2009 Thoughts from Nick
The December to January period is one rich in Christian tradition and meaning. IN the cycle of seasons we move from Advent throught Christmas to Epiphany, each with its own distinctive feel and flavour
Advent
One of the traditional ways in which the approach to Christmas is marked is with the lightling of candles on an Advent Ring. The emphasis is on timing and awaiting the approachign light of the new dawn. The sombre colours of hte first three candles contrasts with the rose coloured candle of the the fourth Sunday which honours our Lady, the mother pf Jesus, hearlding the dawn of a new chapter in history. A white candle in the centre for Jesus himself is lit when we celebrate the birthday of the light of the world with carolling, that is dancing in a ring.
Christmas
An Old English work for this time of year - 'Yule', simply means wheel, and derives from simple observation of the turn of the year. It is hard for us to imagine a civilisation without the principle of the wheel. It seems so obious and fundamental an invention as to be so easily taken for granted.Yet it is literally revolutionary. Mary's song the Magnificat is a song of revolt against false values.
The medieval mystic Meister Eckart in answer to teh quesetion 'Where can I find God?' said 'Where you left him!' PErhpas many did last thing of God at Christmas. It isn't too late to rediscover the divine principle, to turn roudn and move foward with God. This is a great time of year for a new beginning. Traditionally it was the time to get married - a celebration of the cosmic marriage of all things earthly and heavenly.
Epiphany
Epiphany is about the ever increasing circle. The birth of Jesus in an abscure corner of an Empire that is now old crumbling history is so provincial and parochial. But to be real the sotry had to be local and the ripples of that event continue to spread out in space and time. We share one small crowded planet with people of infinite variety, represented in Biblical legent by the sie men coming to the Christ Child. We live in a glocal village. AS much if not more than ever we need to be wide in our respectful embrace o fthose with different views than our own. Together we can form a rounded whole, a circle from wich no one is excluded.
NOVEMBER 2009 - Church Away Day - What is the Angel of your Church?
The first three chapters of the book of Revelation take the form of letters from the risen Jesus to seven of the early Christian churches. In the letters he finds, in the case of each congregation, something to elicit commendation, challenge and promise.
The picture of Christ described as the author of these letters is the precise inspiration for the image of the Lord which dominates our East Window. It is, then a particularly arresting question for us in Rusper ‘What would he write to St Mary Magdalene’s today?’
This underlying question informed a demanding but fun and imaginative exercise in which a good representative cross section of the adult congregation gave generously of their free Saturday to take part in at the beginning of last month. That exercise, part of the national Church of England initiative Growing Healthy Churches is a way into a process through which many congregations are finding fresh encouragement and positive direction. Such a ‘spiritual health check’ may well become a regular part of our church life, perhaps an annual exercise. It could take any number of different forms. What is essential is that the church fulfils its calling. While affirming the distinctive character and strengths of Rusper Church, we had the time to begin addressing some of our weaknesses and to identify some reasonable, practical aims.
The process did not begin or end with this Away Day, or simply with those who participated. Already a follow up meeting is to take place in the small hall of the village hall November 9th 6-8pm, and any are welcome to join us there.
At the risk of stating the obvious, the future of our church especially in such a time of uncertainty, relies on prayer – our relationship with God. Even a few minutes’ meditation focussing on our unique church window might allow God to speak to you
OCTOBER 2009 - THEY CAME BACK
‘Back to Church Sunday’, falling in October, is an initiative that has spread nationally throughout the parishes of England in recent years.
People stop coming to church for a huge number of different personal reasons. Probably more drift away almost without realising it, than deliberately turn their back. Among the latter it has to be admitted the church may well have given them a cause for grievance. Sometimes Christians and their structures and systems fail under pressure but equally some truly deplorable things have been done without excuse by the church – things that have carelessly trashed peoples’ fragile faith.
Back to Church Sunday represents a kind of amnesty on both sides; a pledge by the church to do better, a gracious willingness on the part of the lapsed to give it another go.
Rusper PCC has discussed this initiative and may sign up to it in future years. Meanwhile, it just so happens that this particular October gives us three particular reasons to make an extra effort to join together in worship. There are three saints’ days falling on the first three Sundays of the month this year.
What if these three had walked away from the worshipping Christian community?
It is hard to imagine a church without Francis, in touch with the environment, in love with the poor, embracing the marginalised or Wilfrid, for who else would have brought faith in Jesus to the stubbornly pagan folk of Sussex? Then there is Luke whose Gospel uniquely gives us such parables as for example the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son.
Each of these three maintained a vision that saw further than the failings and shortcomings of the church as an institution and without such visionaries in every generation even their gifts to the church could so easily have been twisted or atrophied into just one more religious order, Franciscanism, rather than the beautiful light touch of playful Francis himself, or into Romanism, rather than the awesome splendour of soaring cathedrals and heavenly music. Even Luke might be the subject of dry dissertation rather than celebrated as the timeless storyteller and travel guide to the Christian journey that he is. It so easily might not have been. Both Wilfrid and Francis at one time or another fell seriously out of love with the church. Thank God they came back. Others will too - thank God!
But it would be dishonest of me not to add that there is an added incentive to come to church this month. Our statistics obsessed, money driven church asks every parish nationally to record attendance figures throughout October as a typical sample. Well, true; churches with pews packed every Sunday with ‘fully paid up’ members may be a sign of spiritual commitment.
Those ‘powers that be’ in whose hands the future of our village church lies have already commented with concern at Rusper’s attendance figures, despite these having shown some growth in more recent years. If they can’t read the signs of spiritual vitality other than in numbers so perhaps we need to spell them out, by as many as possible making a special effort to attend services during this month.
AUGUST 2009- If the gusto[!] with which they are repeated is anything to go by, then my intuition is that the creeds of the church do not much excite the average worshipper.
A number of people over the years have told me they don’t even join in with the creed, or that they leave bits out, because they either don’t understand or don’t feel they can really believe what is said.
The official statements of faith we call creeds have evolved as an expression of the faith of the Christian Church, much more than any one individual’s understanding of it, so not only do I not worry if someone is struggling with part of it, I welcome the fact that they are engaging with the claims of faith.
The great 4th Century theologian Saint Augustine struggled too. Trying to complete his work on the subject of the Trinity, and getting nowhere, he went for a walk on the beach. It was deserted, but for one boy up ahead who was running towards the waves and back again. When he got closer he observed that the boy was building a dam with bucket and spade in the sand. ’What are you doing?’ asked Augustine, to which the boy gestured towards the vast expanse of the ocean and holding up the bucket he had filled so many times from the sea announced ‘ I’m going to put all that water into my dam!’ It then dawned on Augustine that this was precisely the kind of impossible scheme he was in effect engaged him and set him free to accept the limitations of his understanding and contemplate the mystery.
So what are creeds for? How can they enlighten rather than exasperate?
The word creed is from Latin credo, ‘I believe’ the literal root meaning of the Latin carries the sense ‘I give my heart’ Similarly the English believe, comes from the same root that gives Germans the word belieben; the verb to love.
A belief that does not move or change us counts for little. It is just one more bit of information to add to the overload, from which we all need a holiday.
JULY 2009 - 2007 saw the launch of our church website, one which thanks to the work of Sarah Broadley is the envy of many parishes. In that time we have attracted more than 25,000 visitors, 10 times the population of our village.
As a middle aged relic with Luddite tendencies I am more than fully aware that many of our readers are not familiar with the use of computers, nor feel the need to be. Please bear with me then, as I extol the benefits of this newfangledy technoliwode, as the late great Professor Stanley Unwin might have called it:
The site provides up to the minute information on services at St Mary Magdalene’s Church and other church related highlights from the Parish News. Here you can enjoy the fully illustrated version of our church’s colourful history, find out about getting married at the church or help in planning a Christening.
Our links to other websites remind us that Rusper is just one parish among thousands in the Church of England, that we are part of the Diocese of Chichester and points to our shared local concerns for rural life and faith and supporting needy families. The Church Times link gives news from not just this country, but from the worldwide Anglican Communion. Nor are we confined by churchiness but reaching out to the wider community with links to the Broadwood Morris Men, as well as the wider bell ringing fraternity. Another significant link is of course to the very successful Rusper 200 Club, always looking for new members.There remains scope for improving on what the site offers, so keep visiting to keep up to date with any changes. In particular we hope to develop the local history/genealogy aspect of the ministry of the church through it’s website.
The site is also a prayer resource and I am very grateful to have been introduced to the Pray as you Go site to which we also have a link. It is excellent for those who struggle to find time for their spiritual health in the midst of busy lives. The Face2Faith site has networking possibilities and is a reminder of the visit of Captain Gordon and his team a few months ago.
Whether or not you have access to the world wide web, the availability of these advances is a marvellous sign of how the human family is connected in one global village and a challenge to Christians to be bearers of Good News, and weavers of truth and goodness.
Deep Joy!
June 2009 - Mary Magdalene on the map
There are 13 churches dedicated to Rusper’s patron saint in the diocese of Chichester - 10 of them in West Sussex. Having been a priest of churches so dedicated since 1992 - first Bewbush then Rusper, I began wondering about the local customs associated with the saint in those parishes and how they celebrated their festival. Two years ago we sent prayer cards of our icon to all these churches and remembered them in our prayers.
Mary Magdalene on the move - I have not visited all the St Mary Magdalene churches in Sussex myself, and rather than set about doing so personally it occurred to me that it might make a shared pilgrimage. In fact a small group of us made the start of such a pilgrimage on 22nd July 2005 to the mother church of the diocese where the saint’s chapel has a memorable focus in the form of the Graham Sutherland altarpiece. Here I celebrated the Eucharist, the only time I have ever done so in the cathedral, and an opportunity to reflect on a saint with a story to tell.
Mary Magdalemania- Apart from Bewbush where the dedication derives from historical associations between Rusper and the parish of Ifield, our next nearest ‘sister’ church is at Bolney. This year at the kind invitation of the vicar Father Keith Littlejohn and the congregation at Bolney we are to join them and together reflect on the significance of our shared saint. There will be a service of Holy Communion with visiting preacher, followed by a BBQ supper on Wednesday 22 July at 7.30pm
May 2009 - Celebration of Creation
‘I believe in God …maker of heaven and earth’ The first clause of the creed trips off the tongue so easily during a Sunday service. Perhaps we should just stop there sometimes, simply to pause in wonder at the enormity of what we are saying. Even just a minute’s silence in church can seem like a long time, but it could be easily filled with thoughts of some aspect of the beauty and mystery of the natural order that would stop us in our tracks.
One of my responsibilities beyond these parishes is as a member of the Church and Countryside Group. It was set up some years ago in response to a report from the Archbishops’ Commission on Rural Affairs entitled Faith in the Countryside. That report recognised that there are distinctive challenges which face the rural church, as opposed to in the urban or city setting, and distinctive causes for celebrating the rural church.
The Group meets several times a year, produces a quarterly newsletter and organises an annual conference. Belonging to it has been an education for me with regard to the realities faced by the farming community, especially across our wide county, the changing face of the rural economy and many other issues besides. Underlying our approach to them all is a belief in creation to be nurtured rather than just nature to be exploited.
On the eve of the millennium the European Christian Environmental Network adopted a resolution to observe the period from September 1st to the second Sunday in October as a period of celebration of the Creator and Creation.
At this year’s conference we will be reflecting from on how this can connect with the parishes and communities of which we are a part. How can we better place environmental concerns at the heart of our worship, with this designated period, which traditionally includes Harvest Thanksgiving, as a focus? It is to be held in the parish of Slaugham at Saint Mary’s Church from 11am to 3.30 ON TUESDAY MAY 12th
APRIL 2009 - An Easter Saint
The flag of St George fluttering in the breeze from the tower of a village church as below Morris Dancers enact the slaying of the dragon, cheered on by an ale swigging audience - what scene could be more typically English?
But now, whenever I see our flag flying as it does on high days and holy days from the top of Rusper Church I shall find my thoughts returning to a very different, dry dusty sandscape in a far away land. During my pilgrimage to the Holy Land last year I was struck by the devotion of the Palestinians to ‘our George’ expressed in images of the saint over many of the doors of their houses.
George of course is a semi mythical figure about whom little is known with historic certainty, but the tales about him symbolize the great Christian belief in the triumph of good over evil, which is at the heart of Easter and his feast day on April 23rd falls within Eastertide.
Easter means triumph over the ultimate enemy. Let us, as befits Easter saints celebrate the feast with joy! Let us also remember with compassion those people and lands who yet long for peace, liberation and hope.
MARCH 2009 - The lighter side of Lent
Lent should be a bright positive time, for spiritual reflection and reappraisal. If there are things to cut out, they should be those perhaps that make our life more stressful than it needs to be. You might find this prayer useful during the season.
Slow me down, Lord:
Ease the pounding of my heart
by the quieting of my mind –
Steady my hurried pace
With a vision of the eternal reach of time –
Give me amidst the confusion of my day
the calmness of the everlasting hills.
Slow me down, Lord:
Teach me the art of making minute vacations –
Of lingering to study an azalea bush
Or to chat with a new neighbour
Or to pat an animal.
Slow me down, Lord:
That I may know
The race is not always to the swift –
And that life consists of more
than an increasing tempo.
Let me look into the branches of the towering elms
and learn that they grow tall
because they rise slowly and ably.
Slow me down, Lord:
That I might send my roots
deep into the soil of life's endearing values
and so reach towards the stars
of an infinite destiny.
FEBRUARY 2009
The feast of Candlemas at the beginning of February is the day when old meets new, winter meets spring and Christmas greets Easter from afar.
Following careful research and deliberation by the PCC we decided last year to engage for the first time in 10 years on a new experimental period with regard to the pattern of services at Rusper Church.
The most striking change is the reduction from 2 services to 1 of traditional Morning Prayer in a month. In the period under review, attendance at Morning Prayer has gone down on average by two thirds. In the same period average attendance at 8am Holy Communion has doubled. Attendance at the ‘Family’ style services has also been seen to grow and a formal decision has been taken that these will continue take place every third Sunday of the month in addition to special occasions such as Christmas and Easter, Mothering Sunday and Harvest.
One reason we feel that attendance at 8am has grown is that of continuity. No-one needs to check the time, place or form of service. To be as constant at 9.30/11 is more difficult with the needs of two churches to consider. We could reduce the variables by having one form of service, and by making 9.30 a Communion service we have moved in that direction. Alternatively we could, if both PCCs were prepared to compromise, make things simpler by having the service at Rusper either always at 9.30 or always at 11.
As it is we are continuing at the moment with, in effect, only one relatively small change and maintaining a balance between traditional and newer styles of service. It is worth remembering that the number of Book of Common Prayer services at Saint Saviour’s has increased of late and that across the united benefice on the 4th Sunday of the month we have created a BCP Sunday for all except those who go to 8am.
The age old vision of what the church should be is a community where the old dream dreams and the young see visions, and Candlemas, on February 2nd sees the meeting of young and old as ancient Simeon cradles the Christ child in his arms.
