Category: community Page 3 of 6

D Day Landings 70th Anniversary

On June 8, 2014

A few days ago, we were sitting quietly in the office at Cambridge , when we heard the low rumbling of a plane. The noise of planes is not unusual but they usually come overhead with a jet engine roar or the quiet calmness of a Cessna 2 seater.

This plane was a Dakota, and as it flew overhead we couldn’t help but look out at the window and sense the memory of all that plane had seen 70 years ago.

What strikes me about all the commemorations about the D Day landings is the elderly men, now in wheelchairs or struggling to walk, but getting to that place in France, where as young men in their late teens and early twenties, they emerged from the boats into the seas, straight into the firing guns.
What courage! What strength! And what conviction?

And the 90 year old man who made his own way from his Care Home in Hove to get there, courage, strength and conviction.

This day that meant so much to the eventual end of the war. The joining of nations fighting in desperation for peace and for freedom.

The Four Freedoms Speech in 1941 as expressed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt were and still are fundamental for all people in the world.

Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Worship
Freedom from Want
Freedom from Fear

A time now to remember the people who gave their lives for those freedoms for us and a time to look forward to how we can still ensure that tyranny does not succeed and The Four Freedoms can still be our goal for all people.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Follow Me…

By faithgoeswalkabout

On January 26, 2014

In church seasons, community, Faith goes walkabout, pastoral, theological

Follow me. The words of Jesus for the fishermen and for us too.

No excuses, like…well I’ll just take the dog home first and then I’ll be back.

Or…Can I make it next year, I have so much on at the moment..

Or… I will follow but it’s going to have to be later this week,. Can you come back next Sunday?

Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John were one day normal Galilean fishermen and the next, they were disciples and later apostles of Jesus, Son of God. Pretty impressive that!

We can all do it too, if we really want too. Follow Him!

See Epiphany on Faithgoeswalkabout

Rev’d Sue Martin

Norwich Diocese

Helicopter Crash in North Norfolk

By faithgoeswalkabout

On January 10, 2014

In church seasons, community, Faith goes walkabout, pastoral, theological

On the edge of the North Norfolk coast, US Air Force helicopter crashed killing all four people on board.

The HH-60G Pave Hawk, based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, came down at a nature reserve in Cley next the Sea on Tuesday night.

The aircraft, from the 48th Fighter Wing, was on a low-level training mission and carrying live ammunition.

For many of us, living in Norfolk, the flights overhead of military planes and helicopters is a constant reminder of the work of the armed forces and how the low level flying over the sea is a fundamental part of the training programmes.

It is of enormous sadness that four young men should lose their loves in such a way on the shoreline where there is usually peace and solace.

The Bishop of Lynn, The Right Reverend Jonathan Meyrich said ,

“We have all been shocked and deeply saddened by the loss of the four crew members involved in Tuesday’s crash. Words can be of little help at this time to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives, but in services across the Diocese we will be remembering them in our prayers this Sunday, as well as those in Cley and Salthouse and members of the emergency services, many of whom have been left shaken by this tragedy.”

“Often when a tragedy like this happens, people want to pray but are not sure how. The best prayers come straight from the heart, but the prayer below can be used by any who wish to remember before God those whose lives have been affected.”

“God of all consolation, we pray for all those whose lives have been affected by Tuesday’s helicopter crash. We ask for comfort for those who have been bereaved, courage for the colleagues of the crew, strength for the emergency services, peace for communities of Salthouse and Cley. Grant to all who have been affected by this tragedy your light and hope, for we pray in the name our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Rev’d Sue Martin

Diocese of Norwich

Archbishop of Canterbury in Hong Kong

By faithgoeswalkabout

On October 29, 2013

In church seasons, community, theological

++Canterbury Somebody once said, ” Coincidences happen more often when you believe in God”.

Not sure if it was a coincidence or just my luck, that whilst in Hong Kong this last two weeks, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby was preaching at St John’s Cathedral, whilst on a stop over between London and South Korea.

Warm and sunny day, in the midst of the higher than high finance buildings in Central, Hong Kong Island, the traditional English style cathedral sits amongst surrounding gardens.

The Archbishop preached on allowing God to be in control of our lives and how sometimes that is deeply uncomfortable, but that we should be faithful and true to what God asks us to do.

DSCF2041

Notes on the sermon are under Sermons on Faith Goes Walkabout.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Norwich Diocesan Conference 9-12th September

By faithgoeswalkabout

On September 11, 2013

In community, pastoral, theological

Deepening Vocation

Over 200 clergy members of the Norwich Diocese are spending four days at University of Hertfordshire.

The days have been spent in worship, study, listening to speakers and being involved in some very stimulating workshops, along with time to reflect and share together in friendship.

On Wednesday the conference listened to The Rev’d Professor Sarah Cockley from University of Cambridge and Ely Cathedral, on the Christian Priest Today. A straightforward title but a very deep lecture and discussion on the paradox of priestly vocation and sense of spirituality and the conflicting need to be business like and efficient in line with organisational structures.

Speakers have also included The Rev’d Dr Jo Bailiey-Wells on Deepening Vocation and The Rev’d Richard Coles on fiction and film.

Still time for coffee breaks and a chance to catch up with friends.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Curate in the Gayton Group of Parishes

Climbing the Tower

By faithgoeswalkabout

On July 14, 2013

In church seasons, community, pastoral

Celebration for St Mary’s Church,Gayton Thorpe, the large scale building work is finished!

The round church tower was open for viewing and the brave or foolhardy braved the ladders on the way to the top. Even braver were those who stood up, as the wall was only 12 inches high!

An amazing view of the countryside on a beautiful summer’s day… the ancient path of the Icknield Way(which claims to be the oldest route in Britain) stretching through the trees and fields.

Cakes, teas and glasses of bubbly were available and provided by Sarah and Zoe, who have worked so hard to ensure that the church will remain open and alive and the cheerful and warm service, led by Rev’d Jane Holmes meant that the church will now be open once again for services and for those walking past it’s doors. GT service

Our small churches are a joy to have and even when we are small in number, they remain a place for prayer and space and quiet.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Curate of Gayton Group of Parishes

Faithgoes walkabout.org

The Teams of Twelve

By faithgoeswalkabout

On March 9, 2013

In church seasons, community, Faith goes walkabout

Third Sunday in Lent The Teams of Twelve

Genesis 28:10-19a and John 1:35-51

Jacobs ladder

The teams of twelve…. John starts the building of the team of the twelve disciples for Jesus, as we hear in the passage from John’s gospel.
Jacob has the powerful dream, about the ladder to heaven with angels passing up and down, as we hear in the passage from Genesis. From there his name is synonymous with Israel and the twelve tribes of Israel from the descendants of his twelve sons.

There are other links between these two passages;
There are links between the books of Genesis and John; they deal with the beginnings, the establishing of God’s church and creation, light and darkness, day and night.

There is a similarity of the endings of both passages; in Genesis Jacob makes a vow,

‘ If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God.’

In John, Jesus says,

‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the soul of man’

And there we also have another connection, in the angels ascending and descending.

Rev’d Sue Martin, Assistant Priest St Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield London

Kalpana in Nepal

By faithgoeswalkabout

On January 13, 2013

In community, Nepal, pastoral

Kalpana on her journey to school...

Kalpana, aged 7, in Nepal on her way to school.

We support Kalpana and make regular contributions towards her school costs, from our children’s books website Dolphin Booksellers. We put aside monies to send to Kalpana for her education.

Her family live several villages away and Bhim and Kalpana walk for a day to stay with her aunt during school time. Bhim, her uncle, is a Himalayan guide, and communicates with us regularly when he is back from trips around Everest.

Our connection was started over two years ago when I went to Nepal, on a walk to Everest Base Camp. Two days from the Base Camp I developed altitude sickness and had to make a very long and hasty retreat down the mountain. There’s more info on my Faith in Nepal page. Helping me to get down was Bhim, an experienced guide. We talked a great deal on the 5 days down and I learnt all about Kalpana.

Sue Martin

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

Tasmania

By faithgoeswalkabout

On October 9, 2012

In community, Faith goes walkabout, pastoral

2012-09-27 11.13

Tasmania, the most southerly state in Australia, an island, separated from the mainland by the Bass Straits. A beautiful place with huge diversity in the climate, landscape and wildlife.

Vast areas of wilderness and huge untouched forests with no roads or population are unchartered territory, especially in the south west.

We spent a week in Tasmania (see section on Faith Goes Walkabout- Walkabout Australia).From echidnas and wombats to Tasmanian Devils and Duck Billed Platypus, the wildlife is amazing. The temperate rain forests with the Tall Trees of Sassafras and Arras and beautiful beaches are stunning.

The history of Tasmania since the arrival of the white settlers doesn’t make good reading and the church was part of this difficult time. Tasmania was established as the place of last resort and conditions were really bad. Conditions were harsh and made worse by the elite class who continued to make large amounts of money.
The aboriginal population was destroyed and any people left were made part of the settler’s way of life. There are many stories, and a recent book called Wanting by Richard Flanagan is about a young girl Mahinna around 1839 and her move into the governor’s house.

Maybe it’s when travelling that we are taken to places, not only beautiful but where we learn about life, that we start to increase in wonder and look back in amazement.

Tasmania, a great place and very far south on the other side of the world.

Rev’d Sue Martin
Curate at Gayton group of parishes