Dear all,
*Switch to a new e-mail newsletter format **We will be making the move to a new system for sending out the newsletter each week and as part of the process – if you would like to continue receiving the newsletter – we will need you to fill out a simple paper form giving us your email address and permission to send the newsletter to you. We will have copies of this form at church on Sunday for the next few Sundays and I will have copies of the form at Warm Spaces through the week. If you are unable to come to church over the next month, for whatever reason, but you would still like to receive the newsletter please get in touch with me and we will see how we can help.*
Happy All Saints Day everyone. The one festival that the church celebrates where the preparations the evening before have managed to become more well known (and taken over by society in general) than the festival itself! I wonder how you feel about Halloween and the event that it has become? I have long struggled to work out the best way to position myself as a Christian in response to such a celebration. I’ve been through the “denounce it and preach Christ over it”, “the turn off all the lights and hide from it”, the “ignore it and let my kids be a part of events but not really promote it”… all ways we’ve attempted as a church to set ourselves apart and to signify that we don’t agree with the glorifying of darkness, fear and (in some cases) evil. But then I was a curate with an American Vicar. And America does Halloween very differently from the UK – although I think we are heading their way gradually. In America it is a community event with an excuse for special food and fancy dress – not necessarily scary fancy dress – often celebrating heroes of both history and fiction. And I realised that there is a way to engage without letting go of the light. So, for a few years we were the house with the fire pit out front and the marshmallows to toast around it. We had pumpkins carved with hearts or a cross (incidentally pumpkin carving is actually a brilliant way of taking about baptism it turns out. God taking all the yukky gunk out of inside us and instead putting a light inside us to shine out through us…) And those evenings gathered around the fire, built community where previously there was no community and no connection between neighbours. It meant that we were actually present with people talking about our own beliefs not in a “telling people they are wrong” way – but a “this is how we do things slightly differently” kind of way. Because that is what we are called to be – different, other, set apart by (or for) God. This is the way the early church talked about each other – they called each other “holy” and through the latin translation of this word “sanctus” we get to “saint”. But set apart, not to live separately, but to model a different way within the world and if we are to model a different way we need to actually have a relationship with others in order that they see we are different. We still need to be *in* the world and a *part of* the world. The sadness is that we let a wonderful festival slip away; a day when we can celebrate all those who have gone before but also all those who are living in the Way of God. We are all saints. So today I celebrate *you* – all that you have taught me about God and about faith. Thank you for the way you have blessed me. Now let’s go show the world that there is another Way!
*“To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 1:7*
*News and Upcoming Events*
*Consent for reflective work undertaken by Ordinands*
Many of you will have met our new Ordinand by now, Edward will be required to reflect on his experiences at St Philip’s as part of his academic work. The work will be marked and seen only by examiners. All names and identifying details will be changed. If you have concerns about this or would rather that he didn't reflect on any encounter with you, please tell Edward directly and/or speak to me.
*Sunday 17th November – 6.30pm – Ely Cathedral - Saying Goodbye, Baby loss remembrance service *Saying Goodbye, (part of the Mariposa Trust) are returning to Ely in November with a very special Baby loss remembrance and support service for anyone who has either personally lost a baby at any stage of pregnancy, at birth, or in early years, or who has been affected by family members' or friends' loss. Whether the loss was recent or 80 years ago, everyone is welcome to attend. The services also gladly welcome anyone who is grieving the fact that they haven't had children. This may be due to circumstance, infertility, or for other reasons - but all are welcome. Babies and children are also invited to come with their families, as the Saying Goodbye service is truly a family event for all. www.sayinggoodbye.org
*Eco-Bite – our new green “nugget” each week: *
If you have partaken of the pumpkin carving this week why not commit to eating that pumpkin before it rots and is wasted! You can even roast all those seeds you scooped out – they make a delicious snack.
*Last Week’s sermon*
Last week’s sermon: sorry no recording this week
If you missed any previous sermons, or would like a second listen you can find them here:
The link to our sermon archive: St Philip's sermon archive http://sermons.stphilipschurch.org.uk/
*Prayers *
If any of you have specific prayers you would like us to include in this newsletter do please get in touch.
*Jenny Eustace - *Jenny is back home but still needing a lot of care and help, please pray for her healing and peace.
*Please pray for our Mission Partner this month:*
*The Leprosy Mission* – Leprosy can affect anyone. But the biggest impact is on people living in poverty or marginalised from society. These are the people The Leprosy Mission support. Everything they do is focused on their mission to break the chains of leprosy and empower people to attain healing, dignity and life in all its fullness. They have three main goals: to end the transmission of leprosy. To reduce the likelihood of people with leprosy being disabled after diagnosis. To partner with human rights organisations and people affected by leprosy to end the stigma associated with the disease.
*Services this week 3rd – 9th Nov*
*Sunday: *
*8.30am – Reflective Holy Communion – *our readings will be Isaiah 25:6-9 and John 11:32-44
*10.30am – All Age Worship – *this week our visiting Curate Elizabeth will be celebrating All the Saints with us focussing on the reading from Colossians 1:9-14
If you can't attend church in person you can always use this Zoom link:
meeting ID: 976 3739 9129 and Passcode: 330714
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/97637399129?pwd=TGhKWWxOcWF1S242aVhrWDlJdUkxZz09
*Wednesday:*
*12noon - Reflective Holy Communion *A quiet time to help find space and peace in the middle of the week.
*Regular Weekly Prayers to join:*
*Monday & Friday 8.30pm – Compline on zoom *
Meeting ID: 836 5965 9953 Passcode: 749968 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83659659953?pwd=btP5AjGMu1s-dE_2W9T0MMFqnnPKSS.1
*Wednesdays 7.00-7.30pm - Weekly Prayers on zoom*: - (Monthly in person – next in person prayer *20th November*)
Meeting ID: 852 1105 2733 Password: 397987
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85211052733?pwd=OE52bm9NS1RtQVQ0ZytTc0xBZnVsUT09
*Regular Weekly small groups:*
*Thursdays 7.30pm – Bible study group at church*
*Saturdays 8.15am - Morning Bible Discussion and Prayer on zoom*:
Meeting ID: 143 338 655 Password: 824271
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/143338655?pwd=L1JJTFZJNU9EaFZjaUFjQzVlalpMZz09
With love and prayers
Ruth
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Blessings Ruth
*Revd Ruth Barry* *Vicar, St Philip's Church, Cambridge*
185 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3AN 01223 318315 vicar@stphilipschurch.org.uk *My day off is Tuesday*