The Priory Church of St Mary and the Holy Cross is open daily between 10am and 4.00pm for individual prayer and contemplation.

The Priory Church of St Mary and the Holy Cross is open for worship  as listed under Services.

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ZOOM SERVICES

Zoom Services on Sundays will continue on a monthly basis  – the first Sunday of the month at 5pm.To participate please telephone Ian Newton on 01328 830947 or email iannewton46@ gmail.com. You will be warmly welcomed.

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Revd Ian Whittle’s  Message

Dear Friends and Parishioners,

We write letters for all sorts of reasons: letting our friends and family know how we’re doing, business letters, job applications, the odd letter of complaint perhaps!  But few of us will ever write as did St. Paul; and one of his reasons for his writing to the Christian people at Philippi was that news had been brought to him of divisions and of a party spirit among them. And he wanted to encourage them to live and act and witness in the unity of the Spirit.  That might seem a tall order, so the best way that Paul can bring out the best in the people at Philippi is to turn them to the example of Christ.  HIS humility and self-giving will then shape all their attitudes.

But perhaps the things of Christ and even his achievement on the Cross of making peace between God and mankind, and even his resurrection – seemed far away from ordinary life.  Even far away from ordinary Church life… So Paul talked to them in terms that they understood.  Greeks were very concerned about their citizenship – about where they belonged.  And perhaps some of those hearing and reading the letter were surprised to be told

‘…our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control – will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.’

Not only were they citizens of heaven, but they should be eagerly awaiting their Saviour, and they had the prospect of transformed bodies.  I should think that stopped their squabbling for a moment or two.

If you are, say, American, it’s very difficult to have dual nationality.  If you are fortunate to be born of US parents why should you want to belong anywhere else?  Other nations think differently.  When I was renewing my residence permit in Holland, I was asked, as I had lived there for six years, whether I would like Dutch citizenship.  I thought it very generous of them!

Dual nationality then, is anathema to some, acceptable to others.

Where you belong has always been important.  It still is.  Think of the rows in recent years about the nationality of the people of Hong Kong.  Think of the panic in this country at the outbreak of the last War – which resulted in thousands of innocent immigrants being interned for the duration of the war.

In ancient times nationality was no less important.  Tribe and family defined you; and should you challenge them you were in trouble.  When Jeremiah, the awkward prophet of Israel in dangerous times, wrote to the Eziles in Babylon that they should settle down there – you can imagine the upset he caused.

In this case he was aiming to shake the ruined rump of the state, and prepare their offspring for their ultimate return.  For 70 years they would have dual citizenship.

With the coming of Christ and in the century after his going, the question of nationality descended into several fights.  Jew v. Roman, Christian v. Jew, Church v. Empire.

Am I English first or am I a Christian first?  Wars, civil wars and family disputes have been fought over that question.

It’s not for nothing that in the 1^st century, Christians, before they were called Christians, were known as followers of the Way.  This is the way of our Lord Jesus Christ, the route, which via Calvary and the empty tomb, we have started upon.  Many have already walked it; and the guidebooks, such as Paul’s to the walkers of Philippi, remain valid and in print.  And it is our duty and our joy to follow this way as men and women of dual nationality.  For ‘…our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control – will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.’

O Saviour of ourselves we cannot love thee, cannot follow thee, cannot cleave to thee; but thou didst come down that we might love thee.  Didst sacend that we might follow thee.  Didst bind us round thee as thy girdle that we might be held dast unto thee.  Thou who hast loved us, make us to love thee.  Thou who hast sought us, make us to seek thee.  Thou who, when we were lost didst find us.  Be thyself the way, that we may find thee and be found in thee, our only hope, and our everlasting joy.

Yours very truly,

Ian Whittle