The Rector writes...

February 2012 Vol. 34 No. 2.

2012-01-16T06:10:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends

Among the saints who are commemorated by the Christian Church, some are mentioned in the New Testament, like Mary the Mother of Jesus, Joseph, John the Baptist, and the disciples of Jesus. Many of us have heard about these people who knew Jesus in his earthly life and ministry. Among those who came later who were made saints some are well known, like Francis of Assisi, but there are others we may not know about at all.

One saint most people have heard of is Valentine who is remembered on 14^th February, but I wonder how much you know about him. For instance did you know that Valentine was a priest or bishop who was martyred in Rome under the Emperor Claudius? The connection with lovers may have something to do with a pagan festival in Rome which occurred on the Ides of February. Another view is that in mediaeval belief 14^th February was the day when birds mated! Whatever the reason for St. Valentine’s Day, some of you will send a card or a gift to the love of your life and perhaps arrange a romantic evening out! With love in the air, February seems a good month to invite couples who are engaged to be married to come together to find out what is involved in planning a church wedding. Please see Benefice Notes for details of a ‘get-together’ to be held in St. Mary’s Church, East Leake, on 4^th February. I shall be pleased to welcome any couples who may be thinking about getting married in church as well as those who have already booked a service in one of our five parish churches.

A wedding is a celebration of the love of the bride and bridegroom for one another and an occasion to make a public declaration of their commitment to be together for the rest of their lives. The love shared by the couple is a gift from God, and in the church service we seek God’s blessing for the couple on their special day and in their future life together.

Christians believe that God’s love is revealed in many ways, and uniquely through Jesus Christ. Jesus commands his followers to love one another. Love can be expressed through giving, caring and seeking the best for others. There are many kinds of love, including romantic love, the love of families and friends, and the love of God for each one of us.

Whether or not you receive a card from a special person on 14^th February, remember that everyone is special to God, who loves each one of us, and who sent Jesus into the world to show that love to us.

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington

January 2012 Vol. 34 No. 1

2011-12-28T08:59:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-21T13:17:00.000-08:00

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

2011-10-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-21T07:19:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-26T03:07:00.000-07:00

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

2011-07-19T04:43:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-24T08:23:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-30T08:11:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-16T07:14:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-03-21T08:20:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-02-21T03:53:00.000-08:00

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.

2011-01-15T03:07:00.000-08:00

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

JANUARY 2011 - Vol. 33 No. 1

2010-12-17T03:23:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends
Well, that’s Christmas over for another year. It will soon be time to dismantle the tree, take down the cards and put away the decorations. Then there are the “thank you” letters, emails or text messages to send and, for some, the tiresome business of changing items that aren’t quite right. Thinking of that line in the poem “Christmas” by John Betjeman about “hideous tie so kindly meant”, I wonder how many of us pretended to be pleased with a garment we’re never likely to wear, or an ornament that will only be on display when the giver comes to visit. With this comes a feeling of guilt because we know that a relative or friend has spent time and money on this gift and we should be grateful. Then there are the toys that are soon discarded or broken, and the gadgets that don’t work properly, not to mention the chocolates, biscuits or toiletries that come in handy for us to give to the person we’d forgotten to buy for, or which find their way in the new year to a charity raffle or tombola.

I’m sure most of us have, at some time, given or received a Christmas present that failed to please. Yet some people seem to have the knack of choosing just the right gift, which might be simple and inexpensive, but which shows an understanding of the needs and tastes of the recipient, and which is given and received with love. The greatest Christmas gift of all was just what the world needed, even if the world didn’t know its need. This gift, the child born at Christmas to be our Saviour, was given with love, by God. For those who have received that very precious gift with gratitude Christmas is not over after all. This is a gift for life, and a gift that gives life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

As we go forward into another year, the Church follows the story of Jesus Christ through his life, his ministry and his teachings, until we come to his death and resurrection and his ascension into heaven. Then we see how Jesus continues to be with his friends, through the gift of the Holy Spirit who empowered the first Christians to spread the Gospel message, and who empowers Christians today to live for Jesus and to share his love. Whether we gave and received many Christmas gifts or few, and irrespective of how much they were appreciated and enjoyed, there is a far greater gift which can be ours. Those who accept this gift and open their hearts to Jesus can know his presence with them, not just at Christmas and New Year, but always.

With love and prayers that God will bless you in the coming year,
Glynis Hetherington

DECEMBER 2011 - Vol 32. No. 12

2010-12-07T13:04:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends
In the week leading up to Remembrance Sunday I decided to look on the internet for some prayers for peace. I typed in the word “peace” only to receive the message: “The search engine cannot find peace.” I think that, perhaps, the search engine is not alone in being unable to find peace. Many people are caught up in situations beyond their control, whether they are in war torn places or suffering the effects of the economic recession, or facing other situations that disturb their peace. Watching and listening to the news can be pretty depressing and the troubles in the world add to our anxiety levels. No wonder it is hard to find peace.

It was into such a world as this that God came as a tiny baby. Jesus was born to a poor couple far from home. The Holy Family became homeless refugees, fleeing from the wrath of a jealous king. The tale of the baby born in a stable, visited by shepherds who saw a vision of angels and wise men who followed a star, is a wonderful story, but in our telling of it at Christmas we usually stop short of the violence that was unleashed in the wake of these happenings. Even as the infant Jesus lay sleeping peacefully in his manger bed, the forces of evil were threatening to strike. Jesus came as light into a world of darkness, but the darkness was never far away.

It seemed as if the powers of darkness had triumphed thirty-three years later when Jesus Christ hung on a cross. Three days after that the light blazed brighter than ever, for Jesus was alive and death was defeated. It is through his death on a cross that Jesus Christ has reconciled us to God, taking away our sins and pouring out his forgiving love upon a sin sick world. Herein lies our peace.

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace; at Easter we celebrate his rising from the dead. Both Christmas and Easter are about birth, about new life – the Christmas story tells of the birth of Jesus and we celebrate this life and light coming into the world. At Easter we think of resurrection and we rejoice that the light still shines, as we celebrate the new life that goes on beyond death for all who are born anew in Christ. The two stories belong together and, indeed, they are part of the same story – the story of what God has done to save us from our sins, and to bring us back into a right relationship with himself. Through Jesus our Saviour we can have peace with God.

May you all find peace this Christmas.

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington

November 2010 - Vol. 32. No. 11

2010-10-16T06:10:00.000-07:00

The Rector writes:
Dear Friends

As we become older many of us are conscious that the memory isn’t quite what it used to be. We go into a room to fetch something and forget what we’ve gone there for; keys, diaries and spectacles are mislaid; we recognise a familiar face but cannot put a name to it. Even so, many older people remember things from years ago as if they only happened yesterday. For those who lived through the Second World War, the events will be forever etched upon their memories. One of my early memories is of stories my parents told of war time, but as a child I had little understanding of what war was. I still remember the shock of discovering that war brings death and destruction. I hope I never lose the capacity to be shocked and appalled when I hear of the horrors and atrocities of war. It’s a long time since the World War that my parents’ generation was involved in, but there have been many wars before and since. Uppermost in many of our minds now is the terrible waste of young lives in Afghanistan, as we continue to pray for our troops serving there, and for the ordinary people of that country caught up in the conflict.

Among those who observe the two minutes’ silence on 11th November, and those who join in Remembrance Sunday parades and services on 14th November there will be people who have lived through the horrors and deprivations of war. Some people taking part will be thinking of comrades and family members who died in wartime. There will be others, like myself, who know of these things at second hand, through the memories that others have shared through telling their stories. Younger members of the uniformed organisations who take part in parades may only just be starting to learn about what life was like in wartime, and about the courage of the men and women we shall honour in our Act of Remembrance.

This year it is Gotham’s turn to host the Parade and Service of Remembrance involving the Gotham and District Branch of the Royal British Legion. However, there will be services in our Benefice churches on Remembrance Sunday and all are welcome to attend. May all of us who take part reflect on the wicked waste of life and the terrible suffering that war brings, and commit ourselves to do all that we can to promote peace and justice. Let us pray that God will raise up more peacemakers, remembering that Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington

October 2010 - Vol. 32. No. 10

2010-09-20T11:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends

I watched a ladybird scurrying along a window sill. Its little legs were working at a furious pace. Part way along the ledge the ladybird opened its wings, took to the air, executed half a summersault and landed flat on its back. After thrashing about for a while it managed to right itself and set off to climb up the window pane. Whether there was any aim or purpose to all this activity, or if it was part of a daily exercise regime, or just a ladybird’s idea of having fun, I have no way of telling! The ladybird seemed to expend a lot of energy without making much progress. Then I thought about some of the journeys we humans embark upon, and the time and effort we invest in some of our projects, and I wondered how God views these things. The author of Isaiah Chapter 40 might have been pondering similar thoughts when he wrote in verse 22, “It is he (God) who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers.” Whether we are like grasshoppers or ladybirds, these words from the Old Testament express how great and awesome God is and how little we are. We can be so self-centred, acting as though life revolves around us and our concerns. A reminder that this is God’s world helps us to get things into perspective.

Sometimes we set off on journeys or embark on projects which we fail to complete, or we achieve only limited success because we have made our plans without reference to God. Yet God loves us, wants the best for us and has a plan for our lives. In Ephesians Chapter 2 Paul writes of the good works that God has prepared beforehand for us to walk in. However small we are in the vastness of the universe, we are precious to God and we have a unique place in God’s world. If we can learn to listen and to discern God’s will, the effort we put into things is not wasted.

In 1 Corinthians Chapter 3 Paul writes about building on a foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw – and how fire will test what has been built. This is a reference to the Day of Judgment and the image of the building relates to the Church in Corinth. We can also apply it to ourselves and our own Church. Those whose work will be profitable are like those who build with gold, silver and precious stones. Wood, hay and straw will not survive fire. Therefore, those who build with these materials accomplish nothing of lasting value. The foundation is Jesus Christ and all who build their lives on him can claim the promise of eternal life, but some of our work is for this life only. Those things that have eternal value are not the easiest to measure. For instance, if you help another person to come to faith in Jesus Christ, that may be unseen by everyone except God, and yet you are building for eternity.

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington

September 2010 - Vol. 32. No. 9

2010-08-18T15:04:00.000-07:00

The Rector writes:

Dear Friends
I often meet people who believe in God, and who try to live according to the teachings of Jesus, but who rarely attend church services. These people have their children baptised and do their best to bring them up in the Christian faith. They would never dream of not coming into church for life’s significant events such as weddings and funerals. Some of them enjoy church services on the occasions when they do attend, such as Christmas, Easter and Harvest, but they lead busy lives and other things take a higher priority than regular church attendance. There are some who intend to come more often, but never quite get around to it. Some feel closer to God outside, and a response to God is awakened in them when they are enjoying the wonders of nature. That’s understandable because, after all, the natural world is God’s creation. Buildings – even church buildings constructed to the glory of God and made holy by the prayers of countless generations – are still buildings made by human beings.

However, church buildings were put there because believers need a place to meet. Yes, we can pray and praise God anywhere, any time. I have had as many meaningful encounters with God outside the church walls as within. Even so, I believe that there is something about collective worship and prayer that adds up to more than the sum total of all our personal devotions. Private prayers and corporate worship complement each other. We need time and space to be alone with God, and time to be together. It’s about belonging. Through baptism, we are brought into the family of the Church. Families that function best are those which meet together and keep in contact. Within a family we learn the meaning of love and we offer and receive support as we journey together through life. The Church family needs to meet to grow together in the knowledge and love of God, and to offer mutual support, as well as to pray for the world in all its need, and to reach out in loving service to the community. God doesn’t intend us to go it alone, and there is so much that we can do better together.

We hear about declining church attendances, and some of our rural congregations are very small. A few committed people work hard to keep our small village churches open. If other parishioners want their church to be there for their weddings, baptisms and funerals, and to remain as a focus for the Christian faith in their village, I would urge them to re-think their priorities before it is too late. However, if someone reading this decides to resume, or to begin, church attendance, I pray that this will not be a mere duty, but that you will find it a joy and that God will bless you .

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington

August 2010 - Vol. 32. No. 8

2010-08-18T15:02:00.000-07:00

The Rector writes:

Dear Friends
Someone who was invited to attend a Baby Naming Ceremony and to be a “Guidemother” told me she would far rather have stood as Godmother to the child. She expressed disappointment that there wasn‘t to be a “proper Christening”. We had an interesting conversation about the purpose of a Baby Naming Ceremony, which is offered by the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths. Presumably such ceremonies are one way for people with no religious beliefs to celebrate the birth or adoption of a child.

I knew little about these ceremonies until I looked on Nottinghamshire County Council’s website. I discovered that each ceremony can be tailored individually so that it is personal to the family and their child. There is a scale of charges, depending on which day of the week is chosen, and whether the ceremony is held in a Register Office or another venue. A Baby Naming ceremony has no legal status. One thing that surprises me is that the ceremony may include a religious reading if desired. I would expect most people who believe in God to wish for one of the ceremonies their faith community offers at significant moments in their lives, such as marriage, bereavement, birth or adoption. I receive about twenty or so requests each year for a Christening, this being the popular name for the rite that the Church calls “Baptism”. Within the Christian Church, some traditions routinely offer a Dedication Service, withholding baptism until the child is old enough to make his or her own decision to follow Jesus Christ.

The Church of England is one of several denominations that practises infant baptism. The baptism service includes promises to bring up a child in the Christian faith. An ongoing relationship with the Church is an important part of that. The role of Godparents is to encourage the child in following Jesus. For parents who feel unable to make the commitment asked for at baptism, and for those who prefer to wait until their child can make his or her own decision, there is an alternative. This is a Service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child. It is a meaningful service in which the parents make promises to care for their child. Prayers are offered, and the child receives a blessing. The service may also be offered to parents who have adopted a child. There is no charge for Baptism or Thanksgiving services. We simply put out a collection plate and invite people to make a donation, as they feel able.

To find our more, please ask for our leaflet “The Gift of a Child”. I happy to discuss the options with parents or those about to become parents.

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington

July 2010 - Vol. 32, No. 7

2010-06-28T12:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends

There's nothing like sunshine for showing up the smears on the windows and the cobwebs in the corners. Bright, sunny weather also brings encouragement to venture out of doors, whether for recreation, to tackle the gardening, or to catch up on some outside jobs. During a recent sunny spell I decided the time had come to clean my car. I washed the outside, but still haven't got around to sweeping out the interior. Our lives can be a bit like that - outwardly everything looks fine, but do our innermost thoughts bear close scrutiny? Whatever our lives look like on the outside, some of us may be eaten up with worries and cares, or we could be harbouring a grudge or nursing hurt feelings.

When a man with a gun ran amok in West Cumbria, Ron commented that for him, a 'Cumbrian lad', this felt a bit close to home. A lot of people enjoy holidays in the Lake District. The perception of many of us is that gun crime is rife in our big towns and cities, but it's not what we would expect in Whitehaven and the nearby places where people were shot and killed. The truth is that violence can erupt anywhere. As our hearts go out to those affected by this tragedy, theories are being put forward about what caused an apparently respectable man suddenly to go around shooting people.

Christians believe that human beings are made in the image of God, with a capacity for goodness, kindness and love. We also believe that the divine image in us is marred by sin. there's a flaw in all of us and in certain destructive behaviour. Thankfully, for most of us, that won't involve killing and wounding with weapons, but we may cause hurt by our words and our attitudes.

Jesus said that from the heart all kinds of wickedness come. Bad thoughts can lead to cruel words and evil deeds. At the start of the Holy Communion service we often use a prayer asking God to cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We have recently celebrated the Spirit's coming at Pentecost as a mighty rushing wind and tongues of fire. Wind can blow the dust from the corners; fire cleanses and refines. We need the Holy Spirit in all our hearts to cleanse and purity, and to fill our minds with those good thoughts that lead us to speak and act kindly. When we learn to live as the spirit of God directs, our words and deeds will never be destructive, for we shall be motivated to help and encourage and to live creatively and constructively in the world.

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington.

June 2010 - Vol. 32 No. 6

2010-05-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Revered Steve Osman writes:

Dear Friends

"And now, the time is near, and so I face the final curtain..."
Sadly, this will be my last letter for the Messenger, Parish Lines and Compass (though if you ask me nicely I may send you an update from my new patch!)
So what can I say on this auspicious occasion? Simple. Goodbye. Adieu. Adios.

No, I'm not showing off with my grasp of European languages, I'm simply saying the same thing three times. If you know your French and Spanish, you'll know that all three words carry the same message.

Rectors Goodbye = God be with ye; Adieu and adios = to God. In other words, all I'm doing is commending you into God's care. There's no better way to say farewell than to commit those you care about into God's hands. Leaving here is going to be very hard. After ten years we feel we have got to know folk well and over ten years we've been through a lot together. But this isn't the end of the story. We face new challenges, so do you. Personal life and church life will continue to change and develop for you and for us. In the adventures that lie ahead there is no better or safer place to be than being held securely in God's hands.

I'm aware that those of you reading this may fall into at least two categories. There will be some who have a strong Christian faith. I say to you, as I did to the youth groups at Lydia's farewell - keep the faith. Stay centred on Christ. Keep going with the regular disciplines of prayer and Bible reading. Look forward to new encounters with Jesus.

The other group are those of you who read this through curiosity, whose faith is barely formed or uncertain. To you I say, give church a try. If you want to find out more about faith, more about the God who has revealed himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, more about this adventure we call following Jesus, try looking in your local church. You'll find ordinary people with extraordinary stories.

Going back to Ol' Blue eyes' song quoted at the beginning, I hope I haven't done it my way, but God's way. I commend you all to following God's way, there's no better way to live. And there's no better place to be than safe in God's hands.

Goodbye! Or, for Christians, not just adieu, but au revoir. (Look it up!)

May 2010 - Vol. 32 No. 5

2010-04-21T04:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

As I write for this month's magazine it is Easter Day and a wonderful day of celebration.

We are reminded of the new life that Christ offers us all here and now and in eternity. A wonderful free gift that is offered to us all. As the month of May continues we will celebrate the Ascension of Christ on Ascension Day May 13th and then Pentecost on Sunday May 23rd. It used to be and still is called Whit Sunday by some.

All these three events help us in our daily lives and living. Life can often be a serious of ups and downs, uncertainties, changing circumstances, wonderful vistas or dark valleys.

The Easter story, the Ascension and finally Pentecost tell us of a Lord who died, rose again, ascended and then sent His Spirit to a world which so desperately and clearly needed reconciliation, hope, healing and justice.

We look around us today and see so much devastation in the world from a variety of sources. We see lives hurt or damaged by events. We also see a world of inequality, injustice and selfishness. The haves and have nots.

The arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost tells us of a God who does not discriminate, give to some and not others Rather He gives his Spirit, presence, peace and love quite generously and liberally to those who will receive Him. Those early, scared and isolated disciples, suddenly encountered the Ascended Lord through His Spirit in a quite marvellous way. A way which made them excited, free and full of courage and hope about life. They received a new power and strength. That power is available to us today too. The Holy Spirit is waiting for a moment to empower you and your life afresh and give you the experience of those early disciples. Gifts and fruits of many kinds await in God's kingdom and are generously given to his people.

Take a moment. Be Still. Listen. Pray. Be surprised by the Lord who is waiting around the corners of your life to show you how important and loved you are.

Over the next few months there will be many changes in our parish relationships as Steve Osman leaves us and we await and pray for his replacement.

Let us be mindful that the Holy Spirit will be with us in this time to guide, lead and give wisdom and insight as is needed. We never work alone in God's vineyard.

Seek out any opportunities to hear the Lord speaking to you and calling you into a closer and deeper walk with Him.

Have a blessed Pentecost.

Revd. Glenn Martin.

APRIL 2010 - Vol 32 No. 4

2010-04-01T12:59:00.000-07:00

The Reverend Steve Osman writes:

Dear Friends,

A few months ago I had to put my car in for repair. The only courtesy car I was offered was a brand new BMW X5 - I was slightly embarrassed to be driving it. Less than an hour after I got home someone in the village phoned me about something and commented, "I see you've got a new car." The grapevine in these villages is very efficient!

So I guess by now you will have heard that I am moving on from my present post, moving back to the N.E.

I just want to use this opportunity to say that we are very sorry indeed to be moving, but still feel it is right. I have spent ten very happy years in Gotham and slightly less than that looking after my other four churches. There have also been some excellent examples of collaboration across all twelve villages. I can't remember any seriously bad times; sad times yes, with the death of parishioners, but overall this has been a wonderful ten years. I have grown to love this part of the world and will always be proud to have served in these communities.

My new post is a challenge. Three churches formed into one parish with some resistance to that idea. Church life is a struggle in depressed ex-mining communities. My view is that there is no such thing as a problem, only an opportunity for challenge. On the plus side we will be much nearer family including elderly parents. The parish is next door to where I grew up. I have had to work hard at trying to tell the difference between God's call and the call of home. Accepting the fact that I'll be just fifteen miunutes from the Stadium of Light, I'm as convinced as I can be that this is what God wants.

For all of us who call ourselves Christian, this notion of God's guidance is always a challenge. As young people, what does my faith say about my career choice, my choice of life partner? As we get older, what does my faith say about how I spend my time or my money? From my experience it is rare to get clear and obvious answers when we ask God about all this. What is important is that we ask him. Too many Christians simply get on with their lives and give God just a passing nod.

This Easter time we can reflect on how Jesus followed his Father's will in order to give us hope and new life. That wasn't easy for him. Perhaps appreciation of Jesus' sacrifice will help us to give God more of our lives.

Steve Osman.

March 2010 - Vol. 32 No. 3

2010-02-27T07:22:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends,

If you attended the Cluster party and pantomime you may remember that Jack had to carry out a risk assessment and don a safety helmet before he climbed the beanstalk. It makes sense to try and avoid unnecessary risks. No-one wants to spend time in A & E if they can possibly help it. Even so, some of us have been heard to reminisce about the 'good old days' when we climbed trees, hurtled down hills on our bikes, careered down snow covered slopes on sledges and had a good many falls and tumbles in the process. It was a natural part of what we remember as a fairly carefree childhood. Most of us survived, or we wouldn't be here to tell the tale. If we'd had to wear cycle helmets in those far off days, I might have avoided four stitches in my forehead when I was about eight years old! Safeguarding against accidents must be good, yet we cannot eliminate all risks and dangers as we go through life.

At Christmas someone mentioned the risk God took in entering our world as a helpless infant. Now we have reached the time of year when the focus is on the adult Jesus. During Lent we remember how, after his baptism, Jesus spent time in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. Jesus overcame temptation through fasting, prayer and calling to mind words of Scripture. When he embarked on his public ministry he began to preach and teach about the Kingdom of God, and to demonstrate what that Kingdom is like through signs and wonders, not least the healing miracles which show that God wants each one of us to be whole.

Jesus came as the Light of the World, exposing the darkness in the world and those areas of darkness in the human heart. He had enemies as well as friends. Not everyone could bear to let that bright light shine into the darkness inside them. It's not comfortable to stand beneath the all-seeing gaze of God and, unless you are prepared to allow the Holy Spirit to eradicate the darkness in you and to change and transform your life and make you more like Jesus, you are sure to feel threatened. Added to that, is the desire of many leaders, religious and secular, to cling to positions of power. So they were bound to feel threatened by the superior power clearly demonstrated by Jesus.

If God had done a risk assessment before entering this world in the person of Jesus, the whole venture would probably have been called off. In his humanness, Jesus struggled as anyone would to face up to the suffering and death towards which events were moving. On the night before he died he prayed in great anguish that the cup of suffering might pass from him. Yet he was able to win through to a place where he could say to God the Father, 'Not my will but yours be done'. Because Jesus was willing to take the risk, even though it cost him his life, we can stand on the far side of the cross and give thanks for all that Jesus endured for us. We also know that this was not the end of the story.

During Lent we prepare to remember the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, and to celebrate his resurrection from the dead. Whether our journey through this life involves little risk and leaves us relatively unscathed, or whether we live a life of high adventure and have many mishaps along the way, all of us must one day pass from this life.

Revd Glynis Hetherington

February 2010 - Vol. 32 No. 2

2010-01-15T03:58:00.000-08:00

THE REVEREND STEVE OSMAN WRITES:

Dear Friends

These days image is everything. Millions of pounds are spent in the fashion industry; thousands of pounds are spent trying to lose a few pounds. For teenagers, looking cool is the most important part of social life. In this lead up to a general election, our politicians will have a small army dedicated to influencing how our leaders appear.

It has to be said, the church has an image problem. This month sees the beginning of Lent when the popular image is about giving things up, being miserable because you can’t have your chocolate fix. Many people think that’s all that Christianity is about. All they remember is, “thou shalt not…!”
In my 5 parishes we are looking for a logo to represent what we are about. The reality is – image speaks.

What troubles me most about all this is when folk have a misguided image of Jesus. It’s been well said that when someone rejects Christianity, they are rejecting a misunderstanding of Christianity. So Jesus is depicted as an irrelevance, a killjoy, someone who said interesting things but doesn’t have much to do with real life. If that were true I would reject Christianity also – and my job along with it!

Read the gospels more closely and you discover a Jesus who was the life and soul of the party, who liked nothing more than eating out with friends and acquaintances, who enjoyed a good joke (remember the camel through the eye of a needle?) and who was an expert storyteller. Why were crowds drawn to him like a magnet?

Lent is, of course, a preparation for Easter. This same Jesus who told good stories also showed us how much he loved us by choosing to die for us. That’s where the Jesus image becomes much more challenging. If he was willing to do that for me, how should I respond? It’s now becoming costly, so far better to keep to my prejudices and misconceptions.

Can I simply ask that you spend Lent learning more about the real Jesus? Read through Mark’s gospel (and the other 3 if you’ve time) and ask yourself just two questions – who was this Jesus and why did he come?

If you do that seriously, my guess is you’ll find your self-image and the way you look at the world utterly transformed. You’ll discover you really are made in God’s image and that’s life changing.

Steve Osman

January 2010 - Vol. 32 No. 1

2009-12-30T07:57:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

'January brings the snow' according to an old song. It also brings Wise Men from the east - well, not literally, but in the Church's calendar. You may be forgiven for thinking that they had already arrived. After all, weren't they there in the stable with the shepherds during all those children's nativity plays, and didn't we hear the story of their coming and sing about them on Christmas Eve, or even earlier in December? Well, yes, we do usually include them in the story of Christ's birth which we tell and sing about and celebrate at Christmas. So it may come as a surprise to some of us to discover that they probably arrived with their gifts a year or more after the shepherds, when Jesus was no longer a tiny baby, but a toddler. The Wise Men are remembered on 6th January. This date marks the end of the twelve days of Christmas and users in the season of Epiphany.

The word 'epiphany' means to show or reveal. During the Epiphany season it is traditional to include in our worship stories from the Gospels in which Christ's glory is seen and his identity revealed as the Son of God. We include in this season a celebration of the Baptism of our Lord. As Jesus was coming up out of the water a dove alighted on him and a voice from heaven proclaimed him as God's beloved Son. We also tell the story of a the first miracle of Jesus that is recorded, namely changing water into wine at the wedding at Cana in Galilee. The final story to be told is of the infant Jesus being taken to the temple by Mary and Joseph and being recognised as the long awaited Messiah by two old people, Simeon and Ann. Simeon takes the child in his arms and proclaims him as 'a light for revelation to the Gentiles' (Luke 2:32 NRSV). This occasion is sometimes celebrated under the name 'Candlemas' and brings to a close the season of Epiphany.

In all these Gospel stories there is an epiphany for the people present, as God's glory is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ and there is a recognition of who he is. The first and the last of these stories are accounts of events in the life of the infant Christ and both reveal not only his identity as the Son of God, but they also show that Jesus came for all people everywhere, not just for a few. Simeon's words indicate that Jesus, born a Jew, was not only the Saviour of that race but of the whole human race. The Wise Men were the first people outside the Jewish race to worship Jesus and to acknowledge him as King. So they were the first to reveal Jesus to a wider world.

Some of us may have had our own 'epiphany moment' when something previously hidden or puzzling has been made known to us and we have seen for ourselves who Jesus is. Others may be like the Wise Men setting off on their journey, following the star with hope and expectation that it would take them to the place where they would find the new King. Whether we have had our own personal epiphany or that is yet to come, the important thing is to set off on that journey, for as someone has said, 'Wise men (and women) still seek him.'

With my love and prayers for the coming year.

Glynis Hetherington.

A Message from the Rector

2009-11-21T08:22:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends

Christmas is coming. At this time of year people often ask, "Are you nearly ready for Christmas?" The questions is often about Christmas shopping, getting the cards written and posted, preparing or buying all that extra food. When I am asked if I'm getting ready for Christmas I am never quite sure whether the question is about plans for Church services or preparations on the domestic front. The latter can be left a bit longer, but the Church preparations have to start early. So many people are involved. Singers, musicians and handbell ringers practise for weeks before taking part in services. People who arrange flowers and decorate churches have to start planning in plenty of time. There are numerous practical jobs that need to be done, and the more people there are involved, the more important it is to get started early.

So with all this going on it takes the pressure off when the tasks are shared. One task that is now being shared among the clergy in the South Notts Cluster is the monthly letter for the magazine. It makes quite a difference not having to compose a letter every month. I know some people are not so keen on the clergy taking it in turns, whilst others appreciate the fresh viewpoint that a different member of the Cluster team can offer. Personally, I enjoy reading the letters written by my clergy colleagues. This month Glenn has given us some food for thought, so do read his letter and ponder its message.

As for me, while the various preparations for Christmas are in progress, I am aware once again that long, long before the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, God had been preparing the world for the coming of his Son. We think about that in Advent as we remember the Patriarchs, the Prophets, John the Baptist and Mary the Mother of Jesus. These are key characters in the Bible, people who had a special part to play in God's plans and preparations. During Advent, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we also think of God's plan that one day Christ will return to judge the world and to establish his perfect rule of justice and peace.

In the midst of your plans and preparations, as you get ready to celebrate Christmas, may you ponder the deeper meaning of the season.

I wish you love, joy and peace this Christmas and always.

Glynis Hetherington.

December 2009 Vol. 31 No. 12

2009-11-21T08:06:00.000-08:00

The Reverend Glenn Martin writes:

Dear Friends

Christmas is always a great time of the year especially for children, and at least for most people!!

However, for some Christmas is a sad and lonely time. Perhaps bereavement, loneliness, financial insecurity, ill health, immobility, can all play a part in making Christmas a tough time for some.

Of course Christmas is glamorised on the television, in shops, etc. and many who don't feel that glamour feel isolated, remote and dispirited by the season.

We perhaps have to remember the origins of the Christmas story. Nothing glamorous about the a baby born in a stable, on straw and seemingly accompanied by cows, sheep and the like. A distressed mother and probably somewhat anxious father; this is the way Jesus arrived in the world according to the gospels.

Yes over two thousand years later Christians and non-Christians alike celebrate this birth at Christmas thinking again about the story of Jesus and the journey and birth in Bethlehem. A seemingly timeless story with a timeless theme. God arrives and lives not in glamour but in the very ordinariness of life and being human.

Perhaps when we get some time to reflect, and if we feel negative about this time of the year and the season, then becoming aware that God is in all things and comes in the very simplicity of my life, then just maybe the season might become more significant, real and personal.

The story says God enters into human life in a very real, powerful, intimate but humble way and we are reminded He does the same today for us all.

May the true spirit of Christmas be with you and whatever your circumstances may you find peace and love in your heart and life this Christmas time. Remember Emmanuel God is with us... maybe this Christmas you may have a time and opportunity to spend time in church or in quiet reflection and find afresh the Lord who dwells in the very ordinariness of your soul, being and life, and find a very deep and real way to celebrate.

Every Christmas Blessing,

Revd Glenn Martin

November 2009 Vol. 31 No. 11

2009-11-21T07:51:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends

We have 'done' Harvest and we are just about to 'do' Remembrance. This is the time of year when the church's seasonal calendar offers us a clear framework of thought; as we move from thanksgiving (for Harvest) through remembering to the waiting (in Advent) in readiness for the joy of the Incarnation. I am aware that in rural communities the reality of the harvest is much more visible with locally produced potatoes, garden-grown apples, and homemade jams. It makes the thanksgiving more immediate and more relevant.

We are now entering the 'Kingdom' season of the church's year. This is time when we remember and give thanks for those who have gone before us. All Saints Sunday gives us an opportunity to remember those who have died, as we ponder on the mystery of the 'Communion of Saints'. We hold special services for those who wish to remember their own departed loved ones, and light candles in their memories. We take part in Remembrance Sunday observances as we acknowledge the part played by those men and women who offered their lives in the service of their country during times of war.

This is the official remembering. But often, those memories that are treasured the most are the private ones. Those thoughts that remember small acts of kindness, often unasked for, but given as a gift. Many people sent me cards, both before and after I had major surgery, but the one I treasure is a tiny red card with a heart on it, which read inside 'remember you are loved'. In the Bible, Jesus was aware of this. There is a story in the gospels of a woman breaking an expensive jar of perfume and pouring it over Jesus. His disciples were horrified at the apparent waste. She had poured out the equivalent of a year's wages for 'nothing'. But Jesus saw beyond the act to the love in that woman's heart and said that her act would be remembered. And it has been. You can find the story in Mark's gospel (Chapter 14: 3-10). We do not know her name - some have hazarded guesses at who she was. But we know what she did, and it has been remembered.

And we do well to remember. 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it'.* We can and do learn from our mistakes. But let us also remember with gratitude those lessons learned from the past both from our own experience and the experience of other. Let us remember with gratitude those who died in the service of others. Let us remember with grateful thanks the lives of those known to us that we have loved. And as we remember and give thanks let us look forward to what lies ahead. We wait for the coming of the Christ child - God's greatest gift to us. Let us look forward in joyful antici[pation to God's goodness to us.

With my love and prayers.

Claire

* from 'Life of Reason, Reason in Common Sense, Scribner's, 1905, page 284.

October 2009 Vol. 31 No. 10

2009-09-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends

It’s often said we live in a compensation culture. Anyone working in any of the Public Services has to be very careful to fill in the right paperwork to ensure that any court case has all the evidence. We seem to be quick to want to blame someone.

Poor old Gordon Brown is being blamed for everything – Lockerbie prisoner release/Afghanistan/Credit Crunch/Swine Flu. I guess he realises this comes with the turf – maybe that’s why we have politicians – someone to blame. Car drivers will know that if you’re in an accident you should never admit blame – it’s always someone else’s fault.

Of course, God’s always getting it in the neck. The doctor tells you you have cancer, an earthquake kills thousands, a child dies. That all must be God’s fault, who else is there? What puzzles me is how quickly those who don’t give God a nod or a wink most of the time accuse him of any bad news. I guess that’s easier than the atheist who has no-one to blame – it’s all a matter of chance.

What worries me about all this is that we are losing sight of personal responsibility. We are so quick looking to blame others that we cannot see our own part. Jesus had something to say about this – something about a speck in someone else’s eye and a plank in your own. From the Christian viewpoint we are all responsible for our own behaviour and decisions. There will always be outside circumstances influencing us, but in the end we have to be responsible for ourselves.

There is also the aspect of collective responsibility. A child is killed by its carers – let’s blame the Social Workers or the Police. What about the neighbours? Who was keeping an eye out for that family? I know that’s not easy, particularly in the cities, but I think Jesus had something to say about neighbours as well.

Most of our church services begin with an act of Confession: “Almighty God… we have sinned against you and against our neighbour...” Notice the communal aspect of this. It’s not just me who has messed up – we’re in it together. I pray that we will rediscover that sense of personal responsibility and realise that we are also in community, looking out for each other in good and bad times. That for me, is a lot of what church is about.

Steve Osman

September 2009 Vol. 31 No. 9

2009-08-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

The Revd Glenn Martin writes...

Dear all,

This time of year bring many surprises to us. Perhaps a happy holiday, somewhere different, something new. Maybe a wedding, sometimes the birth of a new member. Opportunities to see different parts of the countryside and experience the light nights and hopefully the summer warmth.

We all need some change and growth in our lives, otherwise we become static and fixed in ways which do not help us to grow and become healthy.

Reflecting recently on the Gospel readings in church it has much to say about healing and growth and change.

It seems Jesus had at the heart of his ministry and Himself that desire to see people live lives of full potential and health and wholesomeness. He made a difference to people's lives and attempted to show them how a way of service, commitment and love can make a huge change and difference to them.

In these days of economic gloom, swine flu, underemployment, how we need to hear words and actions of a positive and transforming nature.

In the hands of Jesus it seems that is a promise.

I recently met a child at a wedding who asked me as I was about to take the service "Are you the king?" It brought a smile to my face and I had of course to reply that I was not the king!! However, on reflection I think I could have said, "Well, I am not the king, but I know one in my heart". The King of love.

My hope is we all become aware of our need to grow and receive some healing from this King and grow more into a community of hope, peace and love in ourselves, our heart and our service to one another wherever we live and move.

May your summer time be a good one and may you meet those who are about healing, transformation and bringing goodness, worth and love into your life.

God's blessing.

Revd. Glenn Martin

August 2009 Vol: 31 No. 8

2009-07-20T04:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends

August can be a carefree month, especially for those taking holidays or going on outings. For the younger generation, exams have finished, school has broken up and it is a time to meet with friends and have fun. We usually see more children and young people around in our villages or playing in the park. Parents have to make decisions about the age at which youngsters can be allowed out on their own, and how much freedom to allow them. Some older folk feel that their own childhood was more free and easy because there didn’t seem to be quite so many dangers when they were growing up. Some can recall long, lazy summer days when they were allowed to be out and about all day with their friends. Parents have always issued warnings about not talking to strangers. It can be difficult impressing that message on young minds, without making the youngsters too fearful or destroying their trust in adults. It is worrying when we hear about people in positions of trust who have abused children.

Organisations that are involved with those who are young and vulnerable have to put policies in place for their protection. This applies to voluntary groups as well as nurseries and schools. The Church is no exception. Clergy, Readers and licensed ministers have Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) clearance. Leaders of groups and activities which children or young people may attend without a parent or carer are also required to have a CRB check. Our Safeguarding Policy has recently been completely revised and updated and has been adopted by the five parishes in our United Benefice. The policy is in accordance with guidelines issued by the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham, and in line with Church of England policy. Doris Elcock, our Child Protection Co-ordinator, has led a training session for children’s leaders, to familiarise them with the policy. A further session is planned for those who help with young people’s groups. However, when all the safeguards are in place, adults still have a responsibility to be vigilant and not to be afraid to speak to someone if they have any concerns.

If you are a parent or grandparent and want to know about “child friendly” church services or any of our activities for the younger generation, please ask. If you can’t find details of the leader of a particular group, please ask me and I’ll put you in touch with the person who runs that activity.

I hope all of you – young and not so young – have a relaxed, happy and safe time this summer.

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington

Feast of St Peter and St Paul (June 2009) - Sue Waterston

2009-06-30T01:28:00.000-07:00

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

July 2009 Vol. 31, No. 7

2009-06-25T10:49:00.000-07:00

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

June 2009 - Vol. 31, No. 6

2009-05-25T03:57:00.000-07:00

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

May 2009 - Vol. 31 No. 5

2009-04-18T01:12:00.000-07:00

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

April 2009 - Vol. 31 No. 4

2009-03-17T13:51:00.000-07:00

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

March 2009 - Vol. 31 No. 3

2009-02-22T07:24:00.000-08:00

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

February 2009 - Vol. 31, No.2

2009-01-22T04:28:00.000-08:00

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

January 2009 - Vol. 31, Issue No. 1

2008-12-23T09:14:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends

At this time of year I usually receive a few enquiries from couples who have become engaged over Christmas and who want to arrange their wedding. Some couples have set their heart on a church service. Others are undecided as they consider the choice between a religious service or a civil ceremony in a register office or other venue. You may have heard on the news that the Church of England has made it easier for couples to book a church wedding. In the past, one or both partners had to reside in the parish or attend the parish church for at least six months and have their name entered on the church’s electoral roll. In some circumstances couples had to obtain a licence, but certain rules still applied. New legislation came into force in October. This doesn’t mean that couples may be married in any church they like. However, it does allow anyone with a “qualifying connection” to apply for a service in the parish church, even if they are not on the church’s electoral roll and do not live in the parish. If you want to check whether you are eligible to be married in a particular church, the first step is to contact the Rector, Vicar or Priest in Charge.

These days many young people move away from the village where they grew up and, in some cases, they don’t put down roots anywhere else until they get married. It is natural that they wish to be married in the parish church which they attended as children and which has special associations for them and their families. I welcome the changes in the law that will make it easier for these couples to arrange their church wedding. I hope that the changes will encourage more couples to consider being married in church. Some couples have a firm Christian faith and are very clear about the meaning of a service in church. Others are less sure what they believe, but still feel that there is something more meaningful about a church wedding. Our church buildings provide beautiful settings for weddings. Even more important is the added dimension of prayer and worship and of seeking God’s blessing on the couple. Family and friends join with the bride and bridegroom as they celebrate and affirm their love, and we are reminded of God’s love for us all.

If you are thinking about getting married, do come along to St. Mary’s Church, East Leake on Saturday 28th February when we have a special event planned. You can read more about it under “Benefice Notes”. Anyone is welcome to attend, although the event should be of especial interest to engaged couples. I shall be there for part of the day and will be pleased to discuss the church marriage service.
With my love and prayers
Glynis Hetherington

December 2008 - Vol. 30 Issue No. 12

2008-11-24T08:51:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends

London buses are to carry an advertising slogan, “There is probably no God – stop worrying and enjoy your life.” Note the word “probably”. Unbelievers can’t prove that there is no God any more than believers can prove God’s existence.

Apparently the atheist advertising campaign is in response to religious groups who threaten eternal punishment for unbelievers. If I thought God was a cruel tyrant intent on punishing people and spoiling our enjoyment of life, I might warm to the advert! I believe in a God of love, as revealed in Jesus, who came that we might have life in all its fullness (John 10:10). Trying to frighten people into believing does the Christian cause no good. That’s not to say we can ignore the problem of sin, but repentance brings assurance of forgiveness and freedom from guilt, and that is truly liberating.

December sees the biggest celebration of the year, with most of the population sending cards, exchanging gifts, putting up decorations, enjoying good food and drink, attending dinners, dances, concerts, parties and all kinds of special events. In short having fun. Why? Because it’s Christmas. Some people of other faiths or of no faith exchange greetings and gifts at Christmas. Many respect the Christian Church, even if they don’t believe the same things about Jesus that we do. There may be a lot of people who are not sure what they believe. Many do not attend a place of worship very often. So perhaps Christmas is just an excuse to party! If so, why are many of our churches full to capacity for carol services during December, and on Christmas Eve? I find that puzzling, if there is probably no God. It’s also interesting that in these days of declining church attendance there are many people who claim to be Christians – including 71.8% of the population in the Borough of Rushcliffe according to the National Statistics website. I find that inconsistent with the assertion that there is probably no God.

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. One of his names is “Emmanuel” meaning “God with us” (Matthew 1:22). There are Christians in all our parishes who believe that there is a God, and that God is with us. We have a personal relationship with God through Jesus. We are not worrying and we are enjoying life. If you would like to experience the fullness of life that Jesus offers, ask someone who knows Jesus to introduce him to you.

Wishing you a joyful Christmas Glynis Hetherington

November 2008 - Vol. 30 Issue No. 11

2008-10-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

THE REVEREND GLENN MARTIN WRITES

Dear All,

First of all I want to say thank you for all those who attended my recent licensing at St Michael’s Church and made it such a special occasion. Thank you. It is good to be with you as the new priest in charge and with wider links to the South Notts Cluster. I look forward to all that ministry here has to offer and to sharing something of the love of God together.

At the time of writing we are approaching the season of Advent. So often forgotten as everyone has their eyes on Christmas. But Advent is a good time because it is a time of preparation, a time to listen, a time to get ready, a time to reflect. So often our lives are busy, busy, busy and we spend little time other than doing and moving on to the next thing. Advent reminds us that in the waiting there is a way... and that sometimes in the waiting new seeds of life in all sorts of ways begin to germinate and are looking for water and light to help them to grow and develop. Grow and develop in the right way at the right time. Advent tells us that we are waiting too. Waiting for the reminder of the Christmas Child and all that that brings. But with a difference because in our waiting and stillness, if we allow it to be, God can prepare our hearts for what lies ahead, for what is necessary for our lives and spiritual growth, and for seeds to take hold and grow.

What is God beginning to grow in you? What is He encouraging you to develop, become, aim for? Let Advent be a time of preparation for you in a new way in listening, being still, and hearing God speaking. The waiting is sometimes the way and sometimes the greater way for the gift to come. Let Him speak and be renewed ready for all that He is calling you to do and be.

Happy Advent.
Glenn Martin

October 2008 - Vol. 30 Issue No. 10

2008-09-24T06:20:00.000-07:00

THE REVEREND STEVE OSMAN WRITES

Dear Friends Do you pray? All the statistics tell us that prayer remains a regular practice for the vast majority of the population. Even grown men admit to praying – they just don’t let their mates know!

I guess for most people, prayer is kept for emergencies, like going to the doctor. And, for most people it is more of a one way street – a list of requests made without any expectation of a reply. In fact, if you heard God answer, you’d be convinced there was something wrong with you – who else hears voices in their heads?!

The fact that most people pray in one way or another, at some time or another, proves that spirituality is not dead in our country. There remains some sense of A.N. Other being around, though few would dare to define who or what she/he/it is like.

For the Christian, prayer is as natural as breathing. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it – Christian faith is not about religion, it’s about relationship. A Christian is someone who knows God because they have entered into a relationship with the living Christ, through the Holy Spirit. I’m sorry if that sounds technical, because it isn’t. It’s simply about having your best friend/partner/spouse/parent all rolled into one, there with you all the time, utterly dependable, utterly faithful. Seen in this way, prayer is simply a conversation with your amazing friend. It means talking with God, not just talking to God.

One of the weaknesses in the Church of England is that prayer is usually set down in written prayers. The result is that many church members have forgotten how to talk with God in the way they do with their best friend. There are a number of small groups meeting around the villages where it is possible to relearn and practise this wonderful art of conversation.

Just the other day I drove past one of the better church noticeboards in Daybrook. It said “Why pray, when you can worry?” Prayer is one of the best gifts God has given us, to actually converse with the Creator of the universe. My only question for you is this – do you know who you’re talking to?

Steve Osman

September 2008 - Volume 30 Issue No. 9

2008-08-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends

When we think of the Church I wonder what image comes most readily to mind – the building, or the people? We have some beautiful, historic church buildings, it is true, but the Church is the people – the family of God. This is a worldwide family and it’s good to be reminded of that, especially when we have the opportunity to meet Christian brothers and sisters from other countries.

During July the Reverend Moses Thabethe, his wife Thuli and their little boy Lungelo were in our area, staying in Gotham. Unfortunately Hope, their adopted daughter, was unable to come with them. Moses attended the ordination service at Southwell Minster and was at St. Mary’s Church, East Leake, bringing greetings from Natal, during the special service to welcome Claire as our Curate. There were also various social events and services around the Cluster of twelve parishes which gave many of us the opportunity to meet Moses and family. In addition, Thuli spoke at Deanery Synod about her work in South Africa. It was a joy and privilege to have Moses, Thuli and Lungelo with us, and we have now received a letter from Moses, which I hope you will find interesting. Please pray for them, living and working and serving the Lord in a situation very different from our own.

With my love and prayers
Glynis Hetherington

_______________________________________

NEWS FROM NATAL

Greetings from a warm, Natal winter. We travelled safely from Birmingham through Dubai, then to Johannesburg. We arrived in Durban on Saturday (26th) at about 9pm. It was wonderful to see Hope after a whole month of absence. She enjoyed her stay in Pretoria with her uncle and aunt. Lungelo has really emerged out of his shell – perhaps this visit has given him a sense of freedom. Thuli is back at work and on the church front, it’s back to square one!

This is a simple note of thanks to you all for the warm hospitality you showed us. I know that there was a lot of preparation that went into our visit. I think Greg and Anne deserve a special mention as they were our parents, friends and companions for the entire month! I also know that the entire cluster worked together to make our visit comfortable and memorable. Even as I pen these few words, I am struck by the inadequacy of our language in expressing thanks. You have truly blessed us and we have the memory of every encounter written on our hearts.

We haven’t had time to digest all the experiences we had while we were with you. Experiences such as ours cannot be taken lightly, they take time to process. It wasn’t until I started writing this short reflection that I realized that the Companion Link is actually a work of mission – sending forth (silly me, that should have been obvious!). The mission of the church is always to proclaim the Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ, in word and deed. It also involves recognizing and acknowledging the new life which God offers to all of us – from the North and the South, the East and the West. That was the reality of our encounter with you as we prayed, laughed and played together!

I remain convinced that one of the objectives of the Companion Link is for us as dioceses and parishes to know that we are not alone in this work of mission – that there are brothers and sisters in other continents who sing the same praises, battle the same demons and seek the same forgiveness from our compassionate God. Your cluster continues to wrestle with this work of mission in real and practical ways, thanks to your visionary leaders!

On our return, we were saddened to learn of the resurgence of xenophobic violence in some parts of the country (especially in the Gauteng Province). Please pray with us that these and other ills of our time may end. We also ask that you continue to pray for the full recovery of our bishop, Rubin Phillip. He is recuperating well, albeit slow.

So what next about the Link? Well, here are some words of comfort and hope that Thuli and I learned from one of you:

“Thank you Lord, for this life-enhancing experience,
help us to know what to do with it…”

This prayer sums up my aspirations for the Link. While we celebrate these face – to-face encounters, we also ask God to help us remain open to new possibilities in building our Communion.

With love and prayers,
Moses Thabethe (Natal Link Officer)

August 2008 - Volume 30, Issue No. 8

2008-07-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends

“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy…” according to a well-known song. Just how easy depends on personal circumstances. Certainly in summertime life is more relaxed for many people. It’s easier for teachers relaxing after a busy term, even if there is preparation to do for the new school year starting in September. Summertime is easier for the pupils, even though for some there is that anxious time of waiting for exam results. A lot of people take holidays in August. Not everyone is tied to the school year, of course, and for some their annual leave has been and gone for this year, while others may be planning a later break.

In the life of the Church there is usually less going on in August. Church councils and committees tend not to meet and Church groups usually take a break until the autumn. We don’t take a break from worship, though. Sunday worship continues throughout August, although there are a couple of Sundays when we shall not hold a service in every church. On 24th and 31st August there will be an opportunity to join in a united service, and you can find the details under ‘Benefice Notes’ in this magazine.

Whether life in summertime is easy or easier for clergy and others involved in ministry rather depends on what comes along. There are some things, such as weddings, that are usually planned well in advance, while other situations can crop up and have to be dealt with at short notice. I’m hoping that August won’t be quite so busy as the rest of the year, partly so that I can catch up on a few things. If August does prove to be a quieter month that will also give time for planning and preparing for the coming months. It’s good, if the pace does slow down for a while, to take the opportunity to rest and relax and re-charge our batteries.

While lots of people take time off in summertime, God never takes time off. We can call on God at any time, and a good way to re-charge our spiritual batteries is to spend time with God in prayer. That needn’t involve lots of words. It can be just finding a quiet place, to be still in God’s presence. Some people find it helpful to come into a church building to pray, or to sit quietly and focus their thoughts – but prayer can happen anywhere – on the beach, in the countryside, in the garden, or at home.

Whether your situation is easy or not so easy, whatever you are doing and wherever you are this summer, take time to be still in the presence of God and receive the peace that he alone can give.

With my love and prayers
Glynis Hetherington

July 2008 - Volume 30, Issue No. 7

2008-06-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends

Lots of children know the song “The wise man built his house upon the rock”, but I wonder how many know that it’s based on a parable that Jesus told - a story with a meaning. It may seem obvious that a house built on a solid foundation is more likely to withstand the onslaught of wind and rain than the house built on sand. Buildings need a strong foundation, and they also need to be well constructed from good quality materials.

Recent disasters in Burma and China have resulted in many homes being destroyed and a vast number of lives lost. Cyclones and earthquakes are no respecters of persons, and claim the lives of young and old, rich and poor alike. However, listening to a radio broadcast covering the tragedy in China I heard a description of strongly constructed buildings still standing, and one man whose home had been destroyed was asking why his and other humble dwellings had not been more solidly built. Often when disaster strikes it is not so much the house of the foolish man but the house of the poor man that falls flat.

Among the harrowing stories from China were reports of children trapped under the rubble of a school. The anguish of the parents is heartbreaking, particularly in view of China’s policy of couples having only one child. The enormous scale of this and other tragedies is hard to comprehend, but every person who has died was a unique, precious individual. For each life lost there is a grieving family. Our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones in tragic circumstances, whether in a large scale disaster, or in a single incident. There is deep concern over the number of young lives being lost in violent incidents in our towns and cities. A few weeks ago we heard of the murder of Jimmy Mizzen, who had just celebrated his 16th birthday. Jimmy’s parents do at least have the consolation of other children, but that does not lessen the pain for the family. Parental love is not diluted just because there are more children to be loved.

I have been impressed by the dignity of Jimmy’s grieving parents. His mother has said she does not blame the parents of the young man who committed the murder, and she has spoken wise words about trying to forgive and not becoming embittered. This attitude is in line with the teachings of Jesus. Some people have criticised Mrs Mizzen, and some cannot understand how a mother can speak like this. They are missing the point. Forgiveness does not mean denying the seriousness of a crime, or dispensing with justice. It does mean not thirsting for revenge, which can only make things worse. It is an attitude that can open the way for healing for the victim’s family and for the perpetrator. However, forgiveness also calls for repentance – a turning away from sin and wrongdoing, and turning to God.

The Christian faith of Jimmy’s parents is the firm foundation on which their family life is built. The meaning of the story that Jesus told is that the wise, who build on faith and belief in God, are better equipped to withstand the storms of life, and are less likely to fall apart, even when their hearts are breaking.

Our country has been built upon this solid foundation, but over the years we have seen that foundation being eroded. We hear lots of ideas about how to tackle the problems in society, when what is needed is to strengthen the foundation and re-establish our communal life on a solid base. To build again on the teachings of Jesus and to regain reverence for God in our national life would benefit all, including people of other religious faiths or of none.

With my love and prayers
Glynis Hetherington

June 2008 - Volume 30, Issue No. 6

2008-05-27T00:15:00.001-07:00

THE REVEREND STEVE OSMAN WRITES

Have you ever felt misunderstood? I have a vivid memory from my school days when I was made to feel even smaller than I was then. In an English lesson we came across a letter that, to me, looked like a very big number 2. I had never seen it before, so when the teacher asked me what it was I didn’t know. She thought I was being stubborn, I just hadn’t a clue. (It was a capital Q – anyone else seen that?)

It seems to me that the church and Christianity in particular suffer from being misunderstood. It’s been said that most people who reject Christianity are rejecting a misunderstanding of Christianity. There are all sorts of (to me) strange ideas going around about church and faith. Like church is just for children and old ladies. Like faith is just a crutch to get you through life. Like a church isn’t a church without pews. Like faith is a private matter. Like you don’t need to go to church to be a Christian. All these betray a misunderstanding of what church and faith are about.

The question is, if these are misunderstandings, how do you find out what is real? The starting point has to be the Bible – that’s the foundational document. But even there we have misunderstanding. “The Bible’s full of contradictions.” The Bible’s totally out of date.” The Bible has changed with all the different translations.” None of these statements are actually true, but folk are happy to accept them rather than check out the truth. The Bible is still a bestseller but still the least read book.

To be fair, the church hasn’t helped all these misunderstandings. Poor teaching, vagueness about belief and ethics, divisions within the church and hypocrisy, all help push people towards misunderstanding. The church has not made faith accessible, which is why it’s best to start with the Bible. But for anyone serious about finding out about faith and life, you have sooner or later to get to grips with the church. There you’ll find other folk trying to sort out truth from fiction, trying to make sense of life through the lens of faith in Christ.

So if it’s all misunderstood, what’s the truth? Try starting with John 3:16 - supposedly the best known verse in the Bible. If you’re not sure what it means, check out your local church and ask!

Steve Osman

May 2008 - Volume 30, Issue No. 5

2008-04-24T06:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends

We’ve certainly had some wintry weather during April. During a slightly milder spell I ventured out into the Rectory garden armed with secateurs and loppers. Attacking the overgrown shrubs is something I find most therapeutic! Not that I’m an expert gardener. Ron, my husband, knows much more about gardening than I do, having been brought up on a small farm and market garden. Perhaps that explains why he avoids gardening like the plague! In fairness, though, he is the one who remembers to water the house plants.

I recall the first time I ever pruned the roses. I cut them back so severely that I thought I’d killed them. I hadn’t. The roses survived and flourished. Jesus often referred to growing things when teaching about the Kingdom of God. He also spoke of God the Father as the gardener. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be a rose tree or a shrub and to come under the pruning knife. I do know what it’s like to receive attention from the divine gardener. There are times in all our lives when God has to do a bit of pruning.

In John chapter 15 Jesus speaks of himself as the vine and Christians as the branches. We are to remain firmly grafted into the vine, attached to Jesus, if we are to grow and bear fruit. Jesus says that the gardener cuts out the dead wood, and cuts back fruit bearing branches so that they will yield yet more fruit. Being pruned can be a painful business, but every gardener knows that it is necessary. When the plant grows and bears fruit we see the purpose of the pruning.

In these days of diminishing numbers of clergy we are having to think and pray about what can and cannot be maintained in the life of our churches. Steve Osman, myself and our lay leaders in the Cluster are committed to doing our very best to provide pastoral care and to arrange for worship in each parish church. Having said that, some changes will be necessary, in order to produce a pattern that can be maintained with a reduced ministry team. To begin with we plan to change certain services around. If the time comes when we need to cut back, the question will be how to do that in a way that will produce more abundant growth.

Of course, much of the life of our churches goes on, led by able and gifted lay people, with support and encouragement from clergy where needed. I wonder, though, how much of what we do is really producing fruit in the lives of our churches and our communities. Is there any dead wood that needs cutting out – activities and groups begun, perhaps, a long time ago, and which have served their purpose or are becoming burdensome for the leaders? Are there other activities that are achieving some results, but which could do better with a bit of pruning? This could be a good time to look at our churches with a gardener’s eye, and decide what needs attention if we want to see growth and fruitfulness.

With my love and prayers
Glynis Hetherington

April 2008 - Volume 30, Issue No. 4

2008-04-04T03:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends
If you have been reading recent editions of Compass you will know that closer relationships are being forged between this Benefice and other parishes in the South Notts Cluster. As part of this, the Reverend Steve Osman and I will be taking it in turns to write the letter for our parish magazines. The month Steve writes:

Yet again, the church has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The Archbishop of Canterbury gives a lecture to a bunch of lawyers, mentions Shariah law and British legal system in the same sentence, and for the next few days the media has open season on the church. What worried me was that many, in and out of the media, jumped to conclusions and made harsh judgements without bothering to check the facts.

A similar thing happened to me in my last parish. I wrote an article for the parish magazine about parenting. I mentioned that, in my observation, in the estate where we lived, a lot of parents talked to their kids like I sometimes talked to my dog. The local press got hold of the article and I was headline news for a day. I received 3 or 4 letters of abuse from animal lovers who assumed I was maltreating my dog! What was funny if it wasn’t so sad is that a) they never bothered to check out what I was really saying and b) they were more concerned about animals than the children on our deprived estate.

It is an unwritten rule that you never talk about religion or politics in polite company. I want to challenge that point of view. Our Archbishop will probably be wishing he had kept to that rule – his comments were about both religion and politics – no wonder he stirred such a reaction. But it seems to me that religion and politics are both about real life; both are about ideas; both affect decision making, personally and corporately. They’re simply too important to keep private.

I know why they’re subjects usually avoided – it’s because they stir such deep emotion, they affect the basis of our being. If I hold a deep-seated belief and someone else presents an alternative, I’m going to feel threatened. However, what I would hope I could do was hold a reasonable and reasoned conversation, not scream and shout at them. From the Christian point of view, I believe Christianity holds up to the closest scrutiny and the fiercest criticism, for me it is a reasonable faith. I sometimes think those who scream and shout do so out of insecurity; they’re not sure of their ground so they attack rather than defend.

Over the centuries the church has been guilty of unreasonable attack, using blasphemy laws to stifle opinion. It was Forrest Gump’s mother who said life was like a box of chocolates. So is the church. Some churches are like nougat – hard and unyielding, some are like strawberry creams – soft all through with nothing to get you teeth into. The best church is like the hazelnut caramel – a firm centre, sure of what it believes, but soft on the outside, open and welcoming to all who seek a reasonable faith.
Steve Osman

March 2008 - Volume 30 No.3

2008-02-23T05:37:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends
Easter is unusually early this year. Three months after singing our favourite carols and hearing the story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem we shall be celebrating his resurrection. Our churches expect to welcome more than the average number of worshippers at Easter, but it is unlikely that attendances will match the large number of people of who poured through our doors for Christmas carol services. The appeal of Christmas is easy to understand. We retell a story that tugs at the heartstrings and at the centre of it all is a baby. The story of a man being raised from the dead seems harder to grasp, and the real sticking point for many, I guess, is that you can’t have a resurrection without a death. This particular death was about as horrible as they come. A young man arrested on a trumped-up charge, convicted without a shred of evidence, sentenced to death for reasons of political and religious expediency. Tragically, this kind of innocent suffering has been, and continues to be, repeated many times over, all around the world. Victims of humiliation, torture and abuse can identify with the man on a cross. Those who are burdened with shame, guilt and remorse are drawn to the crucified Saviour who takes away the sin of the world and reconciles sinful humanity to a holy God. Those who live comfortable lives, and who believe that they are so respectable that they have no need of forgiveness, cannot grasp that Jesus died for them too. None of us measures up to the perfection of Jesus and none of us is blameless, for we are fallen human beings living in a fallen world.

This is why the Gospel is Good News! Jesus gives us a way back to God and offers us new life. The passion of Christ, his death and resurrection, is as much about putting to death our sinful self and being born anew in Christ to live in the light of his love here and now as it is about a hope of heaven one day. Jesus offers us eternal life and it begins the moment we put our faith and trust in him. Eternal life goes on into the next life when we shall be with the Lord for ever. Most people want to believe that there is a more wonderful dimension of life beyond this earthly existence. So why don’t more people want to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ? The resurrection demonstrates that death is not the end. Jesus is the Lord of life and he calls us into new life. We should live as a people whose hope is of heaven one day. That doesn’t mean being so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good. It does mean that in any situation where all seems hopeless we can see the potential for new life. Through the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us, we can make a difference in our community. As the Holy Spirit transforms our lives, so we shall long for the transformation of society, which is nothing less than seeing the coming of the kingdom of heaven on earth. We pray for that every time we say the Lord’s Prayer.

I will conclude with some words of Desmond Tutu:
Goodness is stronger than evil; love is stronger than hate;
light is stronger than darkness; life is stronger than death;
victory is ours through Him who loved us.

May you know the truth of those words, and the joy of our risen Lord this Easter.

With my love and prayers
Glynis Hetherington

February 2008 - Vol 30 No. 2

2008-01-21T08:56:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends
I want to begin my letter this month by saying how much I have appreciated the contribution the Reverend Mary Essex has made in her time with us. She has been a supportive colleague and a valued member of our staff team. I know that many parishioners have been helped and encouraged by her ministry. We shall be sorry to say ‘farewell’ to Mary and will miss her. I am sure everyone will want to join in wishing her God’s blessing as she prepares for her licensing on 9th March at Kirkby Woodhouse.

In the neighbouring benefice of Sutton Bonington and Normanton-on-Soar warm tributes were paid to the Reverend Julia Palmer as she left for her new post in Sutton-in-Ashfield. The departure of two colleagues means that from mid February, for a time at least, the Reverend Steve Osman (Priest in Charge of the Gotham Group) and I will be responsible between us for oversight of twelve parishes. We are involved in discussions about future ministry needs and the possibility of a part-time colleague. At one time each parish had its own incumbent. Now, all over the country, parishes are grouping together, or developing new patterns of ministry to meet the challenges ahead. The reduction in clergy numbers has come about because ordinations are being exceeded by the number of retirements. I must pay tribute here to the invaluable support given by retired clergy. However, their ability and willingness to help is a bonus and not something we should rely on.

With fewer clergy, there will be more opportunities for lay involvement. The New Testament emphasis on the priesthood of all believers is something we would do well to reflect on. Some people think that the Holy Spirit is leading us into a more biblical pattern of every member ministry. It is important to discern and encourage the gifts of our laity. As lay people develop their gifts in the life of the Church, some will feel called to various authorised ministries. Lay Readers have made and, I trust, will continue to make a vital contribution to the ministry and mission of the Church. In the past few years we have also welcomed the contribution of Recognised Lay Ministers.

Over the past few years links have been forged across parish boundaries, working together as a ‘Cluster’ to appoint a youth worker, and to arrange joint ventures such as Alpha and Emmaus courses. Since last autumn a Cluster Strategic Planning Group has met under the chairmanship of our Area Dean, the Reverend Steve Jarratt, to seek God’s guidance for shaping the future. The group is making various recommendations to our PCCs. There is much work still to be done. Whilst the group sees the need to adapt and change, and recognises that some difficult decisions will have to be made, it is committed to seeking a way forward that will ensure pastoral care and provision for worship in all our villages.

I believe that in and through all this we must learn to rely less on our own resources and more on the grace of God, remembering that Jesus said, “With God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, Luke 18:27)
With my love and prayers
Glynis Hetherington

January 2008 The Rector writes..... Vol. 30 No.1

2008-01-17T08:46:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends
Some years ago one of our sons was given a voucher for himself and a guest to attend a photographic makeover, and he invited his Mum! When the Christmas festivities are over and the days are dark and dreary many of us might feel that we would like a makeover. Perhaps some are prompted to try a different hairstyle or to revamp their wardrobe following a visit to the January sales. Others may want to give their homes a new look with anything from a fresh coat of paint to a new kitchen or bathroom. Some people want to go beyond cosmetic changes in their lives to address a bad habit they want to ‘kick’ or to adopt a more healthy lifestyle – hence all those new year resolutions.

In the Church, as we go forward into the new year, we trace the story of Jesus from his birth in Bethlehem through his earthly life and ministry, his death and resurrection and his ascension into heaven. We read in the gospels of the disciples whom Jesus called to follow him. One of the best known stories is of the fishermen, Peter and Andrew, James and John. They left their nets to follow Jesus. We can be disciples of Jesus too, for he calls us all to follow him. That will mean leaving behind anything that gets in the way of our relationship with God or which hinders us from following Jesus wholeheartedly. For some the challenge seems too great, but for those who respond to Jesus’ call there is great joy in knowing that he is with us always. The assurance of forgiveness enables us to put past sins and failures behind us and to step out into a new life with Jesus. This is an altogether richer and more joyful life than before. When the going gets tough, as it does from time to time, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower and strengthen us. The Holy Spirit also shows us those areas in our lives that need to change. Through this power at work in us we can experience a complete change of heart and mind, not just a cosmetic change, but something deep within. This is far better than a makeover, or a new outfit or changing the décor of our homes.

New year resolutions tend to get broken pretty quickly. Sometimes people who have responded to Jesus’ call turn back from following him, especially when it becomes hard to be a disciple. On one occasion Jesus asked his disciples if they wanted to turn back and Peter said, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Those words came into my mind once, a good many years ago, when I was going through a crisis of faith and felt that I couldn’t go on being a Christian. Once you have met Jesus there is no-one else to go to. So I hung on in there and discovered that God’s hold on my life is firm and strong, even when my faith falters.

In this coming year, whatever other changes you plan to make, can I urge you to respond to the call of Jesus and to allow the Holy Spirit to work in you whatever changes are needful to help you to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, and to discover the deep joy that being a disciple brings.

With all good wishes for the coming year Glynis Hetherington