The Last Days - Part 1

This writer has been silent these last days, not for lack of words or experiences to share! Quite the opposite. The last week was replete with activity.

Wednesday last was “Moule Day” here at Ridley Hall. Moule Day showcases the way Ridley seeks to preserve its best traditions while looking ahead to ways to best serve the Church. One of these is an effort to engage with the world where the Church finds itself. One area of interest is in the calling of those who serve in public office (i.e., politics).

Particularly here, where the Church of England remains an “established” church, this is an area of life where there is need to have a specifically Christian voice and witness. This year Ridley’s Moule Day speaker was the Honorable Tim Farron, M.P., the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, who delivered the C.F.D. Moule Memorial Lecture, about whether Christians should get involved in the “mucky business” of politics.

In addition to the lecture, Moule Day is a kind of alumni day when former graduates of Ridley return for a day of remembrance and rekindling of old relationships. It is a day to meet current students (even the temporary refreshment students like yours truly). It was a day filled with conversation and conviviality, thoughtful reflection, worship, and prayer.

The procession begins outside
St. Bene't's Church

Thursday was the Feast of Corpus Christi. While St. Luke’s marks this day on the Sunday nearest, the formal day in the liturgical calendar is the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. You may recall an earlier blog post about Corpus Christi College. It makes perfect sense that there would be great celebration attached to the patronal feast of that institution – tied to the parish that I have been attending every Sunday while in Cambridge, St. Bene’t’s. On Thursday evening, we gathered for a Solemn Celebration of the Eucharist joined by many regional clergy and a join choir of several parishes, including “Little St. Mary’s” just up Trumpington Road.

Upon completion of the Eucharist, the assembly prepared itself for the Eucharistic procession from the parish church of St. Bene’t’s to Little St. Mary’s (which, truth be told isn’t really all that “little”). The procession, accompanied by a small brass band, sang Eucharistic and Easter hymns making its way up Cambridge’s most historic corridor, led by crucifer, torches, clergy, choir, and a large assembly, all singing and giving witness to their belief in the presence of the Risen Lord in their midst. Once at St. Mary’s the service ended with Benediction and a refreshment reception in the parish hall.

(to be continued)