St. Matthews Newsletter- March 2004 

St Matthews Newsletter - May 2004

OUR ANGLICAN HERITAGE: BACK TO CANTERBURY

Although Christianity had existed in Britain before the invasions of Angles and Saxons in the fifth century, Pope Gregory the Great decided in 596 to send a mission to the pagan Anglo-Saxons. He selected, from his own monastery a group of monks, led by their prior, Augustine. They arrived in Kent in 597, carrying a silver cross and an image of Jesus painted on a board, which thus became, so far as we know, "Canterbury's first icon." King Ethelbert tolerated their presence and allowed them the use of an old church built on the east side of Canterbury, dating from the Roman occupation of Britain. Here, (it is said) they assembled "to sing the psalms, to pray, to say Mass, to preach, and to baptize." This church of St. Martin is the earliest place of Christian worship in England still in use.

Probably in 601 Ethelbert was converted, thus becoming the first Christian king in England. About the same time, Augustine was ordained bishop somewhere in France and named "Archbishop of the English Nation." Thus, the see of Canterbury and its Cathedral Church of Christ owe their establishment to Augustine's mission, as does the nearby Abbey of SS. Peter and Paul, later re-named for Augustine,. The "chair of St. Augustine" in Canterbury Cathedral, however, dates from the thirteenth century.

Augustine's feast day is observed on May 26, the date of his death probably in the year 605.

NOTES ON EVANGELISM
By Jean Green

We have an opportunity to evangelize every time a stranger walks into the church. How do you know if this person is a stranger? Unless you're sure you've seen him or her before, be bold and say (with a smile, of course), "Is this your first visit to our parish?" So what if he says "no". Just be friendly; introduce yourself and he'll probably do the same. After mass, invite him to coffee hour; better still, accompany him to the parish hall. Introduce him to others, make sure he doesn't stand around wishing he were somewhere else. Tell him about our church; if he asks questions you can't answer, make an effort to find someone who can. Above all, make sure you invite our visitors to come back.

A parishioner at a church I once visited gave me the following little Scotch ditty, which conveys a lot of wisdom:

If after Kirk, ye bide a wee, there's some wad like to speak to ye;
If after Kirk, ye rise and flee, we'll all seem cold and stiff to ye.
The one that's in the pew with ye is stranger here than ye, maybe.
All here hae got their fears and cares; add you your soul unto our
prayers; be thou our angel unaware.

While the message is obviously directed to the visitor, it may help us remember how we felt when we were the stranger, and may motivate us to make the stranger a friend!

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