All Saints’ Lent Films

Lent Films 2009

On the five Sundays of Lent 2009, All Saints’ people watched five films which at first appeared very different in theme and target audience, but Mary Duncan here gives a detailed description of each film and finally reflects on the underlying theme that each embraces.

This account gives an outline of each of the five films for the sake of people who were unable to see them, followed by some reflections. The films were, Wall-E, Run, Lola, Run, Fearless, Little Miss Sunshine, and Jesus of Montreal. Read more

Welcome to the Lord’s Table, Week 10

Welcome to the Lord’s Table, Week 10

Sermon for St Mary’s 10am Sung Eucharist 

by Revd James Percival, Team Vicar

29th March 2009, 5th Sunday of Lent (Passion)

 

Holy Communion – let’s share a meal

Encountering Christ in Holy Communion

 

In the name of God who feeds us with the body and blood of Christ. Amen.

 

As I expect you know by now, I always value getting feedback on my sermons. So I was glad last week to be approached by one of our members on that subject. Your sermon today, she said – yes, I said, expectantly – “it wasn’t even long enough for me to finish my polo”.

 

Thanks. I’ll take that as a compliment. And don’t worry, this will be full polo length. For it is the last day of our Epiphany to Easter series, Welcome to the Lord’s Table.

 

Alongside these sermons and the small but fruitful discussion group; 11 children, inc 9 from St Mary’s, are getting ready to receive Holy Communion for the first time on Easter Day. This is a significant moment for each of them.

 

But beyond those individuals, this is a significant moment for us together as the church here.

 

Because it calls us back to what we most truly are…

 

The Eucharist is fundamental to the Church’s life. That is not simply to say that it is ‘very useful’, nor that it is simply spiritual food for the soul. It is that when the Church performs the Eucharistic action it is what it is called to be: the Easter community, guilty and restored, the gathering of those of us whose identity is defined by our new relation to Jesus crucified and raised, who identify ourselves as forgiven. Read more