Thoughts from The Vicarage with Bells, Q & A and prayer
Greetings on this day of thanksgiving for Holy Communion known as Corpus Christi. Please find attached Pews News for times of services and next week’s activities. Services are in East Garston and Lambourn with further readings of Banns in each church.
Any questions? Just lately I’ve been randomly asked some very interesting questions. These have ranged from What’s in my small square black box through to What do I do for the rest of the week? Living Well in the End Times folk were keen to learn more about the vows a priest makes when they’re ordained. So, quite a range as you will appreciate and I love it! Please do keep asking … I can’t always guarantee an answer but will find out.
Here goes with the question; What’s in my little black box on the altar before Christening?
Answer: Three small silver pots containing blessed oils which a priest uses in her ministry. Oil has been used since earliest times in baptism, confirmation, in ministry to the sick and the dying. The oil for signing with the cross at Baptism has no scent, unlike the others. The oil for anointing the sick and dying is for a priest’s ministry of healing and is rather wonderfully scented with Lavender. The oil of Chrism used at Confirmation or following a Baptism is scented with balsam, frankincense, myrrh and cinnamon. During the post baptismal prayer it may be poured over the crown or neck of the newly baptised as this prayer is used – ‘May God who has received you by baptism into his church, pour upon you the riches of his grace ….’
Anointing with oil is accompanied by prayer and in the case of last rites as a person nears death is comforting both for the dying and for their loved ones.
The oils, fairly traded olive oil from the Holy Land, are received, blessed by the Bishop in Christchurch Cathedral on Maundy Thursday and then bought back to the Parishes for use by the priest.
Living Well in The End Times continues on Wednesday when we will welcome Neil Marnie from the undertaker Michael Smallbone and close with tea and cake. It’s open to all, so please do feel free to come along with any questions you may have. As I often say – no query is ever too small.
The Lambourn Valley bell ringers have received many thanks for their ringing on a Summer’s evening yesterday! I too have received three emails expressing great appreciation for the ringing. The team are thankful for those who’d like to find out more. There’s a new ringers taster session in the Lambourn Tower from 7-9pm on Tuesday. All welcome – any queries please ring Nick the Tower Captain 07521 707830
A prayer for the coming week:
Almighty God,
we lift to you our troubled world,
with its rich diversity that we can celebrate but also its conflicts,
natural disasters and environmental challenges
that cause us to cry out to you in our lament of pain and sadness.
We pray for peaceful understanding between nations and those who lead them,
for appropriate relief and care to reach those most in need
and for a better understanding of the threats to our climate and creation
and a like mind to bring about actions to sustain all we need and value around us.
Amen
God bless
Julie