The Shepherd, April 2007
BROOKWOOD NEWS, 2
BISHOP AMBROSE’S VISIT
THIS IS DUE to take place on the Lazarus Saturday - Palm Sunday weekend, just after we send this issue to the press, and so we will have to leave our report until next month. For Brookwood, it will be the first time that we have had a Bishop serving at a Vigil since the church was blessed and the sacred relics of St Edward were received here in 1984, and only the second time we have had a hierarchal service on either of the two days in the year when we celebrate our heavenly patron, St Edward the Martyr.
FREEWILL OFFERINGS
WITH SO MUCH going on at the beginning of the year, we neglected to record the freewill offerings left in the alms-box at the back of the church at Brookwood. The weekly averages for each calendar month have been as follows:- July 2006 - £327.35; August £219.59; September £393.64; October - £201.27; November - £297.74; December - £258.98; January 2007 - £317.78; February - £213.47. These figures are over and above the donations given by other means and those made to the Building Fund. We thank all of the worshippers at Saint Edward’s for helping to support our mission by their offerings, and hope that they will be received as was the widow’s mite, with the blessing of the Saviour Himself.
BUILDING FUND
THIS MONTH we are going to press somewhat early because of the approach of Passion Week and Pascha, but at the time of going to press (29/3/07) the Building Fund stands at £588,844.47 (approx. 90.6% of our target figure of £650,000). The total given and pledged is now higher than that needed for the first two phases of the project (the building of the New Monastic House and the refurbishment of the Old Mortuary Chapel), but we are still raising funds for the re-roofing of the Church, which becomes ever more urgent with the violent rain storms that we now seem to be experiencing regularly. Also some of the monies in our present total are not in hand, because they are pledged and not due to be received for another two, three or four years. In order to meet our commitment to our contractors, without having to borrow and incur interest charges, we need to raise a further £18,000 before the end of May, and so we ask you yet again to give as generously as you can. If it saves us from having to take out a loan, a pound given now will probably be worth two given in a year’s time.
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PRACTICAL TIP
MUCH OF THIS might seem so obvious that it need not be said, but one finds every week that people need advice. When partaking of the Holy Mysteries, observe a few practical points:
A) Do not cross yourself either before or after receiving when you are near the Chalice - you might hit it and cause a spillage.
B) When approaching to receive, try and position your mouth four or five inches from the Chalice lip and as level with it as you can.
C) Open your mouth - unless you do so, the priest cannot impart the Holy Gifts to you!
D) Do not open your mouth only at the last moment, and open it widely.
E) Do not hold you head down, so that the priest cannot see your mouth.
F) Do not close your eyes, so that you too can follow what is happening.
G) Do not move or try to “catch’ the spoon as it approaches - this can cause accidents, stay still and wait to receive.
H) Having received, stay still for a moment so that your lips may be wiped by the deacon or server.
J) In many churches, they have the custom of kissing the foot of the Chalice after receiving the Gifts - if you do this, remember it is the foot of the Chalice that you kiss and not the hand of the celebrant. In doing this again be very careful not to knock the Cup, and do not touch it with your hand to pull it towards you.
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