Today's Gospel reading begins with great solemnity. Jesus setting his face to go to Jerusalem marks a moment of intense commitment. He knows his destiny. But he still has to get there. Those who reject him at this stage of his ministry are signs and anticipations of the great rejection that lies ahead.
As Jesus takes the road to Jerusalem, so the destiny of many others is being played out. It is noticeable that Jesus is harder on the would be disciples who make the right noises but lack urgency, than he is on the Samaritans who refuse to give him hospitality. Rejection can be forgiven but lukewarm or insincere acceptance grates because it misunderstands the ultimate nature of Jesus' call.
On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus promises no easy road, and the road we are called to follow as Christians is always the via crucis, the way of the cross. This is extremely challenging, especially for those of us who have been Christians for many years, or all our lives. We may have integrated our faith so well into our personalities and lifestyles that we are no longer shocked by its extreme demands. We look for our spiritual life to bring us peace but this should not be the false peace of self-satisfaction. The Kingdom of God demands more.
Angela Tilby
'Cheerio, but be back soon!'
This Sunday (June 30) we say farewell to Fr Paul Gismondi as he comes to the end of his 3-year post as our Assistant Curate.
It's hard to believe that it was June 2016 when Fr. Paul, who worked for 30 years for Lazard's, one of the world's leading financial advisory and asset management firms, was ordained deacon in St. Paul's Cathedral to serve at both Holy Trinity and in the six churches of the Parish of Sandringham in Norfolk.
On Sunday, Fr. Paul will preside and preach at the 11am Eucharist and everyone is invited to the farewell lunch in the Rectory Garden afterwards.
Writes Fr. Nicholas: "Fr Paul has given so much to the life of this Parish over the last three years and we have so much to thank him for. His deep prayefulness, warm pastoral heart, intelligent preaching, personal generosity and calm presence at the heart of our busy community will be sorely missed. It has been a privilege for us to train him and a blessing to learn so much from him."
Saving lives from gangs and knives
A disturbing yet inspiring Sunday Conversation at Holy Trinity took place last Sunday (23 June) on the subject of London’s knife crime epidemic and the heroic work being done to transform young lives by people like Paul and Daniel (pictured above) from the ‘E-gangs’ project.
The charity, which operates with a Christian ethos, offers a tailored mentoring programme to provide practical guidance and support away from criminal activity, develop a positive outlook and change attitudes and beliefs away from violence and crime. Paul and Daniel explained how their involvement in the project had come as a direct result of the help they had received when they had been in a dark place in their own lives.
'E-gangs' (the E is for 'exit') is based in Ilford and is currently mentoring about 70 young people.
Bishop takes clergy away...
The Bishop of Kensington is taking all 160 clergy in his Episcopal Area away for a five-day residential at the Swanwick Conference Centre in Derbyshire this week. The theme of the conference is “Disciples of Christ in C21st London”.
In a letter to the clergy, Bishop Graham wrote: 'I do hope you will pray with me over the coming days that this may be a time when we can discern more clearly what God is calling us to do and to be as we seek to follow Christ in our different contexts.'
As a result, there will be no clergy available in the parish from Monday to Friday and some of our daily masses will become Liturgies of the Word.
Recital ends on a high note!
Many thanks to tall those who came to support Edmund Lee’s brilliant piano recital in aid of our High Altar kneeler project on Thursday (June 27). The programme featured works by Beethoven, Scriabin and Tippett and attracted a large audience. Well over £1,000 was raised and we hope to announce the final total next week.
Come, Holy Spirit
This year’s Confirmation service will take place at Holy Trinity on Sunday 14 July at 11am and we will be welcoming the Rt. Revd. Stephen Platten, formerly Bishop of Wakefield, to preside and preach. Please pray for our candidates – Robin Balance, Atefeh Arefcheh and Megan Stachlewski – and be with them if you can on this important day in their lives.
Holy Trinity on Royal Borough's art trail
This weekend (28 – 30 June) you are invited to enjoy a unique opportunity to experience Kensington and Chelsea like never before with over 100 events taking place across the borough: a Public Art Trail, workshops, curated tours, family activities, music events, coding workshops, parties, a treasure hunt, a free Art Bus and much more. Holy Trinity Church is on the trail too!
The weekend was kicked off in Sloane Square on Thursday afternoon by the Mayor and Mayoress of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea unveiling two plastic inflatables featuring five plants at risk of extinction in our world. See the website: www.kcaw.co.uk
Bishop Rob and Janine Gillion return from Oz
Bishop Rob Gillion, Rector of our parish from 2008 to 2014, has returned permanently to the UK with his wife Janine after four years as Bishop of the Riverina in New South Wales, Australia.
Bishop Rob and Janine have moved to Grantham where he has become an Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Lincoln and interim priest-in-charge of St. John's Church, Spalding.
In an interview with the local newspaper, Bishop Rob said: "After returning from Australia last August, I thought of retiring and helping other bishops out. But then the Bishop of Lincoln discovered that I was in the diocese and he asked me if I wanted to be the part-time priest of St John's. The church needed some tender loving care and my hope is that I can come among the St John's community and help them."
Bishop Rob, who was an actor before he was ordained, added: "One of the things I learned as an actor is to step into other people's shoes and I believe a minister's job is very similar, finding out what others' joys and sorrows are. I believe the church is very close to being a theatre, a wonderful place where people can have a break from their busy life and listen to things of importance."
Fr. Nicholas has invited Bishop Rob back to Holy Trinity later in the year to preach and to talk with Janine about their work together in the outback.
Mother Ayla celebrates her First Mass
Members of Holy Trinity joined a large congregation at Hampstead Parish Church last Sunday (June 23) to see Mother Ayla Lepine celebrate the Eucharist for the first time following her ordination to the priesthood the day before.
Mother Ayla spent a month on placement at Holy Trinity in 2016 whilst training for ordination at Westcott House, Cambridge and amongst the many things she did whilst she was with us was to organise our first Arts and Crafts Festival.
For the service at Hampstead we were thrilled to be able to lend Ayla and her colleagues our gold vestments.
Arts and Crafts Festival 2019
This year's Arts and Crafts Festival (19-22 September) will be a feast for the imagination. Pick up your flier from church with details of what's on offer and look out for the complete programme in mid-July.
Choral Society Summer Concert
Come and hear our Choral Society performing Duruflé’s sublime Requiem (our Rector’s favourite piece) along with two motets by Louis Vierne on Sunday 7 July at 6pm. Tickets at £16 (£6 for children/students) will be available at the door on the night. Not to be missed!
'...and all that jazz!'
Holy Trinity'sParish Room will turn into the Trinity Trumpet on Monday 15 July for an evening of splendid jazz with the Oliver Lallemant Trio! Come along and support this wonderful evening. Tickets cost £10 and doors will open at 7pm with the first set beginning at 7:15pm. Drinks and light refreshments will be available. All proceeds to this year's Arts and Crafts Festival.
Faith, Food and Fellowship
Men’s Breakfast is a great opportunity for men of all ages to come together and talk with others and make new friendships. The next Men’s Breakfast takes place at St Saviour’s Church, Walton Place on Saturday 6 July from 9am – 11am. If you would like to help with the cooking, please do come along for 8.15am.
Fr Grant
Curtain up on Othello: Remixed
Omnibus Theatre in Clapham, south London, has invited our parish's Intermission Theatre Company to perform at its award-winning venue for a 3-week run this summer.
Othello - Remixed breathes fresh life into Shakespeare's gripping tragedy, transporting Othello's story to London, 2019. Set in a boxing ring, championship boxer Othello, Iago and Cassio come to blows in a world of jealousy, deceit, manipulation and revenge.
"Intermission Theatre's radical reinvention of Shakespeare, with its explosive mashup of language, creates accessible, engaging and contemporary theatre that is right for our time," said Marie McCarthy, Artistic Director of Omnibus Theatre.
25 June - 14 July 2019
Tuesdays - Saturdays 7.30pm; Sundays 4pm.
FORTHCOMING CONCERTS
News from THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
New study outlines impact of two child limit
Research on the impact of the two-child limit in tax credits and universal credit, conducted by the Child Poverty Action Group and the Mission and Public Affairs Council of the Church of England, was published this week.
All Kids Count: the impact of the two-child limit after two years, shows that parents affected by the policy are reporting that they have cut back on fresh food for children, are unable to cover essential utility bills, and are being obliged to withdraw older children from activities such as swimming lessons and school trips.
The report, with additional contributions from Women’s Aid, the Refugee Council, and the charity, Turn2us, includes analysis by the Institute for Public Policy research (IPPR) which projects that one million children who already live in poverty will be pushed further below the poverty line by the time universal credit is fully rolled out in 2023/24 as a result of the policy.
The research draws on a survey of more than 430 families and 16 in-depth follow-up interviews with a representative sample of survey respondents. Women’s Aid and the Refugee Council provided additional findings from interviews with survivors of domestic abuse and refugees.
The Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, said: “We believe that children are a blessing, not a burden – and that a third or fourth child is no less precious than the first or second.
“The Government’s two-child limit goes against this fundamental principle and is pushing many families and children into poverty. It is simply not right that some children get support and others don’t. The two-child limit must be lifted as part of a concerted effort to reverse the rise in child poverty.”
DIARY DATES
Sunday 30 June 2019 at 11am Fr Paul's Farewell Eucharist and Lunch
Sunday 14 July at 11am Baptism and Confirmation
Thursday 18 July at 2pm Holy Trinity School Leavers' Service
Thursday 11 July at 7pm: Patio Garden Summer Showat Holy Trinity
Sunday 1 September at 12.30pm Parish Garden Party at the Rectory
PARISH DIARY
All events at Holy Trinity Sloane Square unless otherwise stated
SUNDAY 30 JUNE THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Intention: Parish and People
8.30am Holy Communion
11.00am Sung Eucharist with Junior Church Holy Trinity Choir
Doctor egregie Paule Tomas Luis de Victoria
Communion Service in A minor Harold Darke
Tu es Petrus Robert Lucas Pearsal Preacher: The Revd. Paul Gismondi
6.00pm Choral Evensong and Benediction The Lacock Scholars
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis 'Collegium Regale' Herbert Howells
Spem in alium Thomas Tallis
7.30pm Lacock Scholars' concert
Monday 1 July Henry, John & Henry Venn the younger. Priests. Intention: Our clergy 7.00pm Sloane Square Choral Society
Tuesday 2 July The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth Intention: Sussex House School 3.00pm Sloane Square Choral Society
7.30pm Concert
Wednesday 3 July Thomas the Apostle Intention: Those in need 1.00pm Holy Communion
5.30pm Free Teatime Concert
6.30pm Liturgy of the Word Thursday 4 July Translation of St Martin, Bishop of Tours, c.397 Intention: The homeless
Friday 5 July Intention: Unity
Saturday 6 July Thomas More, Scholar, and John Fisher Intention: Parents 9.00am Men's Breakfast at St. Saviour's
11.00am Church Cleaning Guild
7.30pm Amati Orchestra Concert
SUNDAY 7 July THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Intention: Parish and People
8.30am Holy Communion
11.00am Sung Eucharist with Junior Church Preacher: The Revd. Canon Nicholas Wheeler 6.00pm Sloane Square Choral Society Summer Concert
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
ASSISTANT CURATE The Revd. Paul Gismondi E-mail: curate@sloanechurch.org
HONORARY ASSISTANT The Rt. Revd. Dr. Michael Marshall
CHURCHWARDENS Jeffrey Kabel Vacancy
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
