You are invited to join us for our
celebration of St Thomas's Day
on Sunday 5th July at 6 p.m. This is a Sung Eucharist with procession followed by a party. The preacher is Michael Shrewsbury, now retired but formerly Area Dean of Hackney, Rector of St Dunstan Stepney and Prebendary of St Paul's Cathedral, where he still helps. He is an old friend of St Thomas'. Come and meet him!
Music by Sheppard, Palestrina - including 'Missa Papae Marcelli'
- Lassus, Mendelssohn, Verdi and Tchaikovsky.
We have at least 9 different representations of St Thomas in various parts of the church building. On the cover of this leaflet you can see yet another. This is a black and white copy of a picture painted by a Venetian artist, Cima de Conegliano, in about 1505. It shows the occasion when the risen Christ shows his wounds to the doubting Thomas. Cima sets the scene in the landscape to the north of Venice. This is not unusual in Christian art as we believe that Christ in not just a person who lived 2000 years ago but someone who is alive now in those, like Thomas, who have come to believe. That is why, for example, if you see an image of Christ in Africa he looks African and in China he looks Chinese. What would he look like in Finsbury Park today? I've had a couple of interesting conversations recently about 'being English', though there's an Irish great grandfather in my genes. I realised that I've never thought of myself as 'English'. If anything I would describe myself as a Londoner, because I feel quite foreign in many parts of this country. This may explain why I am perplexed by some of the recent election results. I understand why other people feel anxious and insecure because of the rapid changes that have occurred between previously distinct tribes and nations, races and religions, but there is no way that this can be reversed. In any case I wouldn't want to 'put the clock back'. One of the joys of London is that it is not essential to travel to experience the world. I become uneasy when everyone looks the same! Perhaps that's why I feel so at home in St Thomas'. Any image of him in Finsbury Park would have to be composite. If you joined us it would have to be even more so… We're hoping that in the autumn you will be able to drop in to St Thomas' more easily during the week. The 3 building projects I've mentioned before are going to be carried out over the summer. This will mean that the small office will be ready for someone to be in the church to welcome you. The building is already open on Fridays between 2 and 5 p.m. You could see how many images of St Thomas you can find.
Is it the Chinese who say 'May you live in interesting times'? Well here we are! Change is rarely comfortable but it is fundamental to the nature of the world. Perhaps change is more pronounced at some times than at others. We need to hold our nerve and have as clear an idea as possible of the direction in which we would prefer to go. Any journey is better with good companions and it's vital not to consider yourself as a passenger. The idea of 'transition towns' has been developing gradually but now seems to have built up energy. There are already 3 groups locally trying to encourage our participation. A 'town' is any area that makes some sense as a place. Finsbury Park, for example, has an identity distinct from the 3 boroughs, and Highbury is not Islington, Stoke Newington not Hackney. The area needs to be on a scale that you and I can own, like a parish. Maybe we can then feel we are able to do something to improve our quality of life in a way that will also benefit the rest of humankind. This will only happen if we build up our relationships locally so that we have the trust and confidence to work together in all matters that affect our daily lives. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to join in. No one can do everything, but that's not a reason for thinking you can do nothing. Maybe you're more interested in the food we eat and where it comes from; how our energy is supplied or the ways we travel; the kind of work we do and the value we place on it or more 'spiritual' matters relating to how we belong and what inspires you. For over a year now people living around Monsell Road have been invited to redesign the street to make it friendlier for people and less attractive for passing motorists. During the autumn you may see some changes being made. The process has been a 'curate's egg'. As with the regeneration grant awarded to 'Finsbury Park' a few years ago, people have found it difficult to think beyond our own individual needs and fears to look openly at the larger picture. If we can't do better than that in rising to the challenges that face our world, we are lost, but we can, by rising to the fullness of our humanity, a Finsbury Park image of Christ. |
