newsletter 15th November 2015

Newsletter 15th November 2015.
Almost the end of the Church’s year – today the 33rd Sunday in ordinary time – next Sunday is the Feast of Christ the King – the final Sunday in the year. Today we finish our cycle of readings from Mark’s gospel. Next year, in ordinary time, it will be Luke.
The Liturgy Group meet on Monday evening at 8pm.
Readers will have received an email from Hazel. She asks for a reply by 22nd November. Many thanks.
Next Sunday there will be an opportunity to sign Christmas cards to be sent to Prisoners of Conscience.
A thought about Christmas Masses – this year there will not be an 8am Mass – some people have asked about a Mass on Christmas Eve – there is the Procession at 4.30pm but I could arrange a Mass at 6pm. Would you be interested in this? I will put out a Board for you to sign and if there is enough interest, say at least 5o names, I will arrange a Mass. Otherwise there will be the Midnight Mass, the 9.30 Mass with the mystery play at the Solemn Mass at 11am.
A great deal of work is taking place at London Bridge. The lines are in place across the new bridge and much of the new signalling is in place, waiting to be commissioned. There will be a completed closure of the lines from Christmas Eve to January 3rd and probably sets of points will be put in place to connect up the new tracks. The other day six locomotives with material trains so plenty of work is taking place at present. Maybe I can book into the Shard over the Christmas holiday so that I can watch it all.
From time to time I have to ask for some help – the Archbishop has asked that all parishes should share in an appeal to help meet the expenses of looking after the retired priests of the Diocese – the appeal is being arranged on a formal basis and we are asked to find a lay person in each parish to help with this – there is a meeting at Bexleyheath on 7th December to explain what is involved. Somewhat tentatively I ask if there is anybody who might be prepared to take on this task. If so could you have a word with me so that I can explain what is required? Many thanks.
Now the recipe for today. Cook some sliced courgettes, some chopped shallots and a bunch of watercress separately in some butter. Add some long grain rice and some water to the shallots and cook until soft and until virtually all the water has been absorbed. Add the watercress and the courgettes and stir in a little more butter and finish with some grated Parmesan and a little nutmeg.
We must have some Keats at this time of year:
Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too-
While barred clouds bloom the soft dying day,
And touch the stubble plains with rosy hue.
A prayer for November:
Receive, Lord, in tranquillity and peace, the souls of your servants who have departed out of this present life to be with you. Give them the life that knows no age, the good things that do not pass away: through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Autumn has now come to the garden. I have been looking at the cherry tree. It has now lost all its leaves but the buds are still there so there might even be a little fruit next year. The olive tree is doing well and is reaching up to a good height. The apple trees were very disappointing this year and the birds and pests seem to take all the fruit. The herbs are almost finished and I will clean out the pots so that we can start again next year.
A few things to plan in the coming weeks. Not long before we start to bring down the costumes for the mystery plays. Maria will ensure that they are well ironed and in a perfect state of repair. It think we need some new swords for the soldiers and I will look out for some. The list of parts will be going up in the not too distant future. Also there is task of getting out the crib and finding the figures in the loft – and not to forget – brewing up some hot wine and finding some mince pies for the carol service.
Best wishes to you all,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon