Candlemas

 

 A Sonnet by  Malcom Guite: Candlemas

 

They came, as called, according to the Law.

Though they were poor and had to keep things simple,

They moved in grace, in quietness, in awe,

For God was coming with them to His temple.

Amidst the outer court’s commercial bustle

They’d waited hours, enduring shouts and shoves,

Buyers and sellers, sensing one more hustle,

Had made a killing on the two young doves.

They come at last with us to Candlemas

And keep the day the prophecies came true

We glimpse with them, amidst our busyness,

The peace that Simeon and Anna knew.

For Candlemas still keeps His kindled light,

Against the dark our Saviour’s face is bright.

 

The feast of Candlemas that we celebrate today comes at a significant time in our country’s struggle with the pandemic. On Tuesday we marked and passed the heartbreaking number of one hundred thousand lives lost in this country and over two million worldwide. ‘Who can compute the sorrow?’ our Prime Minister asked, which, although an unusual turn of phrase, as his vocabulary often is, focused attention on the countless people who are also grieving loved ones who have died. I am not at all sure that sorrow – or joy – can be computed, but I imagine that only a computer could quantify the sheer human cost if it could somehow be assessed on a spreadsheet of miserable graphs as on the “next slide please” brought forward by the well-meaning Professor Chris Whitty.

Candlemas marks the end of the season of Epiphany, this bittersweet celebration reflects on the sadness and hope of the characters in the story. Anna had been a widow for over seventy years, a long time to be alone and waiting – who can compute her sorrow? - Simeon, also a great age patiently going to the temple, daily looking forward to the Messiah; Mary for whom this would have been a great and joyful occasion presenting her child to God in the temple, hearing how Jesus was destined to cause division amongst his own people and to die. The hope of the season of Epiphany and its revelation of the light of the world now turns towards the road to the cross. The cross points through death to the hope of resurrection, a glory yet to be known, good news for all people.               

In the service the blessing of candles or our lights in our houses expresses the hope of the light of Christ permeating that darkness, overcoming death, suffering …

Taking Root

By your Grace
we are forgiven,
in your peace
our lives are lived.
By your touch
we know healing,
in your strength
are we made whole.
When this is forgotten,
our focus on self,
your face obscured,
forgive and restore.
Take our mustard seed of faith
and let it grow,
take root
and blossom
in our hearts and lives.
Through our Saviour
Jesus Christ
and in no other name
do we ask this. Amen

John Birch

100,000+ deaths

 

It’s staggering. Too much. I tried to write a blog about it, but words failed me. They still do, really, but with 1,720 further deaths announced yesterday, I thought I should try again. 100,000 people. This virus is not under control.

The Archbishops – Justin of Canterbury and Stephen of York – have written a letter to the nation, inviting us all to reflect on the enormity of the pandemic. It's hard not to. Enormity is a very good word in this context. Every one of the 101,887 people who have died within 28 days of a positive Covid test is part of someone’s family or friends. We were reflecting on it already, your Graces, it is a terrible situation. Yes, “We also believe that each of these people was known to God and cherished by God”.

The Archbishops are suggesting that people of faith and of no faith “call on God in prayer”. We are already praying. I am not sure how people without faith can realistically pray to a God they don’t believe in, but maybe they will. Justin and Stephen affirm that “Prayer is an expression of love”. That is something I can identify with, and our prayer can be in remembrance of loved ones, in solidarity with the bereaved, prayer for those who strive heroically to support, heal and save others.

The Archbishops’ message is remarkably all-embracing, inviting the whole nation to reflect and pray whatever their beliefs, and I warm to that vision so much. I often wish the churches would come out of their shells and be more clearly there for everyone. In this time of great sadness, in a situation which will not improve sufficiently for a considerable time, we all need to know that there is hope and that we can stand together despite the failings and setbacks which we experience.

 

A prayer from the Church of England website, supposedly for use by children, but surely suitable for all ……. “Unless ye become as little children…..”

God of love and hope, you made the world and care for all creation, but the world feels strange right now. The news is full of stories about Coronavirus. Some people are worried that they might get ill, others are anxious for their family and friends. Be with them and help them to find peace.

We pray for the doctors and nurses and scientists, and all who are working to discover the right medicines to help those who are ill.

Thank you that even in these anxious times you are with us. Help us to put our trust in you and keep us safe. In Jesus’ name. Amen

 

 

A New Psalm of Lament

A Psalm of lament and praise in a time of coronavirus

How shall we praise you, Lord, our God?
When we are locked down,
how shall we praise you?
When the doors to your house are closed,
and your people cannot assemble?

When those desperately in need of money and work
cannot even wait in the market-place?
When we have to circle round people in the street,
and to queue for shops maintaining safe distance?

When we can only communicate
by hearing on the phone,
or seeing on the screen;
or digitally messaging,
or even just waving through a window?

When we cannot meet our parents and children,
grandparents and grandchildren,
or other family members and friends?
When we cannot touch them in their flesh and blood,
to know they are really alive?

How shall we praise you?
How, like Thomas, shall we not see yet believe
that your son is raised among us?
How shall we praise you?

How can I praise you, Lord?
Are you still the same loving God,
coming to us in our sufferings
and opening up the way to new life in Jesus?

Lord, I will try to praise you..
I will try to keep myself and others safe.
I will work to pray for them
and seek to help in whatever way I can.

Lord, when I cannot pray or worship
help me be aware of all your people
and your saints and angels
surrounding me,
lifting me up.

When I feel alone,
let me feel you near me,
even if only for a moment that enables me to go on.
Let me hear you say
“Peace be with you”.

Lord, I will praise you.
Let all the peoples praise you.

Based on the lament by the Revd Kenneth Howcroft 

A prayer for times of isolation

 

 

‘For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come… will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Romans 8:38-39)

 God of heaven and earth,

in these times of isolation,

apart from loved ones

distant from friends

away from neighbours

thank you that there is nothing

in all of creation,

not even coronavirus,

that is able to separate us from your love.

 And may your love that never fails

continues to be shared

through the kindness of strangers

looking out for each other,

for neighbours near and far

all recognising our shared vulnerability,

each of us grateful for every breath,

and willing everyone to know the gift

of a full and healthy life.

Keep us all in your care. Christian Aid Prayer  

Going through my Books

  

Annmarie writes: I am presently cataloguing my large collection of Early Children’s books ready to pass on somewhere. This collection started when I worked in the Library of Congress. It struck me just how many of the books had an underlying Christian message if not a very overt one.

 

 One of the books in my collection is by Isaac Watts. All of us in our various churches will be missing our hymn singing and we may wonder why. Hymn singing and church music really runs deeply within our soul. Isaac Watts, who wrote over 600 hymns declared,

“while we sing the praises of God in his church we are employed in that part of worship which of all others is the nearest akin to heaven...”

 He and his family were Dissenters  and had been imprisoned for their non conformity. The congregations in his time predominantly sang just the psalms of David as many hymns caused great controversy especially those by Watts because of their theological perspective. It’s hard to understand now when his hymns like “when I survey the wondrous cross” are so much part of our heritage.

 

Isaac Watts was employed by Sir Thomas Abney as tutor for his young children and for whom Watts wrote his Divine And Moral songs for children in 1715.  Sir Thomas was Lord Mayor of London in 1700 and a founder member of the Bank of England. The Abney family worshipped as Anglicans as it would not have been possible to hold high office if you were a non-conformist! 

 

We still sing some of Watts hymns today amongst then are:

O God our help in ages past

Jesus shall reign

Joy to the world.

 

The illustrations are taken from two very early editions of Divine Songs

 

“Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul my life my all”

 

 

The Wedding at Cana

                                           

                                  Paolo Veronese The Wedding at Cana  That's a crowd!

Our Gospel this week is about the wedding in Cana that Jesus and his friends attended.

We were blessed last year at All Saints by having the opportunity in December, just between the two lockdowns, to celebrate with Shurti and Shope their wedding. Although there were all the restrictions on numbers attending, wearing masks and a lot of hand sanitising and virtually no hugging, the wedding was amazing, joyous, colourful and very celebratory. Their wedding really showed us all how much joy there can be even in these very challenging times.

Jesus’ friends celebrating in Cana were not so fortunate. The wine runs out. This story can speak to our lives at this time of lockdown as we may feel that in many ways our spiritual ‘wine’ has run out. The sense of the celebration and enjoyment of life has evaporated. Perhaps each of us could tell a story about that.

                                    Julius Schnorr vin Carosfeld The wedding Feast at Cana 1819   

When the wine runs out, we may be tempted to look for a substitute by working harder, doing more, or – worse – giving in to wallowing in a loss of hope. Don’t reach for the bottle, for “running out of wine” can be a new beginning and makes straight the way for miracles to happen. In our emptiness we can ask God to fill us with newness. As at Cana, Jesus steps into our lives bringing hope and filling us with love, that spills over so that we can share this love with others.

Go Peaceful in gentleness: a Northumbrian Prayer

 

Go peaceful
in gentleness
through the violence of these days.
Give freely.
Show tenderness
in all your ways.

Through darkness,
in troubled times
let holiness be your aim.
Seek wisdom.
Let faithfulness
burn like a flame.

God speed you!
God lead you,
and keep you wrapped around His heart!
May you be known by love.

Be righteous.
Speak truthfully
in a world of greed and lies.
Show kindness.
See everyone
through heaven’s eyes.

God hold you,
enfold you,
and keep you wrapped around His heart.
May you be known by love.

 

Unity

 

President Joe Biden stressed his vision of unity at his Inauguration. The United States’ name implies precisely that, but it is now in short supply it seems. With “patriots” having stormed the seat of government, incited by the then-president, there is a very uncertain situation in the land which prides itself on being a bastion of democracy.

Unity is often very hard for human beings to embrace, isn’t it? We have our own disunity in the United Kingdom (that verbal implication again) with strong views based on nationalist perceptions at the centre of our politics, not helped by the divisive exit from the European Union (another verbal implication of unity).

                                            Triptych Church Unity by Hazel Lemon 2000

The Church of God sadly cannot claim to be united. We are praying for Unity during the annual Week of Prayer (18-25^th), and we work together to present the service. Even on the Zoom it is an opportunity to meet others and share in a slightly different form of worship, focusing on justice and harmony in the world. Ideally every Christian available would join the prayer for unity, but it tends to attract mainly enthusiastic representatives while many appear to have little interest or concern. Maybe most of us just stick with what we feel comfortable with, when really we need courage and fresh vision to change the divisions in society and in the household of God.

Oddly enough the Pilgrim Fathers (and a few mothers too, I am sure) who left Europe for a new life in a new land were from England, where they could not fit in with the – er – Church of England. Of the time, that is….. They moved to Leiden, in the Netherlands, and settled for several years in that great town which was very tolerant toward them. Unfortunately, after a while they felt that the Dutch were too tolerant of many things they did not believe in. So they left for the New World via England. The rest is history. And, perhaps, legacy.

The hope of unity in faith or politics currently feels very uncertain. We live in turbulent times. What can we hope for? What should we pray for? We all tend to think we are right. That’s why we see things as we do. But can we not accept that others have at least some truth, that we do not have all the answers, and there may well be a way forward if we can continue to walk together. Isn’t this what Jesus is implying in saying “Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you”? It’s very difficult, but without love and prayer we cannot move towards understanding and unity. That takes spiritual strength, as Jesus showed in forgiving those who nailed him to the cross, and we need to find mutual understanding and shared visions of the future if we are to live in any sort of harmony.

 

So we lift our gazes not to what stands between us,

but what stands before us.

We close the divide because we know to put our future first,

we must first put our differences aside.

We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another,

we seek harm to none and harmony for all.           Amanda Gorman

Jonathan Sacks reflects on Prayer

 

Nerine found this passage on prayer and the news by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Once I tried an experiment by showing an audience a sheet of white paper, with a black dot at the centre, and asked them what they saw. With only one exception they replied, ‘A black dot’. I then pointed out that the dot took up less that one percent of what they were looking at. They had missed, discounted, or ignored the white sheet of paper that gave the black dot its place. As soon as they realised this, we began to understand why the media so often present a distorted view of the world – why bad news is news, while good news rarely is.

 

The information that surrounds us is all too often a litany of disasters – wars, famines, crashes, crimes, the clash of politicians and fear for the future. Those who argue for more good news are often accused of being naïve, or sentimental, of wanting to whitewash over pain and suffering and corruption that exists in so many parts of the world.

 

The simple explanation is that news is like the black spot on white paper. If the paper were black, we would not even see it. Bad news is news precisely because so much of life is good. Lawbreaking is noteworthy only because the vast majority of people are law-abiding. Corruption hits the headlines only in countries where honesty is the norm. The very fact that bad things are noteworthy is the most telling evidence of the fundamental goodness of our world.

 

This, for me, is the power and necessity of prayer. Prayers of thanksgiving bring to the foreground what is usually in the background. They are acts of focussed attention on the white paper without which we would not notice the black dot. They remind us that without the dominance of kindness, we would be indifferent to cruelty. Without faithfulness, we would be unmoved by betrayal.

Around us everywhere, flooding us with its light, is the dazzling goodness of most of creation. Order instead of chaos, diversity not monotony, the brilliant colours and intricacy of the natural world and the hundred acts of human grace for every one of gracelessness. The majesty of faith is that it teaches us to see what exists, not merely what catches our attention.

 

What makes us human is that we are capable of seeing existence whole, the landscape of beauty that forms the backdrop against which we notice the ugly, the cruel, and the unjust. Prayer, not the press, is what makes good news.

 (Extract from ‘Celebrating Life: Finding Happiness in unexpected places’ by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks)

Outrageous Forgiveness.

 

The Americans have a strange tradition that an outgoing President can forgive anyone he chooses as he leaves office (they have always been “he”s – so far). Donald Trump appears likely to issue a lot of pardons in his last hours. There is even talk of him pardoning himself, although that must be difficult for a person whose attitude is that he is always right.

I remain amazed that many of his followers appear to identify as Christians, but perhaps there is one respect in which I can see a lesson for us all. God pardons, God forgives. The Gospel which we believe is that we are forgiven. That is an issue which outrages Jesus’ critics. When he heals a paralysed person who, in desperation, is lowered through the roof for healing Jesus’s first words are forgiveness – without even asking what the sins are. When the prodigal son returns after wasting the family’s money on a massive bender, his brother is shocked that their father welcomes him back.

Our faith tells us clearly that we are loved, accepted, forgiven. When we turn to God and repent we are welcomed into glorious fellowship with the divine. It is the Amazing Grace of which the great hymn speaks, where John Newton comes to repent of trading human lives in slavery. Grace is about underserved forgiveness, not about justice. It is outrageous – forgiveness is so available: do we value that? Are we even conscious of needing forgiveness?

As life changes across the pond, I hope and pray that the undermining of truth, incitement of hatred and violence, and nationalistic posturing will end. And that people of faith may concentrate on the love and forgiveness of God, seen supremely in Jesus’ life and teaching and sacrificial death. For our own lives, may we forgive others as we also need forgiveness, and be more aware at what cost we are restored to connectedness to God.

Another hymn which comes to mind is To God Be The Glory, which speaks of the coming of Jesus and the revelation of his glory, especially in accepting death on the cross. Some of the words feel pertinent now: “The vilest offender that truly believes that moment from Jesus a pardon receives”. It’s very tempting to think of someone else as the vilest, especially when they really do seem – er – pretty vile – but St Paul in the Bible points the finger at himself and at a time of presidential pardons we should all remember that we need outrageous forgiveness.

 

Memo from God

Good morning,

As you got up I watched and hoped you would talk to me. Just a few words about the day ahead, perhaps, or about your night?

But I noticed you were busy showering and selecting the right clothes. I waited again, hoping to hear from you. When you ran around the house collecting papers, setting up for the day ahead, I knew there would be a few minutes to stop and say hello, but somehow you never slowed down.

I longed to tell you that I am with you and could help you accomplish more than you ever dreamed possible if you would just spend some of each day with me. At one point, you waited fifteen minutes in a chair with nothing to do. That would be a good time to catch up but you were thinking about the person that you had had a bit of a row with.

Then I saw you spring to your feet; I thought you wanted to walk and talk to me, but you picked up your phone and called a friend. That connectedness was wonderful and good for both of you and I was there with you both in the conversation and listening.

I watched go for your walk and waited patiently as my wonderful creation greeted all your senses but your mind was so full you seemed to notice nothing of my love surrounding you. The day carried on with so many activities, some of which were amazing and helpful and some which really seemed to get you nowhere and I noticed how you kept on telling yourself how incredibly busy you were. Can we talk? Will you listen?  

At the end of the day there was still more time left, and I hoped that we would talk but you turned on the TV;  and seemed to watch what ever came on. Surely you will talk with me about the News there are so many difficult things going on, we could talk them through together!

At bedtime you were totally tired. After you said good night to your family you picked up the Bible with the study notes, then glancing at the passage you told yourself it was too demanding so you put it aside and fell asleep. I had so much wanted to be part of your day. We could have had so much fun and accomplished so much together.

I love you so much that I wait every day for a thought, prayer or thanks. Well, maybe tomorrow! I'll always be there be waiting.

Your Friend, God

 

Doing Nothing

 

There is a Japanese man who makes a living by renting himself out “to do nothing”. He has garnered an enormous following online and thousands of clients. For £70, plus expenses for travels and meals, you can rent Shoji Morimoto, 37, from Tokyo but he will not do anything except “eat, drink and give a simple response”.

 

Morimoto first offered his services in June 2018 after posting a tweet that read: “I offer myself for rent, as a person who does nothing. Is it difficult for you to enter a shop on your own? Are you missing a player on your team? Do you need someone to keep a place for you? I can’t do anything except easy things.”

Apparently he originally offered his services free, Morimoto now has to charge to reduce the volume of requests and to discourage time-wasters. He sees three or four clients a day, and has been there for people 3,000 times since he first launched his service!

The most frequent  reasons that he is hired are boredom, loneliness and just to be listened to. He has also had lunches, posed for photographs on Instagram, accompanied someone filing for divorce, caught butterflies in the park and listened to health care workers struggling with their work. One time someone even paid Morimoto to take him from the hospital to revisit the spot where he had attempted suicide. He told the local newspaper  “I’m not a friend or an acquaintance. I’m free of the annoying things that go with relationships but I can ease people’s feelings of loneliness. I personally don’t like being cheered on by other people. It bothers me when people simply tell me to keep persevering. When someone is trying to do something I think the best thing to do is to make it easier for them by staying at their side.”

Morimoto is married and has a postgraduate degree in physics from Osaka University. In less than three years Morimoto - who used to work in publishing but left to “do nothing” - has published books about his career choice, inspired a television drama and acquired 270,000 Twitter followers.

One of his clients posted online: “I'm glad I was able to take a walk with someone while keeping a comfortable distance, where we didn't have to talk but could if we wanted to.” Another wrote: "I had been slack about visiting the hospital, but I went because he came with me."

Although this ‘doing nothing’ may sound initially hilarious or even ridiculous, you can see that it is in fact a very useful service that he can give, that he can be with people, accompanying them and in many ways this is a profoundly spiritual thing to do. Are we called to accompany people by listening, walking with or being there for them, giving our time?

A prayer that we may wish to use for someone we know ….

Circle of love
surround ……
May your love well up within….

Circle of healing
surround ……..
Circle of protection
Surround ….. with your eternal safety.
Give ……courage and strength
To live always in your love.

Nathaniel

 

“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” says Nathanael in today’s Gospel (John 1.43-51). A very interesting response to two people who announce that they have found the Saviour prophesied in the sacred Scriptures!

This remark about Nazareth suggests an attitude of prejudice against all people from that town, indeed from the area away from the sensible, in-touch part of the nation in which Nat lived. “In touch” because he lived there… And he has his pride in haughtily dismissing the idea that anything meaningful for him could possibly come from such a backwater. Pride and Prejudice, then.

It’s very easy to be uncommitted and questioning, to be cynical about the things we are told. And it’s true that a healthy scepticism is not always a bad thing in a world of conspiracy theories and phishing. We live in an age of cynicism and uncertainty, but what if to find the truth means putting our assumptions and fixed ideas to one side? Nat did respond to the invitation to “Come and See”.

Jesus sees Nat and immediately recognises his integrity and fundamental goodness. Nat is overwhelmed and realises that this person from Nazareth really is something good from an unexpected source. He finds faith, seeing a glory which ends his cynicism.

Jesus also promises that there will be greater things; “heaven opened and angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” It is an image which speaks of finding hope in God, of knowing that the link between this world and the next is there in Jesus. It speaks of transcendence, of a form of life greater than this world has to offer, of fellowship with the Divine, of life in the light of God’s love and salvation.

In this time of lockdown we can become sceptical about the way the situation is being dealt with and about God’s presence when we are faced with this threat to our well-being and life. We should not allow ourselves to have that automatic response which suggests that it is all hopeless: “Can anything good come from…… this?”. We cannot afford to go into a spiritual lockdown. Faith in God means that we are invited to know that God’s presence in our lives and our world brings us into the transcendent, heavenly realm of fellowship, in a community of life and hope.

 

Snow

 

Here’s a photo of All Saints in this morning’s snow. I think it looks rather lovely or is it really rather forbidding?

Snow can look so attractive, and I am sure that we were all dreaming of a White Epiphany. Yet when it causes inconvenience, not to mention chaos, our enthusiasm can wane very quickly.

This cold snap reminds me of a line from the hymn “Thy Kingdom come, O God” where halfway through we have the opportunity to sing the line “By countless deeds of shame, we learn that love grows cold”. It’s not the most positive sentiment, and if we sing it I find myself wondering what the author intended. Or what he had experienced.

This weeks’ report from Ireland about the orphanages where the children of unmarried mothers were kept in shocking conditions, resulting in many extra deaths, makes one realise that love was in short supply. It was more about judgment on the mothers and their children, it seems, while the men or boys just disappeared. Another horror story about faith gone wrong, of love gone cold.

In the 1980’s there was a song called “You have placed a chill in my heart”. The Eurythmics describe an abusive relationship, and the need to “leave that ‘love’ behind”.  Sadly, we are very aware that a lack of love in early years can cause grief in later life, and abuse makes trusting and committing very difficult.

The disunity of the Christian church is another example of love gone cold. We are called to be one in Christ, but history got in the way, and placed a chill in many hearts. Nowadays we try to work together to give care in the community, and we have moved away from the suspicion and heresy-hunting. And yet the world sees the lack of unity, and it does not inspire faith. Jesus prayed that we would be one “that the world may believe”.

Our service of Prayer for Christian Unity takes place on Wednesday week, 27^th January at 7.30pm. I am preparing it now, and I hope that you can join us for this Zoom service which is entitled “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit”. As fruit needs the warmth of the sun, our wintry hearts need thawing to recognise one another as brothers and sisters within the warm, intense glow of the love of God.