Cathedral Service for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost, 10 October 2021
October 9th, 2021
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
Some of our number have come out of lockdown during the week just passed; others remain under the extended restrictions that apply to greater metropolitan Melbourne; all of us are constrained to some extent in terms of what we long for by way of gathered worship.
In that context, we trust these weekly offerings from the ‘mother church’ of the Diocese are a helpful addition to other online and in-person resources you are providing for others and availing for yourselves.
In the ‘afterglow’ of the feast of St Francis last Monday – a theme that governed our virtual Clergy Retreat this week – I try to draw some connections between blessed Francis and the rich man of this Sunday’s gospel.
Dean Susanna officiates at the altar-table, with assistance from Christine Morris and Associate Priest at St Paul’s, Nikolai Blaskow.
Technical ministries this week are provided by Christine, behind the camera and at the editing desk.
May your worship this weekend – whether accessing this pre-recorded service at home by yourself or with other household members, or in small gathered communities at churches around the region, or via zoom in your local parish or ministry centre – I pray that you have a deep sense of our unity and connectedness in the Body of Christ, towards which the following prayer may be helpful.
A prayer for Spiritual Communion (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