Parish Newsletter - October musings

 Weekly Newsletter - 2 October 2020

­­Dear friends

 

I hope that you have had a good week.

 

So, here we are in October and autumn is well and truly in the air. The pandemic continues to limit what we can and cannot do in church and so harvest this year won’t be celebrated in the way that you’ve been used to in the past. Sadly, our schools can’t visit church this year although the good news is that I have been invited to begin leading Collective Worship again at Settle Primary. All three harvest festivals will be family services, the first of which is on Sunday at Holy Ascension and will be streamed live on to Facebook. All food donations this year will go to Skipton foodbank.

 

October is the month when a Dedication Festival may be held. Not to be confused with the Patronal Festival, it provides an opportunity once a year (either the first or last week of Oct) to give thanks for the bricks and mortar of the church building and its role in the community. We always stress that the church is the people and not the building, which is absolutely right, however, there is no denying that our buildings are sacred places, beacons of God’s love and are close to the hearts of those who are drawn to them. Again, we are restricted in how we can celebrate a dedication service and so, we will be using relevant readings at St Alkelda’s on this Sunday and at Holy Ascension on 25^th October.

 

Normally all three of our churches use the same pew sheet but this week, because of the different services, we find ourselves with different readings… which mean different pew sheets. So, the readings in this newsletter are taken from the dedication service that will be used at St Alkelda’s.

I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the newsletters and have decided that rather than prepare a newsletter and a pew sheet, I will amalgamate the two. This is something that will evolve over the next few weeks. It also means that my weekly letter will go to the people ‘in the pew’ too. The ‘Vicar’s Blog’ that accompanies the Newsletter contains the sermon from the past Sunday and by the time you receive it, it is always several days ‘out of date’. So, I’ve been thinking that it might work better if we move the day that the Newsletter is delivered to you. I will start to produce it for Sunday rather than Friday and your ‘deliverer’ will collect if from church. It may even mean that you are there to collect your own?

 

Due to the uncertainty of the pandemic and possible future lockdown rules, I will continue, for now, to produce the newsletters weekly. This may reduce to once a month when the time is right. Your feedback is important, so please do let me know what you think.

 

You remain in my thoughts and prayers.  

Julie

Sermon - 27 September 2020

Matthew 21:23-32 

Labelled for God

For years I parked my car in front of a neighbours house. This worked really well until he moved house and new neighbours moved in. So, being a good neighbor, on moving day, I popped round to ask if they wanted a cup of tea. We got chatting and then she said something about the car that was parked in front of her house.

It dawned on me that she didn’t realise that it was mine and she said “I think it belongs to the religious woman”… the religious woman! It really threw me…I was shocked. It came out like some sort of condemnation. I think I said something like “that would be me then”! It really made me think.

We do that, don’t we? … we label people according to the way they act, the things they do, the way they look or the things they say. Or even according to local gossip.

By the time Jesus entered the temple in the story we’ve heard this morning, he had built up quite a reputation. Not only did he have a huge following of the common people but he had become known as a trouble maker to the Jewish authorities.

Jesus had the chief priests and the elders summed up too and when they asked him who gave him the authority to do the things he did, he turned the questions back on them.  He asked them whether the baptism of John came from heaven, or of human origin?

They were in a lose-lose situation. They couldn’t say that John’s authority wasn’t from God because that would upset the people…big-time. But at they same time, saying that his ministry was from God would undermine the temple authorities.

So, they took the easy option and said they didn’t know.

Jesus then went on to tell the story of two sons, the first said he wouldn’t work in his father’s vineyard but he changed his mind and he did. The  second said that he would work in the vineyard but changed his mind and he didn’t bother. Jesus asked them which son did the will of his father? They didn’t hesitate in saying the first son.

Jesus was really quite clever and used the story to point out the hypocrisy of the chief priests and elders. He highlights the difference between those who pay lip service to God and those who, having set out on the wrong track, make amends and do the right thing.

The chief priests and elders may have looked the part. They taught the law and obeyed all the rules and considered themselves as the elite but it wasn’t enough. They failed to grasp the true meaning of their faith. They saw people like the tax collectors and the prostitutes as beneath them and outside of the law. Definitely not good enough for God.

So … what about us?  You look alright to me!

And that’s the thing, isn’t it? We can’t tell on the outside, what’s going on on the inside. We can’t tell by looking, whether someone is a person of faith or how deep that faith goes.

Jesus is making it clear that just by saying that loving God and wanting to be a part of his Kingdom isn’t enough. The chief priests and the elders stuck to the letter of the Law but they’d lost their way.

We too may believe the right things and say all the right words. We might attend church every single week. We might even do all the right things…but …has it become or is it in danger of becoming an empty routine? We all have good intentions but it can be so easy to become complacent or see our faith as a habit or just something that we’ve always done.

When the likes of the tax collectors and prostitutes met with Jesus, their lives changed.

Now, I may be making assumptions, but I’m guessing that Jesus is part of your life and that your life changed in some way as a result. And once you’ve accepted Christ…what then? One of the dangers is becoming comfortable and feeling that we have arrived. We might even think that we have all the answers.

Today’s Gospel message is a challenge to change and to grow. Many people don’t like change but I do, especially when I look back and see how God was at work. I love it when I see prayers answered and when I see people grow in faith.

Yesterday was exactly 10 months since I was licensed to the parishes here. One of the things that attracted me to apply in the first place was this…the parish brochure. It told me about the area, the three churches, the worship patterns, links with the community, church school, even what the vicarage was like. You can see, it has been well-read. Looking through it, I can see that I had scribbled a few notes and had high-lighted a few bits…

…you said that you wanted: 

• “a Priest-in-Charge to lead us on the next stage of our collaborative missionary journey.” 
• Someone “to initiate change” 

You said that you wanted to:

• nurture the green shoots of growth 
• to reach out to the community 
• to encourage young families to worship with you 
• to encourage and nurture disciples 
• to develop lay leadership 
• to work with the clergy to support the mission and ministry of the church.

Thinking back to the gospel reading and taking into account that list from your brochure…if you had to relate to one of the sons, which one would it be?

Are you like the son who said he would but didn’t? Or the son who said he wouldn’t but did?

Now…in our defence, the covid pandemic has been with us for about 7 of the 10 months that I have been here and things are hardly normal. But that doesn’t mean that we should become complacent or too comfortable because we can’t get out and about like we used to.

What I think we really need to do at this time is to start praying more. Prayer is a dangerous thing. When we pray, things happen. And not always in the way we expect it but don’t be mistaken into thinking that God has just ignored our prayer; he hasn’t.

So, my prayer for us all today is that we may be strengthened by the presence of Christ in our lives. That we will follow where he leads us, and that we may do our bit to further God’s kingdom.

And then…and only then, will we join the likes of the tax collectors and the prostitutes on the journey to heaven.

Amen.

Parish Newsletter - 25 September 2020

 

Dear friends

It has been another week of change, with new guidelines and legislation put in place to try to stop the ever-growing pandemic. Yesterday the NHS Track and Trace app was launched and I was busy creating posters for all three of our churches, so that those with a smartphone can scan the ‘QR’ code that allows people to be traced. It is all sounds rather technical but it all seems to work quite simply…providing you have a smartphone of course!

Not everyone likes the idea of the government knowing their every movement…it is very ‘Big Brother is watching!’ How are you feeling about all this? Confident…comforted…assured…worried…confused…sceptical …doubtful…afraid…excluded?

Being under a watchful eye isn’t something new. The psalmist writes –

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” – Psalm 139

With God, there is no need of any fancy smartphone, or the need to ‘zap a QR code’. God is all-knowing and his love is unconditional. How does that make you feel? Confident…comforted…assured…worried… confused… sceptical…doubtful …afraid…included… loved beyond measure?

However you are feeling at this very strange and difficult time, may God bless and keep you safe.

With love and prayers - Julie

The Generosity of God

Matthew 20:1-16
Sermon 20 September 2020

One of the things that we have had to get used to in recent months is queueing. It has become the norm to see long lines of people, 2-metres apart in orderly queues on our streets. It isn’t just at the chemist or the food stores but everywhere. DIY stores, sports shops, cafes, bus stops. There’s even traffic light systems in some shops.

I read somewhere that over the year, on average we spend approx. 67 hours queueing – that’s almost 3 days! And that was before Covid 19!

We Brits are pretty good at queueing. We’re well known for it. Have you ever noticed when you go abroad, they don’t queue quite as orderly as us. They just go for it. Barge right in and never mind good manners.

We might be patient at waiting our turn but we’re not very good about it when someone tries to jumps the queue. We do everything to stop it from happening, whether that’s in the street, in a shop or even in a traffic jam. Or is that just me?

Most of us are fair minded and all for equal rights and so reading this mornings’ parable is actually quite a hard read. On first hearing it, your first reaction may have been something on the lines of…”erm…that’s not fair’.

If you were listening carefully and keeping score, you will have worked out that by the end of the day we have different groups of workers in the vineyard. There are those who have been there for twelve hours, for nine hours, for six, three, and only one hour. When the time comes to pay them, the landowner pays everyone a full day’s wage, and what is more, he pays the last ones first.

You might ask, “Why does he allow the last to receive a full day’s pay for just an hour of work? How fair is that on all those who put in 12 hours worth of work? The workers in the vineyard, were angry, not because the others got the full pay but because, those who worked longer didn’t get more. They looked down on the late arrivals as unworthy of being considered equal.

Can you imagine? There would be uproar if that happened in our politically-correct society.And also, no employer, then or now, could hope to run a business successfully in that kind of way. But the parable was not a lesson in business and in money-making. It was a lesson on the Kingdom of God. It was a teaching about God and his generosity. The parable turned the way of the world upside down. But so does the kingdom of God. God is like a father who gives to his children according to their need and not according to what they have earned. He doesn’t pick and choose and he doesn’t have favourites.

Jesus told this parable in answer to a question from Peter. He was asking what God-given reward that they, the disciples could expect. After all they’d given up a lot in order to follow Jesus.

The parable challenges Jesus' disciples in their spiritual arrogance. They were probably thinking that they should be the first in the queue or given some preferential treatment at the very least...they’d earned their place. Or so they thought!

It also challenges Matthew's Jewish Christians who oppose the entry of Gentiles into the blessings of the kingdom.

And the parable continues to challenge us today in our churches as we come to worship and accept, beyond doubt that we are saved and that we are guaranteed a place in God’s kingdom.

The scandal of this parable is that we are all equal recipients of God's gifts. The parable teaches that the gift of eternal life is not the reward of all our human endeavors but a free gift of divine grace. God’s ways are not our ways. God gives us all the same thing, not what we deserve, or what we’ve worked for. God is being merciful, not fair, and this is what mercy looks like.

It is very easy to feel resentful at the idea that someone, having a death-bed conversion after a life of self-indulgence might receive the same reward as us. Or even worse, what about the likes of mass murderers like Adolf Hitler?

At one level, it is not fair! At another - what reward could be greater than eternal happiness as a child of God in heaven? Not one of us can ever earn eternal life…however hard we work. It is purely a gift of God. The point is that God's grace, mercy, and forgiveness are God's to give away as God sees fit. Think about how dangerous it would be if God were to put human beings in charge of who receives what from the hand of God.  I mean…who are we to judge?

This is a kingdom turned upside down. Individuality, self-worth and deals do not work. What we do doesn’t get us into the kingdom. The generosity of God does.

We are privileged to be the people of God. God has chosen us, you and me, to work in the vineyard, to offer our time and our talents. Maybe God chose you when you were a child and you have worked your whole life to further God’s kingdom. Or you may have just recently begun that spiritual journey. I’m sure we can all think of others who’ve worked longer and harder than we have. The reward of the heavenly banquet is offered to all without regard to

our work(s) or the price we have paid to be part of the kingdom. The truth is that none of us can claim that we have earned, or deserve this wonderful gift from God.

So…the next time that you are standing in a queue in the supermarket, or sitting in a traffic jam, just remember that God’s fairness isn’t our fairness and that in Jesus Christ we find that what seems to be the unfairness of God in saving those who don't seem to deserve it…

is in reality…the grace of God… for you and for me.

Amen
Rev Julie Clarkson

Parish Newsletter - 18 September 2020

 

Dear friends

 

I hope that you are well, staying safe and managing with the new six-person rule. Our churches are still open and we are still worshipping together albeit socially distanced. Although there is no limit on numbers for Sunday services, we still have to abide by the guidelines which means that face coverings are mandatory, hands are washed or sanitized and we have a one-way system for entry and exit. Oh yes, and there is still no singing or gathering for coffee afterwards. Regardless of all that, it is still good to gather to worship God in a sacred place alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

What a treat this week with the return of some sunshine. There is no denying though that autumn is just around the corner and my garden is showing all the signs. The nights are really drawing in and last night I had a meeting at Rathmell and it was pitch black at 8pm as I walked back to my car. I’ve always liked autumn, especially the trees and the wonderful colours. In fact, I like each of the seasons for different reasons. The prospect of winter this year is one of trepidation and we face the unknown in terms of what coronavirus might bring. Having such nice weather back in March made lockdown so much more bearable and I’ve even heard it said by some, that for them, it was a time of peace and even rejuvenation.

 

Isolation may suit those who like their own company or who are self-sufficient but there are many who need additional support at these difficult times. I mentioned in last week’s newsletter that I intended to say Thursday’s Morning Prayer online so that people could join in from home if they wished. I’m pleased to say that several people joined me on Zoom and we used the Celtic Daily Prayer from the Northumbria Community, which is a quiet contemplative style of prayer. On Monday this week at Holy Ascension, a Requiem Mass was held in memory of Elsie Twistleton, after which, her ashes were interred in the churchyard.

 

So, the rich cycle of church life and worship continues to evolve as we continue on our Christian journey. It may sometimes look and feel a bit different to what it has in the past but one thing never changes and that is God himself – 

‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.’ - Hebrews 13:8

 

Blessings

Julie

3 Parishes Newsletter - 4 September 2020

 Dear friends

September already…where does the time go? In 1752 Britain decided to change from the Julian Calendar (365.25 days long) in favour of the Gregorian Calendar. By doing so, 3 September instantly became 14 September and as a result, ’nothing whatsoever happened in British history’ between 3 and 13 September 1752. Many people believed that their lives would be shortened and they protested in the streets, demanding their 11 days back! Well…it’s been 165 days since Covid 19 forced us into lockdown and the future continues to be uncertain.

 

If you could, would you protest in the streets to demand back your ‘lost’ 165 days? I’ve heard it said by many that they actually enjoyed lockdown. What about you? For me it has been a bit of a roller coaster. Yes, there were good bits, like at the beginning when suddenly everything stopped and I had some time on my hands…books were read, jigsaws completed and lots of gardening done. I even managed a bit of baking. But then there were (and still is) some sad times because of being unable to see and hug many of my loved ones.

 

This week, we formed a bubble with my son’s family and they came to stay for the first time. What a joy to be able to hug my grandsons. They are 11 and 9 (so I make the most of it before hugging and kissing their grandma becomes an embarrassment!)

 

Also this week, you may have read in the Craven Herald that Craven District Council has granted the planning permission needed for St Alkelda’s to go to the next step in arranging solar panels of their church roof. This is quite something because being a 15^th century, Grade 1 listed building means that there is a lot to take into consideration. It does, however mean that we are on the way to reducing our carbon footprint, save energy and do our bit for the environment.

 

Quite apt really because it’s that time of year when, as a Church, we move into Creationtide. The Season of Creation runs from September 1 until October 4 each year, with the theme for 2020 being ‘A Jubilee for the Earth’, based biblically on the idea of Jubilee which is found in Leviticus, making the Season a time to listen to prophetic voices.

 

“For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest. Whatever the land yields during the sabbath year will be food for you—for yourself.” – Leviticus 25:3-6

 

With every blessing - Julie

Semon - 30 August 2020

 Matthew 16: 21-28

Have you ever been through a time in your life when things have gone really well? You know what I mean...when you just can’t seem to do no wrong, when plans come together and everything just falls into place. The sun shines, everything’s rosy, all’s well with the world and it feels good to be alive.

At those times, our confidence is built up, we get a sense of invincibility and it could be said, even a shot of arrogance.

But, let’s be honest, life isn’t really like that. We may experience little glimmers but more often than not, these exciting episodes in our life don’t last all that long and the ups and downs of life quickly return to normal.

Last week in our gospel reading, we heard how Jesus’ disciple, Peter had his moment of glory when he declared Jesus to be the messiah, the son of the living God. He must have been feeling pretty chuffed with himself. For once he had got it right. He had left behind the family fishing business to follow this man Jesus and he hadn’t been   disappointed. Jesus was proving to be quite something. He was a man of deep faith, a powerful speaker, he healed people, he performed all sorts of miracles, he’d even walked on water! And just look at the following that he had. He couldn’t go anywhere without crowds of  people following him. Yes, he was definitely the one to lead the people to freedom from their Roman oppressors. And not only that, but he Peter, the rock would continue to be part of the inner circle, a trusted confidante who would share in   Jesus' victory. Peter must have been basking in the glory and he was feeling pretty good.

This week’s gospel reading tells us what   happened next as Jesus began preparing for the next stage. He told his disciples that he would suffer and die at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the scribes, and that on the third day he would be raised.  Peter, riding high on his new-found         confidence objected strongly.  I mean… this didn’t fit in with his vision of the future. What about the overthrowing of the romans and being a military force to be reckoned with?

Jesus’ reaction isn’t what Peter expected. Can you imagine? One moment, Jesus is saying you’re “the rock on which I will build my church” and the next he’s calling you “a stumbling block.” 

That told Peter!

Yes, Peter would share in Jesus’ victory but it wouldn’t be the kind of victory that he had in mind. It would be a victory won, not by overthrowing his enemies but by forgiving them. It would be a victory gained by death on a cross and that certainly didn’t fit in with Peter’s plans.

We do that don’t we. Sometimes, we have our plans. We build them up. We look     forward to everything falling into place and then something happens and we have to adapt or change things. Not funny, is it?

Jesus went on to tell his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. To pick up your cross can mean many things. Most of us at some time or other have what we may consider a cross to bear. It might be in the form of illness or disability …addiction…an unhappy family life …bereavement…and much more...  

None of us can know what will be asked of us in the days, months or even years ahead. Knowing and trusting in God isn’t a passport for an easy life and it doesn’t eliminate suffering. But the thing is, is that there is nothing in this world that we go through that Jesus can’t understand… because he’s been there. He knows all about human suffering. He knows about doubt and fear, about humiliation, betrayal, bereavement…and he knows about love. There is nothing that Jesus has not seen, that he has not heard, nothing that would cause him to stop loving us. 

Jesus chose the way of the cross for each one of us. Yes, he could have avoided it. He could have gone back home, picked up the family carpentry business and carried on with a nice quiet life in the rural town of Nazareth…Nothing easier.

But God didn’t come to this world to take the easy path…NO! He came to experience life as we know it. Not just the times when things go right but to see hardship and     suffering up close and personal. Christ shares in the weight of our cross. He helps us to bear the load by being with us in the midst of what we’re going through. He suffers with us and for us. We are not alone.

Jesus denied himself of the easy path and took the route to the cross. He told his   disciples that “If any want to become my  followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross. 

Deny themselves…

He wasn’t talking about living lives of constant self-denial, of fasting or living lives of abstinence. He was talking about saying yes to God. Of following him wherever that might lead.

When we follow Christ and live a Christian life, we try to follow Jesus’ example. That may mean that we have to think that bit   differently to what our natural instinct and reaction would normally be. To give instead of take, to love instead of hate, to forgive instead of condemn.

It isn’t easy.

In the world that we live in, it may mean that we are the odd one out. It may mean       sacrifice, putting ourselves out. It may even hurt our pride or go against what we really believe. It may be costly. It may even weigh us down…it’s the cross we bear.

But we don’t do it alone because God is with us. Supporting us, strengthening us, enabling us and loving us…it doesn’t get any better than that.
Ame

 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves
and take up their cross and follow me. 
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it,
but whoever loses their life for me will find it." 
Matthew 16:24-25

Sermon for Sunday 23 August 2020

Matthew 16: 13-30

This year, coronavirus, computer algorithms and teacher assessments will all contribute to the direction that life will take for the hundreds of thousands of students who recently received their A-Levels and GCSE results. Many of them will have had their long-held dreams shattered as they missed out on their choice of university.

I’ve always admired people who always knew what they wanted to do when they grew up.

Did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up?

- doctor 
- nurse
- teacher

- astronaut

In times past, children would often follow in their father’s footsteps when it came to their livelihood or they would automatically take over the family business. Yes, it still happens but not like it did in the past.
 
Jesus himself probably had his own father’s trade of carpentry passed down to him. We know that, because when he went back to his hometown, the people were asking, ‘isn’t this the carpenter? We also know that he left all that behind and became an itinerant preacher and built up a reputation which meant that crowds of people followed him everywhere hoping to benefit from his wisdom, see a miracle or receive some healing.
 
The story from today’s gospel reading comes at a crucial point in Jesus’ ministry. He has some big decisions to make and so he escapes the crowds and withdraws with his disciples. He asks them: “who do people say I am?” They come up with the names of the great prophets. They mean it as a compliment, but Jesus isn’t looking for a boost to his ego, he needs to know that his work will continue after he has gone. Do people really get him?
 
And so Jesus asks them again, “Who do you say that I am?” I can just imagine the immediate reaction, the silence, the lack of eye contact, and the hope beyond hope that he wasn’t going to single one of them out.
 
So while the other disciples are reeling from the shock of having to come up with something for themselves, Peter, quick as a flash finds his moment of glory…a turning point in history…and reveals Jesus as “the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 
 
This is the same impetuous Peter who is better known for putting his foot in it and for getting things wrong. But this is his defining moment, probably the high point of his life when he gets the answer just right. He does so because it came from his heart. It is what he felt deep inside and we get a glimpse of the post resurrection Peter, when he speaks to the crowds with such conviction.
 
Jesus recognises that such an answer can only come from God and Jesus tells him “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.”
 
When Simon, the fisherman, proclaimed Jesus as the Christ, his life was changed forever. We know from the gospels that he still didn’t always get things right. He would continue to make mistakes, he would even deny Jesus three times. But he still went on to be Peter, the rock, the foundation on which the Christian Church is built.

That was 2000 years ago and Jesus continues to ask those two same questions to his disciples today… that is to me and you?
 
Jesus asks:

 “Who do people say I am?”

Have you ever asked anyone who they thought Jesus was? Its a bit of a scary thought, isn’t it? They’d probably look at you gone out. But what about those close to you, those who you love? Your family members and close friends. Do you know what they think? But more importantly, do they know who you think Jesus is?
 
Or even ... do you know who you think Jesus is?
 
Sounds easy, doesn’t it? If you had to come up with an answer right now, at this very moment, could you?
Now before we all start squirming in our seats, relax…I’m not going to ask!
 
 Just spend a moment now thinking through who you think Jesus is. What words or names spring to mind?
 
<…moment of silence…>
 
… Love,
God,
prophet,
friend,
redeemer,
Saviour,
King,
Father,
Mother,
Almighty,
Creator,
Lord…
 
These are great names but what do they really mean…?
 
It isn’t easy, is it? I must admit that over the years, my answers to the question have varied depending on what’s been going on in my life at the time.
 
The early Church fathers attempted to help us out by formulating creeds…that is …statements of belief. We still include creeds in our services today and very soon we will be reciting the Nicene Creed together. This is all very well but if we examine the words, does it really help?
 
…“God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father…”
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father…”
 
Ask yourself this. If you had to describe Jesus to someone who had never heard about him, what would you say? I encourage all of you to spend some time this week to sit down with a pen and paper and write down who you think Jesus is … to you…no one else…just you. It sounds easy, but it isn’t!
 
When we know Jesus, deep in our heart, like Peter did, it defines who we are as a people of God. We shouldn’t be afraid to allow it to shape our lives. It is what Jesus is looking for, that his work is safe, and that his Kingdom will grow.
 
We don’t need an A-Level in theology, we just need to believe and trust in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 
Amen

Rev Julie

 

Sermon for Trinity 8

Matthew 14:13-21

Do you have a special place which is just yours and nobody else’s? What about a favourite chair where you can settle down and enjoy a good read and a nice cup of tea or watch a good programme on the TV? Or what about a place where you can go when you need a bit of peace and time to think? Where do you go where you can really open your heart to God? Perhaps it’s here in Church, or in your back garden? Perhaps you go for a walk or even have a long hot soak in the bath? There are times when we all need moments to ourselves and Jesus was no different.

The opening words of our gospel reading this morning were ‘Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself.’ Jesus is tired and he is grieving. He’s just heard about the beheading of his friend and cousin John the Baptist and he’s in need of a bit of time out, to be alone, to heal, to rest and to pray.

I think we’ve all probably had moments like that, when we yearn for some solitude… where we can take ourselves away from prying eyes.

And yet, for Jesus, the crowds follow him in their hoards. How would you feel, if crowds of people intruded on your private moments alone?

We are told that Jesus had compassion for them and cured their sick. All other thoughts and emotions evaporated as he saw these people, needing him. He knew that they had deliberately set out to find him. They had left behind their towns and villages and walked miles out into the country to hear what Jesus had to say to them. They were so desperate in their search for him that they came just as they were.

As the day wore on, their Spiritual hunger was joined by the physical hunger for food. They are hungry and miles from anywhere to buy food. The disciples wanted to send the crowds away but Jesus had other ideas. Did you notice what he said to his disciples? He said “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”

“You... give ... them... something... to... eat”

I expect their thoughts were something on the lines of “you’ve got to be kidding” but instead they said “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.”

I wonder what they expected? I imagine that the last thing on their mind would be that over 5,000 people would be fed with two meagre fish and five loaves. I mean…come on!

But our God is a God of miracles and out of nothing, God creates something. Jesus takes our little, blesses it - and produces fruit beyond anything we could have imagined.

We are always tempted to believe, as the disciples did, that we have nothing to offer when we are faced with overwhelming need. And there’s so much need in the world that there is a helplessness about it. We might shed a few tears or even make a small donation that we know in our hearts won’t make much difference.

This story reminds us that sometimes Jesus is asking us to simply give our nothing—our little loaves and fishes—and then to stand back and believe that 'with God all things are possible.'

One thing is clear and that is that the crowd were satisfied not because of anything that the disciples did but what Christ did. The disciples only did as they were told.

The ultimate question for Jesus’ disciples to answer, both then and now, is not “how much can you give?”  It is:  “how much do you trust in God?”  Faith is not something that we learn in a classroom or even in a church. It is something that we learn in the experiences of life when we follow God without visible means available to us.  

Jesus is the one who gives us the Bread that sustains us through all that comes our way. Because he feeds us we are strong enough to face whatever life throws at us because nothing can separate us from the love that Jesus has for us.

The chances are that you are here this morning because you believe that… or perhaps…you want to believe that. There’s also a world out there who is hungry for God. They have a real need to see for themselves the evidence that God is real and that he can feed their soul. People tell me all the time that they have a faith, the problem is that they’re not sure what to do with it.

Our God of Jesus knows no limits, he delights in feeding all who seek him out. He takes whatever is available to him and uses it for great good which far outstrips our expectations. He involves his followers in the work of preparation and distribution, regardless of their experience.

Without God’s intervention, the disciples would have opted to leave the crowds to their own devices, for them to figure it out for themselves and to find their own food.

Jesus blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples shared the food with the crowds.

Then they were fed, both physically and Spiritually.  I think of being fed Spiritually and automatically I think about Holy Communion. This morning is a Communion service and I’ve noticed that attendance is always a little higher than when it is a service of the word. We’ve had, and continue to have a difficult time because of Covid 19. For weeks on end, we have not been able to physically receive our weekly Communion and even now, it is of one kind only.

Like you, I greatly value being fed by the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ but we have to remember that there are many ways that we can be fed and sustained by Christ. (Wish I had a flip-chart!)

It might simply be to do as Jesus did and to find some time for yourself…in your special place…or your favourite chair where you can settle down and enjoy a good read with a nice cup of tea… or watch TV…or soak in the bath….or go for a walk… or simply just be…

…with God.

Amen.

Sermon - SUNDAY, 26 JULY 2020

Romans 8:26 - end

Trinity 7

We’re now in week two of being back in our church building and we are beginning to see a few glimmers of old routines creeping in. One of which, I’m pleased to say…are rotas. They were stopped in their tracks back in March when lockdown began.

I can remember, when I was new to church, I was painfully shy and I was reluctant to go on any rota. But you know what it’s like, one day you agree to do a bit of washing up after church and before you know it, you’re running Sunday School, arranging flowers and on every rota going.

Anyway, I can remember that the one rota that I avoided for a long time was the intercessions rota. Praying wasn’t something that I was good at, plus everyone else did such a good job.

Eventually I gave in and agreed to give it a go. I bought a few books to help me along and, if I’m honest, because I was shy and most people had their eyes closed, I quite liked reading them out.

One day, I was at the Sunday morning service in church and it came time to the intercessions and Peter, the vicar at the time, said something like “and now Julie will lead us in our prayers” …

I froze!

I had forgotten to look at my rota and I was down to lead intercessions. I was far too shy and embarrassed to admit publicly that I had forgotten…and so I found myself standing up and walking to the front, without a note in front of me.

It was like my biggest nightmare!

So, there I was…at the front of church, in front of the microphone, looking out at the congregation. No-one seemed to notice any difference, they bowed their heads and closed their eyes…and so I did the same.

The difference was that I then pretended they weren’t there… and I prayed to God…

I haven’t got a clue what I said but much to my amazement, I managed to complete them and made it back to my seat.  I couldn’t believe that no-one seemed to notice my predicament,

in fact I even received some nice comments afterwards.

I learnt a lot that day. Not only about myself but also about God.

It was one of those special moments when you just know, deep in your heart, that you have been held by God and done something in his strength and not just your own.

Prayer is something that many of us feel inadequate about. I mean… who are we that we can speak to God?

But God knows about our weakness hen it comes to talking with him. Paul – St Paul himself acknowledges that we do not know how to pray as we ought,

but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.

Isn’t that wonderful…?

’sighs too deep for words’!

When we don’t know what to say or how to say it, we don’t have to because God does it for us.

At my home church, we used to have prayer services and there was a time

in the service where you could go forward for prayer and two people would pray with you. 

There was one man who I liked to go to. He was a lay person…a down-to-earth working-class man with the broadest Yorkshire accent. When he prayed, it was just like he was talking to his best friend. He didn’t flower his words, he said it the way he saw it. It was quite powerful and very moving.

Sometimes, we are too busy trying to find all the right words in order to articulate

what we really want to say. Sometimes we even forget to give God a chance

to get a word in. And of course, he already knows what’s on our mind and in our hearts.

Sometimes it is good to sit with God…and just be… we don’t need words.

Now, obviously you can’t get away with that when it comes to public intercessions, but prayer is about relationship…our relationship with God through Jesus Christ and that relationship

is rooted in love.

Too often, just like our prayers, that relationship also can become one-sided.

When that happens with our human friends, the bonds easily break and friendships fall away. But not with God. He doesn’t give up on us so easily. We might forget about him but he doesn’t forget about us. God is always ready to put the past behind us and help us start again.

It doesn’t matter what’s gone before and there is nothing that we have ever said or done, or had done to us that God cannot redeem through Jesus Christ. The good news is that the resurrection offers hope and new beginnings to everyone who believes. That’s because he loves each one of us with a fierce passion. Those words from St Paul are sooo powerful. We are told that NOTHING will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Do you believe that? I mean really believe it?

What I want you to do is close your eyes and feel God’s love for you now. Hear it and believe it because with God’s help, we can deal with anything and everything that life throws at us.

I’m going to read out the last two verses from Paul’s letter and I want you to listen to God using speaking to you now

…… SILENCE ……

“… neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us

from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen.