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Greetings on the Feast of the holy, blessed, and undivided Trinity!

Once again we find ourselves unable to gather face to face for worship and fellowship this weekend.

This pre-recorded Eucharist from the Cathedral church of the Diocese of Gippsland is an offering to any who may find it helpful to pray with us online, and to participate in ‘spiritual communion’ (see the prayer below). We are grateful to the Dean, The Very Revd Susanna Pain, for her preaching and the Cathedral team’s hospitality, to The Revd Nikolai Blaskow for the readings and intercessions, and to Christine Morris and the Registrar for recording and editing the video.

This Eucharist was celebrated in the early days of Reconciliation Week – another reminder of our being made for community and right relationships in the image of the divine community of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This may help us to reflect theologically on why the experience of ‘lockdown’ can be so painful and disorienting, and to be mindful of those who are especially vulnerable to the impacts of social isolation.

Our prayer is that you will be safe during these days, held and connected in networks of mutual support, as we rest in God’s ever-relational being ‘for us’ and for the world God so loves.

Grace and peace, +Richard

The following prayer may be helpful, especially 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.