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

Programme for Music for a Summer’s Evening

Events, Special Services

Thank you to all those who have bought advanced tickets for our concert tomorrow night at St Nicholas’ Church, Worth, thus helping us work out the amounts for catering and drinks.

Feel free to still come along on the night though, as there will be something for everyone (musically and culinary !). Adult tickets are £8 including canapés and Pimms, children can come free (sweets and juice provided).  You can phone 07044 326819

Here is the Music for a Summer’s Evening Programme so you can see in advance what is being performed and print it for yourself (although copies are available free of charge on the door).

Refugee Tales – the photos

Pewsheets

The Refugee Tales was a unique walk, organised by Gatwick Detainee Welfare Group following the North Downs Way from Dover to Crawley via Canterbury along some of the paths that were taken by the Canterbury pilgrims many centuries ago.

Participants reflected on the many long and dangerous journeys that refugees make fleeing war and persecution, seeking a safe place to live. Walkers joined either for the whole 80 mile walk or part of it over a few days.

One of the stops along the way was our church, St Nicholas’, Worth where we provided welcome refreshment.

Photos by Chris Orange.

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

Two Parish Magazine Errors

Pewsheets

Dear All,

If you have got your copy of the new Parish Magazine (June-September) you will find two mistakes in it.

Firstly, the Come and Sing Musicals has the wrong date on the poster on page 19 (although it’s shown correctly elsewhere). You can come and sing musicals with us on Sat 19th September.

Secondly, the crossword is not supposed to be so fiendish. Clue 12 is impossible since I took out the book review to which it refers ! The answer to Clue 12 is Parkinson.