Sunday 19th January 2020 The Second Sunday of Epiphany
This week's REFLECTION
'Saint John the Baptist pointing to Christ,’ Bartolome Eslean Murillo, 1655
THIS WEEK'S READINGS
Isaiah 49.1-7· Psalm 40.1-2 · 1 Corinthians 1.1-9 · John 1.29-42
‘ …like a lamb that is led to the slaughter’
Artists frequently depict John the Baptist with one arm outstretched pointing to Jesus. This image accurately reminds us of John’s part in the gospel story. It also illustrates his own self-understanding. John is able to identify who Jesus is, but only Jesus “takes away the sin of the world” and “baptizes with the Holy Spirit”. It is Jesus who is “the Son of God”.
In biblical times a person’s name had a mysterious identity with its bearer. This tradition is carried over into today’s feast when we honour “The Most Holy Name of Jesus”. In the New Testament the name of Jesus is invoked in a variety of ways, perhaps most strikingly in Paul’s hymn: “Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11)
...a rising star!
Piano Recital by Ischico Velzel – Sunday February 2nd, 2:30-3:30pm
On Sunday 2nd February, we have the great pleasure to welcome Dutch national Ischico Velzel, 24, who will be performing a varied programme of piano masterpieces. Repertoire is to include Mendelssohn's Variations sérieuses and other works by Debussy, Rachmaninoff and Scarlatti. Entrance is free, and it will be a great opportunity to show support for a rising star!
'The world will be saved by beauty'
Beauty attracts us, evokes wonder and joy in us. We fall in love with beauty, sing its praises and want to stay in its presence.
The novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote in his novel 'The Idiot' that 'the world will be saved by beauty'. For the Christian, we see perfect beauty in the face of Jesus Christ. As Hans Holbein the Younger's stark and shocking painting of 'The Dead Christ in the Tomb' suggests, this is not always what the world regards as beautiful.
We are beginning 2020 at Holy Trinity by exploring the beauty of God and what it calls us to be and do in the 21st century as individuals and as a community in a series of sermons on Sunday mornings.
This Sunday (January 19), Bishop Michael Marshall will address the topic, 'The Beauty of Holiness'.
Join us in contemplation, discussion and prayer as we undertake this journey together and share your thoughts by writing to me at rector@sloanechurch.org
Where do you find beauty? What draws you to the beauty of Jesus Christ? How do we become beautiful? How can we craft a more beautiful world?
Fr. Nicholas Wheeler Rector
Winter Lunch to warm the heart
It may be cold outside but there's a delicious menu in store for you at our Winter Lunch next month. We will be sampling a new restaurant in Belgravia - LIV in Holbein Place, a short walk from Holy Trinity Church.
The Lunch - on Sunday 9 February at 1pm - includes a two-course meal and Tea or Coffee for just £22.50 per person. Drinks are not included.
Starter
Avocado & tomato bruschetta or
Cauliflower soup with hot smoked salmon or
Arancini, pumpkin & sage, with aioli
Main course
Traditional fish pie with buttered peas or
Slow cooked lamb with peas, bacon & onions or
Red lentil fritters, pea puree, herb yoghurt
If you would like to come please call or e-mail our Parish Administrator Sophie Wilson to book a place and choose your courses. However, you must pay for your meal and let us know your menu choices by MONDAY 3 FEBRUARY.
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2021
It is always very moving to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, there is so much to see and experience and learn together. St Jerome said: ‘Five gospels record the life of Jesus. Four you will find in books and the one you will find in the land they call Holy. Read the fifth gospel and the world of the four will open to you.’
We invite you to come and know this for yourselves whether you are new to the Holy Land or have been many times before; there are always new sights and sounds to reflect upon. Reading the gospels will never be the same again and by visiting the Holy Land we are standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters there too. To have the chance to meet the ‘living stones’, the local Palestinian and Israeli Christians who are the ongoing, living church in the region, is humbling.
Our pilgrimage will include the sites where the most important events in Our Lord’s life and ministry took place: in Jerusalem and the surrounding area and further north in Galilee. We hope that if you have never been on pilgrimage to the Holy Land before you will choose to join us and, if you have been before, we welcome you back. Our journey is a life changing as well as faith changing experience. We invite you to journey with us and to share in this great opportunity to see those places we read of in the Scriptures.
The cost is £1,995 sharing a twinbedded/double room with ensuite bathroom. We stay in two religious guest houses - St Andrew’s in Jerusalem overlooking the Old City and in Galilee we stay at the popular Pilgerhaus in Tabgha right on the lakeside. The tour is on a full-board basis with buffet breakfast, lunch and evening meal included daily. Touring is by airconditioned coach and we will be accompanied by a local guide who will share leadership responsibilities and look after the formalities of hotel check-ins, etc. All entrance fees are included as well as gratuities.
For more information, see the brochure in church or contact parishoffice@sloanechurch.org
Our Parish Project - Intermission -
Becomes New Charity
We are pleased to announce that the Intermission Youth Theatre has become part of a newly-formed charitable company, Intermission Youth. The Parochial Church Council of The Parish of Holy Trinity and St Saviour, Upper Chelsea established the youth theatre project in 2008 and remains proud of its association with this excellent project. The decision was taken to enable the project to enter a new chapter as an independent entity for the benefit of its future operational and developmental needs. The PCC would like to take this opportunity to thank the dedicated staff and contributors whose tireless efforts have already helped so many and will continue to do so much for the community and its members.
DIARY DATES
Sunday 2 February 2020 at 2.30pm Free Piano Recital by Ischico Velzel, Retiring Collection
Sunday 9 February 2020 at 1pm Parish Lunch at LIV Restaurant, Belgravia
PARISH DIARY
All events at Holy Trinity Sloane Square unless otherwise stated
SUNDAY 19 JANUARY The Second Sunday of Epiphany Intention: Parish and People
8.30am Holy Communion
11.00am Sung Eucharist Holy Trinity Choir
Dicit Dominus implevit Heinrich Isaac Missa O Rex Gloriae Alonso Lobo The Lamb John Tavener
Preacher: The Rt Revd. Dr Michael Marshall
6.00pm Choral Evensong and Benediction Scholars of Sloane Square Choral Society Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in D Charles Wood
Irish Blessing Bob Chilcott
Monday 20 January Richard Rolle of Hampole, Spiritual Writer Intention: Volunteers 5.45pm Free Teatime Concert
7.00pm Sloane Square Choral Society
Tuesday 21 January Agnes, Child Martyr at Rome, 304 Intention: Mothers
Wednesday 22 January Vincent of Saragossa, Deacon Intention: Children 6.30pm Eucharist
Thursday 23 January Intention: Schools 6.30pm Chelsea Deanery Synod at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital
Friday 24 January Francis of Sales, Bishop of Geneva Homeless 7.30am Winter Breakfast Club
Saturday 25 January The Conversion of Paul Intention: Churchwardens
SUNDAY 26 JANUARY The Third Sunday of Epiphany Intention: Parish and People
8.30am Holy Communion
11.00am Sung Eucharist Preacher: The Revd. Grant Bolton-Debbage 6.00pm Choral Evensong and Benediction
WHO'S WHO and CONTACTS
RECTOR The Revd. Canon Nicholas Wheeler E-mail: rector@sloanechurch.org
ASSISTANT PRIEST The Revd. Grant Bolton-Debbage E-mail: priest@sloanechurch.org
HONORARY ASSISTANT The Rt. Revd. Dr. Michael Marshall
CHURCHWARDENS Jeffrey Kabel Carolyn Hallett
ASSISTANT CHURCHWARDENS Gill Dunley
John Renz
TREASURER David Fairlamb
PCC SECRETARY Martin Bonham
PARISH ADMINISTRATOR Sophie Wilson E-mail: parishoffice@sloanechurch.org
Telephone: 020 7730 7270
FACILITIES AND EVENTS MANAGER Clinton McMaster E-mail: manager@sloanechurch.org
Telephone: 020 7730 7270
