I am the Good Shepherd - transcript of sermon 19th July 2015 St Peter's Forsbroook

St Peter’s Forsbrook 19^th July 2015

Jeremiah 23.1-6 & Mark 6.3-34, 53-56

Last Sunday I was at Ilam Park, I was there to take part in the big Mothers’ Union ‘Summerfest.’

We stayed in the Ilam Caravan Park that has flocks of sheep in the adjoining fields. It is surprising just how much noise sheep make even into the depths of the night.

Today’s readings would be perfect in that setting, speaking as they do of sheep and shepherds.

For some reason those who put the Lectionary together have omitted the Feeding of the 5,000 and the episode of Jesus walking on the water leaving us to focus on the ‘outside bits’ of these two stories.

So our Gospel reading begins with the twelve disciples returning from their mission where they were to travel light and be in earnest about the message.

(Have you ever considered what that message might have been – remember this is pre-crucifixion and resurrection?)

During this time in our narrative Herod has had John the Baptist executed.

So on hearing the disciple’s news and stories Jesus says it is time for some well-earned R&R.

However this plan was thwarted as people see them getting into a boat and setting off.

As they landed a huge crowd had gathered, a huge demanding crowd with desperate needs of body, soul and spirit.

Jesus has compassion for them. This was more than feeling sorry, but a deep earnest compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

Herod was down South getting drunk, throwing parties and killing prophets. The Scribes, the Pharisees and the Elders had so tied up the Law that is had become a heavy burden laid on people backs. And on top of all this they were under the yoke of Roman authority.

Where was this Righteous Branch Jeremiah spoke of so many thousands of years ago?

Where was this Shepherd born of the House of David who would lead God’s people into good pasture?

So they sit and listen and are fed first with the Word of God then with food from heaven.

Jesus dismisses the crowd and of heads of into the hills to pray after telling the disciples to go on ahead of him.

And the pressure doesn’t ease. The time frame Mark sets would have made their landing very early in the morning.

So they have been out ministering, they have witnessed the feeding of the 5,000, then struggled to row back across the lake until Jesus came toward them sometime around midnight.   

As they land they are once more greeted by yet another crowd, hungry for help, hungry for healing and hungry to be made whole.

My daughter works as Cabin Crew and knows very well the pre-flight safety-instructions and why they are there.

One of those instructions is to put on an oxygen mask should the cabin pressure drop.

The instructions state very clearly that you are to put yours on before offering to help anyone else.

Should this ever happen however, and you had a child with you, wouldn’t everything within you want to see they were okay first.

However the logic is of course that if you are comatose through lack of oxygen you are not going to be able to help anyone, including yourself.

If we are going to minister as one of Jesus’ disciples we need to ensure that we are breathing in the Holy Spirit.

Despite the pressure of ministry and work and the dozen and one other things that often crowd into our days we need to take time out to be with Jesus , time in prayer and time in quiet contemplation.

Yesterday I spent some time with Chris Polhill, who lives on Cannock Chase just outside Rugely.  Christine is Spiritual Companion Coordinator for the Diocese. She has the most amazing Reflective Garden plus The Hermitage which is available for use by individuals, couples or small groups of up to a dozen. 

(www.reflectiongardens.org.uk)

You good people are shortly to welcome Jonathan among you as your new Shepherd. I don’t know if he will come to you walking on the water as you struggle in the boat!

I do know that you have continued the mission here with passion and energy.

But maybe it is time before he comes to make some plans not just to be busy with mission and ministry but also for prayer and contemplation.

Maybe you could get in touch with Chris and arrange for a small group to go to The Hermitage, perhaps including Jonathan.

Spending some time in prayer before the busyness of ministry takes hold, before the demands and responding to people’s many needs… 

 ‘…and he (Jesus) had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.’

Do you have you a heart of compassion for those who are like sheep without a shepherd trying to find meaning and purpose in life.

Jesus said I have come that they may have life and life in abundance.

Do you know that for yourself this morning?

Do you personally know the Great Shepherd of the Sheep? 

Should you not know that then please do not go away from there this morning without finding out more.

However if you do know Jesus the Good Shepherd, if you do know that He came so that we might have life in all its fullness, if you do know he came to usher in the Kingdom of God, His will being done upon earth as it is in heaven – if you know all of this then you will also know that we are called to share this Good News in both word and deed.

However to speak about Jesus we need to spend time with Jesus...

‘Come away to a deserted place and rest awhile.’

So in closing let me ask four related questions…

How is your worship to Jesus?

How is your working for Jesus?

How is your witnessing of Jesus?

How is your waiting upon Jesus?

Let us pray…

O Saviour Christ, in whose way of love lays the secret of all life, and the hope of all people, we pray for quiet courage to match this hour. We did not choose to be born or to live in such an age; but let its problems challenge us, its discoveries exhilarate us, its injustices anger us, it possibilities inspire us, and its vigour renew us. Pour out upon us a fresh indwelling of the Holy Spirit; make us bold and courage’s in sharing faith in both word and deed for your Kingdom’s sake we ask.

Amen

'Don't Shoot The Messenger' - transcript of sermon St Peter's, Alstonefield July 12th 2015

Sermon – St Peter’s Alstonfield 12^th July 2015

Ephesians 1.3-14 and Mark 6.14-29   

This story of John the Baptist could be entitled ‘don’t shoot the messenger.’

For that was what John was, a voice crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord. A herald of the soon and coming King – ‘behold the Lamb of God.’

And John delivered his message without fear or favour to kings and commoners, to soldiers and to servants, to scribe and slaves.

It was this uncompromising message highlighting the illegitimacy of Herod’s marriage to Herodias, his bother Philip’s wife, which had landed him in prison.

The story in our Gospel is one that has been told in a hundreds of different ways for thousands of years. Of someone in power who believes they can act with impunity, with a cocktail of sex and a weak man and a manipulative woman with a grudge.

It is the Jewish historian Josephus who gives us the name of Salome for Herodias’ daughter.    

The Biblical text leaves us to guess at what type of dance Herodias’ daughter performed.

The idea of it being an erotic belly dance, known as the ‘The Dance of the Seven Veils’ originates largely with an Oscar Wilde play and also incorporated in a musical piece by Strauss.

Whatever the dance was it pleased King Herod who then shouts his mouth off before putting his brain into gear. Herodias now has her perfect opportunity to be rid of that stinking prophet languishing in the dungeons.

I love the story of some children being told this story and then being asked what they might have done had they been Herod and made a stupid promise like that in front of everyone. One young girl replied, I would have said that I promised you up to half my kingdom, I am afraid that John the Baptist is part of the half I didn’t promise you. 

Unfortunately for John, King Herod didn’t have that wisdom, or perhaps he was to wine soaked to think straight.  You can easily fill in the gaps!

Making public promises is of course not a bad thing in and of itself. For example like marriage is a public declaration of a two people entering into a covenanted relationship.  And we all know the value of announcing we are going to do something, like give up drinking or chocolate, so that people can call us to account.

However there are other lessons we can learn from this sorry story. John the Baptist spoke out against injustice and he pointed people to Jesus. He was a herald for the coming King and the Kingdom that this King would usher in.

Just how good are we at speaking out against injustice, about immorality and how good are we at pointing people to Jesus?

How good are we at clearing the way for Jesus to enter into people hearts and lives.

Have we cluttered the place up, albeit unintentionally with the ways we are as the People of God?

Do our Worship Gatherings mystify, befuddle and bemuse those who are non-adherents?   

John the Baptist spoke out his message not in the Temple courtyards or even in the synagogue, but out and about in the highways and the byways.

Have we locked Jesus up in our buildings and said that is the only place you can approach Him at a time of our choosing and in a way we will dictate.

Do we demonstrate the scandalous grace of God that refuses to recognize status, money, colour or creed – but says to one and all, ‘come and see and taste that the Lord is good.’  

And when was the last time you offered that invitation to someone and pointed them to Jesus?

For isn’t that our core business - to speak out without fear or favour about injustice and immorality and to point people to Jesus.

Isn’t that what all these buildings are about, our worship, our committees and the whole life of the Church upon earth?

To seek make real the Kingdom of God come upon earth.

Sad to say that the Lord’s Prayer is often on our lips but not often enough in our hearts, or demonstrated through our hands and feet.

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done in my country…

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done in my community…

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done among my friends…

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done in my in my family…

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done in my life!

Let us pray…

God our strength and our hope,
 grant us the courage of John the Baptist,
 constantly to speak the truth,
 boldly to rebuke vice
 and patiently to suffer for the truth's sake;

Assist us to clear pathways so that Jesus may enter hearts and lives and that  many will come to experience the scandalous grace of God.

In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord 

 who lives and reigns with you
 and the Holy Spirit
 one God now and for ever.

Amen.

Captain's Log June & July 2015

Another busy month that included a long weekend trip down to Sussex.  I had the great joy and privilege to have been invited to preach at the First Eucharist of Revd Kate Lawson at All Saints, Hove.

Transcript of Sermon - Revd Kate Lawson First Eucharist 07/06/15

On the Saturday I dashed over to St Michael’s and All Angels Lancing by way of making preparations for a Parish Weekend in late September 2015 when we will be exploring ‘Whole Life Discipleship’ and the work of work of LICC. Visit www.licc.org.uk

After the morning at All Saints and a buffet lunch I drove over to Bexhill-on-Sea to lead an ‘Everybody Welcome Course’ review. This went very well particularly as I had suggested that they have some of their people visit others churches and then report back. This was very helpful, insightful and informative.  On the Monday I travelled to London to attend a meeting of Sunrise Ministries having accepted an invitation to be on the Board of Trustee’s. Back to Crawley and time to have a very welcomed and relaxing meal at the home of Deidre and Howard Schnaar with Tabitha who is domiciled with them during her work time.  On Tuesday we journeyed back to Stafford.

More Farming Community Network stuff this month including a NFU Regional Meeting with a Farm Walk and a BBQ.

(Interesting for a vegetarian!) 

I also attended the FCN 20^th Anniversary Celebrations in Cirencester. A wonderful event and it was great to catch up with friends from around the country – but a torturous drive back! I am still keen to hear from people in Staffordshire who would be interested in forming a Staffordshire FCN Group. www.FCN.org.uk

Several speaking engagements that included the PCC of St John the Baptist, Ashley. I gave them a quick introduction to the Five I’s – a way of being church with intentional evangelism at its heart and core.  Then at Cheadle Deanery Synod and here another short introduction, this time on ‘From Church Congregations to Faith Communities Using Story.’ Finally to the PCC St Mary’s, Mucklestone and here looking at the Great Commission (the Great Omission!) and how we can frame our faith story and be the People of God with confidence and expectancy that the Church will not only continue but continue to grow.   Love doing this kind of stuff. 

Sunday preachment's’ including leading Services also continues and I have been ‘out’ every Sunday this month. These have all been in rural settings with some lovely faithful people, yet who often feel in despair at the reduction in numbers attending added to the burden of maintaining a listed building. We really have to find new ways of doing and being Church in the countryside. Fundamental to that is to know what is our core business, beginning by asking the why, what, who, when, how and where type questions. 

Lichfield Church Army Cluster meeting at Hanley and guided by Frank McGregor making preparations for a large Diocesan Celebration in September - 'The Goodness of God.' 

Prayer Diary July 2015

30^th June – 2^nd July at Buxton for the National Missioners Conference.

4^th July

I hope to get along for some part of the Well Dressing Blessing at Croxton.

If you are in the area check out www.croxtonwelldressing.weebly.com

Sunday 5^th

Should be in my ‘home’ church of St John’s, Littleworth. In the afternoon I am going to help in setting up for the Staffordshire RDA County Fun Day at Ingestre Stables

Monday 6^th

Helping out at Staffordshire RDA County Fun Day at Ingestre Stables.

Tuesday 7^th

Meeting in the evening with a small group from the Chebsey Benefice, currently in Vacancy. I am walking alongside them and helping them to keep a mission focus.

Wednesday 8^th

Meeting with Revd Stephen McKenzie, Coates Heath Benefice.  Fresh eyes, new ideas for this rural benefice.  Also the Caravan is having an Annual Service – at 33 years old ‘Barnabas’ is beginning to show his age!

Thursday 9^th

Speaking to the Mothers’ Union Spring Council. Planning on sharing something of my story and then challenging them to rehearse their own faith story. Jane is also accompanying me and will be endorsing my story in song.

Friday 10^th – Sunday 12^th

Staying over at Ilam Country Caravan Park.  Saturday 11^th is a large Summerfest – a Mothers’ Union Day of Fun and Festivities based around Dovedale House.

  

Tuesday 14^th

St John’s ‘Growth Group’ – first time in an age when I have belonged to a home study group. I try and get along as often as I am able. Great supportive people and tonight is our ‘social evening.’

Wednesday 15^th

Chew & Chat – a lunch time meeting with a couple of friends to do no more than chew, chat and pray with each other. We get together once a month.  (Others in the area welcomed to join us)

Thursday 16^th

Meeting with the Christine - Spiritual Companions Co-coordinator. This is one whole area I haven’t got to grips with yet. However I do now have a Spiritual Companion but I haven’t yet found a regular Day Retreat venue like Crawley Down Monastery.   

Sunday 19^th

Leading Praise & Worship at St Peter’s Forsbrook.

Thursday 23^rd

33^rd Wedding Anniversary!

24^th – 27^th July long weekend trip to Cornwall for the Baptism of Lowenna on Sunday 26^th.

Friday 31^st

‘Wash Up Meal’ for the Staffordshire County Show.

A Markan Sandwich - Transcript of Sermon St Margaret's Draycott-In-The-Moors 28th June 2015

St Margaret’s Draycott 28^th June 2015

2 Corinthians 8.7-15 & Mark 5.21-43

I’m a runner, nothing too serious, about 20 miles a week, the occasional 10k and the odd half marathon.

If Mark’s Gospel was a race it would be a 10k.  A 10k is enough of a challenge in terms of distance. (In old money that is 6.2 miles) Yet it moves along at a cracking pace.

Mark’s Gospel also moves along at a fair pace with an economy of words. It is considered to be the earliest of the Gospels and written for a Gentile readership. Although initially people would have heard it read rather than reading it themselves.

Last week we are all at sea and it is worth noting that when we think about people hearing this Gospel, when they heard boats mentioned they would know something important was going to happen.

In our reading today we have our feet firmly on dry land but near to the lake shore.

We have skipped the reading of the demoniac being healed (pigs and evil spirits being cast back into the sea) and moved back across the water where a large crowd soon gather.

We then have a Markan sandwich – two stories interwoven and each informing the other.

Remember that for Mark he wants to show Jesus’ authority and his compassion.

‘When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.’  Matt 9.36

This is such a rich story and I only wish we had the time to explore all of it's various nuances and the lesson we can learn. However time restricts, but please do explore this passage further at home and perhaps in home groups this week.

So, I would like to draw your attention to just a few things and for your consideration as you seek to live out your vocation here as the People of God in this place.

Let’s begin by getting hold of the most amazing fact that this story is about a woman and a female child.  In ancient culture and in Jewish culture of this time they were non-people. Their value came through their parents or through a husband.

True there are some notable exceptions throughout history and indeed in the Scriptures, Deborah during the period of the Judges perhaps being the most notable on the Old Testament.

So Jesus is engaging with woman. Let’s stick first of all with this woman who had been hemorrhaging for the same length of time the little girl who was dying had been alive – twelve years.

A crowd, a woman cut off from her community, cut off from worshiping God – her hemorrhaging would have made her ritually unclean – she hears about Jesus. Desperate times calls for desperate measures. I only need to get close enough to touch the hem of his cloak – that will be enough. She has faith, maybe only as little as a mustard seed faith, but it is enough for her to reach out to Jesus for healing and salvation, which are but one word in the Greek. She manages to touch Jesus’ cloak and knows in an instant that healing has come, she is now restored. 

She can now slip away and show herself to the Priest and be restored back into the community, back into being able to worship God.

However on this occasion Jesus feels a power going from him, he knows someone has reached out towards him in faith and hope.

There is the pressing matter of a very anxious Synagogue Ruler who had come in equally desperation and knelt at Jesus feet and begged for help.  All of that was again unprecedented – Synagogue Rulers did not make a habit of falling at the feet of an itinerant Rabbi. But desperate times calls for desperate measures.

Leaving Jairus twisting his cloak in his hands and hopping from one foot to another Jesus seeks out the woman who had touched him. From a heart of belief she had reached out for healing and salvation and now, as Paul will go on to write in Romans, she was called to confess with her mouth.

‘If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’  Romans 10.9

Let me ask you this, what room do you leave for people with mustard seed faith to touch the hem of Jesus?

In one church I ministered in we made a point of leaving some of the back pews empty not only for latecomers but also for visitors. This enabled them to slip in the back quietly and without being fused over. Of course we took care if it was right to talk to them later, but we allowed them the space to watch and observe God’s people at worship.

Let me also ask this question – do you expect people to come and join you on a Sunday morning who do not ordinarily do so? If we have no level of expectancy that there may visitors among us then we can very soon slip into a way of doing that suits us, pleasing ourselves rather than placing ourselves before God and welcoming the stranger among us.  We don’t need to announce anything or explain things, people know what we do. I can’t tell you the number of times I have heard that said or known it to be implicit in the way Worship is conducted.

Then while I am asking questions here is another one as we think about this woman and Jesus asking her to confess with her mouth. Just what opportunity do you give for those who believe in their hearts to also confess with their lips?

Recently at the First Eucharist of Becky Richards at my home Church, St John’s Littleworth, we didn’t have a sermon, but three testimonies of how God had been a source of strength and help. 

On Tuesday I sat with members of the Church Army Community and we heard stories of how God had done some amazing things in people lives. We need to hear these stories, we need to encourage other, we need to know that if you touch but the hem of Jesus’ robe in faith you will receive health and healing and salvation.

Let’s get back to Jairus whom we have left anxiously watching this interruption take place.

Jesus’ is on a roll now and so having identified the woman, having called her daughter, having shown such compassion and love and having recognized her faith he now ask her to confess, to speak out.

Woman didn’t speak out in front of men in public in this culture and context – it was yet another taboo Jesus’ is about to drive a chariot and horses through.

Jairus would have heard her story and would have felt such a body blow. Because she was unclean and she had touched Jesus he was now also unclean. And God did not work through people who were unclean. Jesus could do nothing now to save his daughter.

Just as Jairus is processing this and anxiety beginning to turn to despair he receives news that his daughter has died.

Jesus overhears this and turns to Jairus and says, ‘do not fear, only believe,’ perhaps as he did so he pointed to the healed woman slipping back into the crowd.

They arrive at the house and Jesus takes with him his inner circle, Peter, James and John.  Note here that there is nothing wrong in having close confidants, only when they begin to think they are more important does the trouble arise. 

They are chosen by Jesus.

John 15.16 ... "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would last...

The official mourners are there with offering lamentations. Although being a Synagogue Ruler he would have many friends and people who would have come to commiserate.

Then we have one of only three places when we have the language of Aramaic. Probably spoken by Jesus because it was a language the girl would know and would bring comfort. It was something that impressed itself upon the minds of those gathered there, especially Peter, accepting that Mark’s Gospel is largely Peter’s account.

Talitha Cum – Little Girl, get up. This isn’t resurrection into new life that will come later. This is restoration and rising from the dead into a physical life.

As we have run alongside Mark in his Gospel we have witnessed Jesus calm a storm, heal a demoniac and now we see him raise the dead.

Jesus is demonstrating his authority over nature, over demons and over death.

Jesus is Lord of life and the author of creation.

However the story continues – so come back next week for further installments!

Jesus authority will be challenged, he will hear the sad news of the execution of John the Baptist and then we read of the Feeding of the 5,000. 

As Jairus’ daughter is restored back to life he says to her parents, ‘give her something to eat.’

As Jesus gathers with his disciple before a crowd of thousands whom the disciples want dismissed so that they can go and get some food, Jesus says to his disciples, ‘You give them something to eat.’

And he says to you and he says to me when we see people, who are deemed unclean, when we meet people dead in their sins, when we see people lost and leaderless, ‘you give them something to eat.

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6.35

Let me close by drawing your attention to Jesus words accompanying his instruction to feed the girl.

‘He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this.’

This is known as the Messiah Secrecy Motif, found mainly in Mark. The broad understanding is that Jesus didn’t want to preempt his unfolding ministry and maybe even start riots. There was to come a time when this would change. It begins with Peter’s confession in chapter 8, although Jesus swears them to secrecy on the Mount of Transfiguration, until the resurrection.

Guess what folks – the resurrection has happened and we are no longer sworn to secrecy but are actively encouraged to tell everyone all about the marvelous things God has done in our lives and what we have witnessed Him doing in the lives of others.  

But maybe, just maybe, you are here this morning with a mustard seed faith. Or maybe you have yet to hear the voice of Jesus calling you to get up.

Well today you have an opportunity not only touch the hem of Jesus’ robe but to stand in front of Him and know yourself to be clothed in a new, fresh robe of righteousness that has your name and the name of Jesus the Saviour engraved upon it.

Jesus wants you take off your filthy rags of sin and corruption and be clothed with the garments of heaven.

And for those who are already clothed in a robe of righteousness you have an opportunity to receive new power so that you will find boldness in openly declaring Jesus as Lord of all

I now invite you all to bow your heads and close your eyes as I offer the prayer of Sir Francis Drake…

Disturb us, Lord, when We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

AMEN