Captains Blog November 2015

It was not at all easy to get back into work following my trip to Sussex for the Parish Weekend, The Wedding and then our holiday.

At the Diocesan Synod we had a presentation and discussion around this very helpful and informative report. A charge has been given to a Task Group (of which I am part) to study the document and

make recommendations in twelve months.

The Diocese of Lichfield has a Going for Growth strategy focused around Five Icons.

At Synod we also had an update from those involved across the diocese in ‘Reaching New Generations.’  One of those involved a rural parish who had built into their Messy Church a number of other ‘gatherings’ where people could explore more about the Christians faith.  At our home, St John’s Littleworth, we have started a similar initiative called ‘Hot Potato.’  Held at the same time as Messy Church we begin together with a short act of worship before dividing, with the children going off for their own activity time and the adults gathering to discuss a ‘hot potato’ – On this occasion, ‘Why is there so much suffering in the world?’  We came back together again for a short concluding act of worship before tucking into some lovely hot potatoes.

 I had a fabulous Quiet Day at The Hermitage reading this novel from the author of The Shack. If you

liked The Shack then you will probably enjoy this book as well. It takes you on a roller coaster ride and for me sits in the same genre as Pilgrim’s Progress or Narnia.

The Farming Community Network – we are continuing to try to establish a Staffordshire Group. I had the pleasure this month of travelling to Lubenham for the FCN Harvest Festival Celebration and AGM.  I also attended the AGM of the Young Farmers Club in Staffordshire as a representative for FCN.  www.fcn.org.uk

Just the one preachment this month, at Seighford for a ‘Bible Sunday Songs of Praise.’ I still think this format works well with people choosing a hymn and then giving a short testimony on why it is

important to them. You get to hear some great stories. This Benefice has been in Vacancy since May, so it was good to hear they have a new incumbent who will join them early next year. I have been supporting this Benefice and meeting regularly with a Vacancy Mission Team.

I also continue to ‘volunteer’ with a local RDA Group and will be at Ingestre Stables most Thursday nights.

In addition, I keep up on the running – plodding along at 15 – 20 miles per week, enjoying running along the canal towpath.

     

      

November 2015 ~ some appointments...

Sunday 1^st November

Church Army Preachment at St Michael and All Angels, Penkridge.

Monday 2^nd

Meeting with Bishop Geoff and Archdeacon Matthew (postponed from October).  Planning meeting for a ‘Day of Pray for the Persecuted’ at St John’s, Littleworth.

Tuesday 3^rd

Stafford Chapter.  (I am in attendance). Lunch meeting with Revd Andrew Ridley and then meeting up later with Mick Ellor for handover of documents apropos the Staffordshire County Show.

Wednesday 4^th

‘Chew & Chat,’ at Rising Brook Baptist. A time to meet with a friends  to chat and enjoy a simple lunch.

Saturday 7^th

Mothers’ Union Autumn Council meeting with Guest Speaker, Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin. Rose and I first met in London in 1979 when she arrived in the country from Jamaica to begin Church Army training.

Sunday 8^th

Speaking at an evening gathering in Forsbrook called ‘B48’ (Before 8pm!)  I will be telling my life story and accompanied by Jane singing.

Tuesday 10^th

Speaking to the Eccleshall Deanery Synod

Saturday 14^th

St John the Baptist, Littleworth. Day of Prayer for the Persecuted. (Involved in organising ‘Prayer Stations.’)

Sunday 15^th

‘Hot Potato’ at St John the Baptist, Littleworth

Tuesday 17^th

Rural Clergy Consultation Morning with Bishop Geoff, Archdeacon Matthew and our Rural Officer, Revd Peter Dakin (& myself)

Wednesday 18^th

Church Army Community Day and AGM in London

Thursday 19^th

Evangelism and Outreach Team meeting

Saturday & Sunday 21^st/22^nd November

‘English Winter Fair,’ at the Staffordshire County Showground and assisting with the R.A.B.I. and FCN display.

Wednesday 25^th

Rural Task Group (as from Synod)

Thursday 26^th

Meeting of key people seeking to establish a Staffordshire FCN Group.

Friday & Saturday 27^th/28^th

Involved with CPAS training for ‘Multi- Parish Benefices.’

Family News – Tabitha finishes her flying season and leaves her ‘second family’ the Schnaars in Crawley. They have been fantastic in giving Tabitha a home near Gatwick so she could continue to work. Daniel & Tracy and the girls all should be in a new house for Christmass. This will mean more space and less damp – fantastic for them all.  Joe & Jen – are off on honeymoon and going to Krakow, Poland and then joining us in Stafford for a few days.  Jane continues to keep busy with music making and other things. Sadly, however her favourite Gym has just closed. 

'The 'Family' at the recent wedding of Joe and Jen...

On ‘The Incident’, our complaint is with the Bank and we await a response. Meanwhile there is news of a retired clergyman and his wife who have been conned in the same way out £21, 5000.  Be warned and be careful!

Captain's Blog September ~ October 2015

September - was a very different kind of month that included a Parish Weekend in Sussex, a Wedding in Cornwall and a Holiday in Turkey!

However, before all that I did spend some time with a couple of parishes helping them think through what it means to be Church in the 21^st century.  My first question was simply, ‘What on earth is the church for?’  I then suggested that everything and anything the church does must fulfill one of three criteria…

a)      It helps to bring people into a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ

b)      It helps to bring about a realized Lord’s Prayer – i.e. the Kingdom of God come upon earth (and in this locality)

c)      It helps the people of God to be able to do ‘a’ and ‘b’ above.

I am really enjoying reading ‘The Joy of the Gospel’ (Evangelii Gaudium) by Pope Francis.  He writes…’I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security'. (pge 21)

 

Early September also saw the huge Diocesan Celebration ‘The Goodness of God.’  This was an opportunity to say farewell to Bishop Jonathan Gledhill.  We took along the Church Army Caravan, the badge making kit, some games plus a display of the work of the Church Army.

I have also been back with my friends at Doxey Parish Church, leading a Service of the Word and preaching, alongside putting up a Church Army Display.

Another Church I have been working with is Holy Trinity Chesterton (and Red Street).  We had a fantastic Parish Day seeking to create a Mission Action Plan.  We framed it within Past, Present and Future. For the ‘Past’ we had a Church Quiz which proved to be good way of helping people ‘buy into’ the Day. This asked all sorts of questions about the history of the church and surrounding areas.  Our next focus the ‘Present’ we made four 3D models using junk material. The models all had to have a model of Holy Trinity and featured four ‘areas.’    

      

     a) Places of worship

     b) Places of work & education

     c) Places of shopping and leisure

     d) Places of residence

We then went on a ‘Parish Visit’ as each group explained their model.  This then led us onto thinking about the ‘Future’ and working on the actual MAP, laying a foundation for some ‘fine tuning’ and writing up later.  We did not get everything right (I wonder if you ever can on Days/Weekends like this) – but for the most part it worked very well, especially using various mediums.

Another Act of Worship and Preaching, this time at Chebsey. They are currently in Vacancy and I am walking alongside them in support and helping them keep a Mission Focus. 

Parish Weekend  St Michael & All Angels, Lancing, was held at the beautiful Oasts Houses, just outside Rye.   A very full weekend that introduced the theme of ‘Whole Life Discipleship’ and the work and ministry of LICC.

www.licc.org.uk     

 Again, we did not get everything right and mainly tried to fit too much into the schedule. Always a difficulty that one, as some people like to work, others like time to relax and chat. I did present some rather challenging material to them, based around their call as the People of God and asking, ‘Just what do you think you are doing for God’s sake?’  Unfortunately, as I drove down I developed a cough and a cold and had virtually lost my voice by the time I arrived!  With the use of a microphone, I got through the first session and then managed with lots of water and throat lozenges to get through the other sessions. (Although I was disappointed, I could not join in the singing during their Worship.)   

I have subsequently heard back from them and they are working on a number of things we explored together, especially linking in with the work of LICC and ‘Whole Life Discipleship.’   

I do need to let you know where we are with ‘The Incident’ – that awful fraud when we were conned into passing over all our money (including overdraft) to a fraudster. Following my asking for prayer, we were so humbled to receive many gifts. That in itself was a real lesson to learn. It is always easier to give, to be in control, rather than to ask and receive help and assistance. We cannot begin to thank God’s people enough, for all their love and support. Our home church, St John’s, has been and continues to be fantastic, especially considering we have only been there a few months.  The other thing we did was to have a Quiet Day together, just Jane and I. I normally have a Quiet Day every four to six weeks but this time we decided we needed time together. It really was great, although we did not keep ‘quiet’ – well not until later. We both needed to talk things out.  Currently we are working with CAB and have put in an official complaint to the bank. This particular fraud was featured on Money Box Live, Radio Four and so we are following a line of inquiry through that as well.  

The Wedding – that is another story that deserves its own Newsletter – it was amazing. Thankfully, my cough and cold was getting better and I was in good voice for the sermon – too good a voice said some! (My brother asked if I had been taking lesson from Ian Paisley) Jane sang and my brother and wife (Malcolm and Jill) played for ‘Be Thou My Vision’ giving it a folk type setting.  The other music was led by a string trio including a version of a song by the Foo Fighters to go out of the Chapel!   This string trio also played during the Wedding Breakfast in a deeply oak paneled dining room festooned with skulls and other Goth type artifacts.

 

This picture is of Joe and Jen (younger couple) and two of their good friends. Goths like to dress to impress.

This the link to the dedicated FB Page… https://www.facebook.com/groups/540661142749385/

The Evening Reception was a...

    ‘Mad Hatters Tea Party.’

Here I am playing the part!

And then the Holiday…

 Lots of fun, way too much food, and the visit to Ephesus was awesome. Standing in the 25,000-seater theatre helps to put Acts 19 into context and makes you consider the power of the Good News proclaimed by Paul and his contemporaries. N.T Wright in one of his books, quoting an Anglican bishop as he is reflecting on St Paul's missionary work, says, "When Paul preached there were riots, when I preach they give me a cup of tea". 

And I can highly recommend Wright’s new book ‘Simply Good News.’

 

October Diary Dates... 

Monday 12^th

 Sunrise Ministries Trustee’s Meeting (Selly Oak)

Wednesday 14^th

‘Chew and Chat’ meeting with a couple of friends for lunch

Saturday 17^th

Attending Diocesan Synod – with a report on ‘Released for Mission.’

Sunday 18^th

‘Hot Potato’ St John’s, Littleworth are launching a new initiative aimed largely at the parents/carers who attend Messy Church. A simple Act of Worship, hot potatoes (to eat) and Hot Potatoes to discuss – this first one is on God and suffering.

Monday 19^th

Meeting with the Chebsey Benefice Vacancy Mission Team.

Tuesday 20^th

Personal Quiet Day

Wednesday 21^st

Farming Community Network – Harvest Celebration and AGM.

Sunday 25^th

Leading Worship and Preaching at Seighford on Bible Sunday.

Friday 30^th

Attending Young Farmers Club AGM representing Farming Community Network.

Family News– Tabitha comes to the end of her summer shift with Monarch and is considering her future. Also there is a lovely developing relationship with Peter who is again paying us another visit this month.  Daniel, Tracey and the girls have a possible house move on the cards. Teaching of course continues to bring huge demands in time and energy, plus the miles Daniel travels to school and back.  Joe and Jen, the new Mrs Banks are getting to grips with life as a married couple and we are slowly getting used to there now being five Mrs Banks's'.  Jane continues to consider her future and what she is being called to do in this place but meanwhile keep busy with friends and music making.

Life continues to be full as we all in our various ways, seek to serve God, proclaim Jesus and live a Kingdom life! 

'Nice Day for a Goth Wedding' - transcript of sermon, prayers and grace...

Joe & Jen Wedding 23^rd September 2015

I claim no originality for the Grace, I found this on the internet.

The 'Prayers' are from the Anglican Church web site for Weddings. 

The poem 'It is a Gift' is mine so please recognize copyright.

Song of Songs – 8.6 & 1 John 4: 7 -12

‘Songs of Love’

‘Love is all around us’ – but just what does this little word mean.

In the Greek language of the New Testament there are four words used for love.

Eros – and I would hazard a guess you may not know ancient Greek but you will know what that one means.

Philia - which is a kind of ‘brotherly love’ – a love between equals and gives a name to an American City, but has nothing to do with cream cheese!

Storge – which is the kind of love a parent would have for their children.

And then Agape, which is often considered to be the highest form of love.  This is a word still used today by some Christians as they gather together and share a common life with each other.

Should you want to know more, then C.S. Lewis, he of Narnia fame, wrote a book called ‘Four Loves.’ 

Now as rich as the English language is, we have to make this one word do an awful lot of jobs and explain a whole raft of ideas and emotions.

The hope is that we will understand the context and make the necessary accommodation.

For example, later on Joe might be downing a nice pint of Doombar in the bar and say, ‘I really love a nice pint of ale.’ 

We should know that he means something different from the covenant love he is now declaring for Jen.

Similarly, when Jen says that she loves her Irregular Choice shoes – well, Jen loves her Irregular Choice shoes!

This short poem seeks to encapsulate something of this small and yet very powerful word.

                                ‘It Is a Gift’

     Love is word

     Often spoken

     Seldom heard

     ‘I love you’

     Means what;

     A feeling, a desire?

     Does it mean, ‘I give?’

     Does it mean, ‘I always will?’

     Does it mean, ‘yours forever?’

     In the market it is cheap,

     Ten a penny, or even less;

     But in life, real life!

     So say it only once or twice,

     And enjoy every word,

     Like a jewel, precious and rare.

     Because, ‘I love you’

     Should never mean,

     But now I don’t.

     © Gordon Banks 1981

It is a Christian belief that all love emanates from God.

We heard something of that in our second reading from the 1^st Letter of John.

1 John 4:7-12

 My dear friends, we must love each other. Love comes from God, and when we love each other, it shows that we have been given new life.

God is love.

There is a story told of someone asking God just how much he loved them…

And God stretched his arms and said, ‘this much.’

Again from John’s Letter… ‘

God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life.

A Christian marriage is called to reflect something of this deep, committed, covenantal  love that God has for the world and supremely for the Church, often referred to as the Bride of Christ.

So much so that in another New Testament Letter written to the Ephesians we read…

A husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.  (Ephesians 5:25)

That’s a good quote to remember…

However, one quote worth forgetting is from ‘Love Story’ 

"Love means never having to say you're sorry"

Yes it does and a thousand times over.

We human beings are a complex mix of fears, foibles and funny bits.  The real joy of giving yourself totally to another person in a deep, committed covenantal relationship is that you can be utterly honest.  However, you will mess up and to use a modern phrase, ‘when you mess up - fess up.’

Joe and Jen, today you are embarking upon a remarkable journey and you have called your friends and family together to bear witness to the solemn vows you are to declare to each other.

You have invited a Priest of the Church of God to bless and sanctify these solemn vows.

That’s the right place to begin such a journey.

It is also the place to continue that journey.

A journey that will bring it share of joys as well as sorrows. There will also be a huge amount of simple getting on with life bits, that may at times seem simple boring and very ordinary.

However, from my own experience I can tell you that having God at the very heart and core of that deep, covenanted commitment you make to each other is the most important thing you could possibly do. You have made a good start; my hope and prayer is that you both continue to look to God to guide you on your journey through life together.

A message we could all do to heed!

‘A Fathers Blessing’

THE PRAYERS

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we lift up our hearts to you
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through Him, you have made a covenant of grace with your people
by the outpouring of your Holy Spirit.

We praise you for the gift of marriage
in which the love of husband and wife
reveals your purposes of love for the world.

We thank you today for Joe and Jen
for leading them to each other
in friendship and love, commitment and trust,
and for bringing them here for the blessing of their marriage.

Living God,
by the presence of your Holy Spirit,
may they know the risen Christ to be with them now,
as they celebrate this covenant together.
May their lives be a witness to your saving love
in this troubled world.

As you pour out your love,
may they grow together in your sight,
and each be to the other
a companion in joy, a comfort in sorrow and a strength in need.

As you blessed the earthly home at Nazareth
with the presence of your Son,
may their home be a place of security and peace.

And bring us all at the last
to that great marriage banquet of your Son
in our home in heaven,
where, with all your saints and angels,
in the glory of your presence,
we will for ever praise you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

'Our Father' to be said in whatever tradition or language you choose...

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours.
Now and for ever.

Amen.

THE GRACE

Let us give thanks for this beautiful day – for the love between Joe and Jen which has brought us all together, and for the meal we are about to enjoy.

Let us remember those who cannot be with us today, and always be thankful for their part in our lives.

Let us be grateful for the joy of this occasion, and grant us the grace to always offer our love and support to Joe and Jen.

May they always have love, strength and happiness in their marriage.

We offer our thanks for all the good things in our lives and in the world, and ask that this day and all present be blessed. Amen

 

'Mind your language' - transcript of sermon All Saints Chebsey 13/09/15

Chebsey Benefice 13^th September 2015

James 3.1-12 & Mark 8.27-38

As I among friends this morning I would like to confess that I am living with a married woman whom I really love.

Her name is Jane and she is my wife!

It very easy to see how words spoken could be misheard and then if repeated incorrectly can easily cause an awful lot of trouble.

You may recall that old saying ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.’

It is a load of course rubbish, unless perhaps the ‘words’ are empty.

Words are powerful and can change things in a very dramatic way.

Think of the story of creation in Genesis.

‘God said’ or God spoke and the power of God’s word brought creation into being.

Couple that with the prologue to John’s Gospel – that great Christmass reading.

‘In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the Word.’

Words have power and James piles up the metaphors to try and help us to grasp what damage the tongue can do, albeit it is such a small part that makes up the human body.

So it is like the rudder of a ship or the bit in the mouth of a horse.  It gives direction and control.

Out of control it becomes a small spark that sets a whole forest ablaze. 

It is with our tongues that we bless or curse.

It is with our tongues that we speak words of peace and encouragement, or we speak words that are designed to cause harm, hurt or destruction.

I recently watch the film ‘Selma’ which is about Dr Martin Luther King. He is one among many whose words stirred the souls and passions that led to direct actions.

Those directions actions in turn led to the Administration passing a bill to allow African-Americans to vote without any molestation.

There are many more people we can think of who by their words spoken brought about great changes.

On the other side of the coin we think of Hitler. Whose words spawned hatred and violence and the subsequent death of millions.

Or even in our day those radical Muslim clerics who speak words of violence and destruction of the infidels.

Words are very powerful and the tongue needs to be brought under control.

Today of course we would add all forms of communication. 

I think ‘twitter’ was still something birds did back in the days James wrote this Epistle.

And apples and blackberries were something you ate.

Jesus is mindful of the power of words. How it is that words can be misheard and misinterpreted.

Take the word ‘Messiah’ – which to some degree we have become very familiar with and we have lost the power and significance of that word, especially to a 1^st century Jews.

We really don’t have the time to even begin to talk about what the word Messiah meant in the 1^st century.

Partly that is because there was no one fixed idea and several of the proposed ideas had peoples grouped around them.

For some the Messiah would come and be a warrior king and boot out the hated Romans and restore the Kingdom of Israel to its former glory.

For others the Messiah would be a great teacher and lead Israel in a new moral crusade.

There was not one fixed idea except perhaps the one overriding thought that when the Messiah came a new order would begin and Israel would be restored.

In Mark’s Gospel scholars have noted that Jesus in the early chapters is constantly telling people not to speak out about him. It is known as the Messiah Secrecy Motif.

Jesus was following an agenda he was setting – he didn’t want to pre-empt anything by being dragged off and proclaimed king or anything like that.

Mark 8.29 and Peter’s confession mark a watershed moment.

It is very hard for us to begin to even imagine what it must have been like for a good solid Jew like Peter to declare Jesus to be the Messiah.

The Messiah was the hope of the nation, spoken of by prophets, especially Isaiah, but also the Psalms.

The Messiah would lead a new exodus out of slavery and bondage to a new promised land. This was their hope and their dream and had been so for thousands of years.

As I said they didn’t all agree how exactly this was to come about, but for most Jews this was their heart longing and passionate prayer.

And immediately Peter makes this startling confession Jesus begins to speak about the kind of Messiah that he is.

Messiah Jesus will become the sacrificial lamb that inaugurates a new Passover and the beginning of a new exodus out of the bonds of slavery, sin and death.

This didn’t fit in with Peter’s perception of a Messiah and he is quick to tell Jesus 

so.

Jesus is also quick to respond and speaks to Peter sharply about how he has not understood the journey Jesus is taking and the kind of Messiah he is.

It is worth noting that just before Peter’s confession Jesus had healed someone of blindness. However this healing took mud and spittle and the man to be twice prayed for.  

Move on and look at the healing of blind Bartimaeus in chapter 10.

The pace is picking, the secret is out and the Word is being spoken openly – and now blindness is healed instantly.

No more groping around – seeing things dimly, with men like trees walking.

All is being revealed as the Messiah Jesus steps ever closer towards become the one true sacrifice offered for the sins of the whole world – not just Israel.

There would be a new Passover lamb sacrificed, there would be new exodus and there would be a new people of God.

James again - ‘with the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the image of God.’

People of God – what are you offering to the world?

Today we are praising our Lord and our Heavenly Father – what are we going to do tomorrow.

What happens when somebody cuts you up on the road, or pushes in front of you in the supermarket queue? Or says something unkind to you – do you give back as good as you get?

Proverbs 15.1 says ‘A gentle answer turns away wrath.’

As those who are in the Messiah - the people of the Messiah how are we to be out and about in the world?

Jesus warned Peter not to say anything – in case people got the wrong idea and things spiraled out of control.

Now it is time to speak out with words and in our actions that Jesus, Messiah, King of King and Lord of Lords has brought the Kingdom of heaven to the realm of the earth.

Our task is to help make that a reality – to make real the Lord’s Prayer in our world, in our communities, in our own lives and in our churches.

Your Kingdom come, your will be done – on earth as it is in heaven. 

Those who are blind and beggarly like Bartimaeus need to know that there is now one who can help them see, one who opens up a whole new way of   living.

We are to be those who say as they did to Bartimaeus ‘Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.’

Our words have power and so let us take these words into the week ahead…

Take my voice and let me sing

Always only for my King

Take my lips and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee.

Amen