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I'm jumping with excitement - yes, we can announce the name of our new vicar!
The Revd Jonathan Roger Mole at present Assistant Curate of Gamston and Bridgford in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham to be Vicar of All Hallows, Lady Bay and St Edmund's Holme Pierrepont with Adbolton of the same Diocese. Licensing date: 7:30pm on Tuesday 7 September 2021. Yes, I mean that Jonathan who took our service last Sunday. You'll notice that the licensing date is quite a long way off. Jonathan was ordained Priest in September this year and Phil (Archdeacon) and Mark (St Luke's and our Area Dean) felt it was important for him to have a year's experience under his belt before taking on the full role of Vicar. Jonathan will be around at times, but we will still have our visiting clergy taking services and will still be in interregnum until September. He'll be licensed initially for 3 years (to 2024), then if it's working that will be extended for another 3 years. Jonathan's wife Kristine is in ministry training and due to be ordained in 2022, so we're getting 2 for the price of 1! They have 4 daughters and the whole family are very musical so will hopefully feed in to our musical tradition. The PCC have met with him a few times and are very happy with this outcome. We held our first service of Re-opening and Return on 23rd August.
Such a day of celebration would normally be accompanied by anthems, handshakes, hugs and cake at the very least, but not this one. It was just a plain, said service to comply with Covid 19 regulations, but a joyful one nontheless. As we go forward we are working on lifting the mood with music. Regulations now allow us to have a small choir, so bit by bit we'll be building on that plain beginning and taking on a "New Normal" as it grows. This Sunday we had the passage from Matthew 16: 21-28. Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” Just before this, there was that beautiful moment when Jesus asked Peter “Who do you say I am?” The answer: “The Christ, Son of the living God” showed Peter in tune with God’s spirit and open to his word. “It’s my Father who has made this known to you” Jesus said “You are Peter and on this rock will I build my church”. Such a special moment when Peter recognised the Son of the Living God right there standing next to him. There was another such moment just before Jesus first called Peter, after the miraculous catch of fish when Peter recognised that Jesus was sent by God and he saw his own imperfection, his need for repentance. So “From that time on ….”. From the time they understood who he was, he began to explain to them what God’s plan is for his Christ. But then Peter reverts to type, telling Jesus he mustn’t let them kill him in Jerusalem. Oh Peter, Peter, Peter. That’s like saying “No, God’s got it wrong!” or “No, you may be the Christ, but I know better than you” I know he’s loving and trying to protect Jesus, but he’s back to thinking like a human being again. Jesus makes life so good, he’s living the life, attracting the crowds, there are miracles, the excitement, wonder and amazement, the conversions, the proclamation of God’s Kingdom, the drama. Just being with Jesus feels good, there’s something about him. Peter loves him. Where would it all go if Jesus died? What would be left but grief if Jesus died, just to mourn and to lose it all. It mustn’t happen. Forget for a moment that we know how it goes, imagine Peter at that moment being told that the bottom will drop out of his world, that Jesus who he’d come to love would die. But Jesus told him that by letting go, by not valuing earthly life more than God, by taking on the tough bits, by letting go of the best of times at God’s calling, he would find something greater and eternal. He would see the victory. The death of Jesus would lead to resurrection and the glory of God’s Kingdom would be revealed to him. Now it might not compare to the greater loss that Peter has to consider, but at this moment in time, I can identify in some way with that leaving behind the wonderful life we had, to go into a new way of being that might seem to be a bit dull and empty. I think we did that when we moved from a full church life to doing email church, now for those able to come, there’s a new layer of going from a full church life to a Sunday service without the singing, and where the social aspect is minimal on Sundays and non-existent between Sundays. Where the traditional community events can’t happen. We will one day get it all back, but for now we’re adding in bits of music to break the sound of talking and add in bits of feeling. We will learn how to lift the Service in church so our hearts can get back to a sense of worship. But worship of God doesn’t rely on how we feel. Even though it might be hard when it’s so plain, it’s still heard by God. The “New Normal” is just a seed for now, but it will grow. Like Peter, we need to let go of how things used to be and be ready to take hold of what they will become and let God take the lead in growing our future. Because when Jesus was tempted to save his own life, but chose to put that temptation behind him, he set out on the path that opened up to us the way to God. Psalm 100
1 O be joyful in the Lord, all the earth; serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song. 2 Know that the Lord is God; it is he that has made us and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. 3 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and bless his name. 4 For the Lord is gracious; his steadfast love is everlasting, and his faithfulness endures from generation to generation. Collect O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in you, mercifully accept our prayers and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without you, grant us the help of your grace, that in the keeping of your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Matthew 9.35-10.8The Harvest Is Great, the Labourers FewThen Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’ The Twelve ApostlesThen Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. The Mission of the TwelveThese twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Reflection Almost embarrassing isn’t it? Here we are in this time of pandemic and up pops this reading where Jesus gives his disciples the authority to heal all those who are sick - and yet we pray and we pray, but the pandemic continues. But look more closely, that would be missing the point, it would be just a superficial reading of the passage. The healing here isn’t for the sake of curing all ills, it’s to announce the Kingdom of God! That’s not just the subject for this Sunday, it’s setting the scene for the next 6 months. It’s the first Sunday after Trinity and we go into “Ordinary time” (if you could call it that). Since the beginning of Advent, we’ve been going through the life of Jesus, following from the prophecy of his coming, through to the sending of the Holy Spirit. For the rest of the year, the liturgy prompts us to consider our response as his followers. The first Sunday after Trinity - a long time ago - was All Saints Day until the church recognised what was actually happening and adapted. Still the calling to be the people of God, the followers of Christ remains. Today is our call to respond to all that God has done for us in Christ. In our reading Jesus appoints his disciples to go only to the people of Israel, to those trying to follow the law of Moses, but dependent on others to interpret it. He appoints them to announce the Kingdom to people who are confused, harassed, not knowing what to believe, who to follow or what to do. Probably not knowing or understanding amidst all the laws, sub-laws and complexities of Jewish law, all looking to follow God, but never quite sure if there’s some law they haven’t heard of. They want to get it right, the harvest of those who are trying to be faithful to God is plentiful, but away from Jerusalem there are even more interpretations of how they should do that. There are multiple interpreters, maybe well meaning, maybe strict, maybe even some unscrupulous authority figures creating rules to serve themselves, but all fumbling in the dark themselves. What or who then out of all their choices, should the people follow or believe? The healings, the high impact miracles are there as a beacon to reveal the ones authorised to speak for God, the ones, the One who would lead them in the truth that they are seeking. Our calling is to proclaim the good news “The Kingdom of God has come near!”. In this day of modern medicine, this time of pandemic and this stage in the lockdown, this point in history where the environment and equality are the big issues, maybe we need to look more widely at how we proclaim that Kingdom. Please pray for:
Those who long to visit and for those church members who long to open their church, but are prevented from doing so.
For our government and the leaders of all nations in the decisions they need to make. For all those who have lost jobs or closed their businesses for good that they may find hope for the future.
For those who have more freedom that they will be safe, and for all to be thoughtful of others.
For those still suffering from Coronavirus.
For all the places we encounter God even now when we can’t go into the church. Following the new rule that those living alone can have a ‘bubble’ where they can fully join with a family, we give thanks for those families. At the same time, let’s recognise that many are still confined and pray that they will have companionship from others and know themselves to be loved. Lord Jesus Christ, you taught us to love our neighbour, and to care for those in need as if we were caring for you. In this time of anxiety, give us strength to comfort the fearful, to tend the sick, and to assure the isolated of our love, and your love, for your name’s sake. Amen. Lord God, you are always with me. You are with me in the day and in the night. You are with me when I’m happy and when I’m sad. You are with me when I’m healthy and when I am ill. You are with me when I am peaceful and when I am worried. Today I am feeling (name how you are feeling) because (reasons you are feeling this way). Help me to remember that you love me and are with me in everything today. Amen. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or conceive, by the power which is at work among us, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all ages. All Amen. Today we should be celebrating the birthday of the church together. We are One Body, but for so long we’ve been scattered and alone.
It can be hard to be open to the Spirit coming into us and it can be hard to worship, it’s hard to really engage our hearts when we don’t have the sustenance we get from each other when we are together. I can’t bring us together (although if you’re one of those who follow this through at 10am on Sunday, rest assured there are others of us doing it with you), but I’ve put together some ways to meditate that I hope you’ll take time to rest with and will find some sense of the Spirit’s presence that will enable you to worship in spirit and truth. Ruth Psalm 104: 26-end 26 O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 27 There is the sea, spread far and wide, and there move creatures beyond number, both small and great. 28 There go the ships, and there is that Leviathan which you have made to play in the deep. 29 All of these look to you to give them their food in due season. 30 When you give it them, they gather it; you open your hand and they are filled with good. 31 When you hide your face they are troubled; when you take away their breath, they die and return again to the dust. 32 When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. 33 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; may the Lord rejoice in his works; 34 He looks on the earth and it trembles; he touches the mountains and they smoke. 35 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will make music to my God while I have my being. 36 So shall my song please him while I rejoice in the Lord. 37 Let sinners be consumed out of the earth and the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Alleluia. Collect God, who as at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Acts 2: 1-21 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Reflection Yet again the real world matches where we are in the liturgical year. Pentecost is when the disciples finally came to the end of their lockdown. For them it was a clear single moment, not a gradual process, but the stage we are at in our process has that feeling of tipping the scales with small groups of people able to meet together again (albeit outside), many shops re-opening and the schools back for certain years will put some of their familiar sound back, but the last clap will I think, give the biggest sense of ending of all. There are two big differences though, apart from the fact that our lockdown isn’t over.
I’ve put together a selection of meditations hoping something will work for you. Take time to pray you can at least meet 1 to 1 and spend quality time with the Holy Spirit. (contact us for a copy) Take what works for you and leave the rest. Prayers
Let’s pray for each other, praying for that time when we will meet again in safety. For all those Christians struggling to maintain their relationship with Jesus, and for those new to the faith whose relationship is fading.
For a new normal where all the insights gained have a place going forward.
Thy will be done today. Today is a day of completion. I give thanks for this perfect day. Miracle shall follow miracle, And wonders shall never cease Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy in this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Lord God, you are always with me. You are with me in the day and in the night. You are with me when I’m happy and when I’m sad. You are with me when I’m healthy and when I am ill. You are with me when I am peaceful and when I am worried. Today I am feeling (name how you are feeling) because (reasons you are feeling this way). Help me to remember that you love me and are with me in everything today. Amen. May the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make us perfect in every good work to do his will, working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13: 20) |
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