Tag: norwich diocese Page 4 of 5

Rocky ground, thorns and good soil

On July 15, 2017

In Faith goes walkabout, Sermons, Trinity, Uncategorized

The Parable of the Sower – Rocky ground, thorns and good soil. We all have time with rocky ground, thorns and good soil.

I would like to tell you about my garden.

Living in a new house for nearly a year now, and builders are great but they are not gardeners! The garden is, well let’s say it’s getting there!

On visits and walks in this village and other villages I see gardens of all sorts.

I have a little categorisation going on in my mind about gardens:

There are those where everything seems to remain in neat and tidy order all the time. How does that work? I’m never really sure how that can happen?

And then there are gardens where disorder has taken over completely, it could be in design, or not sure how to make a garden, or that life has become hard and the long worked over garden has just got out of control.

And then there are gardens where plants are purchased from the garden centre at least twice a year and order is restored, or the gardens where shrubs and everlasting plants are intertwined with gravel paths and maintenance is very low, but the effect is okay, nothing needed to be done.

And finally the garden where children’s games and toys are everywhere, plants are battling with the Buzz Light Year toy in the shrubs or tennis balls and footballs long ago punctured scattered across the garden. A grass lawn is usually there too, but with patches and areas where too many ball games have even worn down the grass.

The Parable of the Sower is a bit like modern day gardens. Jesus tells the story of how and where God can find his word present and alive. Jesus used parables as a way to explain the unexplainable, to give a picture in people’s minds of how God can be alive in everyone and how sometimes we are all a little deaf to His voice.

Mary Magdalene and the women by the cross

By faithgoeswalkabout

On April 22, 2017

In Faith goes walkabout

Mary Magdalene is of high importance in the story of Jesus, not just for the role she played as one of the women by the cross , but throughout all the gospels she appears and is seen with Jesus and the disciples.

This week, after reading the Easter story again and again, I have been wondering even more about Mary Magdalene, who she was, what did she do and do we have a good image and picture of her?

I came across a very interesting website, The Junia Project,with a recent blog, called The Women Who Stood by the Cross, by Gail Wallace. The words below are taken from the blog, which makes excellent reading;

“Some women were watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and Salome. When Jesus was in Galilee, these women had followed and supported him, along with many other women who had come to Jerusalem with him.” (Mark 15:40-41)

We know from all four gospel writers that a number of women were present at the crucifixion and death of Jesus, and that some of those women were also at the burial and the empty tomb. Who are these women who stood near the cross, and what can we learn from their example of discipleship?”

It has long been argued that Mary Magdalene is wrongly portrayed and the emphasis has been on her femininity, rather than in her devotion and support of Jesus in his teaching and throughout his life.

There is a recorded Gospel of St Mary, which was found in Egypt in 1896, and was not included in the canon.

It is widely though that Mary went to France after the crucifixion and from the book Mary Magdalene by Esther de Boer it concludes that many of her relics are at the Benedctine Abbey in Vezeley, France.

Mary Magdalene remains for me a central character, disciple and apostle of Jesus. Worthy of spending some time in research to look at her role from a woman living in Magdala on the shores of the Sea of Galilee to follower of Christ.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Welcome at West New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea

By faithgoeswalkabout

On November 7, 2015

In Faith goes walkabout, Uncategorized

In September 2015, I arrived in West New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea. The warriors were the most spectacular sight and a welcome of dance, colour and warmth. We were to see the dancers on a few occasion, they were with us at church, at the Franciscan Friary in the middle of the rain forest.

In the two months since I have been back, these moments sit in my heart. A welcome warmth as we approach November darkness. A time when we were with Christians in a very different place and surrounded by love and faith.

A lasting memory is of being in the middle of the rainforest and waiting for the warriors and dancers to arrive, which they did in complete darkness, amazing! We returned with some songs and actions, I led the warriors, dancers and children with Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes! Still a teacher at heart then!

Somehow I know that this place will stay with me and I hope that I can go back there soon. There is a great deal that we can do to help the people, they have nothing and yet they have everything. There’s is not a life of need for material things. It is a life of family, tradition and faith with all the love and joy in knowing Jesus.

Rev’d Sue Martin Diocese of Norwich

Come away and rest a while…

By faithgoeswalkabout

On July 18, 2015

In church seasons, Faith goes walkabout, theological

Seventh Sunday after Trinity July 19th 2015

‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ Says Jesus to the disciples. Mark 6:31

What a powerful few words. How often would we like someone to say that to us.

Come away and rest a while….

What’s been happening to Jesus and the disciples? Why are they so tired and in need of rest?Jesus saw that his disciples were getting tired and so asked them to come away and rest.

They went in a boat and to find a deserted place, they set off into the Sea of Galilee and headed up the shore, from Capernaum.

But the crowds had seen them and were following on the shore and in fact arrived before they did. So the only rest the disciples has was in the boat. The Sea of Galilee can be incredibly calm and restful beyond measure so let’s hope that they did get some rest before they clambered out of the boat.

When they arrived at the shore Jesus sees the crowds and feels compassion for them as he says, they are like sheep without a shepherd,

And he walks up the hill and starts to speak to them.

Interestingly in today’s readings, we miss out the next section which is the Feeding of the Five thousand, which is a story to itself. And then the calming of the waves, these are both very active sections from Jesus.

And we do all need rest and a time and a place where we can feel peace and calm. Easier said than done!!

Ahead of us we have the summer, holiday time. To experience the real joy of love and laughter and to find space for each other.

In our busy lives it’s hard sometimes to find some space and to Come Away to a deserted place and rest a while.

We rush around getting so much done and achieving more and more, there is more and more on offer for everyone of us and that is really wonderful.

But in the midst of all the running around and endless activity can we find some space, some space to find God and to let God find us. If we never speak to God and say prayers, if we never give thanks and spend some time in worship, how can we expect Him to be with us?

Come Away and rest a while…come to a deserted place all by yourselves.

Amen

For more see Sermons on Faith Goes Walkabout

Rev’d Sue Martin

The best gift of all! The Holy Spirit

By faithgoeswalkabout

On May 24, 2015

In Faith goes walkabout, Pentacost

Acts 2: 1- 21

And just how amazed do you think the disciples would have been to find that they were speaking in different languages!

Can you imagine it now? What would people have said?

A great crowd of people at a special festival, tongues of flame start to appear from all around, mmmm not looking to good. Someone by now would have called the police on their mobile.

Come quick please, I think we have been tricked! This new band have sent fire into the crowd and now there are men who are talking in all sorts of different languages. Youd better hurry!

At the feast of Pentecost there were a group of about 200 followers, the disciples, and Mary, mother of Jesus and his brothers. A sound from Heaven, like a strong wind appeared and tongues like fire rested on them.

Peter, standing with the other 11 disciples, addressed the crowd. He interpreted the tongues as the fulfillment of Gods promise, described in Joel

Peter went on to baptise about 3000 people that day. They were from countries far and wide; they had the potential to cross cultural boundaries. They had the power and the spirit to take the word of God across the world.

The church and Christianity started here!

Rev’d Sue Martin, Diocese of Norwich – www faithgoeswalkabout

Easter Sunday

By faithgoeswalkabout

On April 5, 2015

In Easter, Faith goes walkabout

Easter Sunday April 5th

Is there Hope?

Matthew 28:1- 10 Acts 10 34-43

Alleluia, Christ is Risen!

He is Risen indeed, Alleluia!

What a week!

Quite a story, starting with the triumphal ride into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on the humble donkey. Crowded streets, the place packed with people preparing for the feast of the Passover, Jesus turning over the tables in the temple, the Last Supper in the upstairs room, for fear of being found, the long night in the Garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal of Jesus by Judas, the capture by the soldiers, Jesus coming before Pontius Pilate, the crowds calling for him to be crucified and the release of Barabbas.

And then the crucifixion.

Saturday, the holy day for the Jews. What was that like then?

And so to today, the good news that Jesus is risen.! Alleluia!

This is the good news, the news we all share even today 2000 years after the event and it hasn’t changed, He is risen indeed Alleluia!

But let’s go back to that tomb, the tomb given by Joseph of Arimathea. There are tombs in Jerusalem just like the one given by Joseph and I have seen a later tomb where they think Joseph of Arimathea was later buried.

In the morning Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus had gone to visit the tomb and see where they had laid his body. It had been such a dreadful day on Friday their sorrow and grief were unmeasurable but together they walked to the tomb, maybe like us today to visit the gravesides of our relatives, in respect and in love.

In Matthew we hear that an angel had rolled back the stone and was sitting there. This is a very short passage, but it says all that is needed.

The guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women,

‘Do not be afraid, He is risen. Go and tell his disciples.’

What could have been in the minds of the two Mary’s – joy, exhilaration, fear, wonder.And then on the way to the disciples they met Jesus. Immediately they bowed down and worshipped him.

In the meantime the soldiers had described what had happened and the story was made that his body had been taken by the soldiers, for fear of reprisal from the crowds.

The eleven disciples were making their way to the mountain in Galilee, when Jesus appeared to them.Jesus said to them,

‘Remember I am with you always to the end of the age.’

And that surely is what the Easter message is about. Hope, resurrection, a life hereafter.

What happen to us in this world when we lose all hope? This is such a sad and miserable place to be, the depths of despair.

But Hope… Jesus gives us that hope forever, a love that never ends, a hope for all to be well, a love that is unconditional, a hope that one day we will all meet with Jesus.

Jesus risen from the dead, alive and with us, here, now and forever.

Rev’d Sue Martin Diocese of Norwich

Epiphany 6 January

By faithgoeswalkabout

On January 6, 2015

In church seasons, Epiphany, theological

In Spain on 6th January the celebrations are held for the Twelfth Day of Christmas. The streets of the Spanish capital are filled with children who are waiting to see the parade of the Three Kings or Magi bearing gifts in an annual tradition.

People dressed as fantasy figures on the floats hurled sweets down to the children, who cheer the ornately decorated floats.

The “Magi from the east” – Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar are following a star to Bethlehem to give gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newly born Jesus Christ.

If you look in the East sky at night this month, you will see Jupiter,shining brightly, low in the sky,an idea of what that star would have looked like, but multiplied by a magnitude of a thousand times brightness.

Epiphany – bringing light into the darkness.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Diocese of Norwich

Lord of the Dance

By faithgoeswalkabout

On April 20, 2014

In church seasons, pastoral, theological

Easter Happy Easter!

Alleluia, He is Risen!

Dance then, wherever you may be;

I am the Lord of the Dance, said he,

And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,

And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

They cut me down

And I leap up high;

I am the life

That’ll never, never die;

I’ll live in you,if you’ll live in me:

I am the Lord of the Dance, said he:

Rev’d Sue Martin

Chaplain at QE Hospital, Diocese of Norwich

Lent 2013

By faithgoeswalkabout

On February 14, 2013

In church seasons

Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (less Sundays).

The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus – his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death and resurrection.

The actual word means – to lengthen, and is marked by the lengthening of days as we enter the season of Spring.

Lent is a preparation for Easter and is often shown by giving up something, often foods that we especially like; chocolate, cakes and biscuits are good examples. But Lent can also be a time for real reflection.

There are many Lent courses and the two included are both good ways of exploring meanings and an understanding of life today and the role of Christianity.

The Norwich diocese course(as illustrated) is part of the Lent project with Uganda and can be downloaded for free. The material is written by Rev’d Dr Medad Birungi Zinomuhangi, President & Founder-World Shine Ministries.

The Church Urban Fund course looks at issues of poverty today in the UK and can be downloaded for free. Searching for the truth behind the news headlines and discovering realities for people who live on the edge.

Or try Christian Aid Count Your Blessings? Bite size pieces of daily thoughts on life’s issues in a gentle but real way.

So, let’s get going in Lent, wake up to life around us and the Easter story in 40 days time.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Curate in Gayton group of parishes.

Women Bishops

By faithgoeswalkabout

On November 24, 2012

In community, pastoral, theological

What happened to the vote, how does 72% overall in favour mean that the legislation was defeated?

Everyone is reeling this week with the news that General Synod, the top section of the Church of England’s structure, have seemingly voted against the position of women bishops. In brief there are three houses and each has to have a two thirds majority. All had gone fine until the House of Laity, who did not return this majority.

What a disaster!

In 2012, with a church that has women priests, the common sense and equality approach, would see no reason why women are not treated the same as men!

Theological, a minority of people including conservative evangelicals, feel that it is not right.

If we are all working in the affirmation, love and welcome of God through the world, then surely it must be time for us all to have an equal position and worth.

There is much anguish, frustration and disappointment.

The Bishop of Norwich has written to all across the Norwich Diocese and expressed the need, now, to be more united as a church, to work and pray for a resolution.

In the meantime, women and men together in ministry continue to bring the good news to all in the parishes and beyond.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Curate in Gayton Group of Parishes