I will try not to breathe I can hold my head still with my hands at my knees These eyes are the eyes of the old, shiver and fold
I will try not to breathe This decision is mine I have lived a full life And these are the eyes that I want you to remember.
So begins one of my favourite songs from one of my favourite albums (REM, Automatic for the People, you can listen to the song here.) I've always loved the song - I guess the music played a stronger part than the words - but I've also always felt a little bit uncomfortable with it: trying not to breathe is a pretty stark idea. However, the idea of having lived a full enough life to be ready to die has stayed with me. What would it mean to be able to say of life 'I've had a great time, I've seen and done everything I want to do, and now it's time to go'? Seen in that light, the song feels more like a positive affirmation of life than a suicide note. The question comes back to each one of us, what would make your life feel full enough to have no wish to cling on to it for want of something better. What would such a life look and feel like? What is stopping you from living it?
On Sunday we celebrate the feast of Candlemas. 40 days after Jesus is born, Mary and Joseph present Jesus at the temple. They are met by Simeon, an old man who God promised would see the Messiah before he died. He takes Jesus into his arms and realises that this is the person he has been waiting for all his life, and that now, having seen Jesus, he can die. He sings the Nunc Dimmitis, the song the church sings before bedtime at Compline every evening:
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
In other circumstances praying for the release of death might seem desperate or tragic, but for Simeon it is full of hope because he knows that his salvation has come.
So how can we live our lives in the same way, waiting for Jesus, knowing that the love of God is enough, with such faith in our salvation that death is not a tragedy but a new beginning? Let us pray for the grace of Simeon, that however and whenever death comes we will be ready for it, knowing that all our dreams, hopes and desires have been fulfilled in Christ.
As we pray for this grace, we can take some comfort in this beautiful prayer of St Theresa of Avila:
Let nothing disturb you Let nothing frighten you All things are passing God never changes Patience obtains all things Who possesses God lacks nothing God alone suffices.
With love and prayers,
Fr Ben
Thursday 30th January
6.30pm Evening Prayer
7.00pm Mass
Friday 31st January: St John Bosco
9.30am Mass, Holy Trinity
Saturday 1st February
6pm - 2am Nine Night for Margaret Todd, West Indian Cultural Centre
Sunday 2nd February: The Presentation of the Lord, Candlemas
9.15am Morning Prayer
10.00am Sung Parish Mass, with blessing of candles and procession
7.00pm Eventide
Monday 3rd February: St Blaise
9.30am Mass with blessing of throats
Tuesday 4th February
8.00am Morning Prayer
9.45am -12.00pm Little Innocents Stay and Play
7.30pm Mass, Holy Trinity
Wednesday 5th February: St Agatha
9.30am Mass
10.30 – 12.00pm Coffee Morning
7.30pm PCC Meeting
CANDLEMASS At Candlemass we come to the end of the Christmas period, with the crib coming down, celebrating the presentation of Christ in the Temple. The service will begin at the back of church with the blessing of candles, we will then process to our seats to continue the mass as normal. Make an effort to join us for this special and beautiful service.
EVENTIDE – NEW SERVICE For a spiritual and peaceful end to Sunday, on Candlemass we’re starting a new service. This will consist of half and hour’s meditation before the blessed sacrament, followed by a short service of compline.
BLESSING OF THROATS FOR ST BLAISE
It is tradition on St Blaise day to bless throats with two candles blessed at Candlemas. This will take place during the Monday Mass at 9.30am.
LUNCH WITH METHODISTS AND UNION CHURCH
On Sunday 9th February at 1:30pm we will be hosting a Christian Unity lunch at Holy Innocents. Our friends at the Middle Lane Methodist Church and Union Church, Ferme Park Road, will be coming along to the lunch. This should be a fun and open event and a time to reflect on the commonalities we share with our Christian family. Please do let the ministry team know if you can contribute to the food or drink. Please do put it in your diaries.
AMBASSADORS We are running an Ambassadors Course for those who wish to develop their Christian life outside church. The second of these sessions will be at Holy Trinity vicarage on the 12th February – dinner will be provided.
CONFIRMATION
So far this year no candidates have come forward for confirmation. If you would like to be confirmed please let Fr Ben know so that he can arrange for the bishop to come later in the year.
PCC MEETING
There will be a PCC Meeting on Wednesday 5th of February
MARGARET TODD RIP
It is with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Margaret Todd, Faye’s sister, last Thursday. The Nine Night will be at the West Indian Cultural Centre from 6pm -2am on Saturday 1st February.
