Notices for Sunday 20th September 2020

We hear in our Gospel this Sunday the parable of the workers in the vineyard. It often seems to frustrate our understandings of how we think justice and fairness work. Why on earth weren’t the workers all paid in accord with how much work they had done?

Perhaps an answer can be found in our first reading on Sunday from the Prophet Isaiah: “Let [the wicked] turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.”

God’s ways are more complex than ours and his wisdom is beyond our understanding. His generosity blows open the categories of how deserving people are that we create in our minds. We cannot earn God’s love nor work our way into the Kingdom of heaven. We receive salvation as a gift.

The Lord challenges us this Sunday: “Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Fr Peter Anthony

Recording of this Sunday’s Mass
A recording of this Sunday’s Mass (25th Sunday in Ordinary Time) with a homily will be available here on our parish YouTube channel from the evening of 12th September.

This week’s pew sheet is available here.

Fr Nigel
We bid farewell this Sunday to Fr Nigel as he moves on to his new ministry at St Michael’s, Croydon. A presentation will be held at the end of the liturgy to thank him and say good bye.

Fr Nigel’s licensing as the assistant priest at St Micahel’s Croydon will take place on Wednesday 7th October 2020 at 7.30 pm at St Michael’s Croydon. All are welcome to attend.

Theology Book Club
Our theology book club meets for the first time by Zoom on Tuesday 22nd September at 7.30 pm to talk about C.S. Lewis’ book Mere Christianity. Simply follow this link to join the seminar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84998118890 (Zoom meeting ID: 849 9811 8890).

The purpose of the St Benet’s Book Club is to offer a forum for theological reflection, debate in the light of a book that we agree to read together.

The idea is that a book is discussed each time we meet at 7.30 pm on a Tuesday evening. It would be ideal to have read the book before the seminar, but if you are still half way through or just starting, don’t let that stop you joining us. The books we will look at this autumn include, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, (Tuesday 22nd September); Ghost Ship: Institutional Racism and the Church of England by A.D.A. France-Williams (Tuesday 27th October); and The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni (Tuesday 24th November).

It is expected that participants acquire their own copies of the texts to be discussed. All of the books proposed are currently in print as paperbacks and can be obtained cheaply on Amazon.

Restored Pieta
A Pieta belonging to St Benet’s church which has languished in the organ loft for many years has returned from the restorer’s and looks fantastic. It has been mounted on the wall of the Lady Chapel over the altar. It was restored using a benefaction generously provided for us in the will of Iris Reynolds, and will stand, therefore, as a memorial to her. For more information about the picture and its creator, have a look at this article on our parish website.

Confirmation classes   
Confirmation classes will begin again soon for a confirmation on Sunday 13th December. These will be a mixture of Zoom classes and meeting in person. Details to follow, but if you would like your child to be confirmed, please let Fr Peter know.