CTiW Advent & Solidarity Sunday services

 

Churches Together in Westminster joined together with St James Piccadilly for their annual Advent Service. This online service was organised by St James Piccadilly and led by Revd Lucy Winkett with contributions from members of the CTiW Executive Committee and the congregation of St James Piccadilly. This was a moving and challenging service which helpfully focused our thoughts on the core themes of Advent itself, rather than treating it just as preparation for Christmas.

CTiW also observed Solidarity Sunday and World Day of the Poor today to mark our commitment to those most vulnerable in the Coronavirus pandemic – and those who are responding. Solidarity Sunday is about reminding ourselves and each other that there is so much good we can do - through giving, through prayer and through powerful demonstrations of unity.

In his message for the fourth World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis wrote that ‘keeping our gaze fixed on the poor is difficult, but that it is more necessary than ever if we are to give proper direction to our personal life and the life of society. Until we revive our sense of responsibility for our neighbour and for every person, grave economic, financial and political crises will continue.’ The Pope reminds us that prayer to God and solidarity with the poor are inseparable.

This was a celebration of solidarity with a sermon preached by Revd Tricia Hillas, Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons. The service included testimony and readings from homeless guests of the Central London Catholic Churches service at Farm Street and prayers from CTiW, including Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, Revd Jonathan Evens, Revd Joan Ishibashi, Revd Dr Simon Woodman and Minister Belinda Letby. The service also included music from the Farm Street choir.

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The Choir of Farm Street Church, Mayfair - I Say We Are Wound With Mercy.