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ACC UK Magazine of the Diocese of the United Kingdom (Anglican Catholic Church) Issue 35 Annual Subscription £7.50 Advent 2011 INSIDE NEW ARCHDEACON THIS ISSUE: From the Bishop 2 News from the Council 5 of Advice XIX Provincial 6 Synod Above: The Venerable Raymond Alan Malcolm Thompson makes his Canonical Oaths to Bishop Mead. The Bishop is assisted by Mr Richard Mulholland. Photo: Dr Roy Fidge Benedictine 10 Reflections On Wednesday 30th November wife, Mrs Carol Thompson and his Dom Philip James 2011, being the Feast of St Andrew, family and friends. French OSB the Bishop inducted the Venerable Dr Roy Fidge, Secretary of the Raymond Alan Malcolm Thompson Diocese, presented Fr Thompson as Archdeacon of the Diocese of to the Bishop and witnessed his Testimony ... the United Kingdom. Canonical Oaths. 17 The Induction took place before Fr Thompson, who is Parish the celebration of Holy Mass at St. Priest of Our Lady of Walsingham Augustine‘s Church, Best Lane, and St Francis of Assisi, Rochester, Canterbury, Kent. The Archdeacon Kent remains Dean of the Southern Where to Deanery and Vice Chancellor of the 19 celebrated the Mass and the worship service was attended by members Diocese. of the parish and Fr Thompson‘s More Pictures on page 8 ORTHODOX FAITH ANGLICAN WORSHIP CATHOLIC ORDER P A G E 2 FROM THE BISHOP I am very professionalism or attention to conscious as I detail, or through tiredness and write these distraction (whether caused by words of how blessed I am to be personal irresponsibility or in the here! Many of you will know that case of the stories we hear of on 18th November I was taken to the long hours and difficult hospital after suffering breathing working conditions staff labour difficulties and was diagnosed u n d e r , i n s t i t u t i o n a l with a Deep Vein Thrombosis irresponsibility) can so easily above the knee in my right leg and undo or undermine this good The Right Revd Bilateral Pulmonary Embolisms and essential work. Damien Mead (blood clots on both lungs). I am We in the Church, not just Bishop pleased to say that I am feeling clergy but laity too, can also do Ordinary much better than I was although I exactly the same thing. We are am still poorly and have reduced responsible for the proclaiming both my religious and secular of the Good News of Jesus duties to the barest minimum. I Christ. The Gospel heals souls am very grateful for all the cards, and saves people from being messages and prayers I have forever separated from God. received and am very conscious Too often I have heard stories of the huge out pouring of love, for of how the behaviour of which I am also truly grateful. individuals claiming to be My recent health problems have Christians, disciples, followers reminded me of my own mortality of Jesus Christ, have turned and my experience of the National people away from the Gospel. ―We are Health Service has given me When a lack of commitment to responsible for much to ponder. the principles and practice of the the proclaiming I am proud of the dreams and Faith by those claiming its of the Good News aspirations of the founders of our importance has made the of Jesus Christ. National Health Service. Despite difference between people The Gospel all the bad experiences one may finding the answers to life in Him heals souls have or hear of we are so very or turning away and looking and saves lucky compared to the majority of elsewhere. people from the worlds population. I admire the The season of Advent is for being forever hard work and professionalism of Christians one of anticipation separated the vast majority of those who and hope although at its from God.‖ work in this essential service. beginnings the emphasis was However, a conversation I had much more on penitence, with one such professional during fasting and sin. my treatment confirmed a very Whilst we rejoice in the simple fact. The hard work, Christmas Story and our homes determination, devotion to duty, and Churches are adorned with and greatest levels of care by the images of the new born Christ majority can be undone so easily Child. Advent is not just a by just one or two individuals who celebration of a moment in time either intentionally, through when a baby was born, but rudeness or other personality looks beyond to a time when the t r a i t s , t h r o u g h l a c k o f Bible tells us that Jesus will ISSUE 35 ADVENT 2011 P A G E 3 FROM THE BISHOP continued come again, not as a weak and business. We might like to dwell on vulnerable baby but in power and the inner peace and sure and with authority. The traditional certain hope it gives us, but Scripture readings for this time d i s c i p l e s h i p c o m e s w i t h emphasize both the First and responsibilities and it can be Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and unsettling and requires action on our accountability for faithfulness at our part. His coming, judgment on sin and the We live in a culture that is oh so hope of eternal life. fast and much of life is about Advent is also a spiritual journey instant gratification — except it that Christians take, through the seems when we consider things truths of Scripture that point to the eternal. birth of Messiah, to a reaffirmation Many modern parents, even that he has come, is present in the some Church goers, choose not to world today and will come again in have their children baptised. But ―Advent is glory. It mirrors the journey of faith instead say they want their children also a spiritual that Christians make after that to make up their own mind when journey that moment of realization and they are old enough. Sometimes Christians take, acceptance of who Jesus is in their Church going is seen as the through the own lives. Taking that first step of preserve of the retired and elderly. truths of faith in commitment, and continue Younger people have too many Scripture that hopefully to walk the road of faith other pressing things to do. point to the and increasing in understanding, My recent illness may have birth of and looking forward to our final something to do with it, perhaps I Messiah, to a destination, which is to be in his am being to introspective. But I fear reaffirmation presence forever! we do not have that much time! that he has Time after time various opinion Although Our Lord assures us come, is polls are conducted among the that no one knows the hour or day present in the masses in this country asking of His coming WE DO know what world today and whether the respondents believe in He expects us to be doing whilst will come again God. The majority say they do and we are waiting. in glory‖ the majority also describe This Advent let us begin by themselves as Christians. However looking closely at ourselves. Do we Church attendance continues to practice what we preach? Are we drop. I am not so naïve to think that as worthy as we can be of the Holy there is any one simple reason for name we bear? this, but one of the common reasons As we move closer to the Stable given for people not coming to in Bethlehem let us truly prepare to Church is because they fail to detect offer ―ourselves, our souls and in those who do go ‗Christ like bodies, to be a reasonable, virtues‘. holy, and lively sacrifice‖ to Our Mahatma Ghandi is famously Lord and Saviour. quoted as having said ―I like your My blessing Christ. I do not like your Christians. and prayers They are so unlike your Christ.‖ that you may What a terrible indictment that is for have a Happy the Church. a n d H o l y Being a Christian is a serious Christmas. P A G E 4 Council of Advice Report possible nominees are approached well before Synod next year. Newsletter of the Council of Advice Saturday 1 October 2011 The Broadbent Room, Central Hall, Westminster, London Dr Roy Fidge writes Mass DVD for Anglicans at Large This idea was discussed further. Archbishop's Visit Mr Hipkiss said he was in contact The Bishop confirmed that the with a professional film making firm Archbishop, the Most Reverend Dr who could probably complete the Mark Haverland, would be visiting kind of project we had in mind for the UK next year and would be here about £1500. for Synod. It was hoped that his The Bishop commented that we stay would include the weekends were only wanting a simple low before and after Synod. It was Mass filmed and since we were tentatively suggested that the looking to provide something for Archbishop visited Manchester Donations to only about five people at the (Saturday 14 April), Whitby (Sunday aid the ACC moment an outlay of £1500 might 15 April), Canterbury (sometime in our work not be justifiable. Mr Hipkiss said during that week), Synod – London can be made he would find out what might be (Saturday 21 April) and Rochester online. Visit possible. The Bishop asked him to (Sunday 22 April). the Diocesan enquire also about the possibility of We need to benefit as much as Website and a three-minute sequence showing a possible from his visits to the click on ‗slice‘ of ‗Life in the DUK‘ to use on parishes and each venue needs to the Website.