1/1 TODAY'S READING Galatians 1:13-24 God called me through his grace and chose to reveal his Son in me REFLECTION St Paul is making an argument here for the unique nature of Christian revelation. Anyone can receive this revelation and what they receive is the same as what

2/1 others have received in other ways but the revelation comes from God. But at this point we have to careful. Eventually Paul met with Peter (Cephas) and his revelation was tested against what the Church had received. The notion of an untested private revelation is not

3/1 Christianity. We must always take what we have received and test it against what the Church has always proclaimed. Is this revelation truly of the faith: a true development? Or is it of the world? And only time will tell!

1/1 TODAY'S READING Galatians 3:1-5 You received the Spirit because you believed what was preached REFLECTION St Paul continues his criticism of the so-called Judaizers by contrasting the Law with the Spirit. The Judaizers were trying to convince the Galatian Christians that the

2/1 way to friendship with God was through the keeping the Law and the prescriptions of the Old Covenant. Paul asks them a simple question: when they received the Spirit, was it through their keeping of the Law or through their faith in Christ? Was it not when they turned to

3/1 Christ that the Spirit was freely given? The answer, of course, is yes! We received the Spirit when were baptised and confirmed. Freely. Gratuitously. Generously. It had nothing to do with the keeping of laws and rituals. But everything about being baptised into the New

4/1 Covenant sealed by the Blood of Christ into which all are invited. All those who turn to Christ.

A happy band of St James's Church pilgrims, sated with tea and bacon sandwiches, prepares to make their way to Westminster Abbey for the annual Edwardtide Mass Westminster Abbey

1/1 TODAY'S READING Ephesians 2:1-10 Sinners are saved in Christ Jesus REFLECTION A few years ago I visited Arles and the Fondation Vincent van Gogh. Usually there are a few of his belongings on view, but this year therew were about a dozen of his original works of art. I'd

2/1 always liked van Gogh but from this moment I realised I loved his art. We are God's work of art. Works of art not only because we are created in his image, but because we have been re-created in Christ. Through faith and baptism God now looks on us sinners and sees His own

3/1 Son because we are now His Body: adopted sons and daughters of God and brothers and sisters of Jesus. His twins, you might say. "Look, Father, look on his anointed face, And only look on us as found in him; Look not on our misusings of thy grace,

4/1 Our prayer so languid, and our faith so dim; For lo, between our sins and their reward We set the passion of thy Son our Lord".

1/1 TODAY'S READING Ephesians 2:12-22 In Christ you are no longer aliens, but citizens like us REFLECTION Yesterday we were taught that we are God's work of art because we have been re-created - reborn - as brothers and sisters of Jesus: His twins. Today, Paul uses another image

2/1 that would have been instantly recognisable to any citizen of the Roman Empire: the household. This was a body that was utterly dependent on the head of the family and owed one to another intense bonds of loyalty and service. We are now the house of God. The Apostles and

3/1 their teaching are the foundation of everything we believe and do. We are enervated by the Spirit: filled with His life and energy. And at the centre- holding the whole thing together - is Jesus. Our whole lives are to centered on Him but alongside one another as brothers and

4/1 sisters of the Lord. We are one. We are holy. But only through Christ. With Christ. And in Christ. In the unity of the Holy Spirit.

Goodbye old boiler, hello new!

Many congratulations to all those baptised and confirmed by The Bishop of Fulham London Diocese

A busy day at St James's Church as we remembered the Fallen Paddington Hyde Park & Paddington Labour Action Team The Lord Mayor of Westminster Westminster City Council