St Chad’s is an Anglican Parish in the Catholic Tradition of the Church of England. We are a Society Parish under the Episcopal care of the Bishop of Ebbsfleet. The Eucharist is at the centre of our worshiping life and it is celebrated with the richness and solemnity which appeals to all the senses. The Family Mass at 10.15am on Sundays is the main gathering for the parish community. Music is a mixture of traditional
and modern and the Eucharist is offered with full Catholic ceremonial. There is a creche for Children and activity tables at the back of Church. Coffee is served after the Mass and there is an opportunity to stay and chat.
Pentecost Sunday
Where were we when the day of Pentecost arrived? We were still awaiting the Father’s call to birth. He brought us into being so that we too could experience our own Pentecost.
The apostles didn’t receive the Holy Spirit because they were holy. They received the Holy Spirit because they were sinners who needed the Holy Spirit to make them holy. This was God’s surprise gift to them — and to each of us.
It’s one thing to receive a Christmas gift. It’s another thing to open the gift and enjoy using it. We all received the gift of the Holy Spirit in baptism, but have we asked God to unpackage this gift for us to use in our daily lives? Reflecting on the readings from Pentecost help us to move in that direction. This is a never-ending and a joy-enhancing experience.
On the day of Pentecost, the Father gathered the apostles and disciples together for prayer in one place. Then, the Holy Spirit visited them with a life-changing experience. “And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and filled the entire house in which they were.”
Jesus earlier told Nicodemus, “The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Our first reading states: “Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.”
The apostles and disciples had simply gathered to pray, and God filled their hearts with the Holy Spirit
