October 2008
Services
| Sunday Services | Friday Services |
|---|---|
| 8.00 am Holy Communion (Prayer book) | 8.00 am Holy Communion (Prayer book) |
| 11.00 am Sunday at Eleven | 5.30 pm Meditation |
| 5.00 pm Meditative Eucharist |
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Sunday at Eleven Wednesday at 5.30 pm |
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October 5th: Odyssey: The Future of the Church Preacher The Very Revd Coln Slee, Dean of Southwark Colin Slee is one of the most effective advocates in the Church of England today of a forward-looking, inclusive church. October 12th: A Service for Mental Health Week Preacher The Revd John Nicholson (Senior Mental Health Chaplain, Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Trust) A joint service with the local mental health chaplaincy, with participation from users and providers of mental health services, acknowledging the importance of the spiritual aspects of mental health. October 19th: Eucharist: Commemoration of Reformation Martyrs Preacher The Revd James Rigney (Chaplain of Magdalene College) St Edward’s was probably the first church in England where the Reformers preached openly (in 1525), and we give thanks for the Christian witness in our church of Thomas Bilney, Hugh Latimer, Robert Barnes etc. October 26th: Dedication Festival Service Preacher The Revd Dr Malcolm Guite (Chaplain of Girton College, Associate Chaplain of St Edward’s) Malcolm has written three new poems about the font, communion table and pulpit at St Edward’s, which will be used in this service, to help us learn from the dedicated building in which our worship takes place. |
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Tales of Mystery and Imagination Wednesday at 5.30 pm |
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Over four sessions we will be exploring the many worlds of fantasy and imagination, and what truths they can tell us about the mystery of our being here. October 8th: Truth and imagination: an overview of the genre of fantasy/magical fiction and a discussion of how far and in what ways we find truth as well as entertainment in these books, led by Malcolm Guite, with Susannah Clarke. October 15th: True imagination (i) A conversation with Susannah Clarke about her own work and the graphic novels of Alan Moore, Led by Malcolm Guite with Susannah Clarke. October 22nd: True Imagination (ii) An imaginary conversation with the inklings, C S Lewis, JRR Tolkien and Charles Williams, about the reality and meaning of imagined other worlds and the links between them. How would the Inklings have responded to Phillip Pullman? Led by Malcolm Guite. October 29th: Harry Potter and the lively hallows, the spirituality of J K Rowlings world. Led by Malcolm Guite. |
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Love and the Gentle Heart Friday 10th October at 7.30 pm Saturday 11th October at 2.30 pm and 7.30 pm |
| The Story of Dante and Beatrice; The Story of Abelard and Heloise Two 50 minute plays, written by Alison Atkinson, in which we will experince the lives of these mediaeval lovers through medieval poetry and music interwoven with modern dance. |
| Meditative Eucharist: Sermons on Everyday Virtues Sundays at 5.00pm |
In October, at the 5.00 pm Eucharist, Fraser Watts will preach a series of sermons on Everyday Virtues, looking at their place in the Christian Life:
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Contemplative Eucharists: There will be contemplative Eucharists, with much silence, at 5.00 pm on Saturday 4th October (St Francis' Day) and Saturday 1st November (All Saints Day).
Holistic Spirituality Group: The group will meet at 3.30 pm on Sundays 12th and 26th October, chaired by Malcolm. The theme will be Symbolic Life. The deeper we go into the mysteries of our spiritual life, the more we ned to understand how the visible images the invisible. Members of the group will be invited to share with one another the symbols of meaning and purpose in their lives. The series will be begin with a contribution from Theresa Reed on 'Living the Symbolic Life?'
Goth Eucharists: There will be Goth Eucharists at 8.30 pm on October 7th and 21st. Over the Autumn Fraser will preach sermons on the deadly sins. October 7th: Anger; October 21st: Envy.
Meditation Group: The meditation group meets regularly on Fridays at 5.30 pm (ending around 6.15). At its heart is 30 minutes of corporate silence, beginning with a short introduction and ending with an opportunity for sharing and prayer. All are welcome, but October is a good time to join the group, as there will be an introuduction to some of the most helpful and popular forms of Christian meditation.
Waves of Greed and Fear
A distinguished economic analyst, seeking to account for the current financial turmoil, recently described the traders on the stock market as ‘carried away by alternate waves of greed and fear’. It was a striking phrase and reminded me strongly of a passage in the letter of James. The apostle contrasts the doubt and instability of mere worldliness with the direction and stability that comes from a faith perspective: ‘The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind… double-minded, unstable in every way’ and he goes on to add ‘it is the same with the rich, in the midst of a busy life they will wither away’.
As Christians, we should not be surprised by these cycles of boom and bust. We should not be carried away either by the spurious promise of unending growth, or falsely troubled by each passing panic.
How should we respond to the present crisis then? Firstly with compassion. There are many who will suffer real hardship through no fault of their own, and even those financiers who are partly to blame will need the advice of wise and compassionate friends as they face up to their losses and responsibilities. But in the midst of that compassion we need some of the prophetic wisdom that shines through the letter of James and indeed many other books of scripture. We need to re-discover and re-assert that our true hope, our well-being and our essential validity as human beings does not depend on wealth, which is always temporary, but on Love. The deep love that God has given each person in Christ is an asset that can never be stripped away, never devalued, never lost. The dignity that comes from being made in God’s image neither increases with wealth, nor diminishes with poverty. If we speak boldly we can help society make this crisis a turning point towards sounder principles and more honest dealings. We can help everyone to put both the profit and the loss in their true perspective. We can find fresh relevance and wisdom in our faith as we pray the ancient collect:
O almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; grant unto thy people that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so among the sundry and manifold changes of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Clergy: Revd. Dr. Fraser Watts (19, Grantchester Road, CB3 9ED; 359223, fnw1001@cam.ac.uk); Revd Dr Malcolm Guite (694249, mg320@cam.ac.uk); Canon Alan Cole (892286, alan73@waitrose.com). Churchwardens: Mr Steven Mastin (361041, stevenjamesmastin@yahoo.co.uk); Mrs Judith Tonry (892160, judith@tonry.co.uk). Treasurer: Mr Geoffrey Barnes (717757, Geoff.Barnes@cambridgeshire.gov.uk). Chapter Clerk: Mr Stephen Davies (242636, stephdvs@btinernet.com); Church phone: 362004.