Pewsheet for 6th March 2016

Pewsheets

Click here for the pewsheet for the week beginning Sunday 6th March 2016, the Fourth Sunday of Lent and Mothering Sunday.

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From the Rector…

Pewsheets

I sometimes wonder if anyone reads these contributions to the weekly pew sheet.

Last week there was encouraging confirmation that you do when, on coming in to St Nicholas’, I was greeted by an overflowing basket of chocolate bars with an invitation to take one. And later in the day a parishioner randomly offered me a chocolate sweet. That’s at least two others journeying though Lent as part of the 40acts.org.uk community.  Thank you both and all those others whose random acts of kindness are contributing to the transformation of lives this Lent.

Today’s Old Testament reading is set in Gilgal – the place where the Israelites camp when they have crossed over the River Jordan at the end of their 40-year journey to the Promised Land.  It served as their base of operations during the initial conquest of the Holy Land under Joshua.  As you read this (on Sunday morning) I shall be close to the very spot (although the exact location is disputed between two sites near Jericho) meeting with rural Palestinian communities in what is called “Area C” (about 60% of the West Bank where Israel carefully controls any Palestinian construction).  Tomorrow I go to Gaza, sometimes called the largest prison in the world – so don’t be too jealous at the thought of me on a Mediterranean beach!

Please pray for me and this fact-finding visit with Christian Aid.

Anthony

From the Rector…

Pewsheets

The reading from Genesis this morning gives us an example of the honest and direct conversations that Abram (and Abraham, as he is to become) has with God.  He is able to express his deepest hope and desire (and have a little moan at the same time!).  Abram’s trust in God’s response is “reckoned … as righteousness”.

Notice that Abram doesn’t do or try to prove anything to God, nor promise anything in return.  He simply believes and trusts and that is enough to secure his citizenship in heaven (to use St Paul’s phrase) – notwithstanding the very earthly focus of his desires.

This week we have been urged to think deeply about what it means to be a citizen (“subject”, actually) in this nation and how (or whether) that is compatible with membership of a wider European family – and the varied answers to such deliberations will feature heavily in the press between now and June.  As the debate rages, perhaps we could challenge ourselves to think what our own reaction to it says about our deepest desires and hopes?

What is it we really want for ourselves, our community … our parish?  Does that reveal us as citizens of heaven, or are we still in need of Jesus’ transforming power?  Do we have the confidence to speak honestly to God about it?  And, will we trust in God’s response?

Anthony

Pewsheet for 21st February 2016

Pewsheets

Click here for the pewsheet for the week beginning Sunday 21st February 2016.

Tip: If this, or any other, PDF document opens at too large a size, here’s what you do:

  1. Open Adobe Reader, for example, by opening a *.pdf document you have on your computer.
  2. From the Edit menu, click Preferences.
  3. With Page Display selected in the left hand list of Categories, on the right hand side of the window, choose a Page Layout and Zoom level that suits you, for example Single Page and Fit Page.
  4. Now any time you open a PDF, it will open at this zoom level.

From the Curate…

Pewsheets

I preached a couple of weeks ago about a how genuine encounters with God will change us; and that genuine encounters with God only happen when we give Him space in our lives.  Hopefully, as you read this we have successfully arrived as a family in Cornwall – to a flat rented for church workers to have space and time with God away from their ministry.  Space to spend time in reading the scriptures, in prayer and in some (but not guaranteed!) silence.

I have read that Waterloo was won in the classrooms of Eton – meaning that our officers had formed the right habit to lead well. So also, as Christians we must form the right habits in order to live Christ like lives.  Jesus’ response to his three tests in the wilderness shows that he had formed the right habits – for he responds by quoting scripture and awareness of the Spirit.  Jesus’ ministry is defined by this knowledge of scripture and prayer.  Perhaps this Lent we might give God space (maybe start with 15 mins) by reading a short passage and then praying each day – then we might be better equipped to face the trials of life.

Steve

Pewsheet for 7th February 2016

Pewsheets

Click here for the pewsheet for the week beginning Sunday 7th February 2016.

Tip: If this, or any other, PDF document opens at too large a size, here’s what you do:

  1. Open Adobe Reader, for example, by opening a *.pdf document you have on your computer.
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  3. With Page Display selected in the left hand list of Categories, on the right hand side of the window, choose a Page Layout and Zoom level that suits you, for example Single Page and Fit Page.
  4. Now any time you open a PDF, it will open at this zoom level.

From the Rector…

Pewsheets

Although the earliest date possible for Easter is 22 March,m that last occurred in 1818 and won’t happen until 2285.  In 2008, Easter was on 23 March, and we’ll see that again (not!) in 2160.  By contrast, another 28 March Easter (as it is this year) is only 11 years away – although that’s just about within the time-frame that Archbishop Justin Welby hopes for an ecumenical agreement on a fixed Easter date.

Disagreements about the date of Easter in the early church led to the Council of Nicea (in 325AD) deciding that Easter should be on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox.  Why?  The full moon is linked to the Jewish festival of Passover – which was the time of Jesus’ crucifixion.  Eastern and Western churches still have different dates for Easter because the former use the Julian calendar to calculate the date, whereas the West moved to the Gregorian calendar following a papal decree in 1582 (although, not being keen to be too slavish to continental Europe – sound familiar? – the UK waited until September 1752 to change).

In England we actually have a (1928) Act of Parliament providing for Easter to be on the first Sunday after the second Saturday of April – but it has never been implemented.  All that is a long-winded way of observing that Easter is early this year so we only have one Sunday of “ordinary time” (green as the liturgical colour) between Candlemas and Lent.

So, from Wednesday, will you take the challenge of doing an act of generosity or kindness each day?  Go to www.40acts.org.uk  and join the movement.