina; and for the newly-departed Michael, whose funeral is tomorrow.
May I remind ALL who commune, that they should remain still, and gather at the kliros for the thanksgiving prayers at the end of Liturgy, unless there is absolute necessity for them to fulfil an obedience, and we should remember that Liturgy has not finished until the final dismissal?
May God bless you all!
In Christ – Hieromonk Mark