Category: community Page 5 of 6

The First Candle!

On December 12, 2011

In church seasons, community, pastoral, theological

ad wreath

Third Sunday in Advent and will our first Advent candle make it to Christmas Day? Seemed to me quite a philosophical question once I had put to one side the implications of burning holly as the candle flame neared the crisp leaves.

We try hard to get everything ready, sermons prepared, carol services arranged, nativity scenes installed, tree festivals organised, ensuring of course that all are happy with their space in the church. And then something unaccountable and unforeseen takes place.

The first Advent candle runs out!! Disaster, wreath loses it’s beauty,flower ladies unhappy!!

‘Who bought the candles this year’ I was asked. ‘ Well I thought they were a good price.’ I answered in defence.

But let’s not lose sight of the main candle in the centre and the main reason why we are celebrating.

Preparation, getting ready…. better to make sure that we’re there, ready in our hearts on Christmas Day.

Revd Sue Martin

Curate at Gayton group of parishes

Michaelmass at Ashwicken

By faithgoeswalkabout

On October 14, 2011

In church seasons, community, pastoral, theological

On September 29th as the day turned to dusk, a small group met at All Saint’s Church, Ashwicken by the south tower to celebrate Michaelmass as an Evening with the Heavenly Host.

St Michael is an Archangel and the guardian angel of autumn and he also looks after the element of fire. He helps the farmers with their harvesting. He is the angel of courage and strength. He helps people to reap rich rewards for their labours earlier in the year and to celebrate their achievements.

Often portrayed on churches and in paintings he stands proud in his red clothing, killing the great dragon as we have heard in Revelations. His function also is to be the leader of the heavenly armies and drive rebel angels from heaven.

For a September evening, it was very warm and as we sang our last hymn the sun set behind the hill.

A beautiful end to the day.

Sermon and more details on Faith and Practice.

Revd Sue Martin

What do Tiggers and curates have in common?

By faithgoeswalkabout

On August 24, 2011

In community, pastoral, theological

The bishop of London, Richard Chartres, described his work and destiny as ‘ to be tossed about by storms while struggling to resolve the tension between leading and serving his people’

Taken from The Guardian 20.8.2011, A working life The bishop.

At heart do we all struggle with that kind of tension of what we should be doing and what we are actually doing?

A place at the top of the episcopal ladder is surely a daunting place and it was good to hear that eve with the work load that he has, his zeal for his ministry has not been zapped.

And as he says,” If I’m feeling weary, one morning, and encounter with a Tiggerish curate will cheer me up!”

How refreshing to know that a bit of Winnie the Pooh is alive and well and enchants us all. Must remember to remain like Tigger…

Revd Sue Martin

Curate at Gayton group of parishes

Young People Caught up in Riots

By faithgoeswalkabout

On August 13, 2011

In church seasons, community

Where did we go wrong?
Who is to blame?

‘Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the snake and the snake didn’t have a leg to stand on.’ Anne Atkins

What a week it’s been. Nothing anyone can say or do can condone the level of destruction and violence against people, both themselves and their property, lives torn apart in our civilised world is a great shock.

Police and politicians have moved in with force to quell the riots. Much talk about social networking on cell phones and the speed with which young people can instigate such attacks. And indeed much now talked about ‘copy cat’ riots.

But all of that puts into the shadows the underlying causes. It does not show a picture of the real’ why’? It has forgotten the original reason, following the death of Mark Duggan in Tottenham.

I read that we have become a ‘grabbing society’.

What we want and can grab, we have, whether it’s right or wrong and I’ll leave you to think of examples of that.
We promised young people a future, an education, but now that is going to be too expensive, so why do well at school?

But you know, there is so much more to all of this. What a waste of talent in these people, what has driven them to attack and loot and destroy? Lots of youngsters, everyone holds their hands up in horror, what parents can allow this!

Well, it’s August, summer holidays, school is out. And so are the youth clubs, gone with the cuts, any form of youth service and activities in most authorities have virtually all disappeared.
There is nothing for young people to do.

Let’s hope and pray that firstly it calms down, that all of those caught up in this violence can rebuild their lives. We have a civilised society, let’s hope we still show that face across the world.

Sermon 8th Trinity continues…

Revd Sue Martin

Oscar’s Baptism

By faithgoeswalkabout

On July 25, 2011

In community, pastoral, theological

Baptism Oscar {1} Welcome to Oscar Whales, aged 8 weeks, baptised at All Saints Church Ashwicken.

To my surprise this was my 12th baptism and so far so good. No tears, no cries, only some who tried to drink the water. Not so sure with Oscar how it was going to turn out?

Our tiny church in the fields was packed, family and friends, parents and godparents, Lots of laughter too.

After a short delay for Oscar in the vestry we started the service of Morning Prayer and Baptism. Baptism, the start of a Christian journey a welcome and the naming ceremony. Oscar is just a tiny baby and can’t possibly know what he is being let in for. But his parents and godparents take on that role for him and a promise to be there at his side.

Made me think of all the people who play an important part in our lives. People who have been such a help and have given the benefit of the doubt at difficult times.

As it turned out, Oscar seemed to enjoy the whole water effect and good as gold he was safely returned to Nicola, his Mum.

After the last hymn and more talk and laughter the family left for a celebration in their house across the fields.

Full sermon under Trinity

The Reverend Sue Martin

Freedom and Liberty

By faithgoeswalkabout

On July 9, 2011

In community, pastoral, theological

I was drawn to listen to the the Reith lectures by
Aung San Soo Kyi or as she is called in Burma, The Lady.

Her freedom taken away from her for many years and most recently under house arrest since 2006, now released but still in a situation whereby she has to do the lecture in secrecy, for fear of recrimination.
When her husband was dying in England she did not dare to request to visit or indeed to see her children. She feared that she would not be able to return.

In the first of the Reith lectures she talks about Liberty and the dedication of her life to gain freedom for the people of Burma. Living under a military dictatorship for so many years people are not free, they live in fear, they cannot communicate with others freely, they cannot move around the country or journey like other people can.

Her political party is the National League for Democracy, they are not asking for a huge amount in our eyes. We who live comfortably in a democratic country may have some grumbles but it is nothing to living under a dictatorship. She argues that the politics of dissent are a difficult place and need people who have passion, responsibility and a sense of proportion but also to have the strength to stand up against those who wish to determine your life for their own good.

Freedom is as given, not for those to seek to take it away.

Freedom is the greatest boundary, for although we are free to be our own masters, we are bound by our own inner laws and codes.

Taking away a person’s freedom is taking away that spirit. In the case of Aung San Soo Kyi and others the freedom is taken away because it is feared by those who issue the laws.

A stronger theological case is under Trinity on Faith Goes Walkabout given for my sermon, 2nd Sunday after Trinity.

And if you have chance download and listen to the Reith Lectures, it is given by Aung San with confidence and in truth.

Revd Sue Martin

Wind and flames

By faithgoeswalkabout

On June 12, 2011

In church seasons, community, theological

sunset Pentecost Sunday 12th June 2011

The best gift of all!

The Holy Spirit

Someone said the other day, what would have happened if Jesus had been born into our time, do you think he would have used emails, the internet, gone on long haul flights?

I’m sure he would, but the fact is that he can work wonders without electronic and technical communications, just wait and see.

Pentecost, the start of the church.

Jesus had been taken to heaven and now his gift, as promised, the Holy Spirit came in flying style to the disciples.

The church and Christianity started here!

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.

If it happened today just imagine the scenes it would have caused.

It could have been used on a scene for Dr Who, but there are things that even a Time Lord can’t do.

A brief address is under Faith and Practice.

Sue Martin

Beating the Bounds on Rogation Day

By faithgoeswalkabout

On May 30, 2011

In church seasons, community, pastoral, theological

Rogation Sunday at East Walton Sunday May 29th.

barley

A service in the tiny hamlet of East Walton for Rogation Sunday and along with Farmer Bill Lewis we enjoyed a service in church followed by the traditional ‘ Beating the Bounds’ around the parish boundaries.

Rogation Sunday is always before Ascension Day and comes from the Latin verb, rogare meaning to ask. To ask, to seek and to find. The sermon for the day is on the Faith and Practice page and links the asking and seeking to following pathways and finding your way in a theological meaning.

And after the service we made the first stop into the barley field for a small glass of beer and a prayer. The next stop was at the very old ash tree in the field of sheep and lambs, looking very parched. We found our way to the village green and the sign before the next stop in Dilys’ garden for a glass of wine and then a trek across the common to enter a beautiful garden for a picnic and several different sorts of cakes.

What a real sense of community, a great day!

Revd Sue Martin

Donkeys at Church

By faithgoeswalkabout

On April 23, 2011

In church seasons, community, pastoral, theological

Palm Sunday April 16th 2011
St Mary’s Church East Walton, West Norfolk

Our second Country Church service with style.

donkeys in lane

Staring at the church we followed two young donkeys down the lane on this beautiful morning. They were quite skittish and enjoying the attention but walked into the churchyard with the young and older followers behind. With a bit of extra encouragement and a stronger pull on the rope they walked into church and stood in front of the nave.

At the first hymn, ‘We have a king who rides a donkey’ they were taken into the front box pew. An unfamiliar sight in the traditional box pew and I couldn’t help wondering what the last users of the pew would have thought.

donkeys in stall

We said goodbye to them after the hymn and they were taken back to be put out in the grass field just behind the church.
Jesus, of course, travelled on the young donkey, not on a grand horse but on the humble animal, the beast of burden.

More details and sermon are on Faith and Practice section

Revd Sue Martin

Curate in the Gayton benefice

I’ll be there for you always! Mothering Sunday April 2nd 2011

By faithgoeswalkabout

On April 9, 2011

In church seasons, community, pastoral, theological

I’ll be there for you always! Mothering Sunday

Livvie4 4th Sunday in Lent 3rd April 2011
Hebrews 12: 22 – 24
John 9

This is what it means to be a Mum, never far away, even though the miles may separate us. Always there, ever present, ever by your side.

Of course not all of life is as wonderful and romantic as that. Just think for moment of all those times when being a Mum or a parent is just plain hard work, never in the right place, always wearing the wrong thing, saying the wrong words….

Being a mother so what does it mean,what are the words that it conjures up; love, care, nurture, encourage, guide, friend, supporter, healer, teacher, the list goes on and I’m sure you can add lots to it.

Quite a list but yet the best thing in the world. Celebrate with us on this Mothering Sunday.

Revd Sue Martin