Clergy

The Associate Vicar writes…

Clergy

Scheming, intrigues, unscrupulous, maybe feisty characters: today’s gospel reading has it all.  Mark presents us with the power games of first century Palestine; power games which are not unlike the kind we enjoy watching in TV dramas or plays. Shakespeare made a living of telling these stories.  We enjoy watching these because they amplify what we see and hear in real life.  Over the past weeks we have seen the power play between Europe and Greece as the latter’s debts unfold.  We are not expecting any of the grisly consequences John or Amos faced for calling out the powerful for their sinfulness but experience time and again how power tries to silence truth.

We are faced with a choice.  Mark presents us with two models of kingdom and power. Our own which sets out a dichotomy between winning and losing and God’s by which we win everything by losing everything to be free to love and serve unselfishly.  It’s our choice which one we want to follow.  Its effects are wholly of this world.

Only yesterday we celebrated St Benedict of Nursia who inadvertently set up the first monastic community: A community which still exists today and which has also shaped our own parish with its Benedictine community at Worth Abbey.  Benedict fled the intrigues of his time to live a life that eschewed the power games of this world to fully submit to God’s kingdom.  As it continues to shape our world we hopefully can follow as pioneers of God’s kingdom drawing others with us as we welcome all as beloved children of God.

James

The Curate Writes…

Clergy

In the past few weeks the headlines have been dominated by two terrible acts of violence – a white supremacist gunman entered a Church Bible Study and shot dead 8 people and then an Islamic terrorist murdered 38 tourists on a beach (30 of which were British).  And this coming week will mark the 10th anniversary of the 7/7 London Bombings. At 8.49am three bombs were detonated on three tube trains and almost an hour later a fourth bomb was set off on a bus in Russell Square, 56 people lost their lives.

As a serving police officer at the time, the events of 7/7 and its subsequent investigation changed me forever. It was from the amazing privilege of leading a body recovery team into the tube tunnels that in the darkest place I found the light of Christ dimly (I have to say) shining, but nonetheless shining.  It was this recognition of God’s presence in the darkest places that convinced me to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.  Yes, it is always shocking the capacity of cruelty that a human being can show towards another human being, but I firmly believe that our capacity to love one another (as Jesus taught us) will always outstrip our capacity to harm each other.

The stories of hope and a defiance to carry on that have emerged (and which we remember this Tuesday at Morning Prayer 8.30am at St Barnabas’) from 7/7 should inspire us to love more rather than retaliate in hatred, as will, I pray, similar stories from Charleston and Tunisia in years to come. The pain is too sore right now and the time is to grieve. It is often in this pain that God uses our weakness (as Paul writes) to make us strong if we place our trust and hope in God.

Steve

The Rector Writes…

Clergy

The profile of the parish has certainly been raised this week. Last Sunday we welcomed around 120 of the Refugee Tales pilgrims on the final leg of the walk from Canterbury to Crawley. As noted in the pew sheet there are some wonderful photographs of them arriving and enjoying refreshments in the churchyard. Several people have written to thank us for the hospitality.

On Monday, Steve played in the quarter finals of the Church Times’ Inter-Diocesan Cricket Cup. Chichester clinched victory against Lichfield (last year’s champions) off the last ball as Steve caught out one of their bishops (adding to his previous wickets). The match report is in the Church Times.

Then on Thursday came the news that a photograph from our Facebook page (of the inaugural Messy Church service in Maidenbower) had been chosen as the Church of England’s “photo of the week”.

And on Saturday, the Music for a Summer Evening concert enchanted a packed St Nicholas’. Some of these are more prominent / public than others (just as in today’s gospel passage there is a contrast between Jesus’ public and private actions) but they all have an aspect of sharing our “present abundance” (in St Paul’s words).

Another way in which we share our present abundance in responding to the needs of others is through the ministry of our Pastoral Assistants. They are a group who have been commissioned (after training) to share in the pastoral care of parishioners (whether regular members of our congregations or not). Their work is sometimes public and sometimes private – if you or someone you know would like a visit at home or an invitation for fellowship at one of their monthly tea gatherings, please speak to one of the clergy.

Every blessing

Anthony

The Associate Vicar Writes…

Clergy

I love a good storm – as long as I am dry and safe in a well built home that will weather whatever nature hurls at it.  There is nothing better than watching the force of nature unleashed, from a safe distance.  However that’s not where the disciples are.  They are in the midst of it – right out in the middle of Lake Galilee with no protection against the wind and the rain.

Probably the same way those who understood Jesus felt when he talked to them in parables. Their world had become quite a stormy place after Jesus spoke about God’s kingdom. It’s not an easy place. It’s a place where we are challenged, where the things we thought we knew don’t cut it anymore.

National media was full of the Church of England’s next storm about its teaching on marriage as Jeremy Pemberton’s employment tribunal began this week.  In our parish we have weathered storms over centuries and they reappear in different forms and on different issues.

Jesus calms the storm ! And it didn’t even need faith on the part of the disciples. If they had trusted Jesus they could have been spared much distress but they chose to panic. We all fall into that trap, but hopefully we can call on Jesus without panicking.

But we need to be out there in the storm in the first place. Just watching from the outside, from a safe distance, means that we’re not involved in the issues that really matter. Only when we as individuals and as the Church, engage in that which matters can we understand how Jesus calms the storm.

James

From the Rector…

Clergy

It was with a thankful heart that, on Wednesday, I took the Maidenbower Service Register out of the safe and watched Steve write the entry for Messy Church (over 40 present) below my previous entry “Closing Service”. It was poignant that the Messy Church service took place in the same room in the Infant School that had hosted the worship of The Holy Family (the ‘church plant’ in the newly constructed neighbourhood of Maidenbower). Our thanks to the Infant School for facilitating the initiative.

On Friday, sitting with three others at the “Chat & Pray” held in Stepney’s Café, I gave thanks for that gathering that ‘held the baton’ of our church’s presence in Maidenbower, week by week, since it was built. To me it is important, and I pray that it is so for the people of Maidenbower, that we have that record of faithfulness and long-term commitment to them and the community. It might not seem much … but then neither does a mustard seed.

Thank-you to all who have and will nurture this new plant through prayer and practical support. May it grow into a mighty tree, like the noble cedar of our Old Testament reading. For those not fortunate enough to have seen the cedars of Lebanon, the image Ezekiel evokes can be brought to mind by looking at the cedar in the St Nicholas’ churchyard. A noble cedar providing shelter for all reminds me of the desperate plight of Palestinian, Syrian and Iraqi refugees in Lebanon today – and so to our parish’s little ‘mustard seed’ of social witness in providing a welcome and hospitality to the Refugee Tales walkers at St Nicholas’ next week. Can any of you help us to welcome and show solidarity with those highlighting the plight of refugees in this country?

 

Anthony

From the Curate…

Clergy

Well, it has been quite a week and now ends with the celebration of the Patronal Festival of St Barnabas – whose name literally means ‘son of encouragement’. Encouragement is something we all need. I was trained to give constructive criticism to a work colleague by means of the ‘soft sandwich’. Words of encouragement – then the criticism – followed by more words of encouragement.

However, current corporate thinking is that in order for anyone to hear any words of criticism and change that the person giving those words must have encouraged their employee with seven pieces of praise.

Clearly, encouragement is important and this week I have been able to reflect as I approached my Ordination to the Priesthood all those who have supported and encouraged me along the way. There are too many to name in full but I will just mention two.

The first is Lizzie – my wonderful steadfast and beautiful wife. Lizzie signed up and has been on the adventure of our married life with its ups and downs. She has encouraged me at times and also sat in silence in my pain (sometimes when we share our hurt we are not looking for advice or a quick fix – rather just someone to sit with us in our pain). The second is Paul Voke. Paul was my mentor as part of the Barnabas (Encouragers) Team at my first Church. Paul helped me grow in my ministry with wise words of encouragement – a true Saint.

Let us this week try to build each other up with words of encouragement,

Steve

CONGRATULATIONS Revd Steve Burston !

Clergy, Special Services

On Wednesday 3rd June, five candidates including our Steve were priested in a moving service by the Bishop of Lewes at St Mary, Horsham.  Steve says thank you very much to those who went to support him and who have sent him cards.

Here are some of the photos taken by the Diocese of Chichester:

From the Associate Vicar…

Clergy

Trinity Sunday is upon us. A final Sunday of wearing white before we enter the weeks of green as we move into “Ordinary Time”.

To set the tone for the next twenty odd weeks of the Church’s year we are invited to engage in the many ways God interacts with us – the many ways in which we experience God. God as giver of life, God who sustains us, God who transforms us!

Plenty of food for thought for the next few weeks.

This year, the next few weeks aren’t quite so ordinary for our parish. Steve will be ordained priest next week on Wednesday and will celebrate his first Eucharist on Thursday at St Nicholas’. We wish him well for this exciting week and next step in his ministry.

Next Sunday we will also be celebrating St Barnabas’ Patronal Festival with a Parish Eucharist. It’s a special one as well – 60 years of serving the community in Pound Hill. At the service we will conclude our anniversary appeal and give thanks for the many gifts we have received. There is still time to pledge – up until the service – if you haven’t done so already. Cheques should be made out to Worth PCC. Please also join us for the Big Lunch after the service to which we would like you to also invite your neighbours to share in our celebrations.

Hopefully we can gain in confidence that in God we find a place where we are able to flourish. A confidence worth sharing with those we meet.

James

The Rector Writes…

Clergy

Today the Great 50 days of Easter conclude with the Feast of Pentecost (or Whitsun in the traditional language of the Book of Common Prayer). The final layer of the Easter mystery is revealed.

This is the day when the Church celebrates the fulfilling of Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide us in undertaking the Great Commission given as he ascended into heaven (to “make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”). It is, therefore, significant that our Diocesan Bishop has chosen this day to launch a new Diocesan Strategy. What better day to pray that the gifts of the Spirit will flow through our efforts to live out the challenge of re-envisioning ministry, promoting growth (spiritual and numerical) and serving the common good?

But it doesn’t stop there: the gift of the Spirit is something each baptised Christian receives, and along with it the Great Commission. As the alleluias cease, the Easter Greeting is no longer used, the Paschal candle is extinguished and we enter Ordinary Time (with its familiar “green” liturgical colour) we are also reminded that this gift is precisely to enable us to live out our vocation in the “ordinary” situations of daily life.

We have been empowered to witness to the Good News in a way that blesses those around us. You will have received a copy of the Strategy, a prayer card and a copy of Luke’s Gospel. If you have not read a whole gospel through in a while, why not take the opportunity to do so this week. It might prompt you to join members of the clergy team who will be hosting a Bible study after Morning Prayer throughout June (9 to 9.30, Mon-Sat).

Blessings, Anthony

The Rector Writes…

Clergy

The feast day of St Matthias, whom we hear about in the first reading today, falls on 14th May.  This year it was displaced a day (transferred in liturgical parlance) because that day was Ascension Day (a gold star for those that noticed the mis-spelling on the posters last week!) – Thursday last week.

Ascension Day is one of the nine “principal feasts” in the Church’s calendar and is the only one that can’t be moved to a Sunday which means that, given the pressures of work etc, it is often not observed as fully as the others (although the Roman Catholic Church has transferred it to a Sunday for just that reason).  We celebrated the feast in a service of Eucharist with hymns at St Nicholas.  The Day marks a crucial element in our Christian story as it celebrates Jesus being with his Father, at his right hand, making intercession for us.  In Christopher Wordsworth’s phrase, “man with God is on the throne”.

It falls 40 days after Easter and there used to be a practice in some places of extinguishing the Paschal (Easter) candle in the service on that day.  Common Worship, however, makes it clear that it is Pentecost (next Sunday) that marks the end of the great 50 days of Eastertide.  It is after Pentecost that we turn to ‘ordinary time’ (and take green as the liturgical colour).  The nine days between Ascension and Pentecost have a particular character of prayer and preparation to celebrate the outpouring of the Spirit – preparing us in our own day (and way and place) to be open to the power of that same Spirit.  This week please pray especially for the launch of the Diocesan Strategy next Sunday, in which we shall all share.

Anthony