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For previous two months |
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Luke
13.6-9 The
orthopaedic man at the hospital said, ‘Tell
me when it hurts. Ten being unbearable.’ He
manipulated my legs about. I
called out, ‘Nine and a half!’ He
said, ‘You have an Entrapped femoral nerve’. He went on, ‘I
don’t think I will admit you to hospital.’ He said, ‘I expect it to
come right over a four to
six week period.’ He prescribed pain-relief and anti-inflammatories. Today
is the end of the sixth week. Sure enough, the pain is easing. I
remember in Te Kuiti, we had on the Session, a surgeon, John Mandeno. One
Sunday I heard his beeper and he slipped out of worship. At
the next Session meeting I had last on the agenda, ‘The
Discipline of John Mandeno.’ I
watched the Elders as they arrived read the agenda and saw jaws drop. We
made our way through the business quite quickly Finally
I said, ‘John Mandeno, will you please stand.’ I said, ‘You
are charged with healing on the Sabbath. How do you plead?’ He grinned, ‘I
plead not guilty.’ He went on, ‘I only set up the conditions. It
is God who does the healing.’ We
have in our body the creative spirit of God, urging us to grow and become
what we could be. We
have in our body the re-creative spirit of God , urging us toward healing
and well-being. We
have in our body God’s spirit of growing and well-being. It
seems a damaged femoral nerve, given a chance, will take four to six weeks
to heal itself. What
does the parable have for us? The
vineyard owner has a fig tree which has not fruited after three years. He
tells his gardener, ‘Cut it down! Why should it go on using up the
soil?’ But the gardener answered, ‘Leave it
alone, sir, just one more year; I will dig around it and put in some
manure. Then if the tree bears figs next year, so much the better; if not,
then you can have it cut down.’ Now
we have a team of expert gardeners in the congregation. Would
those people please come forward. From
a gardener’s point of view, what do you think about this parable? …………………….. The
vineyard owner is harsh. He
condemns the tree. The
gardener is compassionate. He
knows the tree will bear figs if it can. He
knows, if it is not bearing figs, the conditions are not right. He
knows if the ground around it is loosened and it is given some manure, next
season, it may well bear fruit. When
we looked at this parable, Charlie and I agreed, it
is a Gospel of a second chance. The
vineyard owner is of a judgemental, punitive culture. He’s
the type who says: Perform
or go. Heads
must roll. Lock
him up and throw away the key. I
think we will see the Head of Telecom
resign. Have
you seen him on The News? Hasn’t
he looked exhausted? I’m
sure he’s doing his best. He’s
probably doing a good job. He’s
Scottish: he might be Presbyterian! There’s
a problem with the technology. Someone
will be saying, ‘heads must roll.’ And
he will go. Charlie
faces this culture in his work-place. Elements
of the story. Our
shop is given a budget, a target for sales If
we don’t meet that budget, I could lose my job. This
is regardless of a recession or anything else beyond my control. We
see when a sports team isn’t winning, soon
there is a cry –sack the coach! The
gardener is of a compassionate, caring culture. He’s
the type who says: Nothing
and no-one is a hopeless case. There
is the potential for good things in every situation. The
gardener is compassionate and caring. He’s
the type who asks: What’s
wrong? How
can we help? What
do you need? The
owner is saying -Get rid of it! The
gardener is saying -Help it along. We
remember Zacchaeus the tax collector. He
had the contract from He
made people pay excessive customs duty. Everyone
hated him!. When
he heard Jesus was coming, he climbed a tree to get a good view. And
what happened? Jesus
looked up and said, ‘I’m coming to your place for tea!’ Jesus
accepted him. Jesus
saw good in him. Zacchaeus
found he had something to offer Jesus. They
ate and drank together, talked and laughed together. And
what happened? Zacchaeus
become generous and kind –he paid everyone back! Lesley
and I bought with your generous garden voucher money, among
other things, a ‘Black-boy peach’ sapling.
Sure
enough, in a week or so, buds appeared. I
learned a few years ago, in Robbie’s first year at school, he was often
sent out of the room. He
spent a lot of time sitting on the step outside the class-room. He
was regarded as a naughty boy. His
teacher was of the vineyard owner type. She
was of the judgemental, punitive culture. She
put the little boy out of the room. Robbie
came home with a painting he had done. It had ‘Rodert’ on the bottom. If
his teacher had been a gardener type, she would have : given
him time, given
him care, she
would have discovered wee Robbie had a dyslexia problem. He
struggled for some years. When
he got help for his dyslexia, he flowered. Maybe
you have been the victim of a vineyard owner. Maybe
someone wrote you off. Today
we celebrate the great gardener, who
has compassion for us, who
gives us a second chance, who
gives us what we need to grow
and to be fruitful. When
I was restricted to my chair, I
received a card from Did
it read, ‘Your sick-leave expires at the end of the month’? No. It
read ‘Don’t
hurry back. Get yourself well.’ Our
board people are not vineyard owners, but gardeners. I
am looking ahead to Easter Day. Remember
when the women went to Jesus’ tomb, they
met a man they thought was the gardener. It
was the risen Jesus. We
are gardeners to one another and to everyone around us. So we will lead fruitful lives. |
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Philippians 3.17-4.1 It was toward the end of my holiday I found myself with searing pain in my hips and then in my knee. I could neither stand nor walk, nor lie down; happily I could sit. On the Sunday, I could only sit while Lesley packed up and loaded the car. I like to pull my weight, do my share, more than my share. Here I was of no help at all. Perhaps you have found yourself in a similar situation. My G.P. gave me an Urgent Referral to Accident and Emergency to see an orthopaedic specialist. Lesley and I sat in the waiting area for four hours. We watched the stream of unwell, frightened people passing through: among others, in a wheel chair a young woman looking like she might be anorexic and a young man, shaking, hand-cuffed to a policeman. I had to face the reality –I am one of these unwell, frightened people. Perhaps you have been in that situation. What does our Faith have for us? Paul wrote to the people in Philippi, ‘Follow my example, my friends. Pay attention to those who follow the right example we have set before you.’ I thought about Paul, then known as Saul, struck down on the road to Damascus. Saul was a leading Pharisee, a man accustomed to being in control. He found himself blind. And what happened? Luke tells us (Acts 9), ‘The men who were with him, took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.’ The once powerful man found himself led by the hand. Perhaps you have found yourself in a similar situation. It is not easy to accept loss of control, loss of independence. I think about Lesley taking my arm, helping me to get into A & E and other places. I think about Sue Blair. After an hour or so waiting at A & E, Sue, a St Giles woman who works in the office, spotted me. She came over to us. ‘What are you doing here, John? Can I get you a cup of coffee?’ Her care was a lovely blessing. I think about you dear people sending me cards and remembering me in your prayers. I am the one who does the caring! It is both hard and wonderful to be the one now accepting the care! Perhaps you have found yourself in a similar situation. Paul accepted his loss of control. Paul accepted the care he needed. And so will you and I. We are people who follow Paul’s example. For Paul, being struck down and accepting help, was the beginning of his new, wonderful life in the way of Jesus. I invite you, if you would like to, to have a word with your neighbour about what I have been saying. ………………….. Isn’t it interesting, Paul didn’t say: ‘Obey the Commandments.’ He didn’t say, ‘Believe in the Virgin Birth.’ He said, ‘Follow my example.’ Of course, Paul followed Jesus’ example. Our Faith is not about commandments or creeds. Our Faith is about following in the way of Jesus, in the way of Paul, in the way of good people through the centuries, in the way of those around us today. In my pain and disability, I have thought about St Giles people who have been in a similar situation; I have thought about your courage and your graciousness. I have followed your example. I have made my way through. Paul goes on, ‘I have told you many times before and now I repeat it with tears: there are many whose lives make them enemies of Christ’s death on the cross. They are going to end up in hell, because their god is their belly.’ While I have been at home, I have watched some television. I am astonished by the number of programmes there are about cooking and food! I like nice food. The Celts would say, we know God’s love in food and drink -As we do in the Communion. Christine and I think Paul is talking about greed. In the time of Paul, fine Roman houses had a vomitorium. People in the middle of a feast would go off to vomit –so they could keep eating! There is something obscene about people in the western world being obese -when there are many people in the third world who are dying of starvation. Paul writes of these people, ‘They are proud of what they should be ashamed of.’ Have you come across people like that? Can a man be proud of his profitable business if it has meant hard working people have lost their job? Can a man be proud of his financial success if it has meant careful, thrifty people have lost their savings? Paul goes on, ‘We, however, are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly await for our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ to come from heaven. He will change our weak, mortal bodies and make them like his own glorious body.’ Christine has been thinking about these words. In
the early years of the Church, it was expected Jesus would soon return. I
think we are ‘citizens of heaven’ in that we are concerned with
eternal things: we
are concerned to have the love, the strength and the skill to live the way
of Jesus. On Wednesday afternoon, when Christine and I met, she happened to mention to me that after school she would be taking Jason to the orthodontist, Philip to the doctor, then if she could manage it, take Jason from the orthodontist to school for indoor soccer! I am thinking about mothers as engaging with eternal things, having the love, strength and skill to live the way of Jesus. We have had Tim and Terri, Ella and Sarah staying. I have seen the girls show their drawings to their mother, and heard Terri saying, ‘That’s wonderful Ella!’ That’s beautiful Sarah!’ They are given endless praise. I have heard a cry in the night and then footsteps coming from their parent’s room.’ They are given constant, tender care. Ella having come through major surgery, could have been a timid little one. Sarah being the sister of Ella who has needed special attention, could have been a resentful little one. But no. They are wonderfully confident, caring, happy little girls. They are growing up knowing the eternal love of God. Paul has been writing plainly about what it means to follow Jesus. Is he critical of the Philippians? Is he angry with the Philippians? Is he making the Philippians feel guilty? No. Listen to his concluding words: ‘So then my friends, how dear you are to me and how I miss you! How happy you make me and how proud I am of you! This, then, dear friends, is how you should stand firm in your life in the Lord.’ Paul loves and admires the people of Philippi. Through the weeks of my pain and disability, I have been in touch with the fine worship offered here, the good care given, the life of St Giles up and running. I have sensed your kind prayers for me. I have been loved through to this day. I thank you. Like Paul, I have a new understanding. Like Paul, I have been taken and led by the hand. Like Paul, I have a new engagement in the way of Jesus. I give thanks to God. |
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“When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.” Some years ago, probably to do with moving house, and therefore changing electorate, I received a letter advising me of my place on the electoral role, addressed to my correct name and address, but giving me the title of “Rear Admiral.” It turned out that the codes for Rear Admiral and Reverend where close together – and the mistake was soon rectified, though not before a colleague had enjoyed addressing me as “your warship.” This incident came to mind this week as I thought about Jesus being tempted with worldly wealth and title, and then things led on to another navy link – which I’ll come to in a minute. As we begin the season of Lent, remembering the time Jesus spent in the wilderness before he began his public ministry, Luke’s account shows something of the testing process Jesus went through before beginning his public ministry. Reading the gospel story, and having Charlie read it too, and talking it over with him, some new insights have opened on this event for me this week. One has been to imagine this time for Jesus as part of a recruitment and selection process, a comparison which was prompted (maybe accidentally) by an idea of Charlie’s, and jogged along by some experiences I have had over the past year. The thought that made the connection initially was minor, and I’ll come to it in a moment, the broader connection has been to do with a process I have been going through to be recruited into the Navy as a part time Chaplain with the Naval Reserve. It has been quite an extended process, starting with referees, going on through psychological testing (by the Navy,) theological checking (by a committee of Defence Force Chaplains,) vetting by the local staff of HMNZS Pegasus, and finally fitness checking. I have a letter from the Naval Surgeon in Devonport advising we all deteriorate from the age of 35, and therefore because of my age I am automatically considered unfit until proved otherwise. So I have recently had a cardiac assessment on a treadmill. That was interesting, especially when the nurse called for a doctor half way through, standing at the door and calling out that she wanted him to listen to a “funny noise” – there was the slightest of pauses before she added that the treadmill was squeaking! The doctor may have realised the potential for concern, as he did look at the monitor and assure me I seemed to be running OK even if the machine was not. That test being met, I have since been sent for an eye test (result – unfit for combat but might be OK to read prayers!) and this week have a booking for a full check up with another doctor. What made the connection for me with Jesus’ “recruiting process” was a comment of Charlie’s about what Jesus went through. One of the aspects that he picked up on was why the devil stopped when he did. Why did the temptations stop after three goes? He wondered if the devil saw what he was up against, became depressed, and gave up – figuring he could not win! Then we wondered what was it that determined the length of the test for Jesus, we are told he was in the desert for forty days, why forty days? A question for me also remains over what is meant by an “opportune time” - “When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.” Also, and an enduring question for me, what do we mean by this ‘devil’ idea anyway? In our reading from Luke’s gospel we have an account of Jesus wrestling with the devil, of Jesus being offered gratification of his immediate needs when he was hungry, being offered worldly power if he will but “fall down and worship” the devil and, finally, being tempted to put God to the test by seeing if angels would prevent him falling to his death. Each temptation offers an insight into the struggle Jesus went through. He must have been hungry, famished, be it a full forty days or a figure of speech meaning a long time, even a short period without food would surely have tested his resolve. Incidentally, regarding what qualifies as a long time, I’d now say it depends what you are doing – twelve minutes on a treadmill seemed an eternity! So we have Jesus tempted to end his hunger, and then even if the illustration of being shown “all the kingdoms of the world” is a deliberate exaggeration, I am sure the temptation was real. Jesus was clearly a charismatic leader, a man who drew people to him, people who we see later being ready to leave what they were doing and follow him. He could easily have been a leading figure in “the kingdoms of the world.” Maybe Jesus even considered the possibility that a show of his importance – being saved from certain death – would mark him out and guarantee a following … and rejected show for the substance of teaching and example. I cannot help think but of the terrorist attacks that have become almost daily news. What must the leaders of these groups be like? They must be powerful and attractive people who have people so inspired that they are ready to sacrifice even their own lives, dying for their cause. Jesus could have had a following like this, but this was not Jesus’ way. And yet perhaps the possibility was attractive to him, just for a while. Perhaps he saw the death that would come from his path, and wondered what his going to a criminal’s death would achieve. And he wrestled with the devil of these thoughts before he turned away to practice the worship of the Lord his God – and to show us how to do the same. As for the devil, there is strong biblical imagery, especially in the books we call the Old Testament, of the devil, Satan, as God’s counsel for the prosecution – a member of the heavenly court who puts things in the worst possible light, the voice which argues the case against God – or against what we see as good - not evil personified, but more insidious perhaps, with opportune moments great or small presenting themselves in our daily decisions. For Jesus, I can imagine him having an inner voice telling him he didn’t have to go hungry, to suffer, to die, and that this went on all his life, not just in the struggle we are told about. perhaps this wilderness struggle became a defining point, a time Jesus looked back on, drawing strength from the resolve he reached at that time, time when he countered the prosecution argument, and entered his judgement for God. An interesting point with the account of Jesus struggle is that it cannot be an eyewitness account. Jesus was alone, his struggle was a solitary one. So the very way the words have come to us shows that his disciples have also discerned something of the struggle Jesus underwent. Perhaps they saw something of Jesus struggling at later “opportune times” when he wondered at the progress he was making. Perhaps the words that come to us also bear witness to the fight the disciples came to know as they too were tempted to take different paths. In the end the disciples discerned the truth that Jesus had stood for in his struggle, they saw the way that led to life for all – and they too chose the way of Jesus. I am sure Jesus was tempted by what might have been, by what he could have done with the gifts he knew he had, and we celebrate his choice, and maybe find our own strength in his example, even as we remember what a costly choice he made. How do we respond? We will have opportunities also to decide whether to ‘worship the lord our God and serve God alone,’ to use our lives for good or ill, and if the question seems hard at times, we know that even God has had that struggle, in Jesus in the wilderness, and beyond. With Jesus we may become the ones who, in the words of the psalm, “live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty: we do not need to struggle alone. Thanks be to God. |
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Luke
5.1-11
‘I'm
just an ordinary man, I
find the story William read us this morning, Jesus with fisherman Peter,
particularly engaging. I
think because I so like Peter, Simon Peter, the protagonist. He
seems and ordinary sort of bloke. He’s
so very human! I
hear him, as he washes those nets, singing, ‘I’m
just an ordinary man who
desires nothing more than an ordinary chance to
do exactly as I please, to
live my life, free of strife, tending
my nets, sailing my boat, bringing
back all the fish that I can catch.’ -
I
think we have here a few ordinary blokes and blokesses. Hands
up if you think you might be one of them … ……… ‘I’m
just an ordinary man…’ We’ll
look more closely at Luke’s Simon Peter. -
He’s
a family man (remember how Jesus came to the aid of his unwell
mother-in-law)? -
He
tinkers a bit (seems quite happy pottering on the lakeshore, attending to
his nets, enjoying the company
of a mate or two – is there a blokes’ shed, I wonder?), -
And
he enjoys a spot of fishing. ‘I’m
just an ordinary man …’ …….. Peter
and his friend are at the lake, washing nets. Along
comes Jesus, who hops into one of the wee boats, Peter’s actually.’ ‘Would
you push us out a bit, Pete? Need
to talk to the people. Easier if I can see them all.’ And
so Peter does just that. He pushes his boat, with Jesus on board, out a
bit. Now,
Peter will have been feeling a bit tired. He
and his mates have been out all night, and they’ve caught nothing. They’re
probably thinking, ‘No fish … no money … no food …’ They
might even be a bit depressed. Is
that feeling you know a bit about yourself? Being
a bit down, a bit worried about things. It’s
getting harder to make ends meet, and the GST is going up, and will the
Super go up enough to match it….? Nevertheless,
good old Peter does as Jesus has asked. He pushes the boat out a bit. And
guess what! Jesus
then asks Peter to push the boat out even
further … into deep water, then
to let down the nets for a catch. Peter
does that too. ‘If you say
so,’ he tells Jesus, ‘I will let down the nets.’ Isn’t
it wonderful … Jesus is concerned that these men will have enough to
eat. Jesus’ concern for them is as much for their physical well being as
for their spiritual! He knows they need a few more fish. He
hasn’t said, ‘Hey, come along to the synagogue and I’ll offer a wee
prayer for you.’ He
hasn’t even suggested these fishermen might do better if they upped
their church going. And
isn’t it wonderful too …
Peter is able to take up Jesus’ suggestion, confident that all will be
well. ……….. Now,
the deep water. We
know fishermen generally threw out their nets in the shallows. You
and I often choose the shallows too. It
feels safer, doesn’t it, to stick to what we are familiar with, than to
venture out further. I
recall the years it took me to find the courage finally to give away my
teaching job – and all its inherent security.
I think those close to me thought it would never happen. I
recall the very real inner struggle of a woman wanting to sell her home,
so to pool resources with her whanau. She
spoke often of her financial security and of her desire to retain it. She
spoke of her need for her own space, and her desire to retain that too. Of
course we know the old saying ‘Take care not to get yourself into deep
water.’ Be
careful, don’t go any further than you know you can safely manage. Deep
water can be scary, can be difficult to handle. Taking
a risk is not often in our nature … perhaps even less in the nature of
Presbyterians! Sticking
with what we know, routines we know, sticking with doing things the way
we’ve always done them... How
often have you, finally having ventured into a deep water place, looked
back with great satisfaction and happiness, knowing you have come into a
place of deep satisfaction. Of
course this might be in a relationship, or at work, or in something for
which you have long hoped and dreamed. The
woman who sold her own home is now relishing the rich blessings of living
in community. With
her family, she has developed a new confidence. With
Jesus alongside, Peter and his friends grow in confidence. With
Jesus alongside, we too grow in confidence. Charlie
and I reflected a bit around this: Deep
water, as in water that is deep, and I, are not compatible. Partly because
I’m vertically challenged and also because I’m not a good swimmer. Some
time ago, I took swimming lessons with However,
the other deep water, as in throwing oneself into, is a different story.
I’ve
always believed that you should throw yourself in the deep end and by
doing so you LEARN to swim. It’s the only option. When
I opened my music store some years ago, I had no money. I sold my old
Vauxhall car, cashed in an insurance policy, which didn’t net me a great
deal, and leased a shop in a new arcade. The rent was $480 per month
which in those days was quite a lot. I had a great confidence and,
in those days, my faith was in my own ability. There was no thought of
failure. That was throwing yourself in the deep end but the risk I
took gave me a deep satisfaction. I was doing something I loved and
had wanted to do for some time. My
shop ran for 28 years before it became a Musicworks store in 2001. In
the story of Simon Peter and his partners, I see they had a great faith
and a great trust in Jesus. He challenged that faith. The
fishermen could have said, ‘No, we’re fed up, we’re tired, we just
want to go home and have a sleep’. Most people would have. They
didn’t. They threw themselves in the deep end metaphorically speaking.
It could have been the worst decision of their lives and everything could
have turned to custard. It was a big risk but their faith was
greater. That great faith brought them to a place of great enrichment, of
fulfillment and personal discovery. Not
bad for a bunch of modest fishermen. But
back to Peter and the others – in their deep water. …
‘they caught such a large number of fish that the nets were about to
break’. They
needed their mates to come and help with the pulling in! This
was no one person effort. This
was a coming together, a being together in the deep water sort of effort,
this was about community. The
fish they caught were enough for everyone , and more! ……… What
happens next? “When
Simon Peter saw what had happened, he fell on his knees before Jesus and
said, ‘Go way from me, Lord! I
am a sinful man!”’ Poor
Peter has trouble accepting the Good News. Poor
Peter feels unworthy. Is
there a bit of Peter in you, do you think?
Have you heard yourself say, ‘Oh, you shouldn’t have.’? It
has been said, ‘the rough moment for the atheist is not bad news, but
good news.’ We
do not always find it easy to take on board the unearned, unconditional
love of God. We do not always understand it, let alone easily embrace its
gift to us. Peter
and the others were amazed at the large number of fish they had caught. Jesus
said to Peter, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will be catching
people.’ Charlie
shared about this: This
story is about ordinary people like you and I---as Margaret said
“blokes and blokesses” It’s
about fishermen casting their nets to catch fish. It’s also about Jesus
casting his net to catch people. The word ‘catch’ bothered me
because it conjures up an image of a fish trapped in a net or an animal
caught in a trap. Catch can also mean to seize or capture. I don’t
think, in fact I’m sure, Jesus didn’t intend to seize or capture
anyone. I
liken Jesus casting his net, to a mother hen gathering her chicks under
her wing to a place that is encouraging, enfolding, supporting and safe. A
place where it’s good to be. A place where it’s comfortable. As
people who have been gathered in Jesus’ net, we know that place. ‘I’m
just an ordinary man …’ Today’s
story, so rich, so full of what really matters, so
filled with the Jesus story
(another ordinary-but-special sort of bloke, I suspect) takes
place not in some precious building, not
in some holy or set apart place, but
on a lake, in
the open in
the midst of ordinary everyday life. Isn’t
it interesting, Jesus hasn’t challenged Peter to go off and become a
rabbi, or
even a carpenter! Jesus
is quite content that Peter be a fisherman, an
ordinary bloke, and
in the ordinariness, invites Peter to ask himself: What
deep waters might be calling me? What
risk might I need to embrace if I am to become the person God is wanting
me to be? ‘I'm
just an ordinary man, ……………. What
have we been hearing? I
think that once again we have been hearing God’s interweaving of sacred
with ordinary, divine with domestic
- don’t you? Once
again we have been discovering the simple, yet rich gift for us of the
Godstory. And with that discovering, we will go on knowing we can embrace whatever the future might have for us. |
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Luke
4.21 – 30
I
think life can sometimes be a bit tricky.
We
think we’ve got things sorted, everything’s are ticking along quite
nicely and
bang! the unexpected happens. Plans
go out of the window, our once smooth life-map has developed a wrinkle or
two. Some
twenty years ago my family all disappeared to distant university towns. I
planned for time on my own. I
moved to a smaller home. Little did I know! I’m
now adept at emptying the
spare bedroom. The
room attached to my garage has developed ever expanding sides; right now
it looks more like a bike shop than a store room. I
am enjoying having my daughter home again. Last
week I promised myself to stop counting reappearances. How
do we respond to the unexpected, to events not previously entered into our
‘cosy life’ diaries? Where
does challenge fit in our scheme of things? Over
my front fence is a very active Bowling Club Today
they have an open day. On
Wednesday this invitation appeared in my letter box. (show
invite) It reads: ‘If
you thought lawn bowls was for stuffy old nanas, think again ...’ ‘forget
the whites ... jandals and bare feet are fine ...’ -
I
think I’ve told you before about the pristine white hats which in a
strong nor’wester arrive in my garden.
I
am trying to imagine what else might now appear. My
friend, thoughtfully remembering my recent back surgery, asked me if the
invitation might be my opportunity! I
explained to her that for now, I prefer gardening. It
might not always be easy – but I’m not ready to give up. -
I
think the gardeners amongst us will understand what I am saying. I
think I am coming to better understand that what we choose for ourselves,
and what we don’t but which comes anyway, cannot always be separated, that
comfort and challenge do not always live in separate houses, that
our pathway through the convenient and the stretching is often braided. In
my reading this week one sentence in particular took my attention.
It
went something like this: ‘Christian
churches should not be comfortable clubs of conformity but communities of
loving defiance.’ (Ronald
Sider) ‘Communities
of loving defiance’ – strong stuff. Comfort
and love and challenge all rolled into one - again! Now,
many of us are parents. We
have discovered that the nurturing of open and independent young minds is
not always straightforward. Young
people can see things from a different perspective - and often they are
right! Have
you ever found in hindsight this ‘different perspective’ nudging and
persuading you, growing you on? Have
you, like me, said sometimes in hindsight, ‘Thank God for those little
nudges.’ What
does our faith have for us? This
morning’s Good News comes from the great storyteller, Luke. A
good story, of course, gives comfort, to children especially. Shall
we, you and I, look forward then, as we hear from Luke, to sitting back in
some comfort? Perhaps
not. I
want to suggest to you that a great story has also another dimension. A
great storyteller knows the power of a story to move us, to grow us on
from one place to another. I
see Luke’s Jesus dealing to tameness, dissolving domestication,
suspending silence. Strong
stuff again!
This
morning we find Luke planting Jesus right at the heart of the religious
tradition of presenting
Jesus returning to his hometown, Some
writers have noticed Luke’s apparent lack of concern for historical and
geographical accuracy. One
has pointed out that if, as Luke says, Luke,
never having visited the place, was not to know any more than we do the
actual geography of Luke’s
concern is for theology rather than geography or history. Luke
offers us God’s story as Luke, storyteller, chooses to reveal it. But
I digress … The
Good News continues. Jesus,
local lad recently come home, read from the scroll: The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me … The
people, many of them family and near family, have listened. They
have liked what Jesus has said; all has appeared to be going well. The
local lad has, at least seemingly, proved himself. We
might imagine them patting one another on the back: ‘This
is good stuff … we’ll be okay …he’ll do for us …you think
he’ll stay around a bit …?’ Then
they listen some more. The
lad begins to offer words which surprise, radical words. They
become upset. They
had been expecting as friends and family, a bit of preferential treatment. Jesus
tells them that foreigners, Gentiles will come ahead of them! Jesus
has made some unrealistic demands. He
has come disturbing the comfort. The
self-assured have their feathers ruffled; suddenly, comfort has become
vulnerability. Jesus’
understanding of God, of religion does not match that of his audience. He
tells them that God has not only miraculously cured Naaman, a Syrian
leper, but has also given food to a poor Zarephath widow! What
point then in being a Jew? What
point in keeping all those commandments? Jesus
has failed to offer what they wanted to hear. He
has failed to act as they wanted him to act, and,
Luke tells us, the people reacted strongly. When
they heard Jesus’ words ‘they were filled with anger.
They rose up, dragged Jesus out of the town, and took him to the
top of the hill … they meant to throw him over the cliff.’ ! What
do you make of that? Perhaps
you have come to mind a time when you have reacted in haste rather than
responded with due consideration. I
do; I carry a bit of regret. It
is easy to allow the comfort of stability to stand in the way of the
challenge, and possible discomfort of change, isn’t it. So,
where to from here? What
are we to make of this challenging Jesus, this
leaping-the-boundaries-of-acceptable-behaviour sort of Jesus? What
do we make of Luke’s words? We’ll
return a moment to the sentence which took my attention last week: ‘Christian
churches should not be comfortable clubs of conformity but communities of
loving defiance.’ (Ronald
Sider) ‘Communities
of loving defiance’ – strong stuff. Comfort
and love and challenge all rolled into one - again! It
has been suggested that living the Jesus way means embracing biophilia,
all that supports love and joy and enjoyment, and
resisting necrophilia, all that
robs of life, oppresses, abuses…. You
will know that such living can take us to scary places. You
will recall from Trevor’s reading, Jeremiah hearing from God that things
would break down before being rebuilt. You
might recall a time in your own life journey when you have looked back and
said, ‘Yes, it was a rough time … but I have come through it.’ Many
are wondering all the ‘whys’ of the ...
We have seen the young woman pulled alive from the rubble after two weeks. When
the people heard Jesus’ words, they were filled with anger.
‘They rose up, dragged Jesus out of the town, and took him to the
top of the hill … they meant to throw him over the cliff’ ‘but
he walked through the middle of the crowd and went his way.’ Jesus
walked through the middle. Unafraid,
he embraced the challenge. as
you and I embrace challenge. You
and I know at the heart of Jesus’ ministry the inclusive, all embracing
love of God, not
always comfortable, not always easy, but
always welcoming, extravagantly
welcoming, and together we will embrace it with courage and confidence. |
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Luke
4.14-21
‘Three
strikes and you’re out!’ What
do you make of these words? They’re
a part of a bill proposed by the Act party. ‘Three
strikes and you’re out’. If
you step too far outside the law three times, we’ll lock you up and
throw away the key. We
are in the midst of the liturgical season of Epiphany. Epiphany,
manifestation, showing .. What
do you think is being shown here? What
message comes to you through the words ‘Three strikes and you’re
out.’ ‘Three
strikes and you’re out!’ It’s
a catchy phrase, rolls easily off the tongue. Catchy
phrases linger. People like
them; they stick. You don’t
need to think too much. -
Perhaps Rodney Hide’s a bit smarter than we thought. Last
week I ran into a former student of mine. He
was working in a supermarket. His
whole face beamed, he stood upright. The uniform suited him well. I
congratulated him on his job. He
told me he had some responsibility around others. He
said, ‘You never thought I’d make it, did you.’ ‘I
wasn’t exactly an angel when you last knew me.’ I
had to agree. I
remember the great holes in his learning, the struggle with uniform, the
aggression, I
remember the discipline system not really working for him – or for a
number of others in my fold. I
remember setting up something more appropriate. ‘You
never thought I’d make it, did you.’ -
‘And
by the way, I’m living with a new family. We get on really well.’ Three
strikes and you’re out … the epiphany … and this morning’s
reading. A
bit like a modernist bunch of flowers, don’t you think? Unexpecteds
coming together, striking a chord somewhere, inviting us to sit up and
take notice. And
perhaps in the taking notice discovering new thoughts of our own. Jesus
returns to ‘We
knew his Dad, you know.’ He
comes to the synagogue – one of ours. As
anticipated, and in line with local practice, he stands up, so declaring
his willingness to read. He
is chosen. He
reads from Isaiah, and then sits down. (It
was quite normal for Rabbis to be seated as they taught.
Jesus was not finished. He
was just beginning!) The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me, 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. He
continues: This
passage of scripture has come true today as you heard it being
read. -
A
stunned hush. ‘Today … has
been …’ Words
from history have been unhitched, Jesus
brings them home to his people. Once
on the outside, now they are inside
… here … now … What
is this man offering? Jesus
is offering a world of new dimensions, pointing
to a world where patterns of thinking and behaving modelled on power and
on hierarchies will give way to something different. Who’s
in and who’s out is not for us to manage. Who’s
in and who’s out is God’s business. The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me... he
has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives ... We
have a task to do; we must count people in,
not out If
we read on, we see that soon the people will become restless, angry even. -
Jesus’
own think he’s bragging a bit. And
the religious authorities - this is certainly not what they want to hear. This
young carpenter from He
is choosing at the beginning of his public ministry to begin the way he
will go on. Of
course we know that in Jesus’ world an option for the poor was a
dangerous option. The
poor had always kept the affluent, maintained
the comfortable stability of society as it was. Seems
this man is not planning just a gentle ruffling; he’s planning a
complete makeover! ‘Three
strikes and you’re out’ You
know, in 2001 our prison population was around 4000. In
2009 it was almost 9000. I
am told that Garth McVicar speaking at a recent Rotary gathering in a
rather well-heeled part of Do
you find that a little disconcerting? Is
it a measure of the ‘in’ and the ‘out’ in our world? I
read that even in these economically stretched times only half of our
country’s richest one hundred families pay tax on the top rate. 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. This
passage of scripture has come true today as you heard it being
read. Jesus
redefines family. Jesus
reminds us of a place where difference is welcomed, and diversity valued. God’s
household, all that which is made after God’s likeness, the whole of
creation, a Good New place. There
is no in and no out; all are in! All
are loved. All
are of value. How
do we show we value? Of
course, here at St Giles we are experts! The
Love flows freely. We
love, and we are loved we
understand the loving of different people differently, each according to
their difference, each according to their particular need, today
and every day. I
think the storyteller we know as Luke has given us something valuable. This
story is not one about some other place at some other time. Luke
has Jesus telling us This
passage of scripture has come true today as you heard it being
read! The
agenda of the God of freedom, the God we know, is written new every
morning. We
have opportunity, Albeit
sometimes an uncomfortable one, we
have invitation, perhaps
not always the invitation we would want to receive, and
it arrives every day! ‘Three
strikes and you’re out’; seems to me a bit like an after-the-event
sort of approach. Do
we pray for a pain free world, or
that we might engage more fully with the inevitable pain of the world. Do
we live the story on the inside, or
on the outside? Do
we decide who’s ‘in and who’s ‘out’ … or is that God’s
business? What
shall be our Epiphany showing? The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me... he
has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives ... Jesus
has unhitched the words, the Love. It’s here for the catching. |
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John
2.1 – 11
On
Tuesday I enjoyed the If
you’ve never come along, you don’t know what you are missing. As
folk were arriving I heard someone say: ‘We
don’t seem to have as many sandwiches as usual.
I hope there’ll be enough!’ I
glanced along the row of tables. Should I dash out and buy some more? Yes,
there were gaps where plates of food might be. I
decided not to worry; the savouries were yet to come from the kitchen. It
is never known how many people will turn up, and I’ve never seen any one
go away hungry. It
was not long before the seats were filled.
The
tables were groaning with food! And
you know what?
When it came time for people to go home, some left with plates
piled almost as high as those which they had brought along a couple of
hours earlier! Isn’t
St Giles a great place to be! Aren’t
we fortunate to understand community in the Jesus way. ............. Jesus
went to a wedding in He
took five disciples along with him. His
mother, Mary, was there too. It
was not long before the wine ran out. Was
it because he took his friends along? We
don’t know. Was
it because everyone was having such a great time? We
don’t know. Perhaps
you have had such a thing happen for you when you have had people over. Perhaps
you have had occasion to be anxious that the food and drink you have
prepared might in the end be insufficient. I
remember being in the lower pecking order of having six brothers and
sisters. when
my mother said ‘F.H.B.’ I would wonder whether I would get in the end
even to taste the raspberries, or the lemon chiffon pie! -
Of course I understand now why she said it. Hospitality
mattered to her, as indeed it mattered much to the first century Jews. To
have insufficient food to offer guests was a terrible embarrassment. It
pointed inadequacy. Jewish
people are very hospitable. Such
embarrassment in early What
does God have for us in this morning’s story? Notice
this is an ordinary, down-to-earth sort of family situation that Jesus
finds himself in. As
this is an ordinary, down-to earth sort of situation in which we live our
faith. Jesus
appears at a wedding. Jesus
is in a place where many are gathered. Jesus
is at the heart of local community. Village
weddings were for everyone. The
celebrating probably went on for a whole week! Villagers
sang and danced as the newly married couple made their way from the
ceremony to their new home. They
did not then go away on honeymoon; they kept open home so all might come
and visit! What
does God have for us in this story? When
the wine had given out, Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no wine
left.’ How
did Jesus respond? ‘Woman,
why turn to me? My hour has not yet come.’ Do
you think he was being a bit offhand? One
commentary tells me that far from being discourteous, Jesus, in addressing
his mother as ‘Woman’ is, in fact, was using a title of respect. But
what about his apparent lack of enthusiasm to deal with the situation in
hand? You
might have come to mind one of your own being a bit less than forthcoming
when asked perhaps to tidy a bedroom, or put out the bins. Did
you have that feeling of ‘couldn’t they do a bit more about the
place?’ Notice
– Jesus, despite his apparent lack of enthusiasm, quietly engaged with
the task. Notice
too, Mary’s confidence that he would do so! She
told the servants ‘Do whatever he tells you,’ It
seems she knew something we sometimes struggle to know. Six
stone jars sat in that room – there to hold the water for the ritual
cleansing before the meal. Each
held about 100 litres. Mary
was quite confident that Jesus would come up with another six hundred
litres of wine! That’s
a lot of wine, even if there were a thousand people at the wedding! So
why so much? Of
course, we know that intoxication was not the aim of the game. It
was Jewish custom for wine to be mixed one part with two parts water. And
in Jewish writing, exaggeration is used to make a point. What’s
going on here? What
is this story in john’s gospel all about? We
have a story about God’s plenty. We
have a story about God’s generosity. It
takes place in a place where people have come together for a celebration. Jesus
was no party-pooper. He
was quite at home in a celebration. He
loved to be amongst people and
here, amongst people, he chooses to offer God’s plenty. In
an ordinary place, in
the sort of place you and I enjoy as we gather here, the
sort of place you and I will return to at the close of worship, in
a humble home in
a place where people come together Jesus
chooses to remind us of God’s generous love. We
have seen in the papers and on the television the reports from the
terrible earthquake in We
have seen women, and men and children stunned by what has taken place,
overcome with fear. In
a heart-rending story, the The
New York Times reported on the scene in The
tiny bodies of children lay in piles next to the ruins of their collapsed
school. People with faces covered by white dust and the blood of open
wounds roamed the streets. Frantic doctors wrapped heads and stitched up
sliced limbs in a hotel parking lot. The
poorest country in the In
response, the world is mobilising. Whole
nations are coming together in support. The
United Nations, despite losing so many of their own, are there. People
from wealthy nations are there and
people from less affluent places are also there, alongside. God’s
love sometimes offers challenge. God’s
love is sometimes paradoxical. God’s
love is sometimes uncomfortable. But
God’s love is always plentiful full
of promise, for
celebrating in places where people gather, all
people, any people, you
and me the
unfortunate people of people
we know and
those we have yet to come to know. In
a humble village home amongst
ordinary people at
a family gathering Jesus
came alongside. The
celebration went on. At
a wedding in Cana of Galilee in
a building on the corner of in
our homes and our community -
the
celebration goes on and
in a tiny nation on the other side of the world the
sign is offered and
the celebration will go on. Thanks
be to God. |
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The Call to WorshipWe
come, making our way into 2010. We
come, remembering with us our companion, Jesus. We
come in wonder and in thankfulness to worship God. Hymn
243 Love came down at Christmas
The
Gathering Last
Sunday afternoon I officiated at the wedding of Samara and Rob McCaw. Samara
is the daughter of Lance and Chris Cottam. Rob
is an officer in the RNZ Navy. The
venue was the garden at Mona Vale. The
bride, with her father and bridesmaids, arrived in a punt. The
women were gracious and elegant carrying white parasols.
There
was a pathway for the bride to walk to her waiting groom. Chris.
sprinkled beautiful rose petals for her daughter to walk upon. I
am thinking about Chris, preparing the way, making the way beautiful, for
her beloved daughter. I
am thinking about John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus, whom
he loved. It
is in that spirit we worship God. Hymn
642 Born in the night
Prayer God
of promise, God
of great love, God
of good news, We
bring in our hearts our distress, concerning
everything that’s unfair and unjust, concerning
everything that’s unkind, hurtful, cruel. We
bring in our hearts our thankfulness for
everything that’s good, beautiful and true, for
everything that’s generous of heart and of mind, for
everything that brings a happy smile to people’s lips. Let
us go into this new year, offering
grace, offering love, preparing
the way for Jesus our
good companion. WordMatthew
3.1-6 Hymn
671 Let there be light
When we came to Christchurch, Lesley found she often needed the car. I needed to get to see people. I bought myself a motor-bike, a red Honda 50. On of the Elders suggested a particular lady who had troubles, might appreciate a visit. When she came to the door, I introduced myself, ‘I am John Hunt, the new minister.’ She looked at my helmet in my hand and the motor-bike at the gate and said,’ ‘You’re not a minister. A minister doesn’t ride a motor-bike!’ And she closed the door! John the Baptist urged everyone, ‘Turn away from your sins, because the kingdom of heaven is near!’ What comes into mind when you hear the word ‘sin’? Maybe you think of the seven deadly sins: Who knows the seven deadly sins? They are pride, avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony and sloth. I think sin is more than the seven deadly ones. Luther said –sin is anything that comes between us and knowing God’s love for us. We can have attitudes that come between us and knowing God’s love for us. I think about the woman who shut the door on me. Her attitude concerning a minister riding a motor bike, meant she could not enjoy the love of God I had for her. Her attitude came between her and knowing God’s love her. At Chris Bowen’s wedding, I remembered visiting the Bowen family on my motor bike. I gave Chris and Richard, aged about eight and ten, rides on the back around their lawn. Their mother was running alongside, ready to catch them if they fell off. I remember everyone’s delight and laughter. It may be the fun with the minister on my motor bike that day, nurtured Chris in the faith in which he lives today. That summer, an older man I knew came along to the evening worship. I had called on him and his wife several times. The next week his wife phoned me. ‘My husband won’t be going to church again. He doesn’t believe in a minister wearing shorts.’ It was a shame. His attitude concerning what a minister should or shouldn’t wear, meant he could not enjoy the love of God shared in the evening worship. His attitude came between him and knowing God’s love for him. Last Friday on my walk I met a woman along our road. I introduced myself. She asked, ‘Are you related to the Hunt family in the Hororata Church?’ I said, ‘No, I am not.’ She said, ‘We didn’t like the sexual orientation of the vicar. We left.’ I have met the vicar. I like her name, ‘Mary Giles.’ She’s a fine person. It was such a shame. The woman’s attitude meant she could not enjoy God’s love in Mary and in the Hororata churchpeople. Her attitude came between her and knowing God’s love for her. Mary comes from the U.S. I have a relative in Darfield, my father’s cousin Jean, who is ninety-two. Auntie Jean has adopted Mary as another daughter. They give each other a lot of pleasure. God’s love dances between them. Relatives of Chris Bowen’s wife Janna, from Dublin, spoke to me of their deep sadness concerning priest paedophiles and bishop cover-ups. Many of them can no longer go to Mass. The attitude of the Church hierarchy toward the people has come between them and knowing God’s love for them. I have been talking about people’s attitude toward a minister and vicar and the attitude of some priest’s toward the people. I tell these stories because they are of my world. Of course something coming between people and God’s love concerns more than clergy! My father had a good friend, Jimmy. They went fishing together. They laugh ed a lot. One day something happened between them My father would have nothing to do with Jimmy again. My father was slow to forgive. Some years passed. My father learned, Jimmy was dying. He went to see him. They both cried. My father’s attitude had come between him and Jimmy and meant the end of their friendship. My father’s attitude had come between him and knowing God’s love for him in Jimmy. John the Baptist said, ‘Turn away from your sins because the kingdom of heaven is near.’ Maybe he is saying –Turn away from those attitudes that come between you and God’s love for you. Turn away from those attitudes toward people that come between you having love for one another. ‘For the kingdom of heaven is near.’ For God’s love in Jesus, for God’s love in people, is very near. We just need to be free to embrace the love. We just need to let it happen. I think about Chris Cottam spreading rose petals for her daughter the bride to walk upon. In this new year, let us spread rose petals for one another to walk upon.
In this new year, let us walk on rose petals someone has spread for us. |
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The Call to WorshipWe
come on this first Sunday of a New Year. We
come on our life journey from one year to the next. We
come acknowledging 2009 has ended and 2010 is beginning. We
come remembering God’s love with us through all the years. We
come celebrating God’s love will be with us in the year ahead. Hymn
46 O God our help in ages past
The
Gathering Happy
New Year everyone! I
invite you to greet your neighbour, ‘Happy New Year!’ Welcome
to any visitors among us. Welcome
to this place of remembering the past, celebrating the present and
embracing the future. Welcome
to this place where we engage in the timeless love of God. Welcome
to this place of peace of mind and warmth of heart. In
wonder we worship God. On
Christmas Eve in Melbourne, it was raining. Tim
and Terri had bought a trampoline for their little girls. They
hadn’t realised it is so big! It covers a third of their lawn! They
hadn’t realised it is so complicated and would take so long to assemble! Here
they were, the girls oblivious in bed, good parents, out in the rain,
wrestling with the trampoline! Jesus
didn’t stay tucked up in the manger. Ella
and Sarah didn’t stay tucked up in their basinettes. The
little ones call from us costly love. It
is in that spirit, we worship God. Hymn 225 Infant holyPrayer
God of endings and of new beginnings. We look back over the past year, the pain and the pleasure and we remember your love with us. We look ahead to the new year, the fears, the promise, the challenges, and we know your love will be with us. We are thankful for one another, companions on our faith and life journey through good times and bad, in the year past, as we will be in the year ahead. So we dwell in your love for us in the peace and in the pleasure of the present moment, in the spirit of the baby in the manger, crucified and risen. Word
Matthew 2.13-15 Hymn
232 The Virgin Mary had a baby boy
Reflection ‘We were there too-oo.’ The sheep and the cattle saw God’s love in the baby in the manger. They were telling me, God’s love comes for every person and for all creation. Isn’t the nativity scene beautiful? The baby in the manger, with Mary sitting alongside and Joseph standing; the rough shepherds from the hills and the elegant wise men from the east; and in the back-ground, the sheep and the cattle. Maybe you were part of a beautiful Christmas scene yourself: sitting around a table with people dear to you, everyone smiling and happy. So we end the year singing carols of peace and good-will, giving and being given presents, everyone laughing and glad. Sadly the beautiful manger scene doesn’t stay the same forever. ‘An angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and said, “Herod will be looking for the child in order to kill him. So get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you to leave.”’ The poor wee man was only a few days old when the king wanted him killed. The shepherds and the wise men have gone. It is no longer a happy scene. It is a frightening one. Sadly we are no longer ‘making a merry noise unto the Lord’ at worship on Christmas Day. We are beginning another year of good times and bad. What are you feeling about the year ahead? Are you anxious about what it might bring? Do you see ahead pain and disability? Do you see ahead sorrow and distress? Do you see ahead an unhappy relationship? What does God have for us? The king is wanting the baby Jesus killed. People in power feel threatened, then and now. People who are not well-off are vulnerable, then and now. The baby Jesus’ life is in danger. You and I are in danger of one thing or another. What does God have for us? An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, warning him. The Lord is watching over the holy family with love. Mary and the baby have the care and protection of Joseph. Can you picture, Joseph gently waking Mary, whispering, ‘We need to get away from here. An angel came to me in a dream. Herod is out to kill Jesus.’ Can you picture them, Mary tearful, wrapping the baby warmly, Joseph packing up their few things, Mary getting on the donkey… Do you sense the love? Joseph’s love for Mary and the baby. Mary’s love for Joseph caring for them. The situation is awful but the love is real. What does God have for us? We will have our troubles. That is the human condition. We don’t expect to be spared problems. The Lord is watching over us with love. In the midst of the troubles will be great love. I am thinking about our wee Ella. When she was born, tucked up in her basinette, she was surrounded by admiring parents and grandparents even across the sea. She didn’t stay a beautiful little baby in a basinette. Soon she was having major surgery. It was an awful time for her, for Terri and for Tim. I asked Tim, ‘How are you and Terri handling it?’ He said, ‘We are just crying.’ Last year she had further surgery, attending to a hole in her heart. When she came home, her younger sister Sarah asked her, ‘Can you run fast now?’ I think looking back, they would say, while her surgery was an awful time, it was a time of great love. Ella didn’t stay a fragile little girl recovering from surgery. On Christmas Eve her parents were out in the rain assembling a trampoline for her and for Sarah. This time loving their little girl, not in her need, but in her strength and in her delight. The love will go on, in bad times and in good. We will not be overcome. We will have gladness. ‘A new year is at hand. We cannot tell what it will bring. If it brings peace, how thankful we shall all be. If it brings continued struggle we shall remain undaunted. In the meantime, I feel that we may all find a message of encouragement in the lines which, in my closing words, I would like to say to you:-‘I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown”. And he replied, “Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the hand of God. That will be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”’ May that Almighty hand guide and uphold us all.’ King George VI Christmas Broadcast 1939. The
Offerings
The
Celebration of one year ending and another beginning. We will celebrate the passing of the old year and the beginning of the new. I have a prayer from Scotland for you. The
sacred Three: To
save To
shield To
surround, The
hearth The
house. The
household. This
eve, this
night, and
every night, every
single night. Hymn
Auld lang syne (C.D.)
The
Benediction Give us this year the courage to live the life that we would love, To postpone our dreams no longer, but to do at last what we came here for and waste our hearts on fear no more. |
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