Our harvest collection this year is shared between Highbury's Mission and Send a Cow. During the first part of our service we learned about Send a Cow and its support of sustainable agriculture in Africa.
There is a rhythm to the year as the seasons pass into each other. The last Sunday of September we mark as a celebration of the goodness of God’s creation. The harvests safely gathered in, the fields are now being ploughed, ploughing competitions being held this year. As one agricultural year finishes so another starts. For Jewish people this marks the start of a New Year. And in many ways it’s like that for me. In the Autumn we mark God’s creation, at Christmas the way God comes alongside us in Jesus and shares our humanity. On Good Friday we mark the way God in Christ shares in the suffering of humanity at its worst and at Easter the way we too can share in that Resurrection Victory that Jesus won. And then Pentecost is the reminder that we are not alone – there is a strength from beyond ourselves that we can draw on in the Holy Spirit of God.
And then the summer over we come back to harvest and that celebration of the goodness of God’s creation.
But it’s not possible to share in the goodness of God’s creation without being concerned about God’s world, and the very great needs of people around us. That’s why at harvest we link up with County Community Projects and seek to replenish the food stocks they need to give people food parcels. We also have a special collection that we share between Highbury’s mission with its focus on our children’s worker and an international project that enables us to share our resources with others in need.
It was Phil Arnold who this year suggested we should support Send A Cow. Another of our members was very excited when she heard that was what we were supporting.
Well over 20 years ago – maybe 23 years ago or longer Pat Kimber and her husband, Ron, were worshipping at St Philip’s and St James’ Church in Bath. As she recalled it was a farmer from Peasdown St John and his wife started attending the church.
The church had already had links with Africa through their Vicar, Alan Bayne. It was through those conversations that Send a Cow was started.
Looking to the web site the farmers took up the story – they recalled that at the time they were faced with a dilemma. For many years they had been encouraged to increase their productivity. And then came a directive that they had to cut back their production. Quotas were introduced. And they had to shoot as many as thirty cows from a herd.
At a time when so many in the world were starving, that seemed wrong.
And so it was they explored the possibility of actually sending cows to Africa. Through contacts they had they made contact with a ministry in Uganda. And Send a Cow was born.
The idea was to help small farmers on a very small scale by giving them a cow. Amazingly, the idea took off. The support of small farmers has grown through half a dozen other African countries, Ethiopia, Kenya … sometimes with seed, sometimes with livestock – all if it now sourced from within Africa, funded by Send a Cow. And now another reasonably local farmer is Patron, the Prince of Wales.
Working in collaboration with local people, they have developed a set of values that emphasise the importance of the small farmer, farming in a way that is sustainable in their own community.
They serve people of any faith and of no faith … but their roots are firmly in that Christian inspiration that was at the heart of those conversations between that farming family and that vicar in the church Pat Kimber and her husband belonged to.
They draw our attention to three stories from the Bible that get to the heart of what they are about … and to one verse. Those three stories and that verse seem to me to speak to us all today.
The first story takes us on to the hills just above the North west corner of the Sea of Galilee – a crowd of 5000 people are hungry. Someone is prepared to share their loaves and two fish – Jesus blesses them and everyone eats their fill.
Send a Cow have seen a ‘phenomenon’ which they call ‘The multiplier effect’. As families become farmers – and often their own bosses – others naturally want to share in their success. This means that every person who is helped by Send a Cow passes on knowledge and skills to around another nine family members, friends or neighbours.
It’s such a simple principle … and it is so exciting to see the difference it has made through Send a Cow working on a tiny scale with very small family farms.
That simple principle is something for us to take to heart. The world’s problems are so immense it is so easy to throw the towel in – what difference can we make. Through that one boy’s tiny offering so many were helped that day by Jesus. Maybe we should each of us think of just some small thing we could each do this coming week – think of the multiplier effect that could have around us. That makes a real difference.
The second story takes just south from Galilee to the region of Samaria and to a woman who is by a well, but has nothing to draw water with. Jesus approaches her and breaks through a number of taboos – a man, he speaks with this woman, something that the law forbade; a Jewish man, he speaks with this Samaritan woman although Jewish and Samaritan people were at loggerheads. The woman was a woman in despair, a woman without hope, a woman whose life had fallen apart. The woman gets not just water from the well, but the conversation with Jesus touches her very deeply – she has some pretty big personal problems that Jesus gets to the heart of. It is as if she has spiritual water to quench her spiritual thirst. Jesus gives her hope. He sent a Samaritan woman away with a new life and rescued her from failure giving her hope.
Jesus goes to the root of her problem and gives her hope. How important it is for us to go to the root of the world’s problems and address root causes of injustice and poverty – Send A Cow’s values do just that.
But then the woman does something remarkable. She goes back to her own village and passed on what she had received – she didn’t keep it to herself – she passed on the message of hope.
Send a Cow has its own Pass it On system. Every family who receives a gift from them promises to pass on a gift to another family in need. Whether it’s the first female calf, seeds, saplings or skills, each gift starts a chain of giving that continues to grow and grow. Importantly they become donors themselves, restoring their dignity and pride..
So Send a Cow seeks to deal with the root cause of people’s hunger and poverty and not just the symptoms. To offer them a ‘hand-up’ rather than a ‘hand-out’. It seeks to rescue them in such a way that they have real life changing and permanent hope - sustainability. The families who have received start to give to others in their community.
• They were receivers. Now they become givers.
• Some of the animals that are born are not kept - they are given away.
• So the chain continues.
The gift we discover is a gift to pass on to others – is there someone we could pass the message of God’s hope on to?
And the third Bible story takes us to the third day after Jesus had been crucified. And two of his friends are walking the seven miles to Emmaus … utterly in despair. And then someone joins them they don’t recognise. They invite him in for a meal. And in the breaking of bread they recognise it is the risen Jesus. Their despair is taken away and their outlook on the future is completely transformed.
This is the practical mission of Send a Cow, providing the resources for Transforming Joy as people are not only fed but equipped to help others to follow their experience and find a similar joy. Not only by passing on knowledge through the Pass it On principle and the multiplier effect, but also by becoming peer farmers themselves. Farmers who become exceptional at what they do are asked to help train other farmers in neighbouring groups. Helping to spread the knowledge quicker and to more and more people.
The joy of our Harvest celebrations can reverberate around the world through the life changing training given, seeds grown and animals provided. Send a Cow seeks daily to rescue people from hunger, to take them from sadness to joy and from despair to hope and self-sufficiency, in the most practical of ways.
It is wonderful to see that when some of those original farmers who had started the ball rolling all those years ago returned to Uganda recently they met with some of the very first people to receive a cow - how good to see that 23 years on that tiny initiative has made a world of difference to those people!
Three stories that have been an inspiration to Send a Cow and transformed people’s lives.
And there’s one verse.
That takes us back to that Bible reading we had earlier …
‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up’. Galatians 6:9
We need to keep at it. Pat has been very much in our prayers as she awaits major surgery in Frenchay. What she shared with me is what keeps her going … and maybe it’s something we could well do as well.
Each day she turns a page in a calendar and in abook which contain Bible verses and a prayer.
I copied out the verses and the prayer that will keep Pat going today …
September 25th
Keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flows the springs of life.
Proverbs 4:23
And then a prayer and a verse –
The Rain of His Spirit.
Thank Him for the storms
That break open the dry, parched ground
and allow the renewing rain of His Spirit to pour into our lives.
It’s the weight of the wind,
And the force of the storm
That make deep sturdy roots and strong solid trees.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. Jeremiah 17:7-8
[From B.J.Holf, God’s Abundant Love – One Minute Devotions]
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Introducing Street Pastors
Nigel Bennet of Cheltenham Street Pastors joined us to speak about Street Pastors. He was joined by Andy and Mary who spoke of their experience of Street Pastors.
One of our Prayer Pastors, Lyn, spoke movingly of a tragedy in her own family with a young student many years ago during Freshers week. How important it was, she said, to offer the support that Street Pastors offer. Lyn and Ivy both are committed to praying for Street Pastors each Friday and Saturday evening as they go out on the streets.
We then went on to share in a reflection on the importance of prayer ...
It’s great to have a mission focus on Street Pastors – and the call is there for us hear – do take the opportunity to chat with Nigel or one of the Street Pastors and put it into God’s hands.
One thing to share with Nigel and the others – it’s also something for all of us to take with us from here – the words of Ephesians 1:15-23
That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the Christians, --- I couldn't stop thanking God for you--every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks.
The importance of prayer – and prayer that starts with thanks to God …
I couldn't stop thanking God for you--every time I prayed
Prayer is wonderful because from thanks we can make our requests known to God …
But I do more than thank. I ask
Signing up people as Street Pastors but also Prayer Pastors. We have two people who do that – Ivy Saddler and Lyn Horne. Prayer that is informed … there is a value in keeping a note – planning our prayer. Something shared by the Street Pastors – one way they do that is by emailing …
Street Pastors email …
The value of keeping a notebook, a journal or a diary …
There is something very powerful in such prayer.
But I do more than thank. I ask--ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory--to make you wise and discerning in knowing him personally, --- your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, --- oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him--endless energy, boundless strength!
The power of prayer is not only a power in itself … it is also energising.
All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, --- in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. --- He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. --- The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. --- The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.
That is what we can each take from this service. Maybe it’s to keep up the work of Street Pastors, maybe it is to keep up what it is we are called to do, maybe it is to get going in a new venture – new school – especially thinking of Sharon about to start her degree course at the Uni
All this energy issues from Christ:
Not in our own strength – but in the strength that comes from Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit of God working deep within us.
One of our Prayer Pastors, Lyn, spoke movingly of a tragedy in her own family with a young student many years ago during Freshers week. How important it was, she said, to offer the support that Street Pastors offer. Lyn and Ivy both are committed to praying for Street Pastors each Friday and Saturday evening as they go out on the streets.
We then went on to share in a reflection on the importance of prayer ...
It’s great to have a mission focus on Street Pastors – and the call is there for us hear – do take the opportunity to chat with Nigel or one of the Street Pastors and put it into God’s hands.
One thing to share with Nigel and the others – it’s also something for all of us to take with us from here – the words of Ephesians 1:15-23
That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the Christians, --- I couldn't stop thanking God for you--every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks.
The importance of prayer – and prayer that starts with thanks to God …
I couldn't stop thanking God for you--every time I prayed
Prayer is wonderful because from thanks we can make our requests known to God …
But I do more than thank. I ask
Signing up people as Street Pastors but also Prayer Pastors. We have two people who do that – Ivy Saddler and Lyn Horne. Prayer that is informed … there is a value in keeping a note – planning our prayer. Something shared by the Street Pastors – one way they do that is by emailing …
Street Pastors email …
The value of keeping a notebook, a journal or a diary …
There is something very powerful in such prayer.
But I do more than thank. I ask--ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory--to make you wise and discerning in knowing him personally, --- your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, --- oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him--endless energy, boundless strength!
The power of prayer is not only a power in itself … it is also energising.
All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, --- in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. --- He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. --- The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. --- The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.
That is what we can each take from this service. Maybe it’s to keep up the work of Street Pastors, maybe it is to keep up what it is we are called to do, maybe it is to get going in a new venture – new school – especially thinking of Sharon about to start her degree course at the Uni
All this energy issues from Christ:
Not in our own strength – but in the strength that comes from Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit of God working deep within us.
Friday, September 16, 2011
The Basics
A sermon preached by Shirley Fiddimore at Highbury on Sunday, 11th September 2011
When I was asked some time ago to take this Service I felt complimented, but also apprehensive not having taken one for about 18 months or so. I wasn't given a theme , so I prayed and sought inspiration as to the topic/theme I could share with you.
As a matter of interest Google informs me that:
There are 1,189 Chapters in the Bible, and 31,103 verses, so I had a vast choice. Should I open the Bible at random and start reading; maybe that would be a starting point. I decided not to.
My mind went back to the course I attended in Nottingham many years ago. Richard is there this weekend teaching and developing Church ministries to candidates nation wide. It was there that I remembered a particular debate considering Who Jesus was? Similar to the discussions we have at the Alpha Course here in Highbury. A group of us discusssed and commented on how Artist around the world visually perceived and portrayed Jesus. We were shown paintings by current Artists from Japan, Korea, Turkey, and India, also by one from Europe. It was facinating to see the Jesus of all nationalities. I wondered if there was material I could expound on from this.
After a while it came to me, that at this stage of my journey, I 'd like to share something simple but meaningful; When I say simple, I mean simple to understand. Over the years, l Have read many Commentories on Books of the Bible. Had many discussions, and theological debates on how accurate it is; and, do we take it literally; how do we interpret various passages; and does it apply to us today?
The simple but powerful Truths I decided to share is the very reason the Bible is Holy and inspirational, and IS appropriate for today. I know that every Sermon should have 3 points, and as I wanted to share exactly 3 profound statements I came to the conclusion that perhaps I was going in the right direction.
The statements are the essence of our Faith and applies to every one; though I have personalised it.
1. Jesus came to earth, died and rose again for me.
2. I have been freed from sin and slavery, and have eternal life.
3. I have been given the Holy Spirit as my Helper.
As I said it is simple to understand but take these three Truths away from the Holy Bible then, it would be a History Book. There would be no teaching, direction or purpose - just constant wars and claiming of land in the early centuries, no Prophets, in fact simply no Hope in life or death.
These 3 facts ARE the basics of our Faith, and why we are here today. ALSO the basics of Faith of all Christians in the past, and will be, in future generations.
We celebrate Communion regularly to remember these miracles. Whatever we may forget over the years, and you will agree we do, and will, especially as years pass and we become older, and life seems to gets busier!
Sometimes I ask friends to remind me the theme of the previous Sunday's Service, and like me, they struggle to remember, which makes me feel better! This is nothing to do with Richard's excellent Sermons, of course, but rather that we are mortal beings, and can only comprehend and retain information for approximately 5 to 7 minutes in any one talk. The idea of discussing the Sermon at lunch immediately after the Service, appeals to me as was mentioned in the Church Meeting recently.
These 3 facts will remain in our minds for ever, because, It is a personal revelation, and Good News to be shared. I think we are starved of GOOD NEWS. The World News does not bring joy or happiness but does prompt us pray. Today we remember those attending the Memorial Service in New York which we will be focussing on in our Prayers of Concern.
Personally, I find it easier to share good news than sad news. Jesus tells his disciples (that is you and I) in Matthew: "Go then to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples; Baptize them in the name of the Father., the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age. What a comforting promise!
We will have an opportunity to invite friends and neighbours to Back to Church Sunday. This however, should be our life long mission and not necessarily confined to one day in the year.
In the first reading that Matthew read; Isaiah of the Old Testament, lived in the 8th century BC, in Judah he prophesied the birth and mission of Jesus 8 centuries before! Not 8yrs, or even 8/9 months but 8centuries!! In Chapter 7 v 14 he prophesied, and we read this at Advent; "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; Behold the Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, His name will be Immanuel, which means "God is with us". This was Good News to the divided society of that day. It brought HOPE and encouragement to those expecting and awaiting the Messiah.
In the second reading we heard Jesus speaking that prophecy of Isaiah himself. He stood up to read the Scriptures in the Synagogue and was handed the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has chosen me to bring
good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind; to set free the oppressed
and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people.
Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down.All the people in the Synagogue had their eyes fixed on him as he said to them. "THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE HAS COME TRUE TODAY, AS YOU HEARD IT BEING READ.
This was the first public acknowledgement of Jesus being Divine. He understood and recognised his Mission on Earth: though it was not understood by many.
John the Baptist had that inner perception and knowledge from God Who Jesus was.
So did Simeon who was in the Temple when Joseph and Mary presented Jesus as their first-born to be dedicated to the Lord, as was the custom at that time.
There was also a Prophetess, a widow named Anna, who was 84 yrs old, who spent most of her time in the Temple Worshipping God. As soon as she saw Jesus she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for God to set Jerusalem free.
It is clear that John the Baptist, Simeon and Anna all had the gift of discernment. We talk about gifts of the Spirit. Discernment is a rare and valuable gift. It is one of Wisdom. We can recognise each others gifts more readily than or own. It appears that those who spend much time in Worship, waiting upon and listening to the Lord, could be blessed with the gift of Discernment as was Simeon and Anna.
In responding to the Great Commission to all disciples, we will need discernment. We will need to know when to listen, when to be silent, when to speak, and when to share the good news.
If we are equipped and believe in these 3 statements, our chances of being discerning, sensitive and considerate when we share the Good News to our friends and neighbours will be successful.
I noticed that in these statements we have the main events in The Church Year.
1. Jesus came to earth; died and rose again
Came at Christmas! Died - Good Friday and rose again - Easter
2. I have been freed from sin, slavery/obsessions and I have eternal life.
3. I have been given the Holy Spirit as my my Helper.
And the Holy Spirit is Pentecost.
Before reading the 3 main points and a prayer for Guidance and Discernment written by Thomas of Aquinas in the 1200s which seems to consolidate what I've been talking about. I have one more piece of good news.
I have discovered, as I am now assisting Elizabeth Forbes to deliver Birthday cards and presents to Highbury members, that there are well over 40 members above the age of 80 yrs! So to enjoy a long and fruitful life stay with us in Highbury and mention it to your friends and neighbours!!
We conclude by reading together:
Jesus came to earth; died and rose again for me.
I have been freed from sin and slavery and I have eternal life.
I have been given the Holy Spirit as my Helper.
A Prayer for Guidance and Discernment
O Creator past all telling,
you have so beautifully set out the universe,
you are the true fount of wisdom
and the noble origin of all things.
Shed on the darkness of my mind
the beam and warmth of your light
to dispel my ignorance and sin.
Instruct my speech and touch my lips with
graciousness,
make me keen to understand, quick to learn,
and able to remember;
and keep me finely tuned,
to interpret you word,
for you are God for ever and ever.
When I was asked some time ago to take this Service I felt complimented, but also apprehensive not having taken one for about 18 months or so. I wasn't given a theme , so I prayed and sought inspiration as to the topic/theme I could share with you.
As a matter of interest Google informs me that:
There are 1,189 Chapters in the Bible, and 31,103 verses, so I had a vast choice. Should I open the Bible at random and start reading; maybe that would be a starting point. I decided not to.
My mind went back to the course I attended in Nottingham many years ago. Richard is there this weekend teaching and developing Church ministries to candidates nation wide. It was there that I remembered a particular debate considering Who Jesus was? Similar to the discussions we have at the Alpha Course here in Highbury. A group of us discusssed and commented on how Artist around the world visually perceived and portrayed Jesus. We were shown paintings by current Artists from Japan, Korea, Turkey, and India, also by one from Europe. It was facinating to see the Jesus of all nationalities. I wondered if there was material I could expound on from this.
After a while it came to me, that at this stage of my journey, I 'd like to share something simple but meaningful; When I say simple, I mean simple to understand. Over the years, l Have read many Commentories on Books of the Bible. Had many discussions, and theological debates on how accurate it is; and, do we take it literally; how do we interpret various passages; and does it apply to us today?
The simple but powerful Truths I decided to share is the very reason the Bible is Holy and inspirational, and IS appropriate for today. I know that every Sermon should have 3 points, and as I wanted to share exactly 3 profound statements I came to the conclusion that perhaps I was going in the right direction.
The statements are the essence of our Faith and applies to every one; though I have personalised it.
1. Jesus came to earth, died and rose again for me.
2. I have been freed from sin and slavery, and have eternal life.
3. I have been given the Holy Spirit as my Helper.
As I said it is simple to understand but take these three Truths away from the Holy Bible then, it would be a History Book. There would be no teaching, direction or purpose - just constant wars and claiming of land in the early centuries, no Prophets, in fact simply no Hope in life or death.
These 3 facts ARE the basics of our Faith, and why we are here today. ALSO the basics of Faith of all Christians in the past, and will be, in future generations.
We celebrate Communion regularly to remember these miracles. Whatever we may forget over the years, and you will agree we do, and will, especially as years pass and we become older, and life seems to gets busier!
Sometimes I ask friends to remind me the theme of the previous Sunday's Service, and like me, they struggle to remember, which makes me feel better! This is nothing to do with Richard's excellent Sermons, of course, but rather that we are mortal beings, and can only comprehend and retain information for approximately 5 to 7 minutes in any one talk. The idea of discussing the Sermon at lunch immediately after the Service, appeals to me as was mentioned in the Church Meeting recently.
These 3 facts will remain in our minds for ever, because, It is a personal revelation, and Good News to be shared. I think we are starved of GOOD NEWS. The World News does not bring joy or happiness but does prompt us pray. Today we remember those attending the Memorial Service in New York which we will be focussing on in our Prayers of Concern.
Personally, I find it easier to share good news than sad news. Jesus tells his disciples (that is you and I) in Matthew: "Go then to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples; Baptize them in the name of the Father., the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age. What a comforting promise!
We will have an opportunity to invite friends and neighbours to Back to Church Sunday. This however, should be our life long mission and not necessarily confined to one day in the year.
In the first reading that Matthew read; Isaiah of the Old Testament, lived in the 8th century BC, in Judah he prophesied the birth and mission of Jesus 8 centuries before! Not 8yrs, or even 8/9 months but 8centuries!! In Chapter 7 v 14 he prophesied, and we read this at Advent; "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; Behold the Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, His name will be Immanuel, which means "God is with us". This was Good News to the divided society of that day. It brought HOPE and encouragement to those expecting and awaiting the Messiah.
In the second reading we heard Jesus speaking that prophecy of Isaiah himself. He stood up to read the Scriptures in the Synagogue and was handed the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has chosen me to bring
good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind; to set free the oppressed
and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people.
Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down.All the people in the Synagogue had their eyes fixed on him as he said to them. "THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE HAS COME TRUE TODAY, AS YOU HEARD IT BEING READ.
This was the first public acknowledgement of Jesus being Divine. He understood and recognised his Mission on Earth: though it was not understood by many.
John the Baptist had that inner perception and knowledge from God Who Jesus was.
So did Simeon who was in the Temple when Joseph and Mary presented Jesus as their first-born to be dedicated to the Lord, as was the custom at that time.
There was also a Prophetess, a widow named Anna, who was 84 yrs old, who spent most of her time in the Temple Worshipping God. As soon as she saw Jesus she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for God to set Jerusalem free.
It is clear that John the Baptist, Simeon and Anna all had the gift of discernment. We talk about gifts of the Spirit. Discernment is a rare and valuable gift. It is one of Wisdom. We can recognise each others gifts more readily than or own. It appears that those who spend much time in Worship, waiting upon and listening to the Lord, could be blessed with the gift of Discernment as was Simeon and Anna.
In responding to the Great Commission to all disciples, we will need discernment. We will need to know when to listen, when to be silent, when to speak, and when to share the good news.
If we are equipped and believe in these 3 statements, our chances of being discerning, sensitive and considerate when we share the Good News to our friends and neighbours will be successful.
I noticed that in these statements we have the main events in The Church Year.
1. Jesus came to earth; died and rose again
Came at Christmas! Died - Good Friday and rose again - Easter
2. I have been freed from sin, slavery/obsessions and I have eternal life.
3. I have been given the Holy Spirit as my my Helper.
And the Holy Spirit is Pentecost.
Before reading the 3 main points and a prayer for Guidance and Discernment written by Thomas of Aquinas in the 1200s which seems to consolidate what I've been talking about. I have one more piece of good news.
I have discovered, as I am now assisting Elizabeth Forbes to deliver Birthday cards and presents to Highbury members, that there are well over 40 members above the age of 80 yrs! So to enjoy a long and fruitful life stay with us in Highbury and mention it to your friends and neighbours!!
We conclude by reading together:
Jesus came to earth; died and rose again for me.
I have been freed from sin and slavery and I have eternal life.
I have been given the Holy Spirit as my Helper.
A Prayer for Guidance and Discernment
O Creator past all telling,
you have so beautifully set out the universe,
you are the true fount of wisdom
and the noble origin of all things.
Shed on the darkness of my mind
the beam and warmth of your light
to dispel my ignorance and sin.
Instruct my speech and touch my lips with
graciousness,
make me keen to understand, quick to learn,
and able to remember;
and keep me finely tuned,
to interpret you word,
for you are God for ever and ever.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
People need Places
It’s just the same for me in the summer as it is at Christmas and at Easter. I always think it’s going to be quieter afterwards. And it never is!
I guess it was anticipating the busy-ness of returning to the Holiday Club and its special service, Greenbbelt, Church Meeting and the start of an Autumn Programme, the first of our training weekends and then Harvest weekend, that prompted me to choose the theme I did for the first few services of this new session.
I wanted to look for some very practical ideas about the way prayer and spiritually can sustain us in the day to day round of what we do. Spirituality for busy people. I knew would be preaching to myself as much as to anyone else, and that is no bad thing! It seemed to connect with the troubles we had been so aware of through the summer.
As we have circulated our prayer concerns for one another in the couple of weeks since I have been back I have become very conscious that for some people the busyness they thrive on is taken away by health concerns. We have been remembering in our prayer John Wren, Minister of St Mark’s Methodist Church, a good friend and colleague, doing well after surgery and now about to start a progam of chemotherapy. Our thoughts and prayers are very much with Jonquil – how good to hear that she has had her operation – but a long period of recovery now before a new knee replacement can be put in in due course. Our thoughts and prayers have been with Pat Kimber, rarely missing a Sunday but now not able to get out as she awaits consultation and subsequent treatment at Frenchay. Our thoughts and prayers have been very much with Reg in the slow progress of his illness as he has moved into a nursing home.
Maybe a spirituality for busy people misses the mark. Or does it? It was a conversation I had with Pat that made me think differently. Maybe practical ideas for prayer and spirituality are important for us all whether we are busy, facing a forced period of inactivity, or just somewhere ib between.
If the theme of a fortnight ago was the Sacrament of the Present Moment.
Today it’s
People need Places
Just a few thoughts on the way we each of us can value a place where we can be still and seek the presence of God.
It was a dark, dismal, wet day when for the first time we visited Stone Henge. I was quite prepared for the crowds to spoil it for me. They didn’t. It is pretty awesome. Geology, astronomy, a sense of ‘the other’ – it’s all there. A very real sense of mystery. What was it for? Why was it built? For an ancient people a special place.
And on Anglesey a standing stone in the middle of a field. A cromlech – three upright stones balancing a cap stone on top – more than just a burial place. A special place, a holy place.
Seeing such things, my mind immediately goes to that story of Jacob.
Overwhelmed by a sense of the presence of God, what he does is in a different culture, with different meaning, and yet no less a sense of the other, what those other peoples had done far away in these islands.
Lying down to sleep he uses a stone for a pillow, and in his dream senses the reality of God and the wonder of all that God promises.
Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place—and I did not know it!’ And he was afraid, and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’
So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called that place Bethel; - which means House of God.
The Burning Bush was holy ground, sacred space for Moses as he removed his shoes. In their wanderings the people of Israel valued the Tabernacle with its Holy of Holies, and later Solomon built a house for God, and the Temple became the focus for the presence of God.
When Herod tore down the old Temple building, and re-built it with untold splendour Jesus was affronted by it … my Father’s house should be a house of prayer and you have made it a den of thieves.
Destroy this temple and I will rebuild it in three days, he said. And when he dies and rose again his followers sensed that it was no longer in stones and mortar but in the risen presence of Christ that God’s presence could be felt. A synagogue was no longer necessary – wherever two or three gather together there the presence of God is real, and God’s presence is there. Each believer is a temple for the holy Spirit, Paul says. Put believers together and as they come together it’s like the living stones and mortar that makes up a temple with Jesus himself the corner stone holding it all together.
It’s a short step then to say location is not important, places don’t matter. The church is people not buildings. And I have been the first to wax eloquent along those lines.
But wait a moment. When he was in Jerusalem Jesus did go to the Temple and valued something special there. It was his custom on the Sabbath to join in the synagogue as people gathered in a particular place to read the Scriptures. He seems to value the mountain top. He goes to a quiet place. In the bustle of the city with all its busyness he finds the quiet of the Garden of Gethsemane.
People need places.
Places that are special, places that are precious.
I want to suggest three places that we can look for and value as we seek the strengthening that comes from prayer and the presence of God.
First, a quiet place. Jesus went out into the mountains, to the hill side, to the Garden. Is there a place for us where we can have a sense of the presence of God – maybe on the top of the hill, a walk through the park, a space in the garden – maybe a place we have visited and sensed that something ‘other’. Good maybe to know the places we can have that sense of the ‘other’ – and there give thanks to God. And when we cannot visit it ourselves, visit it in our mind’s eye – maybe a photo to remind us, or simply an image deep within our minds.
Then there is the value of a place in the home. There’s a wonderful story about David which gives a glimpse of an ancient home- where there were ‘the household god’s there were some statues that were an aid to worship. Any Roman villa would have had its shrine to the Roman gods – it’s absolutely fascinating that it is in that shrine at Chedworth that there are the rough etchings of a chi-rho symbol. Was there at the time of Jesus a strong sense of the presence of God in a home – marked by something – that was the Roman culture – was it adopted and adapted by the followers of Jesus? Whether or not it is the home used by Jesus in Capernaum that first century house with its Christian inscriptions etched on the wall – is it an indication of the value of having something in the home that prompts the connection with God.
Maybe a cross – for me a picture of the praying hands, the light of the world both on the wall in one room of a house where I have lived since I was born. Part of me, a moment’s reminder. Something of value.
Is there something in the home that can remind us of the presence of Chrsit with us, the power of prayer, his light coming into our lives? Not a shrine but a place.
It was Pat who brought those two first ideas – the open air space, the space in the home together for me. She was telling me of a lovely book of prayers given to her she had read that morning. The prayer invited you simply to look out of your window. It asked you to put your elbows on the window sill and your head in your hands and just look. And then sense the presence of God maybe in the view you have, or it could be in a single leaf or plant that your eye rests on. The wonder of God in the view through the window.
But there is one more place that I believe is important. Jesus did go to the synagogue, did go to the temple. Followers of his who remained in Jerusalem continued to go to the temple at the hour of prayer, Paul would go to the synagogue, and where that wasn’t open to him he met in a particular place. In some places a particular person hosted the church in their home but it was that place they went to.
This is a place that for us is special. It is where we have gathered together Sunday by Sunday to sing the praise of God, to share our prayers with God, to hear God’s word. There is something special about this place that we need to value. I believe it is good that we actively encourage others to use this place – in doing that it is my hope and prayer that they too will sense something special about this place, something special that has about it a sense of God’s presence with us.
It is a place made special because people meet together in this place to seek the presence of God, to share the presence of God, to celebrate the presence of God. It is a special place. And we must not be apologetic about that – it is a place that we need. And those friends of ours who cannot make it now – well they know we are thinking of them as we meet here and they have associations with this place.
That’s why it has been good this last couple of years to share in Back to Church Sunday. And we can again this year. The date 25th September. Harvest – not Parade, at Church Meeting we felt it would be better to have the kind of service we usually have Sunday by Sunday. It is not something for general publicity, but rather something for us to give personal invitations to. Do take an invitation card – think who you might give it to – and make a personal invitation. To share with us here in this place – and sense the presence of God.
People need Places – be it in the open, in the home, or here in church – it is good to have somewhere to go where we renew that sense of the presence of God with us. Then we can take that presence into all the places we are in wherever we are as the presence of God in all his love is released into the lives of others through the faith we put into practice.
I guess it was anticipating the busy-ness of returning to the Holiday Club and its special service, Greenbbelt, Church Meeting and the start of an Autumn Programme, the first of our training weekends and then Harvest weekend, that prompted me to choose the theme I did for the first few services of this new session.
I wanted to look for some very practical ideas about the way prayer and spiritually can sustain us in the day to day round of what we do. Spirituality for busy people. I knew would be preaching to myself as much as to anyone else, and that is no bad thing! It seemed to connect with the troubles we had been so aware of through the summer.
As we have circulated our prayer concerns for one another in the couple of weeks since I have been back I have become very conscious that for some people the busyness they thrive on is taken away by health concerns. We have been remembering in our prayer John Wren, Minister of St Mark’s Methodist Church, a good friend and colleague, doing well after surgery and now about to start a progam of chemotherapy. Our thoughts and prayers are very much with Jonquil – how good to hear that she has had her operation – but a long period of recovery now before a new knee replacement can be put in in due course. Our thoughts and prayers have been with Pat Kimber, rarely missing a Sunday but now not able to get out as she awaits consultation and subsequent treatment at Frenchay. Our thoughts and prayers have been very much with Reg in the slow progress of his illness as he has moved into a nursing home.
Maybe a spirituality for busy people misses the mark. Or does it? It was a conversation I had with Pat that made me think differently. Maybe practical ideas for prayer and spirituality are important for us all whether we are busy, facing a forced period of inactivity, or just somewhere ib between.
If the theme of a fortnight ago was the Sacrament of the Present Moment.
Today it’s
People need Places
Just a few thoughts on the way we each of us can value a place where we can be still and seek the presence of God.
It was a dark, dismal, wet day when for the first time we visited Stone Henge. I was quite prepared for the crowds to spoil it for me. They didn’t. It is pretty awesome. Geology, astronomy, a sense of ‘the other’ – it’s all there. A very real sense of mystery. What was it for? Why was it built? For an ancient people a special place.
And on Anglesey a standing stone in the middle of a field. A cromlech – three upright stones balancing a cap stone on top – more than just a burial place. A special place, a holy place.
Seeing such things, my mind immediately goes to that story of Jacob.
Overwhelmed by a sense of the presence of God, what he does is in a different culture, with different meaning, and yet no less a sense of the other, what those other peoples had done far away in these islands.
Lying down to sleep he uses a stone for a pillow, and in his dream senses the reality of God and the wonder of all that God promises.
Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place—and I did not know it!’ And he was afraid, and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’
So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called that place Bethel; - which means House of God.
The Burning Bush was holy ground, sacred space for Moses as he removed his shoes. In their wanderings the people of Israel valued the Tabernacle with its Holy of Holies, and later Solomon built a house for God, and the Temple became the focus for the presence of God.
When Herod tore down the old Temple building, and re-built it with untold splendour Jesus was affronted by it … my Father’s house should be a house of prayer and you have made it a den of thieves.
Destroy this temple and I will rebuild it in three days, he said. And when he dies and rose again his followers sensed that it was no longer in stones and mortar but in the risen presence of Christ that God’s presence could be felt. A synagogue was no longer necessary – wherever two or three gather together there the presence of God is real, and God’s presence is there. Each believer is a temple for the holy Spirit, Paul says. Put believers together and as they come together it’s like the living stones and mortar that makes up a temple with Jesus himself the corner stone holding it all together.
It’s a short step then to say location is not important, places don’t matter. The church is people not buildings. And I have been the first to wax eloquent along those lines.
But wait a moment. When he was in Jerusalem Jesus did go to the Temple and valued something special there. It was his custom on the Sabbath to join in the synagogue as people gathered in a particular place to read the Scriptures. He seems to value the mountain top. He goes to a quiet place. In the bustle of the city with all its busyness he finds the quiet of the Garden of Gethsemane.
People need places.
Places that are special, places that are precious.
I want to suggest three places that we can look for and value as we seek the strengthening that comes from prayer and the presence of God.
First, a quiet place. Jesus went out into the mountains, to the hill side, to the Garden. Is there a place for us where we can have a sense of the presence of God – maybe on the top of the hill, a walk through the park, a space in the garden – maybe a place we have visited and sensed that something ‘other’. Good maybe to know the places we can have that sense of the ‘other’ – and there give thanks to God. And when we cannot visit it ourselves, visit it in our mind’s eye – maybe a photo to remind us, or simply an image deep within our minds.
Then there is the value of a place in the home. There’s a wonderful story about David which gives a glimpse of an ancient home- where there were ‘the household god’s there were some statues that were an aid to worship. Any Roman villa would have had its shrine to the Roman gods – it’s absolutely fascinating that it is in that shrine at Chedworth that there are the rough etchings of a chi-rho symbol. Was there at the time of Jesus a strong sense of the presence of God in a home – marked by something – that was the Roman culture – was it adopted and adapted by the followers of Jesus? Whether or not it is the home used by Jesus in Capernaum that first century house with its Christian inscriptions etched on the wall – is it an indication of the value of having something in the home that prompts the connection with God.
Maybe a cross – for me a picture of the praying hands, the light of the world both on the wall in one room of a house where I have lived since I was born. Part of me, a moment’s reminder. Something of value.
Is there something in the home that can remind us of the presence of Chrsit with us, the power of prayer, his light coming into our lives? Not a shrine but a place.
It was Pat who brought those two first ideas – the open air space, the space in the home together for me. She was telling me of a lovely book of prayers given to her she had read that morning. The prayer invited you simply to look out of your window. It asked you to put your elbows on the window sill and your head in your hands and just look. And then sense the presence of God maybe in the view you have, or it could be in a single leaf or plant that your eye rests on. The wonder of God in the view through the window.
But there is one more place that I believe is important. Jesus did go to the synagogue, did go to the temple. Followers of his who remained in Jerusalem continued to go to the temple at the hour of prayer, Paul would go to the synagogue, and where that wasn’t open to him he met in a particular place. In some places a particular person hosted the church in their home but it was that place they went to.
This is a place that for us is special. It is where we have gathered together Sunday by Sunday to sing the praise of God, to share our prayers with God, to hear God’s word. There is something special about this place that we need to value. I believe it is good that we actively encourage others to use this place – in doing that it is my hope and prayer that they too will sense something special about this place, something special that has about it a sense of God’s presence with us.
It is a place made special because people meet together in this place to seek the presence of God, to share the presence of God, to celebrate the presence of God. It is a special place. And we must not be apologetic about that – it is a place that we need. And those friends of ours who cannot make it now – well they know we are thinking of them as we meet here and they have associations with this place.
That’s why it has been good this last couple of years to share in Back to Church Sunday. And we can again this year. The date 25th September. Harvest – not Parade, at Church Meeting we felt it would be better to have the kind of service we usually have Sunday by Sunday. It is not something for general publicity, but rather something for us to give personal invitations to. Do take an invitation card – think who you might give it to – and make a personal invitation. To share with us here in this place – and sense the presence of God.
People need Places – be it in the open, in the home, or here in church – it is good to have somewhere to go where we renew that sense of the presence of God with us. Then we can take that presence into all the places we are in wherever we are as the presence of God in all his love is released into the lives of others through the faith we put into practice.
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