November 2019

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9 Buckden Roundabout
November 2019 Church News
Weekly Prayer Roster
Each week during the year the Churches, in their prayers, remember the residents of particular streets in the village, those who
work in the parish and village organisations. Those to be remembered this month are:
3rd November Church Street, Mill Road, The Barns, The Old Flour Mills
10th November The Parish Council, The Village Hall and Playing Field Trust; those who help to run the Village
Hall, and the activities there
17th November Greenway, Aragon Close, Hoo Close, Bishops Way
24th November Village shops, and those who work in them; businesses based in the village, hotels, inns, and
those who work at home; homemakers, carers, the unemployed and underemployed, and all
visitors to the village
Thought for the Month
Dear Friends,
If I had to summarize the social teaching of Jesus in one
phrase, it’s the doctrine of non-idolatry. We are not supposed
to idolize anything: even our marriage and our children are
going to be taken from us. No form of government, no school
of economics, no army or cause or country will ever be worth
your whole soul. There are number of saints who realised this
fact that it’s worth serving God’s world, but worship nothing.
St. Ignatius of Loyola realised and made his own the words of
Jesus, “For what will it profit them to gain the whole world
and forfeit their life? (Mark 8:36)”. Everything on earth is
passing away. Nothing is permanent in this world. We are
spiritual beings. The spirit of God is within us. Spirituality is
always about letting go. The spirit dwelling within us inspires
us to let go something every time from our lives. That’s the
rich and ultimate meaning of the word forgiving: handing it
over before it is taken from us. It’s an invitation to fore-give
all things. If it is not fore-given whatever is not ours and un-
necessary will soon be taken away from us.
There is no more teaching than the kingdom. There are more
radical politics than the kingdom. It makes relative every ide-
ology, every loyalty, every addiction, every fascination, every
attempt to affix our egos to this or to that. But our attach-
ment won’t last forever. There is an end to everything. The
kingdom demands we recognise that all is passing away. It is
the gate to perfect freedom. In the kingdom we are free for
God, free for the truth even in this world.
Kingdom people are the salt of the earth, preservatives of
something more. Like love, they make the world go round and
keep the whole thing from self-destructing. As we remember
the dead to pray for their souls this month, let us learn that
they are all forerunners who have left a lesson that we don’t
carry anything from this world.
Let us not attach ourselves to anything in this world. Let us try
to attach ourselves with God and His kingdom. Let us try to
live the kingdom values of love, joy and peace. May God bless
us all!
Rev. Antony Arockiam CMF
Parish Priest
St Hugh’s Church
Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Appeal 2019
This is now a Buckden Community event with different organi-
sations taking part, Buckden Methodist Church being the cen-
tre of it, as it is now a registered drop off centre for shoeboxes
and has been recognised as a Church Collection Centre.
Buckden Methodist Church will be OPEN on Monday 11th and
18th November also Friday 15th November, between 2pm and
4:30pm to drop off completed shoeboxes, empty shoeboxes,
donations of items or money. The shoeboxes will be collected
and started on their journey after 18th November.
Thank you very much to those who have already donated
items and money and those who are busy knitting. It is very
much appreciated.
Operation Christmas Child is a worthwhile charity making a
difference at Christmas, by giving shoe boxes containing small
gifts to children in poor countries.
If you would like more information, then please contact Carol
Swepstone on 810053.