The Sunday Archive: The Pilot, September 1994 – Part 9

The Sunday Archive: The Pilot, September 1994 – Part 9

WAR BABIES

Bill Matthews from Gouray has sent an article from an Australian newspaper. It was sent to him from Perth by an old footballing friend, Stan Rickaby, who played at full back for Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion and England. He and his wife Leni are strong sup-porters of their local church and hope that readers will be amused by the article.

FOR ALL THOSE BORN

BEFORE 1945

• We are survivors. Consider the changes we have witnessed.
• We were before TV. We were before penicillin. We were before polio shots. We were before frozen foods, photocopying, contact lenses, frisbees and The Pill. We were before credit cards, split atoms, laser beams and ballpoint pens. We were before pantyhose, dishwashers, clothes dryers, electric blankets, drip-dry clothing and before man walked on the moon.
• We got married first and then lived together. How quaint can you be? We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent, and outer space was the back of the local theatre.
• We were before house-husbands, gay rights, computer dating, dual careers and computer marriages. We never heard of electric typewriters, artificial hearts or word processors. Hardware meant hardware and software wasn't even a word.
• In 1940 "made in Japan" meant junk and the term "making out" referred to how you did in the exam. Pizza, McDonald's and instant coffee were unheard of. In our days, cigarette smoking was fashionable, grass was mowed, coke was a cold drink and pot was something you cooked in. Rock music was Grandma's lullaby and .Aids were helpers in the hospital.
• We were certainly not before the difference between the sexes was discovered, but we were surely before the sex change.
• We made do with what we had. We were the last generation that was so dumb as to think you needed a husband to have a baby!

No wonder we are so confused and there is a generation gap. And so much more. BUT WE SURVIVED.



ST OUEN AND ST GEORGE
From
RAY SPECK
Rector

THE recent media coverage, both national and international, over the dismissal of a clergyman in the Diocese of Chichester has generally missed most of the essential points at issue. That is particularly true of some of the comments made in our own Jersey Evening Post. It is always wise to be clear about the facts and come to some understanding of the issues before making sweeping and rather judgmental statements.

Two particular areas have generally been disregarded and these are of crucial importance. The first is the nature and purpose of the ordained ministry in the Church of England the second is the nature of the Christian Gospel which it is our responsibility to promote.

The narrower of these two is that which is discovered in the Ordinal, whether Prayer Book or Alternative Service Book. The language of the former is inevitably stronger and most of us were ordained as presbyters according to its form. In the ASS the Nicene Creed sets the context for the ordination to follow, putting it in the firm context of an objective and substantial faith. Statements made in that creed affirm:

• the objective reality of the living God who has revealed Himself as Creator and Father;
• the historicity of the person of Jesus who is essentially, uniquely and miraculously both divine and human; and that is at the very heart of the Gospel: it is non¬negotiable;
• the miraculous Virgin Birth, a historical crucifixion, a bodily resurrection and a triumphant ascension are all affirmed, as is the anticipated return of Jesus as Judge: the disciplined clergyman would have presumably denied all these;
• the Holy Spirit is declared to be the continuing presence of Jesus in God's world and among his people;
• this one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit is to be worshipped and glorified: how can a man "worship and glorify" the so-called God that is himself?

Here then is the context for ordained ministry. Now consider the very heart of the Bishop's charge to those to be ordained. There are many of us who return often to this to face afresh the challenge of our call. This is what we are told and to which we give assent:

"Remember always with thanksgiving that the treasure now to be entrusted to you is Christ's own flock, bought through the shedding of His blood on the Cross. The Church and congregation among whom you will serve are one with Him: they are His body. Serve them with joy, build them up in faith, and do all in your power to bring them to loving obedience to Christ."

The Bishop later commissions the candidate and uses, among others, these words:

"Almighty Father, give to these your servants grace... to proclaim the Gospel of your salvation."

After this, each newly-ordained presbyter is given just one book — a Bible. Not a handbook of psychology; not an anthology of contemporary beliefs; not a compendium of new-age reading; but the Bible, the Word of God.

And that leads me to the other point I want to make.

What is the nature of this Christian Gospel which is committed to us and which we are charged to proclaim?

• Firstly its roots are in the heart of the living God whose longing it is that people should know the love, joy and peace that accompany faith in Him.
• Secondly this God is the God of revelation. He has taken the initiative to make Himself known to human beings in creation, in His word, but supremely through His Son Jesus.
• Thirdly, the human condition is one of alienation from God who through the person and work of Jesus has made possible lasting reconciliation between us and God.
• Fourthly, at the heart of the Gospel is the Cross. It was foolishness to Greeks in the time of Paul; inevitably it will be perceived as foolish in the world today. But the Cross is the wisdom and power of God. It proclaims that the way to God is open, that sin can be forgiven and that everlasting life is an eternal reality which begins now. His physical, bodily resurrection declares that the old enemy of death has been destroyed.
• Fifthly, by being born anew, born spiritually, we can begin a new life, indwelt by the Spirit of God, in the service of the Son of God and in the knowledge of our Father God.

I am at times accused of being bigoted. I deny that: I am not blind nor obstinate, but I reserve the right to fulfil my calling to declare the Gospel of Jesus. I have no right to replace the revealed truth of God with my own fallible opinion. I would rather face God one day knowing that I have tried to be faithful to His word than pamper to popularity and the opinions of man. That is, I believe, where many of us stand: we can do no other!




GROUVILLE AND ST PETER LA ROCQUE
From
GEOFFREY BAKER
Ministre Desservant

WHEN I was Ministre Desservant at Grouville once before, I was here for nine months. This time round, it will be for only a few months. It is good news indeed for all concerned that a new appointment has already been made. As much as I have enjoyed being here, it is much better that a new Minister should take over sooner rather than later. The lucky man is the Rev Francis Mason, presently a Curate in the Parish of Gerrard's Cross, Buckinghamshire. He is 38 years old, is married to Sian, and has four young children. He is to be licensed on Thursday 15th September. He certainly comes to Grouville with all my very best wishes and with the promise of my full support.

HOLY BAPTISM. 17th July, Lotta Butler, Lois Tait; 31st, Thomas Edward Tourneur Ash; 14th August, Matthew James Richard Parker; 21st, Steven William Anderson; 28th, Sarah Frances Maguire.

HOLY MATRIMONY. 30th July, Chris Kelleher to Miranda Woodford; 20th August, Kate Le Gallais to Jeremy Phillips.

FUNERALS. 8th July, Clarisse Corbet; 13th, Lucy Durell.