The Liberal Catholic Church in The British Isles

CLERGY TRAINING DAY – Saturday 6th September 2008

St. Francis Church, nestling in the beautiful grounds of Tekels Park was the venue for this years Church Training Day, organised by +Allan. It was attended by clergy of the LCC in the British Isles.

It was a great pleasure for us all to worship here once again, knowing that it had been the home of the LCC since the early days when +Wedgewood had celebrated here on a regular basis. From these early days the church hall has been expanded and we were impressed by the extension which housed: kitchen, toilet and meeting room with a decked patio area.

Despite It being a soggy September day it didn’t dampen our spirits and everyone arrived on time and in good form. We were welcomed to the Church where our founder celebrated, by Richard, who kindly showed us the latest facilities provided, and then after refreshments it was down to work.

Throughout the day +Allan was on hand to give advice and guidance to everyone. It was a joy to be able to work together in a purpose built Liberal Catholic Church with the opportunity to work at the High Altar with its properly designated clergy ‘steps’.

First of all there was a run through of the Longer Form Asperges, followed by practice for High Mass. Rev. Robert led a workshop on ‘singing’ the Mass unaccompanied by music. As we were in a large church voice projection became important.

After the initial practice session on the steps where we had to learn the timing involved, being so different from a small Oratory. Working together in a ceremonial way meant we all had to adapt, even to censing such a large altar from the smaller ones we have in our Oratories! It was positive and purposeful and we all enjoyed doing the work.

The High Mass went smoothly, which proved practice is important. Rev. Liz celebrated the High Mass, ably assisted by Rev. Robert (Deacon), Rev. Carol (Sub Deacon) and Rev. Chris as (M.C.). The atmosphere built up beautifully.

During lunch we caught up with each other’s news in a relaxed way in the meeting room behind the church looking out over the park with its variety of tall trees and bushes, that invite you to take a walk around the wooded areas.

After lunch Rev. Robert celebrated Solemn Benediction assisted by Rev. Chris and Rev. Carol. The Apperley Parish had provided some very special incense for the occasion, which hung in the air after the Services finished, adding to the wonderful feeling of peace and tranquillity in the Church. It was a very relaxed, rewarding day, and we all agreed it had been a success; one we intend to repeat again in the Spring.

Rev. Carol Harbour

16/09/08

THE EUROPEAN CONGRESS 2008

The 2008 European Congress took place between the 21st and 25th May in Wolfenhausen near Frankfurt. Bishops, Clergy and Congregations from Sweden, Holland, Germany, USA, Austria and the British Isles gathered to celebrate the annual festival of Corpus Christi. Old friends greeted each other and new friendships were made and cemented through the spirit and love of Christ.

It was a wonderful occasion with a full range of services taking place in German and English including: Prime, Complin, Healing and Benediction as well as the daily Eucharist with Ordinations to: Cleric, Doorkeeper, Deacon and Priest. Our congratulations go to the Revs. Bertil Tedhall (priest) and Elfriede Hafner (Deacon) and also to Ms. Monika Schdler and Robert Schulz on their progression in their spiritual journeys. The main services took place at the Church of St. Raphael in the centre dedicated to Peace, others in the nearby hotel and outdoors.

It was one of the highlights of the weekend when Bishop Peter carried the Sacrement in procession through the town to take Benediction outdoors on the spot where pilgrims used to gather on their pilgramage to Santiago de Compstella in Spain. The sun was warming and the skies clear. The procession wended its way through the streets, up the hill to a clearing in the woods onto a grassy area where a temporary altar had been erected. A gentle breeze gave a vivification to the air and the birds sang! The presence of our Lord was felt.

After supper we listened to an insightful talk on the Angel Gabriel by the Very Rev. Johannes van Diel, Vicar General for Germany, the summary of which will be found in a future newsletter. The next evening from Rev. Kenneth Christensen we learned of the experimental work of the Danish province during the Easter services, with their emphasis on the primordial wisdom of the Divine feminine.

Being able to sit and talk with people from different countries that share a similar love of worship, grounded in the LCC tradition was very uplifting and renewing, giving us all a new impetus to serve God through the church and minister to congregations and those in need throughout the world.

Pictures from the European Congress 2008

EASTER 2008

Once again the Oratory of Our Lady of the Starlight hosted the Easter services with +Allan leading the worship. The darkness of Matter without the light of Christ was felt after the stripping of the altar during the evening of Maundy Thursday and the joy of resurrection as the light was brought back into the church on the evening of Holy Saturday.

Rev. Liz celebrated the Easter Eucharist for the first time with +Allan giving pontifical blessings and a thought provoking sermon, deemed beautiful by the congregation.

The Easter festive table was full of delicious food and much chocolate was exchanged in the easter eggs everyone gave to each other!

On Holy Saturday +Allan was given a tour of a couple of remarkable churches in the area at Dymock where the war poets were based with a permanent display about them. The other being a beautiful little church owned by English Heritage with medieval frescos. The churchyard was full of miniature daffodils in bloom which seemed just right for Easter.

TRINITY 2007

We are pleased to announce the ordination to the priesthood of Rev. Elizabeth Parker this took place on Saturday the 7th of July 2007 during a High Mass celebrated by the Rt. Rev. Allan Barns. It was a Beautiful sunny day for the many friends and relations who travelled from all over the country to be with us for the occasion.

We were delighted to have had with us Revs. Kenneth and Mogens from Denmark, who, in their own ways, brought more colour and vibrancy making it a truly international event.

A piece of Organ music, entitled ‘The Progressing Soul’ composed by the famous Danish Composer Fredrik Magle especially for the occasion of the ordination of a female priest in the LCC was played during the service.

Rev. Liz would like to thank all those who sent her cards and good wishes, appreciating the love and support that surrounded her during the ceremony and continues to do so. A special thanks to all those who contributed to the service be it in the sanctuary or congregation or behind scenes. It was the wonderful team effort that made the service and the delicious buffet meal afterwards such a success! The following day Rev. Elizabeth took her first Eucharist service which took the form of a High Mass.

Rt. Rev. Allan Barns Ordaining Rev. Elizabeth Parker to the Priesthood

EASTER 2007

It has been a busy Easter with the services of Easter week celebrated in all our Oratories.

On Maundy Thursday Bishop Allan consecrated the oils building up new stocks for the year which were distributed to the Oratories. It was a wonderful moment as Bishop Allan breathed over the oils, pure Holy Spirit!

Later in the day came the solemn moment when the altar was stripped by Rev. Chris and left bare, one of the saddest days of the year when the Oratory looks so bare and forlorn.

Friday saw Rev. Liz (deacon) taking the Mass of the Pre-Sanctified under Bishop Allan’s direction as part of her altar training. The next day saw the Lighting of the Fire followed by Solemn Benediction in which the Oratory seemed to come alive again, filled with angelic presence.

With the glorious sun rise on Easter Sunday both the Oratories of Our Lady of the Starlight and St. Raphael celebrated Mass by Bishop Allan and Rev. Robert Harbour consciously and simultaneously in Apperley and Kent so extending the beneficial effects of the Eucharist across the country, linking in to the many services by Priests and Bishops throughout the world.

Part of Bishop Allan’s sermon is reproduced here:

Easter… a rising up to our true home above the material world in the Spirit; yet we should always remember that, as in the Resurrection story, we are lifted on and through the cross of matter. The everyday world around us is still God’s world, is still permeated with the all embracing love of Christ. As the collect of the day reminds us good must always finally triumph over ill and that death to this world is but the gateway to reality…

We all have the instructions before us: becoming a channel for Christ’s unselfish Light and Love, leading through the Ascension and Whitsun to Right Action into the world of Pentecost. Think of the intents in our Liturgy. To imagine God as Light is not too difficult yet we often find that the Love part tests our actions. We might be Sons of the King but the beggar at the gate is also our brother whatever we think of him…

Despite, or maybe because of, all the changes and traumas and horrors going on in the world around us we must realise that a great breaking up of old forms is taking place; surely making ready for something new. While, regretfully, the Church is still seen to be very much ‘stuck in the breaking up stage’ but surely there are signs that the human family is slowly starting to work together as a team, helping others suffering throughout the world and not just on our own doorstep… Let us not be found wanting…