Retirement and a New Decade!

When the year turned around I had been ‘retired’ for five months.  It has proved to be an interesting experience and not quite as I imagined it despite talking to numerous retired people.

For starters when in work I always had the discipline of producing a monthly News & Prayer Letter. I have struggled to find the time and motivation over the past five months.

Relocation from Stafford to Rugby obviously has taken a lot of time and effort. We are renting a property under a scheme for Church of England ministers. The house was decorated throughout but still needed the neglected garden sorted. We also bought ourselves a rather nice shed and this required considerable work laying a solid, level surface of paving stones. We also inherited a patch of bamboo – if you have tried to remove bamboo you will know how hard that is. The only thing that helped was buying a full-size mattock and then a lot of hard work digging it out. We have got downstairs more of less sorted, including the conservatory (with some very expensive fitted blinds!).  Upstairs is still ‘a work in progress’ as we had to massively downsize.  Lots of trips to the recycling centre, also several big pieces of furniture to British Heart Foundation. We have some steps, light and boards being installed in the loft early next year so we can use it for light storage.

Also, during the last five months we spent nearly six weeks in Cornwall, being there for the whole of October. We stayed at our ‘Holiday Home’ (static caravan) at the Par Sands site. This gave us time to spend some quality time with our three Cornish grandchildren, Kerryn, Lowenna and Isla. While there we were able to join in the celebrations for Isla first birthday and Daniel’s (eldest son) birthday. We also had a great time catching up with many other friends and generally enjoying Cornwall, even though it was very wet and many of the walks we had planned had to be postponed. 

We did miss being with our other grandchildren, James and William as they are so little and changing daily, it seems. They are the main reason we moved to Rugby. It is great fun being able to ‘do life’ with Tabitha, Peter and the boys. Having moved around a lot this is a whole new experience and we are loving it. We are even settling into a pattern on Wednesday’s where Jane and Tabitha take the boys to our home church for their Parents & Toddlers group and then Jane brings the boys back home leaving Tabitha to have some time for herself for the rest of the afternoon.

Our ‘home church’ is SS Matthew and Oswald. Again, a whole novel experience as it is our parish church and we can walk there in ten minutes. They have been in vacancy for the past twenty-four months with a new Vicar being appointed in November 2019. Alan Hulme along with his wife, Jane, who has been appointed as Associate Minister.  Alan previously worked for the Diocese of Guilford, advising on Parish Development, Mission and Evangelism. He and I have met before as part of the National Missioners Network. Jane has a developed ministry in All Age Worship and a very helpful resource web site.

http://www.allageworshipresources.org/author/janehulme59gmail-com/  

Both Jane and Alan have respected our ‘sabbatical’ – i.e. we elected not to engage with anything until 2020. However, Jane H did ask if I could help with a puppet presentation for the Crib Service. Also running on into 2020 to help with Collective Worship.

Jane has written several sketches with James, a mischievous boy and grandad. I’m grandad. As we move into 2020 Alan has approached the Diocese of Coventry to see if they would give me a PTO so I can be covered for safeguarding, etc.

Others have also been very understanding on our taking a sabbatical. There is a very active Farming Community Network Group in Warwickshire, but apart from informing me of meetings I have been left alone.  Although I know they are looking forward to my becoming more actively involved in 2020 going forward.  I have also discovered that Anne, a member of SS Mathew & Oswald, is a member of a very active Prison Fellowship Group. I have been to one of their Prayer Meetings and plan to pursue this link in 2020. 

The only thing I did attend was a trustee’s meeting of Rural Mission Solutions in London. I am Chair of Trustee’s and so considered it important that I attend.

One of the things I thought I would have more time to develop was ‘contemplation.’ This hasn’t happened yet although I do enjoy being able to take a more ‘leisurely’ approach to saying my daily prayers. I am also hopeful that in 2020 I might find a Religious Community within a reasonable distance. Somewhere I can go for a period of quiet and possibly Spiritual Direction.

SS Matthew’s & Oswald sits in the Evangelical wing of the church and the Eucharist is not celebrated every week.  However, I have found a delightful Tuesday morning celebration at St Andrew’s, the parish church of Rugby.  After the Service people gather around a big table for coffee and conversation. They attract around twelve to fifteen people. I have also been joining them for the Big Table Gospel Conversation held on a Friday morning. One of the delightful aspects of being retired is that on occasions like this I can linger longer.

Running is also something I find I am also able to do more and go for longer runs. Initially I was very frustrated as I couldn’t seem to find anywhere away from roads, buildings and dual carriage ways. But I have discovered some routes that take me out into countryside and now have some routes I know well covering four, six or ten miles.  Although picking up a nasty cough/cold has meant no running since last year!

We have also enjoyed a shot break in Gran Canaria, staying at Puerto de Morgan in the south of the island. Not overly hot (think British summers at 20/22) but very pleasant and a great place to drive around in the mountains. Also to enjoy a nice alfresco meal down by the harbour.

Items for prayer…

As we move into 2020 both Jane and I need discernment on what to engage with.

Currently I am planning to explore involvement with RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association) along with FCN and the Prison Fellowship, plus picking on Rural Mission Solutions.

On the 28^th and 30^th January I am with Jane Hulme at a local school with the puppet sketch. (Grandad and James)  

Next year we have decided to make several shorter trips to Cornwall, mainly to try and be there for the girl’s birthdays. So, our first trip down South West is the 22^nd – 29^th February. It would be lovely to catch up with Cornish friends – do be in touch if you might be around and up for a visit.

Welcome to Revd David Clark - transcript of sermon

                                                Sermon Holy Trinity Berkswich

                          Feast St Peter and St Paul and Welcome to Revd David Clark

Zech. 4: 1-6a, 10b –end Acts 12: 1-11 Matt. 16: 13-19

Today I retire after 41 years in ministry. I can think of no better way of ending this ministry than being invited to preach tonight as David is welcomed here as your curate.

Let us pray…

Father speak to our minds to instruct them,

Speak to our hearts to warm them,

And speak to our wills to inspire them,

For your Holy Names sake we ask.  Amen

Whenever we have an act of terrorism one of the questions asked is, was this person known to the authorities?

Some people however are very good at keeping under the radar.

From today, David will find it hard to keep under the radar. He has become a Church of England minister and that has a very public dimension.

And this will be noticed, even if you try and hide it and do not wear your clerical collar.

A number of times while on holiday I have been invited to read a lesson as the minister was been able to intuit I am also a minister, despite the shorts and t-shirt. It is something about the way we carry ourselves and the ease we are in and around a Church and with God’s people.

I am reminded of one of those amusing clips from a time when the appointment of a Bishop was newsworthy and a recently appointed Bishop was being interviewed. He was asked what he hoped to do in his role as Bishop.  What he said was very important but the way he phrased it for modern ears was unfortunate to say the least.

He said he intended to expose himself and wanted all his clergy to follow his example and expose themselves to the public.

If we take the idea and not the phrasing, what the Bishop was saying is just as true today as ever it was.

At a recent Church Army Gathering our CEO in his opening address said this of the Church Army.

‘Our passion is not to save the Church from extinction; our passion is to see the Kingdom of God come upon earth.’

I hope none of you here tonight are thinking David has come and will help save Holy Trinity from extinction.

And I hope you will be expecting David to be out and about in the public arena.

And as an ordained minister in the Church of England his reception in public ministry will be a mixed bag.

Some sadly will see him as aligned to those who have abused people.

Others will have memories of a minister who failed them or who neglected them.

To others he will simply be something from the past, an irrelevance in today’s modern, fast paced world with a science based outlook.

But there will be those times when he will be asked for advice, or for prayer and counselling.

And it is good if we remind ourselves that Jesus’ ministry took place out and about, on the highways and byways.

I hope you will let David out into the market place and not to seek to confine him to this Church building and all that goes on in here or in the hall. 

It is important to be rooted and grounded, it is important to gather to gather as God’s people, it is important that prayers are offered up daily and the Scriptures read and chewed over.

But only in as much as it serves that greater purpose, to know Jesus better and to make Jesus better known – that and that alone is the reason the Church exist. 

Going forward I hope and pray that as someone ‘learning the ropes’ David will not assume anything but will constantly ask why something is being done.

Given every encouragement to ask of himself and of the people he is now being called to serve, ‘just what we are doing for God’s sake? And if we are not doing it for God’s sake then for God’s sake let’s stop doing it.’

Perhaps to draw people back to the Diocesan direction of travel, to discern vocation, both as individuals but also as Holy Trinity, St Thomas’, and All Saints and as a Benefice, asking, ‘what is your God given vocation?’ 
To help discern this calling we are invited to deepen our discipleship and to share the life of Faith through inspiring evangelism.

And as David is out about some people will ask him questions – sometimes very tough questions of which there are no easy answers.

Just look at our Scripture readings for tonight as we celebrate St Peter and St Paul.

That reading we had from Zechariah, pick the bones out of that one! What on earth is that all about? 

And then from Acts the story of Peter, a story when we rejoice over the miraculous release of Peter.

But what about James – why wasn’t he spared. Why was he killed?

And so - why did my son die so young?

Why didn’t God hear my prayers?

Why didn’t God send an angel to help my daughter when she was being raped?

David, putting yourself into the public space as a God representative you will have to face all sorts of questions. Some from God’s own people who may feel God has let them down, and also from those who claim no allegiance to God whatsoever but still demand to know that if you claim God is love that he has a funny way of showing it.

And I hope that as the people of God our Ministers will help us all to be able to give an answer for the hope that we have when asked – quoting from 1 Peter 3.15

And at times we will simply not have an answer. Then we are called to sit and weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn.

And with a teaching background you will know better than most that the best answers to any person’s questions come from their own understanding and learning.

It’s a very Jewish way, ‘who is my neighbour?’

Let me answer that by telling you a story.

And from Matthew – Jesus having taught, healed and ministered finally asks the disciple ‘who do people say that I am?’

They answer by saying, some say you are John the Baptist, or Elijah or maybe Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.’

Then very importantly Jesus then asks them, ‘so what about you, who do you think I am?’

I want us all to notice this very carefully.

You may know what David, Graham, John or Joy think who Jesus is - but you need to answer that for yourself.

Who do you say that Jesus is?

On this occasion Jesus told them not to announce that they considered Jesus to be the Christ – the Messiah, Israel’s longed for hope.

But for us as post-resurrection people of God we are given ever encouragement to say who Jesus is.

And we may not have a clerical collar that would denote that we are God’s representative.

But I would hope and pray that there is something about us and the way we conduct our lives and the way we do life that will speak about our being a Christian.

I would hope and pray that we would be constantly asking questions about each and everything that we do, think or say – how will this help us to know Jesus better or to make Jesus better known.

I would hope and pray as David takes up ministry among you and the wider community you would ask of him the same question.

How, having David among us, is that going to help us know Jesus better or to help make Jesus better known?

Remembering that Jesus said; ‘Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

David, I hope that there will never be a day when you are ashamed of your calling as an ordained minister in God’s Church.

And in that calling that you will help, encourage, enable and equip all of God’s people to have the same boldness and courage and not to be ashamed of confessing the faith of Christ crucified, risen and ascended.

For ordained or not that is our calling and command, that we go and as we go we make disciples.

That we bear witness to the hope held out to us in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He alone is our hope, he alone is the hope of this community and he alone is the one true hope of the whole world.

It is to the proclamation of this truth that you have been called into ordination so that you may help all of God’s people proclaim this truth whenever and wherever they find themselves in their daily lives.

Graham, Joy, John and now David I hope that you will be able to say along with St Paul…

‘You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.’ 2 Cor 3.3

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, its possibilities inspire us, and its vigour renew us. Pour out upon us a fresh indwelling of the Holy Spirit; make us bold and courageous in sharing faith in both word and deed for your Kingdom’s we ask sake. Amen

'Covered by Covenant' & 'Called to Commitment' transcript of sermon. Baptism of James & William Warren 30th June 2019

Galatians 5.1,13-25  Luke 9.51-62

The Baptism of James and William Warren at St John the Baptist, Stafford 

On the 17^th November 2017 this took place here at St John’s - Tabitha and Peter’s wedding day. 

They choose to set their wedding in the context of the Eucharist. 

Although I kept teasing them about having a Nuptial Mass, setting their wedding in the context of the Eucharist is the perfect context for starting out on married life together.

Marriage between a Christian couple signifies and reminds us of the mystical union between Christ as groom and his bride, the Church. 

This metaphor is frequently used by Jesus and one the great fulfillment's presented in the Book of Revelation. 

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
    the Almighty reigns.
⁷ Let us rejoice and exult
    and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
    and his Bride has made herself ready;
⁸ it was granted her to clothe herself
    with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

⁹ And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, 

“These are the true words of God.”  Rev.19.6-9

Marriage is itself a creation ordinance and we can read about that in the Book of Genesis. In the opening chapters we read the story of Adam and Eve and their complementary roles in partnering with God in the care and control of God’s good creation.

In this complementary role God blessed them and told them to multiply…

‘God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

It would seem that Peter and Tabitha have taken this verse to heart and have been blessed and fruitful – very fruitful.  

Not just one bundle of joy but two! 

And today they bring them here to be baptised.

And today, like at their wedding day, they have chosen to set the baptism of James and William in the context of the Eucharist.

So what’s happening here today and why might the Eucharist be the most appropriate setting for Baptism?

Well, what is not happening is that James and William are going to become Christians.

Christianity does not work like magic where if you say the right words or incantations and do the right things then you will get certain results.

This is not Harry Potter world.

But we are sensing beings as God created us. We feel, touch, see, hear and smell things.

Therefore we have outwards signs and symbols that speak of a deeper inner reality.

As St Augustine put it, ‘a sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible grace.’  

When Jesus wanted to leave something for his disciples that would speak of his love, self-sacrifice and service to others and of united fellowship he just didn’t give the disciples words – he also gave them a special meal.

This meal is a sign and seal of a new covenant God makes with people – should they choose to enter into that covenant.

And Peter and Tabitha have chosen to enter into that covenanted relationship with God, and that is why having the Eucharist at their wedding was important. 

And today they are bringing William and James to sit under their own covenantal relationship with God.

I said earlier that being baptised does not make a person a Christian.

Logic will tell you the truth of that – but sadly there have been times in Church history when that was thought to be true and forced baptised occurred.

You can do all the outwards actions you like but it is in the heart of a person that the real work of transformation takes places.

Becoming a Christian is always a choice made by the individual.

What is happening here this morning is that James and William are being brought into the care of the Church, the care of their parents and the care of Godparents and the care of the whole people of God?

This care will continue with hope and prayer that in time both William and James will come to a place where they declare the faith for themselves.

Let me paint you a word picture that might help.

Supposing a very generous person as a baptism gift set aside £20,000 each for James and for William.  But that gift is locked into a fund that they alone can access when they reach a certain age.

Potentially they have that money – but up until the time they claim it they will have to look mostly to their parents for their well-being.

Once they reach a certain age, then they can go and prove who they are and claim the money.

Today we are laying down something far more valuable, far more precious, many more times glorious than any financial sum.

Parents and God parents, family and friends and people of God it is our task to remind James and William of this rich treasure that is theirs to claim. 

Let me now link this in with the metaphor from the Book of Revelation – in particular “those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

I was baptised in September 1951. In due course I went to St Anne’s Church of England Secondary Modern School. This was more out of convenience that conviction. Sometime around Year 3 we were invited to be Confirmed. I mentioned this to my mum who at that time had no strong religious convictions and she said if you want to, chose for yourself with neither encouragement nor discouragement. I choose not to be Confirmed.

On the 1^st January 1975 I made a New Year’s Resolution to become a Christian. About a year later I chose to mark out my Baptismal promises in Confirmation.

And here is another picture of what is happening here today.

Who are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb?

They are those with their names on the guest list written in The Lambs Book of Life. 

Jesus refers to this, and again we find it prominent in the Book of Revelation.

So, think of it like this.

Today in the Lambs Book of Life, Peter and Tabitha’s names are already written. Today following the Baptism of William and James their names will also be written – but written in pencil.

There will come a time, we hope and pray, when they will ask that their names are written in ink.

That’s how I understand what happened for me when I accepted Christ on the 1^st January 1975. It was then sealed, signed and signified by my Confirmation – my name written in ink.

So, let me ask this question.

Is your name on that guest list – written in the Lambs Book of Life?

Perhaps it is written in pencil and you have never asked God to write it in ink.

Or perhaps you did that some long years ago but have neglected to take hold of the rich legacy and treasures that are uniquely yours in Christ Jesus.

Have another look at our passage from Galatians and you will see what that treasure looks like…

It begins with freedom…

¹For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

And if we stand firm and look to God then we will know the Spirit of God abiding in us and the fruits of a life lived for God will be made known in our actions and the way we live our lives.

A person who is engaged to be married lives differently. They begin to consider the other person as they look forward to their married life. As God’s People we are engaged to Jesus and are called to live differently and look forward with expectant hope to the ‘marriage supper of the Lamb.’

How is that difference manifest…? 

Reading again from Galatians…

By contrast, (to living for self and in the way of the world) the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. ²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

Jesus said, ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’  John 10.10

Not a life without its problems, its challenges, its disappointments, it hurts, sorrow and tears. But knowing through all of life, whatever we might encounter, that underneath are the upholding arms of God. 

That when we reach rock bottom Jesus is the rock at the bottom!

That is the Faith into which William and James are being baptised.

Can I ask that if you know that you are on the guest list and that your name is written in the Lambs Book of Life and if you feel comfortable helping someone else take a step of faith, if you are able, can I invite you to stand up.

Look around and if your name is not on the guest list, or you are not sure, these are your go to people.

Please sit down.

Now I would like to invite Jamie to come and play some quiet music, I would ask you to close your eyes. I now invite those who do not know or who are unsure about their names being on the guest list. Or whose names are written in pencil but want to ask Father God to write it in ink today - if you are able, would you stand please. Or if you are unable to stand, raise an arm.

In this moment, as we remember Jesus in bread and wine, which speaks to us of all that he did and continues to do for us, in us and through us.

On this day when James and William have their names written in pencil in the Lambs Book of Life – on this day you can leave here this morning assured your name is on the guest list, assured of your salvation, assured of God’s love, assured that a new way of life as a child of God is now being presented to you and that you can claim all the rich treasures of God’s love and grace.

You might like to echo this prayer after me… 

Dear Father God, I know you love me and that Jesus came to show us the way to the Father and to be embraced in His love. My heart’s desire is to be invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. I would ask that you now write my name in the Lambs Book of Life. I would ask for an infilling of your Holy Spirit that I might begin to walk in freedom and show forth the fruits of a new life. 

All that I have been I offer to you for your cleansing and healing. All that I am I offer to you for service in your name. For all of my future, my hopes and my dreams I now look to you and to you alone.

Amen.   

To God be the glory great things he has done....

https://youtu.be/pJMM4uLPHmU

 Have you responded to your RSVP?