Finally – a good news story!!! And on this feast day of St Peter and St Paul we celebrate: not just the good news of Peter’s escape from the chains which held him captive, but the wider connection between Peter and Paul: the personal intervention of Jesus in both their lives, freeing both of them from the chains (both metaphorical and real chains) which held them back from becoming the people that God intended them to become.
We all know that Peter was passionate about Jesus when he was alive – he gave up everything to follow him – and he was just as passionate after Jesus was crucified, died and rose again. Peter struggled to understand what Jesus was teaching him and his fellow disciples, and sometimes he did not understand – like the rest of us. He had a generous heart and he wanted to be close to Jesus for ever. Yet, again as with so many of us, when his own test came, he failed. For me, what happened with Peter is a real comfort because if Peter, the Rock on which Jesus built his church, this simple fisherman with a big heart, could fail and still be loved by Jesus then there is hope for everyone. We can know that our own failures will not separate us from the love of the Lord Jesus.
“Out of sight, out of mind” the saying goes. And it was when Jesus was out of his sight that this terror struck and the denials came so easily to Peter. Does that resonate with any of you? It does with me, so the lesson to be learned from Peter’s experience is always to have the Lord’s presence in our hearts and in our minds. That way at least we have a fighting chance of standing up for him when we are challenged. Not least because he is with us in that instant. And while sitting in that prison you can bet that Peter definitely had his heart and mind set on Jesus, even though he was probably frightened because of the terrifying circumstances in which he found himself, not least because of what had happened to James at the hands of Herod.
We are all familiar of the story of Paul and his encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus. What happened to Paul through a powerful experience of divine revelation which he encountered on that road to Damascus, was nothing more and nothing less than a complete transformation in here (heart) and a new understanding of what it means to have a personal and real relationship with the Lord.
Paul once wrote “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35) and “For with God, nothing [is] impossible” for “he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Cor. 10:13) Certainly after his personal encounter with the Lord nothing separated Paul from Jesus’ love: he was flogged 5 times, each with the 39 strokes; he was beaten with rods 3 times; he was stoned once and was shipwrecked 3 times (2 Cor 11:24-25). He repeatedly braved the dangers and weariness of long journeys on foot and spent many years in prison; but none of these things succeeded in separating him from the love of the Lord Jesus.
So what is it that connects these two men from such radically different backgrounds – the one a simple Fisherman and the other a highly educated Roman citizen? Jesus Christ. The Lord. Their Lord. Our Lord. This same Jesus Christ who appears to us in many ways that often we do not recognise nor understand until later on when we look back, and see that he was in the midst of all that was happening – good and bad.
The chains falling off Peter in that prison I think can be likened to the resurrection. Through God’s grace, Peter was freed from his imprisonment. When people, you and me, are in a dark place, it can seem like imprisonment. We feel trapped; there does not seem to be a good ending in sight to the difficulties in which we find ourselves. And sometimes this can go on for a long time. But hang on in there, because I can assure you – Jesus is there with you, in the midst of all the troubles. How do I know this? Because I and many others have experienced this.
When I am bereaved, resurrection begins when I look at a photograph of the person whose loss has been so wounding, and the sight of it unexpectedly brings a smile of joyful memory rather than a reopening of the wound. When relationships break up, resurrection begins when I realise (unbeknown to anyone else) that for the first time in a long time I am enjoying something because I am me, not because I am half of a partnership. When redundancy comes, resurrection begins when I discover that I have done something different or new which genuinely fills me with the measure of my own worth rather than filling me with satisfaction at what my job is worth.
And those are just 3 examples. They are things to celebrate. So to finish I wish to share with you a slightly different version of the Footsteps story which I hope, like me, will fill you with hope and thanksgiving that our Lord is with us through everything.
Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down a beach together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace...But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns. For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling, His consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends!
This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one. This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger. Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one. This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints. You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends.
Now you pray: 'Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You. ''That is correct.' 'And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You very closely..' 'Very good. You have understood everything so far..' When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way.' 'Precisely.' 'So, Lord, was there a regression or something ? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first.' There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice. 'You didn't know? It was then that we danced!'
Amen
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Thursday, 25 June 2009
July 2009 Vol. 31, No. 7
THE REVEREND CLAIRE GOODE WRITES:
Dear Friends
By the time you read this I will have been ordained Priest in Southwell Minster and be entering into a second phase of ordained ministry. The most obvious development of this will be for members of the congregations to see me preside at Holy Communion. But how is it that we understand ‘priesthood’ and what is it that we understand by the ‘priesthood of all believers’?These are questions that I have been thinking about, particularly as numbers of ordained clergy have declined significantly over the years, but the ministry of Christ on earth probably has an even greater urgency than ever before.
Recently, the Archdeacon, Peter Hill, came to help us think about a new vision for the East Leake Benefice and he suggested two very simple messages. We are here to “reveal Jesus” and “serve our communities”. It’s really that simple. But we do need to consider how we can do this for today and this includes a need to do some things in a new way.
Some of the clergy have been reading the book “Creating Uncommon Worship” which explores how we might do things differently in our Sunday services to make them more accessible to those less familiar with the traditional church – some of the different chair layouts at St Mary’s have come from this! However, the most radical idea is actually about priesthood.
In his first letter to the early church, St Peter speaks of the early worshippers: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (1 Peter 2.9) This is the passage of scripture which leads us to talk of the ‘priesthood of all believers’ – but what does that mean? It doesn’t mean that each individual member of the church is a priest nor that some are ‘ministerial’ priests and some aren’t. It’s a picture of all of us together, the body of Christ – the Church here on earth (the Church Militant as the Book of Common Prayer puts it). We’re all in it together! So when, we say, “We are the body of Christ” and share the peace with one another, we are affirming to each other, that we are together, collectively, one. We will still have different gifts that God gives us to use for the benefit of others in order to grow the Kingdom of God here on earth and we need to exercise those gifts wisely and well. We need to recognise and encourage others in their gifts – in leading the church, in preaching, in offering words of prophecy, in prayer, in generous giving, in acts of mercy and kindness – there are lists in some of Paul’s letters – have a look at 1 Corinthians 12 or Ephesians 4. In other words, it’s not about ‘what the vicar does on Sundays’ – it’s much bigger than that, and it’s much more exciting than that! It’s “more than we can ever ask or imagine” to quote St Paul again. (Eph 3.20) Neither do we do it, in our own strength – on our own we would achieve nothing – but the Holy Spirit working in us will bring about this building up of the Body of Christ.
So, when you see me, or anyone else, presiding at Holy Communion, remember that we are all ‘a royal priesthood’ revealing Jesus to the world as we come together in worship and as we serve our communities.
“Now to the One who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and majesty, power and authority, be for all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 8.24-25)
My love and prayers be with you.
Claire Goode
Dear Friends
By the time you read this I will have been ordained Priest in Southwell Minster and be entering into a second phase of ordained ministry. The most obvious development of this will be for members of the congregations to see me preside at Holy Communion. But how is it that we understand ‘priesthood’ and what is it that we understand by the ‘priesthood of all believers’?These are questions that I have been thinking about, particularly as numbers of ordained clergy have declined significantly over the years, but the ministry of Christ on earth probably has an even greater urgency than ever before.
Recently, the Archdeacon, Peter Hill, came to help us think about a new vision for the East Leake Benefice and he suggested two very simple messages. We are here to “reveal Jesus” and “serve our communities”. It’s really that simple. But we do need to consider how we can do this for today and this includes a need to do some things in a new way.
Some of the clergy have been reading the book “Creating Uncommon Worship” which explores how we might do things differently in our Sunday services to make them more accessible to those less familiar with the traditional church – some of the different chair layouts at St Mary’s have come from this! However, the most radical idea is actually about priesthood.
In his first letter to the early church, St Peter speaks of the early worshippers: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (1 Peter 2.9) This is the passage of scripture which leads us to talk of the ‘priesthood of all believers’ – but what does that mean? It doesn’t mean that each individual member of the church is a priest nor that some are ‘ministerial’ priests and some aren’t. It’s a picture of all of us together, the body of Christ – the Church here on earth (the Church Militant as the Book of Common Prayer puts it). We’re all in it together! So when, we say, “We are the body of Christ” and share the peace with one another, we are affirming to each other, that we are together, collectively, one. We will still have different gifts that God gives us to use for the benefit of others in order to grow the Kingdom of God here on earth and we need to exercise those gifts wisely and well. We need to recognise and encourage others in their gifts – in leading the church, in preaching, in offering words of prophecy, in prayer, in generous giving, in acts of mercy and kindness – there are lists in some of Paul’s letters – have a look at 1 Corinthians 12 or Ephesians 4. In other words, it’s not about ‘what the vicar does on Sundays’ – it’s much bigger than that, and it’s much more exciting than that! It’s “more than we can ever ask or imagine” to quote St Paul again. (Eph 3.20) Neither do we do it, in our own strength – on our own we would achieve nothing – but the Holy Spirit working in us will bring about this building up of the Body of Christ.
So, when you see me, or anyone else, presiding at Holy Communion, remember that we are all ‘a royal priesthood’ revealing Jesus to the world as we come together in worship and as we serve our communities.
“Now to the One who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and majesty, power and authority, be for all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 8.24-25)
My love and prayers be with you.
Claire Goode
Monday, 25 May 2009
June 2009 - Vol. 31, No. 6
The Revd Steve Osman writes...
You may have noticed how some car drivers put fish shaped stickers on their cars. If you don't know what they mean, it's from the very early church days when it was dangerous to be known as a Christian, and the fish was a secret sign used to identify yourself as a Christian - a bit like a password. The Greek word for fish is Ichthus and those letters were shorthand for Jesus Christ Son of God - it's all Greek to me, I hear you say!
What I've also noticed in recent months is that some cars have a similar badge, but the fish shape has legs and the word "Darwin" in the middle. These symbols seem to be a reaction to the Christian symbol, proclaiming that evolution, not God, is what the driver believes in.
These badges are symbols of the perceived clash between science and religion. Charles Darwin is the adopted hero of those who say science has replaced the need for superstition and unprovable faith. I just want to say that there doesn't need to be such polarisation - it doesn't need to be one or the other. It is perfectly possible to be a scientist and a Christian. My understanding is that Darwin lost his faith, not because of his scientific research, but because of the death of his daughter. The most he would call himself was agnostic, not atheist and my guess is, he would be appalled to see his name being hijacked in such a way.
I don't understand why some persist in creating a gulf between science and religion. The earliest scientists were people of faith who simply wanted to explore how God did what he did. Today, there are biologists or cosmologists who discover more of the amazing complexity of organisms or the vastness of the universe and find their faith in a Creator deepened. I, as a non-scientist, read Genesis and think it sounds pretty much like evolution. For me, it takes more faith to believe that the universe is all a matter of chance, than to believe in a creator.
It's not so much a clash between science and religion than a clash between world-views. There are basically three world-views; theistic - there is a divine being behind all things; atheistic - there is no divinity, all is random; pantheistic - everything is God.
I'm all for folk making up their own minds where they fit in all this, please stop using science as the referee. How about examining evidence about Jesus?
Steve Osman
You may have noticed how some car drivers put fish shaped stickers on their cars. If you don't know what they mean, it's from the very early church days when it was dangerous to be known as a Christian, and the fish was a secret sign used to identify yourself as a Christian - a bit like a password. The Greek word for fish is Ichthus and those letters were shorthand for Jesus Christ Son of God - it's all Greek to me, I hear you say!
What I've also noticed in recent months is that some cars have a similar badge, but the fish shape has legs and the word "Darwin" in the middle. These symbols seem to be a reaction to the Christian symbol, proclaiming that evolution, not God, is what the driver believes in.
These badges are symbols of the perceived clash between science and religion. Charles Darwin is the adopted hero of those who say science has replaced the need for superstition and unprovable faith. I just want to say that there doesn't need to be such polarisation - it doesn't need to be one or the other. It is perfectly possible to be a scientist and a Christian. My understanding is that Darwin lost his faith, not because of his scientific research, but because of the death of his daughter. The most he would call himself was agnostic, not atheist and my guess is, he would be appalled to see his name being hijacked in such a way.
I don't understand why some persist in creating a gulf between science and religion. The earliest scientists were people of faith who simply wanted to explore how God did what he did. Today, there are biologists or cosmologists who discover more of the amazing complexity of organisms or the vastness of the universe and find their faith in a Creator deepened. I, as a non-scientist, read Genesis and think it sounds pretty much like evolution. For me, it takes more faith to believe that the universe is all a matter of chance, than to believe in a creator.
It's not so much a clash between science and religion than a clash between world-views. There are basically three world-views; theistic - there is a divine being behind all things; atheistic - there is no divinity, all is random; pantheistic - everything is God.
I'm all for folk making up their own minds where they fit in all this, please stop using science as the referee. How about examining evidence about Jesus?
Steve Osman
Saturday, 18 April 2009
May 2009 - Vol. 31 No. 5
The Rector writes:
Dear Friends,
Earlier this year it was reported that the Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion, an atheist, was lamenting the fact that so few students of English have read the Bible. Therefore they do not understand the many Bible quotations and themes that occur in classic literature.
I would also like people to read the Bible – but for different reasons. The Bible tells the story of our faith. The Old Testament contains the scriptures of the Jewish people, and this forms the background to the New Testament, containing the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Next comes The Acts of the Apostles, followed by letters of Paul and others, and finally the Revelation to John. The Gospels are about Jesus, while Acts tells of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the first Christians on the Day of Pentecost, and describes how the good news of Jesus Christ spread out from Jerusalem. Now people all over the world have heard the story of the life, death and resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ.
Christians believe that the Bible is inspired by God and that through its writings God speaks to us. We need the Holy Spirit as our guide, but we also need the expertise of Bible scholars. Many Christians find it helpful to use daily Bible reading notes. As for the Bible itself, a good modern translation is recommended. In this Cluster you are likely to come across the New Revised Standard Version and New International Version and some others. There are also Bibles for children and young people. At one time most children were told Bible stories in school and Sunday school and many learned some prayers and Bible texts by heart. Some texts and phrases would be added to the memory bank subconsciously through singing them in hymns, choruses and worship songs. This is not so today and many young people and young adults have little or no knowledge of the faith that has shaped our culture.
When visiting care homes for the elderly I meet some people whose memories are failing and some who are confused and yet, whenever well known hymns and carols are sung or the Lord’s Prayer is said, they almost always join in. What we are taught in childhood stays with us. For those nearing the end of their lives, and indeed for any of us in times of trouble, words from the Bible can be called to mind to bring comfort and hope. I wonder what, if anything, there will be for present and future generations to draw on in times of trouble.
With love and prayers
Glynis Hetherington
Dear Friends,
Earlier this year it was reported that the Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion, an atheist, was lamenting the fact that so few students of English have read the Bible. Therefore they do not understand the many Bible quotations and themes that occur in classic literature.
I would also like people to read the Bible – but for different reasons. The Bible tells the story of our faith. The Old Testament contains the scriptures of the Jewish people, and this forms the background to the New Testament, containing the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Next comes The Acts of the Apostles, followed by letters of Paul and others, and finally the Revelation to John. The Gospels are about Jesus, while Acts tells of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the first Christians on the Day of Pentecost, and describes how the good news of Jesus Christ spread out from Jerusalem. Now people all over the world have heard the story of the life, death and resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ.
Christians believe that the Bible is inspired by God and that through its writings God speaks to us. We need the Holy Spirit as our guide, but we also need the expertise of Bible scholars. Many Christians find it helpful to use daily Bible reading notes. As for the Bible itself, a good modern translation is recommended. In this Cluster you are likely to come across the New Revised Standard Version and New International Version and some others. There are also Bibles for children and young people. At one time most children were told Bible stories in school and Sunday school and many learned some prayers and Bible texts by heart. Some texts and phrases would be added to the memory bank subconsciously through singing them in hymns, choruses and worship songs. This is not so today and many young people and young adults have little or no knowledge of the faith that has shaped our culture.
When visiting care homes for the elderly I meet some people whose memories are failing and some who are confused and yet, whenever well known hymns and carols are sung or the Lord’s Prayer is said, they almost always join in. What we are taught in childhood stays with us. For those nearing the end of their lives, and indeed for any of us in times of trouble, words from the Bible can be called to mind to bring comfort and hope. I wonder what, if anything, there will be for present and future generations to draw on in times of trouble.
With love and prayers
Glynis Hetherington
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
April 2009 - Vol. 31 No. 4
THE REVEREND GLENN MARTIN WRITES:
Dear Friends,
By the time this letter arrives on your door it will be nearing Easter time and the beginning of Holy Week. This is of course the highlight of the Christian year - its greatest festival. Many mistakenly think Christmas is the great one but the events of Holy Week leading to Good Friday and Easter Day are the true jewels in the Christian crown.
The sheer drama of the Passion story and the build up to Easter Day are a sumptuous feast of events for the Christian. Every human emotion is encountered during this period of time. We experience deep sadness, pain and agony alongside joy, relief, excitement and eventual ecstasy.
I am sure if you spend a moment in silent or thoughtful reflection on your life thus far you will recall great moments of elation, happiness, peace, joy and contentment. Alongside this you will perhaps recall some pain, hurt, failure or rejection also. Moments perhaps you wish you had not encountered. Moments of woundedness.
I guess the Easter Story helps us through all of this. It speaks of the wounded Christ. Hurt physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually through the desertion of his friends, his trial and eventual crucifixion and then his death. A deeply wounded human being. But thankfully the Easter story doesn't end there. The story goes on to talk of the Resurrection of Christ and his continued appearances to his friends and disciples after his death. Death and misery were not the end for him. Strangely it is through the final experience of woundedness - his death - that Christ triumphs. His woundedness was eventually a gateway and experience leading to the resurrection and a fuller and more loving experience of God. A love and power that death cannot extinguish. Easter is ultimately about an event of triumph and victory. A triumph and victory hard won but nevertheless deeply liberating, powerful, personal and celebratory. It is of course God’s gift to us.
I hope this Easter whatever the trials and tribulations that life can bring you can spend a moment reflecting on the Living Lord who walks with you through the tough times but also is capable of giving you great joy, strength and peace. He can give you a real, deep and life giving experience of what the Love of God and the resurrection in your life can mean and be. It is the real stuff that life is made of!!
God’s richest Easter blessing be upon you.
Revd Glenn
Dear Friends,
By the time this letter arrives on your door it will be nearing Easter time and the beginning of Holy Week. This is of course the highlight of the Christian year - its greatest festival. Many mistakenly think Christmas is the great one but the events of Holy Week leading to Good Friday and Easter Day are the true jewels in the Christian crown.
The sheer drama of the Passion story and the build up to Easter Day are a sumptuous feast of events for the Christian. Every human emotion is encountered during this period of time. We experience deep sadness, pain and agony alongside joy, relief, excitement and eventual ecstasy.
I am sure if you spend a moment in silent or thoughtful reflection on your life thus far you will recall great moments of elation, happiness, peace, joy and contentment. Alongside this you will perhaps recall some pain, hurt, failure or rejection also. Moments perhaps you wish you had not encountered. Moments of woundedness.
I guess the Easter Story helps us through all of this. It speaks of the wounded Christ. Hurt physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually through the desertion of his friends, his trial and eventual crucifixion and then his death. A deeply wounded human being. But thankfully the Easter story doesn't end there. The story goes on to talk of the Resurrection of Christ and his continued appearances to his friends and disciples after his death. Death and misery were not the end for him. Strangely it is through the final experience of woundedness - his death - that Christ triumphs. His woundedness was eventually a gateway and experience leading to the resurrection and a fuller and more loving experience of God. A love and power that death cannot extinguish. Easter is ultimately about an event of triumph and victory. A triumph and victory hard won but nevertheless deeply liberating, powerful, personal and celebratory. It is of course God’s gift to us.
I hope this Easter whatever the trials and tribulations that life can bring you can spend a moment reflecting on the Living Lord who walks with you through the tough times but also is capable of giving you great joy, strength and peace. He can give you a real, deep and life giving experience of what the Love of God and the resurrection in your life can mean and be. It is the real stuff that life is made of!!
God’s richest Easter blessing be upon you.
Revd Glenn
Sunday, 22 February 2009
March 2009 - Vol. 31 No. 3
THE REVEREND CLAIRE GOODE WRITES:
Dear Friends
It is now more than 6 months since I was ordained Deacon in Southwell Minster and moved to live in East Leake. I have met, and been welcomed by many people in the 12 parishes where I have been licensed to serve. My working brief from the Diocese is to be a Cluster Curate working across the whole group of villages in the South Notts area and it’s not always obvious what this means in practice. We are still trying to work it out!
Unfortunately, it does mean that I am not able to meet and talk with people on a weekly basis and forming relationships takes that bit longer. When I first came to the area, no one expected me to know who they were, let alone their names. Now, I do sometimes know who they are, but still can’t always remember the names – or the correct person they are married to! As I have thought about this aspect of ministerial life – you know who I am, and me not remembering, yet again, it occurred to me that aspects of our relationship with God can be like that. Do we have a close relationship with God, where we know him and can call him by name? Or is it more as a nodding acquaintance, where we aren’t quite sure if he is ‘Lord’ or ‘Father’ or ‘God Almighty’ or ‘Saviour’ or ‘Friend’ or …?
Shortly, we will be entering the Season of Lent in the Church Calendar and we will mark its beginning on Ash Wednesday with a service of Holy Communion and a marking of ash on our foreheads. Lent can be a time of year for ‘self-examination, penitence, self-denial, study and preparation for Easter’ according to the Seasonal Introduction in Common Worship. I invite you, therefore, to come with me, and use it to come closer to God – in your walk with him, in your discipleship, on your own particular journey of faith.
So, what it is that I will do or not do in Lent? Give up chocolate or alcohol? Go to church three times on Sundays? A few years ago, my godmother wrote me a letter during Lent explaining that her Lenten discipline was to write a letter each day to someone on her Christmas card list. I thought this was a great idea – last time I tried it I managed 11 letters! I’m going to have another go this year. You can ask me how it’s going. You could try using the ‘Love Life Live Lent’ booklets published by Church House with suggestions on practical kindness during Lent for all the family – the example I liked best was “Say something nice behind someone’s back”. Lent is also a time for study – this year I am going to try and read the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book by Timothy Radcliffe called ‘Why Go to Church?’.
All of these things help us to focus away from ourselves and think about what it is to want to follow God’s way and walk his path. Let us use the time to get to know God that little bit better so that when we come to the agony of Good Friday and the joy of Easter Sunday we understand Christ’s coming that little bit more.
A prayer for us all this Lent:
We pray to the Lord for the courage to give up other things
and to give ourselves to him this Lent.
With my love and prayers
Claire
Dear Friends
It is now more than 6 months since I was ordained Deacon in Southwell Minster and moved to live in East Leake. I have met, and been welcomed by many people in the 12 parishes where I have been licensed to serve. My working brief from the Diocese is to be a Cluster Curate working across the whole group of villages in the South Notts area and it’s not always obvious what this means in practice. We are still trying to work it out!
Unfortunately, it does mean that I am not able to meet and talk with people on a weekly basis and forming relationships takes that bit longer. When I first came to the area, no one expected me to know who they were, let alone their names. Now, I do sometimes know who they are, but still can’t always remember the names – or the correct person they are married to! As I have thought about this aspect of ministerial life – you know who I am, and me not remembering, yet again, it occurred to me that aspects of our relationship with God can be like that. Do we have a close relationship with God, where we know him and can call him by name? Or is it more as a nodding acquaintance, where we aren’t quite sure if he is ‘Lord’ or ‘Father’ or ‘God Almighty’ or ‘Saviour’ or ‘Friend’ or …?
Shortly, we will be entering the Season of Lent in the Church Calendar and we will mark its beginning on Ash Wednesday with a service of Holy Communion and a marking of ash on our foreheads. Lent can be a time of year for ‘self-examination, penitence, self-denial, study and preparation for Easter’ according to the Seasonal Introduction in Common Worship. I invite you, therefore, to come with me, and use it to come closer to God – in your walk with him, in your discipleship, on your own particular journey of faith.
So, what it is that I will do or not do in Lent? Give up chocolate or alcohol? Go to church three times on Sundays? A few years ago, my godmother wrote me a letter during Lent explaining that her Lenten discipline was to write a letter each day to someone on her Christmas card list. I thought this was a great idea – last time I tried it I managed 11 letters! I’m going to have another go this year. You can ask me how it’s going. You could try using the ‘Love Life Live Lent’ booklets published by Church House with suggestions on practical kindness during Lent for all the family – the example I liked best was “Say something nice behind someone’s back”. Lent is also a time for study – this year I am going to try and read the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book by Timothy Radcliffe called ‘Why Go to Church?’.
All of these things help us to focus away from ourselves and think about what it is to want to follow God’s way and walk his path. Let us use the time to get to know God that little bit better so that when we come to the agony of Good Friday and the joy of Easter Sunday we understand Christ’s coming that little bit more.
A prayer for us all this Lent:
We pray to the Lord for the courage to give up other things
and to give ourselves to him this Lent.
With my love and prayers
Claire
Thursday, 22 January 2009
February 2009 - Vol. 31, No.2
THE REVEREND STEVE OSMAN WRITES:
Dear Friends
As I write this at the beginning of January, it strikes me that it’s not just New Year when there are new beginnings. If you’re in education, whether as student or teacher, September is the beginning of a new academic year. More importantly, the new football season begins in August. Financial years begin in April. The Chinese have their own new year and even the church starts its new year at the beginning of Advent. So new beginnings are happening all the time.
The other thing that strikes me is that, even as we say Happy New Year, we’re not sure if it’ll happen. There is so much bleak news in the financial world, there’s a real prospect of you or people you know losing their jobs. Yet again, the news items are about war and tragedy. Many face great uncertainty with health problems, not knowing if they’ll see another year in. There have been nearly 2000 New Years since Jesus of Nazareth walked this earth. I guess each one saw folk looking forward with hope, anxiety, joy and disappointment.
The cynical ones amongst us will say that not much has changed in those 2000 years, if anything things have grown worse – so much for Christianity. A Christian will say that life is what it is. In this world there will be ups and downs, good news, bad news, happiness and sadness. The difference for the Christian is that there are always new beginnings. When life is tough, Jesus gives new hope, when problems seem huge, Jesus helps us see the bigger picture. When obstacles seem insurmountable, Jesus gives us the motivation to keep going, to build a better world.
No one knows what the future holds – just as well most say. For the Christian, it’s not about facing an uncertain future, it’s about going into it with a sure and certain faith. May God be with you and yours whatever lies ahead.
Steve Osman
Dear Friends
As I write this at the beginning of January, it strikes me that it’s not just New Year when there are new beginnings. If you’re in education, whether as student or teacher, September is the beginning of a new academic year. More importantly, the new football season begins in August. Financial years begin in April. The Chinese have their own new year and even the church starts its new year at the beginning of Advent. So new beginnings are happening all the time.
The other thing that strikes me is that, even as we say Happy New Year, we’re not sure if it’ll happen. There is so much bleak news in the financial world, there’s a real prospect of you or people you know losing their jobs. Yet again, the news items are about war and tragedy. Many face great uncertainty with health problems, not knowing if they’ll see another year in. There have been nearly 2000 New Years since Jesus of Nazareth walked this earth. I guess each one saw folk looking forward with hope, anxiety, joy and disappointment.
The cynical ones amongst us will say that not much has changed in those 2000 years, if anything things have grown worse – so much for Christianity. A Christian will say that life is what it is. In this world there will be ups and downs, good news, bad news, happiness and sadness. The difference for the Christian is that there are always new beginnings. When life is tough, Jesus gives new hope, when problems seem huge, Jesus helps us see the bigger picture. When obstacles seem insurmountable, Jesus gives us the motivation to keep going, to build a better world.
No one knows what the future holds – just as well most say. For the Christian, it’s not about facing an uncertain future, it’s about going into it with a sure and certain faith. May God be with you and yours whatever lies ahead.
Steve Osman
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