Thoughts 2011

September 2011 - God on Monday

…is a telling phrase, coined some years ago as the catchy title of a book by a former Bishop of Horsham. How does Sunday worship connect with reality outside the walls of church? How does the Christian holy day relate to every other day with the mixture of challenge and routine, the ordinary and eventful that each week brings? Perhaps you are not even sure what all the fuss is about Sunday church?

It so happens that from time to time for almost a decade an informal group has met for fellowship and discussion on the occasional Monday lunchtime specifically creating an in between space for open minded searching. It has become one possible bridge between church life into the daily world, joining spiritual and secular.

The meeting draws from both your communities and beyond. It is open for anyone to try. Not all of our members are regular churchgoers. Rather than try to describe it let me allow some of our village community speak for themselves…

“As a newcomer I was aware that those present were keen to reach out into the community of the village whilst also meeting the different needs of those attending the group. The get together took place over a bring and share lunch…delicious home made bread!”

“Group members have felt able to be honest, expressing how they feel about church, religion and interest and wishes to understand other faiths. Some have been brave enough to tell their personal stories; what church meant or didn’t mean to them as children, family influence, the impact that religion had at school and why as adults they have continued to attend church. It’s been fascinating and a unique opportunity to be able to talk openly about how we feel.

Some find it hard trying to maintain a constant level of enthusiasm, interest and acceptance of the spiritual element to our lives. What we have maintained is a commitment of support and interest in each other’s wellbeing and would welcome anyone in our community who would like to join us, even as a one off. There are no criteria for joining, just a desire to come and share lunch and fellowship in one of our homes on the odd Monday.”

“God meant us to be together to strengthen and support each other, and to increase our faith. Whilst we can do this to a large extent on a Sunday, a smaller mid-week discussion group allows more time for sharing each person's thoughts and questions, for praying, and for ministering to one another.”

The group has always thrived on an informal open approach formed by whoever feels moved to participate, ranging from quiet meditative moments to, with noisy good nature ‘tearing up’ the Sunday sermon! People attend at the level of commitment that is appropriate to them. We feel there is scope for more than one group, particularly perhaps to suit those who aren’t free on a Monday lunchtime. Nick or Maureen are happy to answer any questions. We want to know what you think.

August 2011 IMPRESSIONS – from the Deacon’s Desk - by Maureen Young

By the time you read this I shall have completed two months as your Curate, and I thought you might be interested to read of my first impressions of life and ministry in Rusper.
I must thank you for your friendly and enthusiastic welcome – so many people have said how much they enjoyed the Licensing Service in mid-May, which already seems quite a long time ago! I suppose the fact that it does seem a long time ago only goes to show how quickly I have felt “at home” in the church and village and how many things I have experienced already.
Someone has already asked me whether I prefer ministry in Roffey or Rusper – a bit of an unfair question, you may think! Most of you won’t know that until I was 21, I worshipped and taught in Sunday School in a village church in the Cotswolds very similar to Rusper. It’s a bit like “a blast from the past” in many ways - a return to music and words which are very familiar which had been buried deep in my subconscious, but which were also very precious and important in my grounding in faith as I grew up.
I seem to have experienced such a wide range of things since my arrival: attending the Little Angels choir practices and enjoying a good sing and having fun as well; a Day Conference at Plumpton College with Nick looking at ministry in rural areas; Deaconing at the Eucharist and working out the choreography of who does what, including preaching! Nick and I also say Morning Prayer according to the Book of Common Prayer at 9am on most Monday mornings before our weekly meeting; the joy and privilege of taking Holy Communion to the housebound; organising and leading the Rogationtide Evening Service when about 35 people – including several children – joined in singing, reading and prayers and walked round the churchyard in the early evening sunshine; visiting Rusper school to introduce myself to the children and head teacher prior to leading worship there probably in the Autumn; contacting families to arrange their child’s baptism (the children’s photographs are displayed at the back of the church if you would like to see them) and meeting couples whose wedding I shall be conducting later in the year. Then there was Art in the Churchyard, except that it rained so it was Art in the Church – but the display of talent, and the use of God’s gifts of expression and observation was amazing. The Village Shop, too, is a favourite haunt – especially as it sells my favourite chocolate, but also because if we run out of anything at home its very handy to pop in and pick up supplies so that I’m not in trouble because of my housekeeping inefficiencies!
I must thank Nick, too, for his generosity and humility in stepping back at times and allowing me to experience things which he has done himself over the years because, apart from all the activity described above, I am also have to find time to read and think and pray in the discernment process towards the possibility of priestly ministry. It is a very exciting time in my life and I am so grateful to all of you for “taking me in” while I go through this process and seek to serve you all at the same time. As you may already have seen on the notice in the church porch and also on the pew sheet, I am very keen to visit and meet as many people as possible but so far I haven’t had a lot of luck at finding people in. Perhaps its because the weather has been quite good, and people have been out when I have called. However, if you would like me to visit you for a chat and to get to know one another better, please don’t hesitate to call me on 01403 263119 or email me on deaconmaureen@gmail.com and let me know which day and time would be best for you. As I work on Sundays (and other days as you can see!), I would be grateful not to be called upon on my rest day which is Friday each week, but I am available for anything and anyone on all the other days and of course on Nick’s rest day which is Thursday.
Thank you again – and “watch this space” for some more thoughts and experiences in the months to come!

JULY 2011 - A saint for all the senses

In the garden in the cool of the day. It is still dark. No sound of birdsong yet. Nothing to be seen, but there is an overpowering scent from the sweet spices contained in the pot Mary carries.
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She hears the voice of the risen Jesus. He addresses her as ‘woman’ and she doesn’t recognise him. Then he speaks her name and she turns, drawn to the sound of his voice.

She says to the disciples later that first Easter day ‘I have seen the Lord’The lives of holy women and men are one of the ways we see the Lord as if through a window which lets his light and colour in. she has seen him through her tears. Suffering can so often blind us to his presence.

She sees and instinctively reaches out to be told ‘ do not touch me yet’
Love, which brings Jesus out of the tomb is fragile. The immense creative power of love is seen in the making of worlds by one who risks all by letting go. That is how God created and Jesus is the full expression of God’s love.

Isn’t a saint simply anyone who helps us make sense of it all?

Rusper is fortunate in having Mary Magdalene a woman saint, intuitive, perhaps sensual and impetuous to help us find Jesus today and in the taste of bread and wine , broken and poured out week by week, to have an assurance of his abiding presence, every Sunday a celebration of Easter.

This month join us for annual celebration of our own saint on July 17th at 11am.

JUNE 2011 - Thanks to our walkers and sponsors of the Easter Monday Walk in aid of Family Support Work Having been chairman of the Deanery FSW Committee, it is a cause close to my own heart and I would like to commend the Bishop’s words to you.

LETTER FROM THE BISHOP OF CHICHESTER: The Right Reverend Dr John Hind

Dear friends,

There is a growing need to support families under stress as a result of the current economic situation and the austerity measures undertaken by the Government to reduce the national deficit.

The family is of course a fundamental building block of society. Although no families are perfect and some, alas, far from it, most provide the best environment for the nurture of children. Precisely because families involve different genders, attitudes and generations, they are a microcosm of the human family.
Many families today, even in Sussex, are hurting for a variety of reasons. Poverty, isolation through desertion, domestic violence, sudden death, and mental and physical disability all take their toll. From these can follow stress, depression, separation, loneliness, eating or sleeping problems. Challenging child behaviour due to loss of, or non-engagement by, a caring adult can lead to under-achievement or exclusion from school. In rural areas, the particular problems can be caused by isolation or the withdrawal of services.

The Diocesan Association for Family Support Work (FSW) offers direct support to families. Under different names the Association has done so for over 120 years. I pay warm tribute to those who have worked with and supported FSW over all these years. FSW is currently working to relieve anxiety and bring hope to adults and children. By home visits, one-to-one sessions and small group work, it delivers confidential support to anyone with responsibility of care for a child.

All families need food and clothing (for some, even charity shops cost too much!). Without FSW many children would not receive toys at Christmas. The Knowles Tooth Centre at Hurstpierpoint offers free respite holiday opportunities. There mothers and children can meet other parents facing similar situations to their own, while children get a welcome experience of open air in the country.

The results can be dramatic and heart-warming. Adults have been helped to find ways of solving some of their problems and gain in health and parenting skills; children to achieve and become more confident, both in themselves and in their parents. These benefits are not just for the families directly involved, but are for the good of society as a whole.

The small group of dedicated professional staff are supported by long-serving and new volunteers - but more parish volunteers are always needed.

The Association receives no statutory funding, even though statutory bodies often refer families in need! So, more money is urgently needed if FSW is to be able both to continue its work and to meet the greater needs that are already becoming apparent.

I am grateful for this opportunity to thank the many parishes and individuals who give generously to this work and the deanery committees which have been an essential structure of support. I also appeal to those who have not previously given to FSW to do so. FSW needs your prayers as well as your money; and it also seeks the energy and commitment of more parish volunteers.

I hope that every parish in the Diocese will commit to the Association and wherever possible: find out more through www.familysupportwork.org.uk
With all good wishes

Yours sincerely

May 2011 - AV AKA KJB

At the time of writing the coalition parties are going head to head promoting their different views on the proposal to a reform of the electoral system to be the subject of a referendum this month.

 AV in the context of this political discussion means Alternative Vote, but for generations the AV has in the minds of many stood for Authorized Version. The process which led to the publishing of this Bible in 1611 was every bit as political a matter as the current debate. King James wanted to unite the kingdoms of Scotland and England under his rule and this was to be a tool in that process.

By the standards of any age it was a remarkable project to get together so many scholars to edit and collate such a volume, fusing the best of previous English translations with knowledge of the Greek and Hebrew texts available at the time.

There has been a great deal of deserved media interest in the 400th anniversary of the translation. Projects and events have been run by many churches at every level. There have been marathon readings of the entire text. Agnostics and atheists have praised its literary and poetic merits. Just as emotive have been those who stress that the archaic language in terms of useful communication in our modern age is limited, and the variety of other translations available nowadays stands as a warning against fossilizing the text or worshipping it as a kind of relic. In recent history the discovery of original fragments of text, together with modern advances have contributed to our Biblical understanding. The Bible is of course not one book, but many. Christians witness to a unity in its message of God speaking to us through history.

I still remember the excitement I felt at being able to vote in a general election for the first time and the subsequent realisation that [in my view] electoral reform was needed if my political voice was to be heard through that vote. At around the same point in my life grew the awareness of not only the voice of God in scripture, but that He who speaks, does so for no other reason than because he wants us to answer. Our needs, longings and aspirations matter to him.

April - Easter Experience - a feast for all the senses

Easter Day is the culmination of a journey through the holiest week of the year for Christians the world over. This year I’d like to encourage as many of you as possible to make a special effort to take part. Much work has gone into preparation by the school and an Easter Planning Group, meeting since last year to make this an Easter to remember.

On Palm Sunday we’ll hear the Jerusalem crowds go wild with excitement as the arrival of Jesus on a donkey announces the dawn of freedom. Then watch, as part of the same palm waving crowd, the unfolding story of his passion. The service is a trailer for the highs and lows of the coming week with something for all ages. Palm crosses to take home.

Thursday gives us a taste of the joy of the great gift of Holy Communion. The mood moves dramatically from partying to parting as the abrupt end of the service echoes the loneliness of Jesus betrayed and abandoned by his friends. If we were to celebrate Holy Communion only once a year then this would be the celebration par excellence. It should be a priority for all communicant church members.

On Friday we see the love of Jesus played out to the end as we walk the way of his Cross. The way will be marked by 14 pictures created in Rusper School for the occasion and aims to be of interest for children as well as adults.

On Easter Sunday itself early risers may greet the sunrise of the Resurrection at the early service of Holy Communion and at 11am we join the disciples on the road to Emmaus and share the breaking of bread with the risen Lord Jesus when the 15th picture will be revealed. For those who have perhaps lapsed from worship of late this is the ideal week for a new beginning.

February - Things you were afraid to ask

I always love going into school and last time couldn’t help wondering if some of the questions the children posed weren’t those which a few adults might like to ask – but daren’t! So perhaps to put the curious out of their misery here are their questions and my attempts to answer them

Do people go to Church every day? How many people go to Church on Sunday?
Church means God’s people gathered together, but later became the name for the building where they do this. Jesus said just two or three people can be a church. Our church door is open every day and who knows how many people go in? God does. It would be lovely if more came every Sunday.

How many people get married in your Church?
I look after two churches and in 2010 I had more than 20 weddings in them

Who is your boss? Why do you wear those special clothes? Why do they call your collar a ‘dog collar’
I put these questions together to say although I work for God he is not a ‘bossy’ boss.
Jesus came to our world as a servant to show us that is what God is like. The clothes I wear remind me that I’m a servant too. A stole may be a beautiful long scarf [ I had one to show the children ] but originally it was just a towel. I try to carry on Jesus work of wiping up tears and mistakes that all of us make sometimes. I think ‘dog collar’ is just a joke, but hopefully I’m obedient, can learn new tricks and am not too messy!

This one really made me smile
Why are you called Father Nick when you are not everyone's Dad?
Just as I’m a sign to remind people God is a servant so I am a sign that God is our Father. In the church we should try to live together like a family. We are all children, brothers and sisters too.

When people get Christened, do you choose their names?
No, but I’m interested because all our names have a meaning. Would any of you choose new names if you could change them? No! [some of the children knew what their names meant] Its amazing to think God knows everyone’s name – we are all special.

Why did you want to be a Vicar?
Here I told the rather long story of other jobs I’ve done or wanted to do; monk, farmer, librarian, cook; and how my life today combines elements of lots of different jobs

How do you keep the Church clean? Why are there flowers? Who picks them?
This brings us back where we started. The Church is made of people who all have something to do. Together we make the church. We can make it lovely. We need to be thankful.

Finally, in a variation of the terrible old joke about clergy working only one day a week I wondered if the children pictured me flinging off my robes and running free through the village. Perhaps, dear readers I should turn their question around and ask you to consider how making Sunday special can enrich every God given day. There is no such thing as a one day a week Christian. What do you do when it's not a Church day?