News and Events for Week Beginning April 3rd

This Sunday April 3rd The Fifth Sunday of Lent. (Passion Sunday) there will be a said Mass at The Rectory at 9:00AM and a Sung Mass at our sister Church of St Andrew in Deal at 11:00AM.

Readings at Mass today: 1st Reading: Is 43: 16-21. Psalm: Ps 126. 2nd Reading: Phil 3: 4b -14. Gospel: St John 12: 1-8.

The Gospel story today of Mary anointing our Lord before His death reminds me of a book, I was given by a friend many years ago. It was by the Chinese preacher, Watchman Nee – The Normal Christian Life. In the last chapter the author points out that in the parallel accounts in Matthew and Mark and Luke 7:37-39 all the disciples joined Judas in scolding Mary for wasting this expensive perfume on Jesus when it could have been sold and the money given to the poor. But Jesus defends Mary by replying “Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.” Nee says that Jesus “intends that the preaching of the Gospel should issue in something along the very lines of the action of Mary here, namely, that people should come to Him and waste themselves on Him.” Or, to put it another way, the gospel is “to bring each one of us to a true estimate of His worth.”

So, this is a story about how not to waste your life. It’s also a story about motivation: why do you do what you do for the Lord? Do you serve Him for the satisfaction you get when you see results? Do you serve Him because it helps others? Again, it’s gratifying to see others helped, but that’s the wrong motivation for serving Him. The true motive for serving Christ is because He is worthy of everything you can do for Him and because you love Him and want to please Him because He gave Himself for you on the cross. We learn this from Mary’s act of devotion. But John contrasts Mary’s act of devotion with Judas’ self-centred focus and with the evil plans of the chief priests, who now not only want to kill Jesus, but also Lazarus, whose resurrection was resulting in many believing in Jesus. So, the story’s lesson is: A life spent in selfless devotion to Jesus is not wasted, but a life spent on self is totally wasted.

The Lent Course Continues this Thursday: God at the Movies – at 6:30PM in the hall at St Andrew’s in Deal. This week we will watch the film – The End of the Affair. The End of the Affair is author Graham Greene dancing on the divide between the rules of religion and the lusts of the flesh. His adulterous husbands and sinning priests have to deal not only with built-in guilt but with the rules of the church, which they never believe in more than while breaking them.

Stations of the Cross – We walk the Way of the Cross every Friday in Lent at 5:00PM. We begin at The Rectory until the Church is safe to use.

Will you make a special effort to observe this Holy WeeK?

April 10th PALM SUNDAY: Liturgy of the Palms, Procession and Solemn Mass with the Reading of the Passion at 9:00AM

April 11th – 13th Mon, Tue and Wed of Holy Week Mass and Homily at 6:00PM

Tuesday April 12th. The Chrism Mass (Blessing of the Oils) at Canterbury Cathedral with Bishop Norman. 12 Noon. All are welcome.

April 14th MAUNDY THURSDAY: Mass of the Last Supper with Footwashing and Stripping of the Altars followed by the Watch at the Altar of Repose. 6:00PM with Watch until 8:00PM.

April 15th GOOD FRIDAY: The Way of the Cross for Children at 10:00AM . The Solemn Liturgy of the Passion at Noon.

April 16th HOLY SATURDAY. EASTER EVE The Great Easter Vigil at 8:00PM for both parishes. The Blessing of the New Fire, Reading of the Prophecies, Renewal of Baptismal Vows and First Mass of Easter.

April 17th EASTER DAY The Parish Mass of Easter Day at 9:00AM

12 Volunteers are needed for the Foot washing at the Maundy Thursday Mass on April 14th at 6:00PM. Please speak to Fr Paul.

This year our APCM will take place after Mass on May 15th. This is a good to time to commit to your prayers the question – Can I serve God in this parish as a member of the PCC or as Churchwarden? The next year will be crucial for our parish and its future as you seek to call a new parish priest after my retirement. The future of Holy Trinity Church is very much in YOUR hands!