Anniversaries in 2017
Russian Revolution February / October 
Passchendael Battle July- Nov. 50K killed or wounded on both sides. 
Martin Luther's 97 theses sent to the Bishop of Mainz and accoding to the story nailed to the door of the church in Wittenberg  October 1517
" As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from Purgatory springs ! "
27. "There is no divine authority for preaching that the soul flies out of purgatory immediately the money clinks into the bottom of the chest. "  
28.   It is certainly possible that when the money clinks into the bottom of the chest avarice and greed increase; but when the church offers intercessions all depends on the will of God. "
75.   " It is foolish to think that papal indulgences have so much power that they can absolve a man even if he has done the impossible and violated the mother of God " 
Luther started a revolution that went round the Christian world.
Renewal a part of the history of the Christian Church. St .Francis of Assisi spoke of rebuilding the church.  
Oxford Movement. 
Most people are spiritual not religious.   Church obsessed with youth and children and the old-  and I am sad to say managing decline. 
There is a big band of people aged roughly 40  -  65 that are not really catered for and neeed to have spirituality nurtured. 
 Is the Church in step with the times ? 
Now doing away with need for vestments. 
Genuine warmth and friendship.
Bring competent lay people, retired often, with outside careers.  Have non-stipendiary bishops. 
Elect clergy
Inspire people with a love of Christ and create hope through the goodness in people, their spirituality. 
Away from middle of the road, morning service Christianity.  Jesus preaching a creed to the poor and The world is charged with the grandeur of God. 
    It will flame out, like shining from shook foil; 
    It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil 
Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod? 
Generations have trod, have trod, have trod; 
    And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil; 
    And wears man's smudge and shares man's smell: the soil 
Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod. 

And for all this, nature is never spent; 
    There lives the dearest freshness deep down things; 
And though the last lights off the black West went 
    Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs  --  
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent 
    World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.
Source: Gerard Manley Hopkins: Poems and Prose (Penguin Class)
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing;
God only is changeless.
Patience gains all things.
Who has God wants nothing.
God alone suffices.  
St Theresa of Avila  ( circa ) 1592 






