Faith Goes Walkabout

Thoughts and reflections

Category: church seasons Page 3 of 9

Jesus Accepts us as we are

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On March 9, 2015

In church seasons, theological

Lent 3 – Jesus accepts us as we are with our faults.

IMG 1729He finds us where we are, not where we wish to be or even think we should be and hope to be, but where we are.

In this place, in this time and just as we are.That doesn’t’ mean we should not try to do all that we can in the right way, but an acceptance that we as humans are pretty frail, pretty easily led, pretty concerned about things of no real importance.

Isn’t that why we struggle, isn’t that why we come back to prayer and to church time and time and time again?

In John 8:1-11, Jesus was seeking some rest in the Mount of Olives. The Pharisees brought him a woman who had sinned and they were hoping that he would condem her. What did he do? He asked for any there who had not sinned ever, to throw the first stone. They all walked away and he was left with the woman and asked her not to sin anymore.

Jesus accepts us as we are with our faults.

Rev’d Sue Martin – Sermon for 3rd Sunday in Lent at St John’s Church King’s Lynn

What did I need? -1st Sunday in Lent

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On February 22, 2015

In church seasons, Faith and business, Faith goes walkabout, pastoral, theological

Readings Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1: 9-15
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A few weeks ago I was in the Holy Land and I    wondered what I had been expecting on that journey and in that place?

Who would I meet? What would I say? What did I need to take?

I am not sure now what I expected, or had I set out on this journey with the hope that I would merely enjoy it and be pleased that I had made the effort?

And as we start Lent our readings for are about temptation, fasting, God’s promise to Noah, and Jesus resurrection.

Temptation – believing that I have got it all right

Fasting – spending time by suffering in some way

God’s Promise – He will be with us

Jesus Resurrection – Beyond all this that we see and meet Jesus died and was resurrected that we may have that eternal life.

In the Holy Land these aspects were all met and I found that they became alive for me. And who did I meet, what could I say and what did I need to take?

Absolutely nothing!

Rev’d Sue Martin

The Transfiguration

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On February 14, 2015

In church seasons, pastoral, theological

The Transfiguration Feb 15 2015, St John’s Church, Kings Lynn

Readings 2 Kings 9:1-10 Mark 9:2- 12

IMG 1564  Our eyes are opened and at last we see.

Three tents or places look towards the heavens.

I have just come back from the Holy Land and and on Mount  Tabor, walked in in the place where the Transfiguration  happened.

What was it that Jesus was asking his disciples here? Why  again, did he just take Peter, James and John? How amazed  were they as they watched Jesus transform into dazzling  brightness?

How unbelievable that as the cloud descended there beside Jesus, stood Elijah and Moses?

Jesus took the three disciples there to try to open their eyes to what was happening.
Often in Jewish scriptures we hear of the ‘veil of ordinariness that normally prevents us from seeing the inside of a situation. This is a view and an insight into God’s kingdom, Jesus really did appear as the Messiah. The disciples were transfixed. They could see with their eyes wide open.

We often hear that there are layers and dimensions in this world. Usually we like to make sense of all that we see, hear and know and are familiar with. It is hard to take that leap of faith and enter a world of the unknown.

It’s a bit like being a child again, like exploring for instance the world of music, or the world of dance, looking through a telescope into the stars.

Rev’d Sue Martin – faithgoeswalkabout.org

Holy Land Pilgrimage-The Sea of Galilee

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On February 8, 2015

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

IMG 1509This was the start of our pilgrimage, a day full of wonder and awe, a lake so peaceful and calm, a boat trip to remember for ever, a Eucharist by the shore of the lake, serene and full of the Spirit.

We set out, as many do, into the middle of the Sea of Galilee, peaceful and calm, we had prayers we heard the story of the fishermen and the start of the disciples calling, we saw the geography of that place where Jesus began his work.

After the Bishop had said prayers, there were a few of us who started dancing, to the Jewish dance of Hava Nagila, with music from the crew. – Who would have thought it!! But as always dance was brilliant to express emotions and joy.

We held Eucharist by the shores, and to my amazement,the prayers for that day were for the parish were I now serve and first came to church in Ashwicken.

And towards the end of the day we renewed our baptisms in the River Jordan.

A glimpse into this journey of faith, go to holylandpilgrimage on this site to find out more about the journey.

Rev’d Sue Martin Diocese of Norwich

Epiphany 6 January

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On January 6, 2015

In church seasons, Epiphany, theological

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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

Christmas Eve

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On December 24, 2014

In church seasons

mary & Joseph

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all should be registered.

All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.

He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.

While they were there, the time came for her to deliver the child. And she gave birth to her first born son and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because their was no room for them at the inn.

Luke 2:1-8

Christmas Starts here!

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On December 21, 2014

In church seasons, theological

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Advent Carols in East Walton, Norfolk

The coal burning stove had been stoked for 2 days to keep us warm, the choir were practising in the chancel, the mincepies had been freshly made and the spices in the mulled wine smelt delicious.

The church was full with people from the village and nearby.

 

Nowhere more than this could the spirit of Christmas be about to happen.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Darkness and Light

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On December 5, 2014

In church seasons, pastoral

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One candle burns at the start of Advent, in St Clement’s Church, Terrington St Clement, a magnificent and pretty church in the Fens, sometimes called the Cathedral of the Fens.

The light shone in to the church as the south windows were filled with the sun’s low rays.

All out of darkness we have light….

A beautiful reminder that Advent is here and Christmas is on it’s way.

So let’s get ready!

Rev’d Sue Martin Diocese of Norwich

Martha Collison and Big Bake

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On November 16, 2014

In church seasons, Faith and business, pastoral

Image 1Martha Collison, famous now for her charm and delicious baking on The Great British Bake Off has a really enchanting interview with Church Times on 14 November. It’s always the page that I read first, the back page!!

Martha has teamed up with Tearfund and their Big Bake Tournament, the interview shows just how dedicated Martha is to following her call and using her baking skills to support other young people across the world.

She is an activist against child trafficking and makes a very strong argument as to why just has to be recognised and stopped.See the Tear Fund Big Bake web pages here...

Martha is taking a year off from going to University to work with Tearfund and, ‘ to make my self useful’.

What a star! And guess what!’ God,’ she says , ‘Has always been a big part of my life’

Rev’d Sue Martin, Diocese of Norwich

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Was Moses a Super hero?

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On September 7, 2014

In church seasons, pastoral, theological

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Moses, leader of the Israelites, led the people out of Egypt, across the Red Sea, when the waters divided, so long in the desert, Moses found them water and manna and quails eggs, he brought down from the mountain the Ten Commandments written on stone, he had a staff which God gave to him and changed it from a snake, his staff did all sorts of wonderful things.

In fact, he was like a modern day Super hero, and I’m going to include, Super man, Batman, Gandalf, Professor Dumbledore, and….well there are many more.

In the story of Moses and the Burning Bush, Moses was quietly doing his work as a shepherd and was wandering in the desert.And there he saw the burning bush.

He could have chosen to walk away and not get involved, but he turned and spoke with God.

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‘There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire, out of the burning bush’.

The bush. Moses noticed was burning and not going out.

And this next bit is crucial…
‘Then Moses said, ‘ I must turn aside and look as this great sight and see why the bush is not burned up.’

Moses in that few seconds had not ignored God and was going to listen.

 

What happens when super heroes and powerful people are ignored?
What about the people in the stories, can they just carry on with their lives just the same or do they need help and do they have to do something to make that help happen? Harry. Bilbo and Frodo?

More reflections in www.faithgoeswalkabout, on Sermon for 12th Sunday after Trinity.

Revd Sue Martin, Diocese of Norwich

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