29 JULY 2021
PETERS FINGER
That curious word is a corruption of “Peter ad vincula” or in English “Peter’s Chains”. This is the title of a feast observed in the old calendars on 1 August. “St Peter ad vincula” is the dedication of a number of old churches and chapels, notably the chapel in the Tower of London where the remains of such unfortunate people as Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Thomas Cromwell were buried following their executions on Tower Green.
The same day, 1 August, is also observed as Lammas Day. This is another corruption, this time of “loaf-mass day” It was the day on which mass was offered using bread baked from the newly harvested flour. Thus, it was a sort of precursor of our modern harvest festival. In some places where the church was dedicated to St Peter as Vincula there were Lammas Lands. These were areas of pasture which were opened for common grazing from Lammas Day to Lady Day (25thMarch).
Among other commemorations linked to the agricultural year are Plough Monday (the Monday after Epiphany) when work resumed after the Christmas holiday; Lady Day which marked the beginning of a new year, the Rogation Days (the three days preceding Ascension Day) when prayers were offered for a good harvest and God’s blessing on the labours of humankind and the Feast of the Transfiguration (6 August) when the Pope used to offer Mass using wine from the new vintage.
All of which shows how closely the Church’s observations were linked to the cycle of agricultural work throughout the seasons. In our modern world this link has been broken which is a great loss. As the COP26 conference on climate change draws near we should perhaps remind ourselves that we are stewards of creation and reflect on what this means for our responsibilities in this technological age.
READINGS AND PRAYERS
1 AUGUST – NINTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY – John 6.24-35 – the bread of life – for God’s blessing on the labours of humankind
2 AUGUST – MONDAY- Matthew 14.13-21 – the feeding of the 5,000 – Christian Aid and all working to combat hunger throughout the world
3 AUGUST – TUESDAY– Matthew 14.22- end – “It is I do not be afraid” – for all who doubt
4 AUGUST – JEAN-BAPTISTE VIANNEY, Spiritual Guide (1859) – Matthew 16.24-28 – all parish priests
5 AUGUST – OSWALD, King of Northumbria, Martyr (642) – I Peter 4.12-end – if any of you suffer as a Christian do not consider it a disgrace - all who suffer for the faith today
6 AUGUST – THE TRANFIGURATION OF OUR LORD – Mark 9.2-10 –“This is my Son, the Beloved” – all victims of war and violence
7 AUGUST – JOHN MASON NEALE, Priest, Hymn Writer (1866) – Psalm 96 – sing to the Lord a new song – our Director of Music, organist and choir
6 AUGUST 2021
DESTROYER OF WORLDS
Today the Church keeps the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord, but it also marks a much grimmer anniversary - the dropping of the atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in 1945. The Hiroshima bomb which killed up to 80,000 people, 30% of the population of Hiroshima and injured a further 70,000 was followed on 9 August by an attack on Nagasaki which killed 35-40, 000 people and injured a further 60,000. By 1953 the hydrogen bomb, hundreds or even thousands of times as powerful as the atomic bomb had been tested.
The development of these terrible weapons had been spurred on by the need first to bring the war against Japanto a close and then by the escalating Cold War between Russia and the west. The power of these weapons daunted the scientists who developed them. On witnessing the first test of an atomic bomb Robert J Oppenheimer one of those involved later recalled:
“We knew the world would not be the same. a few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, “Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” I suppose we all thought that one way or another.”
Indeed, the world would never be the same: once something has been invented you can’t turn back the clock you simply have to live with your new capability and to live with it constructively. So far, for the last 68 years, we have mostly managed to do that. At any rate we are still here to tell the tale.
But the existence of this terrible power is a constant challenge to those in positions of authority across the world. Thankfully we seem to be making some progress: a second round of disarmament talks between the USAand Russiais due to start about now. Let us pray for all those involved and for their success.
READINGS AND PRAYERS
8 AUGUST – TENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY - John 6.35, 41-51 – no one can come to me unless drawn by my Father – for all evangelistic work
9 AUGUST – MARY SUMNER, Founder of the Mothers’ Union (1921) – Hebrews 13.1-5 – show hospitality to strangers – for all members of the Mothers’ Unionthroughout the world
10 AUGUST – LAURENCE, Deacon at Rome, Martyr (258) – II Corinthians 9.6-10 – the one who sows bountifully will reap bountifully – for all who suffer for the faith today
11 AUGUST- CLARE OF ASSISI, Founder of the Minoresses (1253) – John 15.4-10 – abide in my love – for the members of all religious orders
12 AUGUST – THURSDAY- Matthew 18.21-19.1 – forgive your brother and sister from your heart – for the gift of forgiveness
13 AUGUST – JEREMY TAYLOR, Bishop of Down and Connor, Teacher of the Faith (1667) – Titus 2.7,8,11-14 – for holy living and dying
14 AUGUST – MAXIMILLIAN KOLBE, Friar, Martyr (1941) – I John 3.14-18 – we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters – for the gift of self-sacrifice
1st August 2021
Our first hymn this morning, Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken, was written in the 18th-century by John Newton, who also wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace". The hymn was written after he had asked for assistance from his friend and neighbour, classical writer William Cowper, while he was the parish priest of Olney Church. With Cowper's assistance, Newton was able to publish the Olney Hymns Hymnal, which included "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken", in 1779. The hymn is based upon Psalm 87:3 and Isaiah 33:20–21. "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken" is considered to be Newton's best composition and was the only joyful hymn in the publication. The hymn was a favourite of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. He is noted to have once awakened his soldiers in 1862 while they were in the Shenandoah Valley by singing "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken" out of tune.
This is one of several hymns we sing to the tune “Abbot’s Leigh” written by Rev. Cyril Taylor (1907 – 1991). The tune was composed whilst Taylor was stationed at the village of Abbot’s Leigh in Somerset during the Second World War.
8th August 2021
William Chatterton Dix (14 June 1837 – 9 September 1898) was an English writer of hymns and carols. He was born in Bristol, the son of John Dix, a local surgeon, who wrote The Life of Chatterton the poet, a book of Pen Pictures of Popular English Preachers and other works. His father gave him his middle name in honour of Thomas Chatterton, a poet about whom he had written a biography. William Chatterton Dix was educated at the Grammar School, Bristol, for a mercantile career, and became manager of a maritime insurance company in Glasgow where he spent most of his life. His hymns and carols also include As with Gladness Men of Old, What Child Is This?, To You, O Lord, Our Hearts We Raise, as well as Alleluia! Sing to Jesus which is our Offertory hymn this morning.
Hyfrydol (meaning among other things "melodious") is a Welsh hymn tune that appears in a number of contemporary hymnals in various arrangements. Composed by Rowland Prichard (1811 – 1887), it was originally published in the composer's handbook to the children's songbook Cyfaill y Cantorion ("The Singers' Friend") in 1844. Prichard composed the tune before he was twenty years old. This tune is set for our Offertory hymn Alleluia, sing to Jesus this morning.
Choir Dates for your Diary
Our Church Choir are looking forward to returning in September and are delighted to announce that our services of Choral Evensong will resume (Covid permitting)
on Sunday 12th September. Please do join us.
We have also been invited to sing at our Diocesan Cathedral as well as at Rochester Cathedral (postponed due to Covid restrictions), do please keep the following dates free and join us if you can:
9th October 2021 - Choral Evensong at Rochester Cathedral
20th November 2021 – St. John’s is providing the choir for the Diocesan
Confirmation Service
30th April 2022 - Choral Evensong at Rochester Cathedral
26th November 2022 - Choral Evensong at Southwark Cathedral.
Kind regards
Ian