The Sunday Archive: The Pilot, October 1997 - Part 6
St Peter
From BARRY GILES Rector
OCTOBER is, in church terms, a fallow month. One of the few memories I have of agricultural notions, from school days, is that earth needs a time of "being," of being left to revive, and rest. Mother Church gives us such periods, or days, when we can do just that. This time of re-creation is given to us, for example each Lent. This particular year we need October to be a time for catching our spiritual and physical breath, after the exertions of our Harvest Thanksgiving Flower Festival. Obviously these notes are written in advance of that weekend, but I have no doubt that it was all very worthwhile. I have no doubt that our church looked so glorious within. I have no doubt that all who worked on it, and all who visited it, came away with a greater realisation that we owe to Almighty God all that we have and all that we are.
Before all else, I wish to thank all those who decorated the church; all those who gave of their time and talent, to the glory of God. Also, to all who acted as stewards, and those who helped with refreshments and on the stalls. Above all, I must thank Pat Scally who coordinated nearly all the arrangements beforehand. She spent hours planning the church arrangements; cajoling so many to help us with sponsorship and gifts. We owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude, which I trust we shall have repaid by the support we have all given to our Harvest Flower Festival.
Now we have an opportunity, this month, to revive and re-create. If Harvest Thanksgiving has taught us anything it ought to have reminded us how totally dependent we are on God. That is true not only of fruit and flowers and produce, but of ourselves also. lake time; spend time, each day this month, in prayer. Primarily this means devoting, setting aside a certain number of minutes every day to spend with God. This will mean effort — nothing com-pared to God's effort in and for us. It will mean, also, looking at ourselves; at creation, and seeing God's active hand in ourselves and "all good gifts around us." Stop: think: and in that, pray. Prayer is the act of raising the heart and mind to God. This we can do, not only on our knees, but as we walk, talk, look, consider, live. Reflect upon the soil of your soul. Has it been too activated to bring forth any fruit? Has it been so neglected that it cannot bring forth much fruit? Earth needs ploughing, tilling, weeding. The garden of the soul need exactly the same.
ALL SOULS DAY will be with us at the beginning of November. If you wish the soul of your departed relatives and friends to be remembered at the Requiem Eucharist on Wednesday 5th November at 10 am, please let me have the names, in writing, by the weekend at 8 am on Remembrance Sunday, which is 9th November. The Parish Service of Remembrance will be at 10.50 am.
RETIRED CLERGY. I begin to shudder to think what will happen as the number of retired clergy in Jersey decreases. In the not too dis¬tant future the number — available to take duty — will be fewer. Few of those who come to retirement will be enabled to reside in Jersey; some will wish to live near their families in the UK. We have been very fortunate, this year, whilst I have been away taking a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and on holiday last month. The Reverend Peter Newby was able to come from England back to Jersey, and the Reverend Michael St John Nicolle was free to take services in September.
But the future will not look bright for a full menu of services in every church, including ours, in the years to come. Pray for retired clergy in their most essential and useful ministry; and, as always, for more vocation to the priesthood.
From Martin Inman
OCTOBER is, in church terms, a fallow month. One of the few memories I have of agricultural notions, from school days, is that earth needs a time of "being," of being left to revive, and rest. Mother Church gives us such periods, or days, when we can do just that. This time of re-creation is given to us, for example each Lent. This particular year we need October to be a time for catching our spiritual and physical breath, after the exertions of our Harvest Thanksgiving Flower Festival. Obviously these notes are written in advance of that weekend, but I have no doubt that it was all very worthwhile. I have no doubt that our church looked so glorious within. I have no doubt that all who worked on it, and all who visited it, came away with a greater realisation that we owe to Almighty God all that we have and all that we are.
Before all else, I wish to thank all those who decorated the church; all those who gave of their time and talent, to the glory of God. Also, to all who acted as stewards, and those who helped with refreshments and on the stalls. Above all, I must thank Pat Scally who coordinated nearly all the arrangements beforehand. She spent hours planning the church arrangements; cajoling so many to help us with sponsorship and gifts. We owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude, which I trust we shall have repaid by the support we have all given to our Harvest Flower Festival.
Now we have an opportunity, this month, to revive and re-create. If Harvest Thanksgiving has taught us anything it ought to have reminded us how totally dependent we are on God. That is true not only of fruit and flowers and produce, but of ourselves also. lake time; spend time, each day this month, in prayer. Primarily this means devoting, setting aside a certain number of minutes every day to spend with God. This will mean effort — nothing com-pared to God's effort in and for us. It will mean, also, looking at ourselves; at creation, and seeing God's active hand in ourselves and "all good gifts around us." Stop: think: and in that, pray. Prayer is the act of raising the heart and mind to God. This we can do, not only on our knees, but as we walk, talk, look, consider, live. Reflect upon the soil of your soul. Has it been too activated to bring forth any fruit? Has it been so neglected that it cannot bring forth much fruit? Earth needs ploughing, tilling, weeding. The garden of the soul need exactly the same.
ALL SOULS DAY will be with us at the beginning of November. If you wish the soul of your departed relatives and friends to be remembered at the Requiem Eucharist on Wednesday 5th November at 10 am, please let me have the names, in writing, by the weekend at 8 am on Remembrance Sunday, which is 9th November. The Parish Service of Remembrance will be at 10.50 am.
RETIRED CLERGY. I begin to shudder to think what will happen as the number of retired clergy in Jersey decreases. In the not too dis¬tant future the number — available to take duty — will be fewer. Few of those who come to retirement will be enabled to reside in Jersey; some will wish to live near their families in the UK. We have been very fortunate, this year, whilst I have been away taking a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and on holiday last month. The Reverend Peter Newby was able to come from England back to Jersey, and the Reverend Michael St John Nicolle was free to take services in September.
But the future will not look bright for a full menu of services in every church, including ours, in the years to come. Pray for retired clergy in their most essential and useful ministry; and, as always, for more vocation to the priesthood.
From Martin Inman
Hospital Chaplain
On October 18th the Church commemorates St Luke. Luke was a physician and so it is that the Church regards his Feast Day as an appropriate time to consider its ministry of healing.
Some may imagine that Christianity has more to do with sin than sickness. However, it is clear that the Bible sees a definite connection between these two. The Old Testament particularly often uses bodily diseases as symbols of spiritual malaise.
This has led some to the rather crude view that sickness is a punishment for sin. It is still to be found in some quarters. From time to time I hear the anguished cry from a seriously ill patient: "What have I done to deserve this?"
It is clear from the Gospels that Jesus rejected this simplistic view. However, he did not deny that there was a relationship between sickness and sin. Although Jesus did not subscribe to the view that illness is retribution, he nevertheless maintained that his power over disease was evidence of his power to forgive sin. His power over sickness demonstrated his conquest of sin and he saw a clear connection between his healing ministry and his redemptive mission.
We must surely agree with the Old Testament and Jesus that there is a connection between illness and sin. As I look around the General Hospital I sometimes wonder how many empty beds would be there if all the illnesses and disabilities which are, directly or indirectly, related to smoking, alcohol, poor nutrition and unwise behaviour of whatever kind disappeared. It is not that God afflicts us with cancer or heart disease or whatever as a punishment for behaving badly. Rather, we bring bodily infirmity on ourselves when we live as we are not meant to live.
This is not to say that every illness is caused by unwise behaviour. Some people are afflicted with diseases that have no obvious cause in their life-style. However, there can be no doubt that there is such a connection in very many instances.
It is therefore a central part of the Church's ministry of healing to address the question why people do foolish things to themselves and make themselves ill. Why do we smoke too much, drink too much, drive irresponsibly, eat badly and take unnecessary risks?
Perhaps it is because our image of ourselves is inaccurate. Perhaps our sense of being loved unconditionally by God is inadequate. It could be that if we did have a true sense of that overwhelming love we would love ourselves more and therefore be disinclined to do foolish things to ourselves. Surely an awareness of that love and the proclamation of it should be at the heart of the healing ministry of the Christian Church.
On October 18th the Church commemorates St Luke. Luke was a physician and so it is that the Church regards his Feast Day as an appropriate time to consider its ministry of healing.
Some may imagine that Christianity has more to do with sin than sickness. However, it is clear that the Bible sees a definite connection between these two. The Old Testament particularly often uses bodily diseases as symbols of spiritual malaise.
This has led some to the rather crude view that sickness is a punishment for sin. It is still to be found in some quarters. From time to time I hear the anguished cry from a seriously ill patient: "What have I done to deserve this?"
It is clear from the Gospels that Jesus rejected this simplistic view. However, he did not deny that there was a relationship between sickness and sin. Although Jesus did not subscribe to the view that illness is retribution, he nevertheless maintained that his power over disease was evidence of his power to forgive sin. His power over sickness demonstrated his conquest of sin and he saw a clear connection between his healing ministry and his redemptive mission.
We must surely agree with the Old Testament and Jesus that there is a connection between illness and sin. As I look around the General Hospital I sometimes wonder how many empty beds would be there if all the illnesses and disabilities which are, directly or indirectly, related to smoking, alcohol, poor nutrition and unwise behaviour of whatever kind disappeared. It is not that God afflicts us with cancer or heart disease or whatever as a punishment for behaving badly. Rather, we bring bodily infirmity on ourselves when we live as we are not meant to live.
This is not to say that every illness is caused by unwise behaviour. Some people are afflicted with diseases that have no obvious cause in their life-style. However, there can be no doubt that there is such a connection in very many instances.
It is therefore a central part of the Church's ministry of healing to address the question why people do foolish things to themselves and make themselves ill. Why do we smoke too much, drink too much, drive irresponsibly, eat badly and take unnecessary risks?
Perhaps it is because our image of ourselves is inaccurate. Perhaps our sense of being loved unconditionally by God is inadequate. It could be that if we did have a true sense of that overwhelming love we would love ourselves more and therefore be disinclined to do foolish things to ourselves. Surely an awareness of that love and the proclamation of it should be at the heart of the healing ministry of the Christian Church.
St Ouen and St George
BRIAN VIBERT
Lay Pastor
ON 31st August when the news of the tragic death of the Princess of Wales stunned every-one and left us in a state of shock, we were celebrating the gift of life as we welcomed three little boys in Baptism into the Lord's family at our morning service.
In a sense it was difficult to balance the contrasting moods which both events demanded, yet it was important to remember that if we enthrone Jesus as Lord he is indeed Lord of life and of death. It was right for us to pause in thanksgiving for Diana's life and to pray for her family and equally appropriate to look forward with hope as the three young boys took their first steps on their Christian pilgrimage.
It can be difficult at a time of pain and suffering to truly believe that God is a loving Father and that he does care dearly and wants to meet us in our distress. He does not promise us an easy ride — indeed Jesus suffered much more than we will ever have to endure — but he does promise to provide the resources we need. It is only as we trust God at such tints, only as we cling to him in those difficult days that we experience the reality of his provision and mercy. So we prayed that day for those beginning their walk with Jesus that they would discover that he is there for them in every season of their lives.
As I have reflected over the suddenness of the Princess' death and the enormous media coverage with all the public acclaim, two thoughts have been uppermost in my mind. How important it is to appreciate the fragility of life and to value each day. It seems so easy to plan ahead and to make elaborate arrangements as if we had a guaranteed future. There is wisdom in recalling Deo volente in all our forward planning for even tomorrow is not to be taken for granted. Bishop Bickersteth wrote of "our future all unknown" in his hymn "Peace, perfect peace," but was able to claim the perfect peace that comes through knowing Jesus. Jesus is the one sure and certain hope which we have as believers for all our tomorrows.
My second thought leads me to resolve to tell more and more people how much they are appreciated and valued. Too often we pay tribute to men and women after their death and fail to give them due praise in their lifetime. It is clear that Diana was much loved and that she gave considerable support and encouragement to many, especially the less fortunate in our society. It is to be hoped that many expressed their admiration to her for all that she did. We all respond to a "pat on the back" and grow more confidently through praise rather than criticism. Let us use every opportunity to build each other up.
Lay Pastor
ON 31st August when the news of the tragic death of the Princess of Wales stunned every-one and left us in a state of shock, we were celebrating the gift of life as we welcomed three little boys in Baptism into the Lord's family at our morning service.
In a sense it was difficult to balance the contrasting moods which both events demanded, yet it was important to remember that if we enthrone Jesus as Lord he is indeed Lord of life and of death. It was right for us to pause in thanksgiving for Diana's life and to pray for her family and equally appropriate to look forward with hope as the three young boys took their first steps on their Christian pilgrimage.
It can be difficult at a time of pain and suffering to truly believe that God is a loving Father and that he does care dearly and wants to meet us in our distress. He does not promise us an easy ride — indeed Jesus suffered much more than we will ever have to endure — but he does promise to provide the resources we need. It is only as we trust God at such tints, only as we cling to him in those difficult days that we experience the reality of his provision and mercy. So we prayed that day for those beginning their walk with Jesus that they would discover that he is there for them in every season of their lives.
As I have reflected over the suddenness of the Princess' death and the enormous media coverage with all the public acclaim, two thoughts have been uppermost in my mind. How important it is to appreciate the fragility of life and to value each day. It seems so easy to plan ahead and to make elaborate arrangements as if we had a guaranteed future. There is wisdom in recalling Deo volente in all our forward planning for even tomorrow is not to be taken for granted. Bishop Bickersteth wrote of "our future all unknown" in his hymn "Peace, perfect peace," but was able to claim the perfect peace that comes through knowing Jesus. Jesus is the one sure and certain hope which we have as believers for all our tomorrows.
My second thought leads me to resolve to tell more and more people how much they are appreciated and valued. Too often we pay tribute to men and women after their death and fail to give them due praise in their lifetime. It is clear that Diana was much loved and that she gave considerable support and encouragement to many, especially the less fortunate in our society. It is to be hoped that many expressed their admiration to her for all that she did. We all respond to a "pat on the back" and grow more confidently through praise rather than criticism. Let us use every opportunity to build each other up.
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