christ the king - 20th november 2016 final · the feast of christ the king 20th november 2016 the...

The Feast of Christ the King 20th November 2016

The CrownI was off work a couple of days last weekwith that nasty cold that’s been doing therounds and spoiling the tail end of a longcrispautumn.So Iwatchedall tenepisodesoftherecentNetflixseriesTheCrown.It’sanAmerican-British television drama series,createdandwrittenbyPeterMorganwhoiswell-versed in the world of EIIR with hisaward-winning film TheQueen and his play TheAudience.

For those of us of a certainage, this is a journey throughourownfamily lifetimeaswemove from the abdication ofEdwardVIII,80yearsagonextmonth in 1936 (my parentsmarried in 1934) up to theearly years of the reign ofElizabethII.

There is a long hard look atthepeculiarroleofmonarchy,both generally and in thespecifically British context inwhich it has emerged duringour lifetime. The religious, Christian andevenmystical aspects are explored throughthe dialogue. There is a scene when thestammeringKingGeorgeVIisgettingthe11-year-oldprincessElizabethtotesthimonhiscoronation vows. She plays the part of theArchbishopwhen they are interrupted by acourtierandhesaystohisdaughter:

“We haven't even reached the anointing.Youhavetoanointme,otherwise,Ican'tbeKing. Do you understand? [She shakes herhead.]When the holy oil touchesme, I amtransformed. Brought into direct contactwith thedivine. Forever changed. Bound toGod. It is the most important part of theentireceremony.Sowehadbetterpractise,hadn'twe,archbishop?”

[Elizabeth reads:] “Be thy hands, anointed,with holy oil. Be thy breast, anointed, withholyoil.Bethyhead,anointed,withholyoil.As kings, priests and prophets wereanointed."

The Duke of Windsor is watching thecoronationonTVinPariswithfriendsandhe

explains:“Oilsandoaths.Orbsand sceptres. Symbol uponsymbol. An unfathomableweb of arcane mystery andliturgy,blurringsomany linesno clergyman or historian orlawyer could ever untangleanyof it. [AnAmericanfriendsays:] “It's crazy.” [The Dukecontinues:] “On the contrary.It'sperfectlysane.Whowantstransparency when you canhavemagic?Whowantsprosewhen you can have poetry?Pull away the veil and whatareyouleftwith?Anordinaryyoung woman of modestability and little imagination.But wrap her up like this,

anointherwithoil,andhey,presto,whatdoyouhave?Agoddess.”

The photographer Cecil Beaton has the lastword in the final episode as he ispsychologically preparing Elizabeth to posefor her famous coronation photo andreferencing back to the first QueenElizabeth: “All hail sage Lady, whom agrateful Isle hath blessed. Not moving, notbreathing. Our very own goddess. GloriousGloriana.ForgettingElizabethWindsornow.NowonlyElizabethRegina.”

It’s all very figurative and ‘romantic’ but itreminds us of the power of imagery toinspireanddrawusdeeperintothemysterythatisourlifeinChrist.FrNickMercer

News&EventsPREPARINGFORADVENTSERIESJoin Fr Alan onWednesday evening for thefinalmusicalreflectioninpreparationfortheHoly Season of Advent. Mass at 6:45pm;reflectionfrom7:30pm.A DAY ON PREPARING FOR CHRISTMASWITHFRLAURENCEFREEMANOSBSaturday17December10.30am–4.30pmatTheMeditatioCentre,StMark'sMyddeltonSquare,LondonEC1R1XXCost£30Concessions£20From the website of the World Communityfor Christian Meditation:“For several yearsnow Fr Laurence has led a preparation dayforChristmasrightatoneofthebusiesttimesof the year. This season highlights the realpriorities in our lifestyle. So often we aredriven only by materialistic values anddistractions. Yet Christmas dramaticallytranscendsthedualismofDivineandHumanor spiritual and material. This isthemeaningof these particular days - thatcanrenewusdaily.Meditationputsthevisionintopracticeandsowillbeanintegralpartofthisdayofpreparation”.Ticketsavailablebyphone02072782070oronlineathttp://meditatiocentrelondon.org/

TUESDAY:CHRISTIANMEDITATIONChristianMeditation is practised here on aweekly basis now at the revised time of8.30amonTuesdaymorning following theLow Mass. This form of silent, imagelessprayer using a mantra or prayer word isrooted in theGospel, the lettersof StPaulandoriginatedwiththeearlyDesertFathersof the 4th century. Newcomers arewelcome to share in this space whichincludes quiet music, a reading from thewritings of the late Fr JohnMain, followedby20minutesofsilentmeditation.WEDNESDAY:EVENINGSERVICEAT6.45PMThedailymassisoneoftheprivilegesofourlife here at St Paul’s. Many peopleappreciate the reflective character of aweekdaymasswhichlastsnolongerthan25minutes.TheWednesdayEveningServiceisslightly different in having a simple masssetting, hymn and homily followed byrefreshments. Please consider making thispartofyourownpractice.

PRAYINGFORTHESICK&DEPARTEDThere is a book at the back of church foryou to add names to be included in theweekly sheet.Nameswillbe included foraperiod of four weeks, following which youwillbeaskedifyouwouldstilllikethenametobeincludedintheweeklyprayers.DAILYMASSINADVENTInorder toenableus toaccommodatesomefifteencharityfundraisercarolservicesduringAdvent,wewilloperatea reviseddailyMassschedule fromMonday 28th November untilFriday23rdDecember.During thisperiod theMass will be celebrated at 12noon onMonday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday andSaturday,andat8amonTuesday.NEXTSUNDAY:ADVENTCAROLSERVICEThe parish Advent Carol Service will takeplace at 6pm next Sunday 27th November.This is a free event to which all are warmlyinvited. Refreshments after the servicesponsoredbyHarrods.

THEFOUNDATIONCAROLSERVICETickets for the Foundation Carol Service(adults £50 / children £25 in advance) to beheld on Tuesday 6th December 2016 at6:30pm are available on the parish websitewww.spkb.org. Refreshments sponsored byTheBerkeleyHotelandLaurent-Perrier.THEPARISHCHRISTMASCAROLSERVICEThe parish Christmas Carol Service will takeplace on Tuesday 20th December at 7:00pm.This is a free event and will be followed bymulledwineandmincepiesprovidedbyTheHariHotel.All arewarmly invited–dobringyourfriends!

TheOrdo&IntercessionsThereisamassdailyatStPaul’sandallarewelcome to attend. Service papers areavailableoutsidetheChapelorChancel.

COLLECTFORTHEFEASTOFCHRISTTHEKING

Eternal Father, whose Son Jesus Christascended to the throne of heaven that hemight ruleoverall thingsasLordandKing:keep the Church in the unity of the Spiritand in the bond of peace, and bring thewholecreatedordertoworshipathis feet;who liveth and reigneth with thee, in theunityof theHoly Spirit, oneGod, nowandforever.Amen.

POST-COMMUNIONPRAYERStir up,webeseech thee,O Lord, thewillsofthyfaithfulpeople;thatthey,plenteouslybringing forth the fruitofgoodworks,mayof thee be plenteously rewarded; throughJesusChristourLord.Amen.SERVICETIMESSunday20November:ChristtheKing¸Massesat09:00&11:00.Monday21November:feria¸Massat18:00;DELp.796R:TheearthistheLord’sandallwhodwelltherein.Tuesday22November:Cecilia¸Massat8:00;EHp.592R:Mytrustisinyou,OLord.Wednesday23November:Clement¸Massat18:45;EHp.532R:HearmyteachingOmypeople,saysGod.Thursday24November:feria¸Massat18:00;DELp.804R:BejoyfulintheLord,alltheearth.

Friday25November:CatherineofAlexandria¸Massat18:00;EHp.592(CommonofMartyrs)R:ThosewhoweepwillreturntoGodwithjoy.Saturday26November:feria¸Massatnoon;VotiveMassofOurLady;EHp.457(masswithGloria)R:TheHolySpiritwillcomeuponyou[Psalm45–p.459].Wepraythisweekfor:• BishopRichardandallinvolvedin

trainingandsupportingclergy• FrWallandthepeopleofStPaul’s,K

Street,WashingtonDC• FrAlfredoandthepeopleofAllSaints,

Nhamavila,Mozambique• Wisdomtothosewhogovernthe

nationsoftheworld• Allpeoplesufferingtheeffectsofstorms

andnaturaldisaster• Thelocalbusinesscommunityin

Belgravia

Amongthesickandthoseinneed:Patricia Dopheide; Nick Samuelson; SimonSpence; JohnWatson;MichaelCooke; JohnKing; Alain Jouret, William Guise; ShandsPrevost; IanPowe;GregoriyGalitzine; JohnUdal; Dan Gadow; Mary Ann Brashler;WilliamGuise;JohnRoberts;JulietteGimon&FrancisFaber.WeprayforalltherecentlydepartedTimMason,ElizabethFrancis,andalsoforEsmeraldaTongeWerememberallthosewhoseyear’smindfallsatthistime.AlfredSydneyFrederickMaitland27NovDavidVick 28Nov

WHO’SWHOTHEPARISHOFFICE

32aWiltonPlace,LondonSW1X8SHTelephone02072019999

info@spkb.org

THEPARISHCLERGYVicarFrAlanGylealan@spkb.org 02072019999•07939805970AssociateVicarFrLouisDarrantlouis@spkb.org02072019992•07779103826

HonoraryAssistantClergy

(l-r)FrNickMercer;FrAndrewNorwood;FrGrahamPalmer;BishopMichaelColcloughApriestisavailablebeforeorafterthedailyEucharistfor confession and spiritual guidance, and also byappointment.Amemberoftheparishclergyisalwaysavailableinpastoralemergenciesandwewillbegladtobecontactedatwhateverhour,sevendaysaweek;however, as a general rule, FrAlan is unavailable onMondaysandFrLouisisunavailableonFridays.INTHEPARISHOFFICE

Vicar’sPAFelicityCranfieldfelicity@spkb.org02072019999

ParishAdministratorKimballBaileypa@spkb.org02072019999

THEMUSICDEPARTMENTDirectorofMusicStevieFarrstephen.farr@yahoo.co.uk07930542555AssistantDirectorofMusicMichaelPapadopoulosmichael.pap514@gmail.com

MusicScholars

(l-r)AdamMathias(Organ);FindlaySpence(Cello&Composition);TamilaSalimdjanova(piano)LAYOFFICERS&OTHERSTAFF

ChurchwardenJohnTweddlejohn.tweddle@bidwells.co.uk 02077363878ChurchwardenPhilDaviesphilip@spkb.org07989387198

DeputyChurchwardens(Sidesmen)Roland Brunner, Caroline Docker, MargaretGadow, Gardenia Griffith, Nicoletta Lindsay,Aidan Linton-Smith, Jeremy Orlebar, SusieThornton,TomTull.Treasurer:NoelCravenLadyVerger&Churchwardens’DeputyVeronicaScottveronicamscott@hotmail.com02076037680