9th Sunday after Pentecost Eucharist
July 24th, 2021
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Greetings as we prepare to celebrate the Lord’s day during the second weekend of lockdown #5 in Victoria, and amid talk of a national emergency in relation the situation emerging in NSW.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all those most acutely impacted by the pandemic and associated restrictions.
In this pre-recorded Eucharist from the Chapel of Bishopscourt and St Paul’s Cathedral in Sale, I’m joined in leading the liturgy by Dean Susanna (preacher), The Revd Nikolai Blaskow and Ro Verspaandonk (readers), and The Revd Kate Campbell (gospel reading and intercessions).
Our thanks to each and all of these, together with the Registrar, Christine Morris, and The Revd David Perryman for technical assistance rendered – not all at the same time or in the same place!
As the winds continue against us with the ongoing impact of the pandemic, it is so important to gather – albeit remotely – at the Lord’s Table, to uphold the needs of the world God loves and the Church God sends to that world as the Body of his Son, and to be strengthened by the grace which flows from Eucharist, received materially or spiritually.
You may therefore like to practice the tradition of ‘spiritual communion’ as you watch and listen to this video file. The following prayer might be helpful at the point of distribution of the Sacrament:
O Lord Jesus Christ, through your tender mercy grant that as the hem of your garment, touched in faith, healed the woman who could not touch your body, so the soul of this your servant may be healed by like faith in you, whom I cannot now sacramentally receive. In union with the faithful at every altar-table in your Church I desire to be united with you, and pray that you will come spiritually into my heart. Let nothing ever separate me from your love, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Grace and peace, +Richard