January 2012 Vol. 34 No. 1

Dear Friends 

What does January mean to you?  It could be writing letters, texts or emails, thanking people for Christmas presents.  Perhaps it’s a time for dressing in your “glad rags” for New Year parties, or browsing through brochures and searching the internet to book a summer holiday in the sun.  You might anticipate fun in the snow or cosy evenings by the fireside. On the other hand, you may find this a depressing time of year, when your spirits plummet with the drop in temperature. Perhaps you worry about how to keep warm and well.  Maybe you daren’t venture out much, or you feel trapped in your home, with attendant feelings of isolation and loneliness.

At the risk of becoming boring on the subject of breaking a wrist, I want to say that this has given me some insights into how it feels when certain simple tasks can’t be carried out unaided.  Perhaps one good thing to come out of this is a deeper empathy with those who face the frustration of being less active than they were.  I’m grateful to those who have been helping me in all kinds of ways, and I now have a little more understanding of the importance of such help to those who are frail, sick or disabled.

I know that lots of active people in our parishes keep an eye on elderly and housebound neighbours, but there may be someone reading this who hasn’t got around to contacting a neighbour who is struggling with poor health or age related problems. I’m not suggesting that this is due to selfishness or indifference. You may simply be a bit diffident about offering assistance, perhaps wondering whether or not your call would be welcome.  The likelihood is that your neighbour would be really pleased to see you, but if ringing the doorbell feels a bit daunting, you could always pop a card through the letterbox first.  Many elderly and housebound folk don’t see all that many people and would be delighted with a visit, or help with collecting prescriptions or fetching shopping.  A friendship may well begin which becomes rewarding for both of you.  A word of caution though – if your elderly neighbour doesn’t know you; you may need someone else to introduce you.  Don’t forget all those warnings about not opening the door to strangers.  Most people are genuine, but sadly there are also some unscrupulous con men out there.     

For some people the month of January means New Year resolutions.  If one of your resolutions is to befriend or help a neighbour, remember that Jesus said that whatever we do or others, it’s as if we did it for Jesus himself.

Wishing you God’s blessing in the coming year

Glynis Hetherington

DECEMBER 2011 - Vol. 33 No. 12

Dear Friends 

I have returned to parish ministry after ten weeks sabbatical/study leave.  It has been a time of refreshment and challenge.  Unfortunately, towards the end of October, during a visit to my Mum in Stafford, I slipped on a ramp and broke my left wrist.  So I am having to think about what I can and can’t do one handed.  I expect to have the plaster off on 6^th December.

In a hospital waiting room I spotted, across the room, a man I recognised with a teenage boy I had not met before.  The lad was obviously the man’s son; he was just like a younger edition of his father. Not everyone takes after a parent or other relative, but some children show a startling resemblance to another family member from an early age. Some grow up to become more and more like someone in the family. We may hear people exclaim, “You’re just like your mother” or, “You’re the image of your father”.

Jesus, the Son of God, showed an amazing resemblance to his Father.  We are not talking of physical likeness, because no-one has ever seen God.  Nor do we have any description of what Jesus looked like, although it’s highly unlikely that this Jew, born in Palestine, looked anything at all like the blue-eyed, blond haired figment of some artists’ imaginations!  Whatever Jesus looked like, he resembled his Father so closely in character that Paul described him as “the image of the invisible God”. (Colossians 1:15) In Jesus the nature of God is revealed – all the compassion, kindness and unconditional love of God in one perfect, sinless human being.  This is what we celebrate at Christmas, in the birth of the child named, in Matthew’s Gospel, ”Emmanuel” – “God is with us”. (Matthew 1:23) Even in infancy the light of God’s love shining in Jesus was revealed to visitors to the manger. A few weeks later when Mary and Joseph took the baby to the Temple an old man called Simeon and an old woman named Anna recognised him as God’s promised Messiah.

We, too, bear the image of God, though that image in us is marred by sin.  Yet our heavenly Father loves us also as his sons and daughters.  It’s because of his love for us, and for the world, that Jesus came into the world.  In John’s Gospel it says that all who believe in his name are given power to become children of God. (John 1:12) Our heavenly Father sends his Holy Spirit into the hearts of all who will receive him, to begin in us that transformation that will make us more like Jesus.  Jesus is the image of his Father, but if we live our lives close to him we can become more like him, and the light of God’s love can shine in us.

With my love and prayers for a blessed and joyful Christmas

Glynis Hetherington

NOVEMBER 2011 - Vol. 33, No. 11

A Recognised Lay Minister writes:

Dear Friends,

Our Rector will return from her sabbatical this month and we’ll be pleased to hear what she’s experienced and learned during the last few weeks. In her absence, we have been thankful for the help of visiting clergy, as well as being grateful to our licensed readers for leading more services. When I ‘did my bit’ at St Mary’s Harvest Thanksgiving service, I mentioned being “substitutes” in Glynis’s absence. We are not the only ones.

During November, we think of those in the armed services who have committed themselves to combating injustice and standing up for the oppressed and weak who cannot defend themselves. These individuals have risked their lives as “substitutes” for those who are unable to fight strong dictators and violent regimes. Many have made the ultimate sacrifice, so that others would be able to live in peace. We commemorate their courage and self-sacrifice in our Services of Remembrance on 13^th November, and we thank God for them all.

Jesus was the greatest “substitute” of all, when He died for our sins on the cross. He loves us so much that He died in our place, taking the punishment we deserve. Because of Jesus, we now have direct access to God, in prayer, because God no longer recognises our sins, our disobedience to Him, which would otherwise be a barrier between us. Those sins were washed completely away by Jesus’ death, and we are free to live the lives God made us for – if we follow Jesus. We can be assured of His presence in all that we do, and in difficult or sad times. God made us in His image and loves us as His sons and daughters.

It doesn’t end there – we have the Holy Spirit, who helps us to become more like Jesus. That means we can be tools in Jesus’ hands, doing His work. We sing a song including the words “Brother, Sister, let me serve you – let me be as Christ to you”. We can never be a substitute for Jesus, but we can point others to Him, by committing our lives to Him and sharing with others the love He gives us, through our words, actions and prayers.

There is no substitute for following Jesus.

With my love and prayers,

Sue Shaw

OCTOBER 2011 - Vol.33 No. 10

A Licensed Reader writes: 

Dear Friends,

‘Hi.  How r u?  I’m here 4 u always.  Lol J xxx’

We live in busy, frenetic times when everything seems to be reduced to a minimum – including the ways in which we communicate with each other.  This in turn can lead to misunderstandings or different ways of understanding.  Take the text message above: what does ‘lol’ mean to you? Apparently it is the most commonly used acronym in the English language. Even so, people cannot agree on its meaning. Some say it means ‘laugh out loud’ while others insist it means ‘lots of love’. 

When it comes to the good news that is the Gospel of Christ we can be reassured that either definition would fit.  Even in the worst of times when things seem at their darkest for whatever reason, we can know that the Lord is with us in the midst of the suffering and pain.  How can we know this?  Because he lived among us some 2,000 years ago, knowing our laughter and our tears; because he suffered greatly for us taking upon himself our burdens and undergoing scourging and crucifixion on our behalf and because he rose again, triumphantly defeating death and opening the doors to eternal life to all who would follow him, trust in him and laugh with him.

As the stealthy burglar found out one evening; he had waited patiently for the family to pack their car, lock up the house and leave for a few days.  When all was quiet he found a way in to the house which was in darkness.  Making his way to the living room he pushed open the door and went in.  As his eyes adjusted to the limited light he saw some items which would be easy to remove and started to put them in his sack.  Suddenly a voice spoke “I see you and Jesus sees you”.  He whirled around; no-one was there.  He shivered, laughed to himself and turned back to what he was doing.

“I see you and Jesus sees you” the voice announced again.  He turned on his torch and flashed it around the room, and noticed a parrot’s cage in the corner from which, for a third time, came the words: “I see you and Jesus sees you”.  He laughed and lowered the beam of his torch to the floor below the cage.  Just as he recognised the outline of a huge Doberman Pinscher, the parrot screeched “Attack, Jesus, attack!”

It’s good to laugh as we remember that Jesus is always with us.

‘Hi.  How r u?  I’m here 4 u always.  Lol J xxx’

With my love and prayers

Sue Waterston

SEPTEMBER 2011 - Vol. 33 No. 9

Dear Friends

I hope Compass readers have had a good summer, although I realise that not everyone was able to get away on holiday.  We were fortunate this year to be able to enjoy a Baltic cruise.  First thoughts for this letter came to me on the homeward voyage. We had sailed mostly under sunny skies and on calm waters, but as we left our last port of call the Captain announced that gale force winds were forecast.  Some of us were woken in the early hours as the sea became rough. We needed our “sea legs” if we had to get out of bed in the night!  Some people felt seasick and maybe a few were a little bit anxious or afraid, even though we had confidence in our Captain and crew.

Imagine (if you have never experienced this) how it would feel to be in a much smaller craft being tossed about on a stormy sea.  The Gospel writers Matthew, Mark and Luke record a story of Jesus and his disciples in just such a situation.  Jesus was fast asleep in the boat.  The disciples, fearful for their lives, awoke Jesus who then spoke to the wind and the waves, and calmed the storm.  The disciples were amazed and asked, “Who is this man?”  Some believe that Jesus was a good man, a miracle worker, a teacher or a healer.  All these are true, but Jesus was and is so much more.  Christians believe that in Jesus we see the whole nature of God revealed.  In stilling the restless waves and the wind, Jesus demonstrated the power he had from God. 

While we were enjoying a peaceful, restful holiday, we heard of rioting in London and other British cities.  Meanwhile in the wider world many conflicts continue to rage.  As politicians and others try to understand the root causes, and how to tackle the problems, one thing we can all do is to pray, and to ask Jesus to bring peace and calm to these turbulent situations.

Meanwhile some people are travelling through stormy waters in their personal lives.  We don’t have the power to calm all these situations ourselves, but we can turn to God and learn to trust him to steer us through these times, much as passengers on a ship learn to trust their Captain to steer a safe and steady course through troubled waters.  We can also call on Jesus who is with us in the boat (that is our lives) and who can bring peace and calm into our hearts.   Christians have no guarantees that they will never enter stormy seas or be buffeted by the winds.  What we do know is that Jesus promises to be with us always and that he can give us peace and calm within.

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington

AUGUST 2011 - Vol. 33 No. 8

Dear Friends 

This month many young people are awaiting exam results. Some will be celebrating success, while others will be disappointed if they haven’t done so well. My heart goes out to those who don’t achieve the grades they need for those coveted university places, or for the next stage of their education or training.  Some of us can remember the “good old days” when anyone with a reasonable basic education could start an apprenticeship or find employment and work their way up from lowly beginnings to a position of responsibility.  These days it’s harder to get a job, and some people have to accept work which doesn’t make good use of their skills and qualifications.  I hope there won’t be too much disappointment for young people whose education and career path doesn’t take them straight to where they want to be. There may be valuable experience to be gained in other areas before re-sitting exams or finding a different route to a worthwhile career.  Sometimes, as we look back, we can see how it all worked out for the best in the long run.  Having said all that, passing exams is the passport to entry into some schools as well as the means of gaining a university or college place. 

Just imagine how it would be if we had to pass an exam to gain a place in heaven!  Picture the scene as people exclaim over their results:  “I’ve got an ‘A’ in Good Works, and ‘B’ in Bible Knowledge, but only a ‘C’ in Prayer and a ‘D’ in Church Attendance.”  Imagine the despondency as they learn that they need straight ‘As’ for a place in heaven.  It sounds ridiculous, but people often speak as if going to heaven one day depended on their own efforts.  What if our “End of Life” reports were like those end of term reports with comments like, “Could do better” or “Must try harder”? 

The good news is that a place in heaven one day rests not on our efforts, but on God’s grace. Jesus is the way to the Father. He offers us a relationship with God that is as close as that of a child with a loving parent. This relationship makes all the difference in this life, and it goes on into eternity.  There’s no need to pass any tests or exams.  All that is needed is to turn away from what is wrong in our lives, to turn to Jesus and accept the new life he offers.  To coin a phrase, ‘It’s not what you know, but who you know.”

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington

JULY 2011 - Vol. 33 No.7

Dear Friends 

Many of you will know by now that I am planning to take ten weeks sabbatical study leave in September and October.  This will include a retreat at Loyola Hall, Liverpool, followed by time reading, reflecting and gathering resources for accompanying people on their spiritual journey, and leading quiet days and retreats.

Jesus often set aside time to be with God the Father and it’s a good basic principle of Christian life to set aside time for God in the midst of our busy lives.  If Jesus needed that time of spiritual refreshment, then so do we.  Prayer first thing in the morning works well for many people, while others find that their best time to be still and quiet before God is at some other time of the day.  Setting aside a regular time for prayer is a discipline.  There’s always the temptation to get on with the tasks we have to do, and to skimp on our prayer time.  Perhaps some people feel they don’t know how to pray, although prayer is something most of us do, even if it’s only the occasional plea to God for help in times of trouble, or asking God to watch over and bless those we love.  At the heart of prayer is time spent with God.  He is our heavenly Father and we are his children.  Parents and children need to spend time together.  That’s important for bonding and building up a loving, caring, trusting relationship.  We can have that kind of relationship with God, but like any relationship it will not thrive on neglect.  Time spent together is important.

From spending a short time each day with God in prayer, we can build up to longer prayer times, which may include praying with others in small or larger groups.  Retreats offer time and space to be still and there are leaders and spiritual directors to guide and suggest approaches to prayer and how to use the time set aside. Retreats can be short, just a weekend, or a week or longer.  The retreat I am planning to attend is for five weeks, and will focus on a particular approach to reading the Bible and praying, as taught by St. Ignatius, following what are known as the ‘spiritual exercises’.
It is my hope that this time away will bring me spiritual refreshment and will deepen my relationship with God and that I will have more to offer in my ministry as I get alongside others who want to draw closer to God in prayer.

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington

June 2011 - Vol.33 No. 6

Dear Friends 

Millions of people at home and abroad enjoyed the splendour and pageantry of the royal wedding.  It was wonderful to see such happy and well behaved crowds in London. Many more watched on television. William and Catherine have been prayed for in our churches, and I’m sure we all wish them well. It’s good to join in celebrations whether these are religious festivals, national events or family occasions. 

 As I was wondering what the next big story would be to displace the royal marriage from the headlines, it was announced that Osama bin Laden had been killed.  We saw pictures of jubilant crowds celebrating outside the White House, but some Christian leaders have spoken out against such rejoicing.  It is to be hoped that the removal of the al-Qaeda founder will lead to greater safety and security, and that there will not be reprisals. Undoubtedly bin Laden was the instigator of unspeakable evil, but should we not also feel sorrow that a man’s gifts and abilities were so misdirected?

There is a prayer which begins “Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather than he may turn from his wickedness and live...”   A popular hymn includes the words, “The vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.”  We often sing it with great gusto, but do we really believe that the vilest offender, even someone like Osama bin Laden, could have been forgiven if he had turned from his wickedness?  Christians believe that, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,  sin and selfishness are put to death, the slate is wiped clean, and a new life can begin.  The offer of forgiveness is for all, whatever the scale of our wrongdoing, but we have to turn away from all that is wrong, and allow our hearts to be changed.

The war against terrorism goes on. Removing one vile offender who has not repented will not remove the threat of terror, nor the reality of suffering in a world where there is much wickedness.  What really makes a difference is a complete change of mind and heart. Then God’s healing, forgiving love can flow into a person’s heart, making them new.  In the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 9 we have the story of Saul who persecuted Christians until he had a dramatic experience on the Damascus Road. Saul, otherwise known as Paul, went on to become the most ardent follower of Jesus Christ, spreading the good news, bringing people to faith and starting churches.  Jesus Christ still changes lives today and, ultimately, it is changed lives that will make the world a better place.

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington

MAY 2011 Vol. 33 No. 5

Dear Friends

Travelling along the A46 these days feels a bit like a parable of modern life. The landscape is constantly changing. It’s even getting a bit like that (albeit on a very, very small scale) on the journey from East Leake to Gotham! New roundabouts and re-routed roads can make the traveller feel disorientated. A much travelled and hitherto familiar route suddenly requires concentration. So many things in life change, sometimes gradually and imperceptibly, at other times rapidly. Change can feel exciting or threatening. One thing is certain – nothing stays the same for ever.
In a changing world the Church faces many challenges. Some of the old traditional ways of doing things just don’t resonate with the modern generation, or even with some older people who have come to a new understanding of what it means to be a Christian or who find different things feed their spiritual lives now than in earlier years. For others the older traditions have more appeal later in life, or there is a longing for the Church to provide stability and constancy, giving comfort and help in coping with other changes going on all around.
The journey theme is prominent in the Bible, in both the Old and New Tesaments. The key event in the Old Testament is the Exodus. Through Moses, God led his people Israel out of slavery in Egypt. God led them by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. When the pillar of cloud or fire settled, the people stayed in that place until the pillar began to move again. There are times when God is telling us to stay in one place, and other times when he leads us on the next stage of our journey. For many of us the difficult thing is discerning when God wants to move us on. It can be hard to leave behind what is familiar and to set off into the unknown. Long before the time of Moses, Abraham responded to God’s call to set off on a journey, trusting God’s promise to give him a land, and to bless him with descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore. Abraham is remembered today as the Father of all three monothestic faiths – Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
When old routes disappear and new roads are constructed, we need to follow the signs or listen to the satnav. As we travel through life, let’s look for God’s signposts and learn to listen to his directions, knowing that God is with us whether the landscape is familiar or strange. Jesus promises his followers that he is with us always, and if we put our faith in him we can be assured that our ultimate destination is to be with God in glory.
With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington

APRIL 2011 - Vol. 33, No. 4.

Dear Friends

You may have seen a Mothers’ Union poster on display which says ‘Make a Mother’s Day’. This is in connection with a campaign to encourage the purchase of ethical gifts which will help mothers and their families, at home or overseas, who are facing difficulties. Anyone who takes part will receive a card depicting the chosen gift. This may be a card to send to the person’s own mother, or it can be in memory of a mother who has died. Mothers’ Day is advertised widely by companies who want us to buy cards, gifts or flowers, or to treat our mothers to Sunday lunch. The Mothers’ Union advertisement reminds us of the Christian origins of this day.

Mothering Sunday always falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent and is sometimes known as Refreshment Sunday. The idea is to have a break from the austerity of Lent and to be refreshed for the final part of the Lenten observance, leading up to Holy Week and Easter. On this Sunday in times gone by young people in service in big houses were allowed to visit their families. The custom developed of picking flowers from grass verges and hedgerows along the way to make posies for their mothers. People would attend the church of their baptism, or families who normally worshipped at small village churches might attend the larger church in town, sometimes called the Mother Church. That title emphasises the Church’s role in nurturing Christians in their faith. There was, and still is, an emphasis on Mary the Mother of Jesus on this particular Sunday. So there are three strands to Mothering Sunday celebrations – Mother Church, Mary the Mother of Jesus, and our own mothers. Much of this is lost in today’s celebrations which owe more to the American Mothers’ Day held in May, with its emphasis on thanking and showing appreciation for mothers.

There are many celebrations associated with the Christian faith. This month we shall also observe Palm Sunday, recalling the occasion when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Holy Week follows, which includes Maundy Thursday when we recall the Last Supper which Jesus shared with his friends. Good Friday is a solemn day when we focus on the crucifixion. Then comes the joyful celebration of Easter, when we celebrate Jesus Christ rising from the dead, and the new life he offers to those who believe in him. If you come along to one or more of our services this month you may discover something about how these festivals began, and their meaning for us today. It’s also worth mentioning that holidays began as holy days. So as we enjoy our holidays and celebrations this month, let’s not forget their origins in the Christian faith.

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington

MARCH 2011 - Vol. 33, No. 3.

Dear Friends
Are you planning to give up something for Lent? I think I may have to give up mince pies! Yes, I know, Christmas was over weeks ago, but I made a lot of mincemeat and am still using it up. It’s curious, isn’t it, that the mince pies you can buy in the shops go on sale in the time leading up to Christmas, but they soon disappear from the shelves once we are into the new year. Hot cross buns, on the other hand, are now on sale all the year round. At one time you could only buy them on Good Friday, the day when Christians commemorate Jesus’ death on a cross. I wonder how many people these days understand the symbolism of the cross on these buns.

On Shrove Tuesday, some of us will enjoy pancakes. This day takes its name from the practice of being ‘shriven’, that is making confession of one’s sins and receiving absolution. Some people speak of ‘Pancake Day’ and may be unaware of its origins. In times gone by Christians were not allowed to eat rich foods during Lent, so pancakes were made on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday to use up the leftovers. Lent was a season of abstinence and austerity, with the purpose of entering a time of self-examination and penitence, as part of the preparation for the great festival of Easter. Lent was the fast before the feast. Even if we are less rigorous today in our observance of Lent, this is still a significant season in the Church’s year. We may go without something we enjoy in order to focus more on our prayer life and our relationship with God, as we move towards Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter.

The first signs of spring are always welcome, and never more so than when we have been through a harsh winter. Seeing the snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils lifts our spirits and brings a resurgence of hope. After the dreary dark days there is new life appearing all around. Even though March often brings cold and windy weather, we feel that summer is on its way. At the end of next month we shall celebrate Easter, and that is all about new life. Having gone through the anguish of Holy Week and Good Friday, when the focus is on Christ’s suffering and his death on a cross, we turn to the joy of the resurrection. The journey through Lent might be compared with those difficult winter days, and Easter to the glorious explosion of life and colour as spring bursts upon the world. As with many good things in life, the enjoyment and appreciation are all the greater if we have been deprived of them for a while.

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington

FEBRUARY 2011 - Vol. 33 No. 2.

Dear Friends

The King James Bible is a remarkable literary work which has had a profound influence on the English language. May 2011 marks the 400th anniversary of its publication. Events to celebrate this will include the Southwell Lecture on 17th June to be given in Southwell Minster by Frank Field MP, and an exhibition from 17th May to 19th June in the Minster. Members of our staff team are working on ideas for marking the occasion in the Benefice. Bishop Paul has drawn attention to a website http://www.kingjamesbibletrust.org/  and to the project ‘Biblefresh’. He is encouraging us to read our Bibles and one initiative to help with this is the E100 Bible Reading Challenge. You can find out more from the website www.scriptureunion.org.uk/You/BibleReading/E100BibleReadingChallenge/129240.id

I remember my first encounter with the King James Bible at the age of six. Beginning at the beginning, with the Book of Genesis, I didn’t get beyond the word ‘firmament’ before I gave up! I was very young, but even then, with my limited vocabulary, I sensed that this was a special book and I was stirred by the rhythm of the language. At primary school I enjoyed Scripture lessons and loved hearing Bible stories. At secondary school the teacher of Religious Instruction managed to make the subject abysmally boring! Years later I discovered what a treasure trove the Bible is, as a source of great stories, but most importantly as God’s word to those who believe.

When I first read the Bible in its entirety I was thirty something. I read the Good News Bible in a year, then I started on the New International Version, which took just a little longer. Some years later, when training for ordination, I turned to the Revised Standard Version, and these days I mostly read the New Revised Standard Version. We have various translations here at the Rectory and it is often useful to compare different versions. Whilst there is some wonderful poetry in the King James Bible, which is appreciated by many who have a love of the English language, many of today’s Bible readers will find a good modern translation more helpful. The Bible needs working at, whichever translation you choose, and Bible reading notes can help. There are also some delightful illustrated Bibles and Bible story books for children. If we are to read and gain understanding, we need a version of the Bible which is appropriate to our age, reading ability, and where we are in our journey of life and faith. So how about it? Make 2011 the year to discover, or rediscover, the Bible.

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington