Category: church seasons Page 8 of 9

Christmas and the shortest day

On December 20, 2011

nativity

Christmas is nearly here, 4 days to go! Still time for the last of the shopping to be done, still time for the last of the presents to be wrapped and put under the tree.

On my way to church today I passed a Dad and his son sawing off the bottom of the Christmas tree, making sure it fits inside the house.

And now we have arrived at the shortest day of the year, the darkness is nearly complete. Makes me feel like hibernating!

If you are outside in the evenings take a look at the stars.

Venus is brilliant in the west. The dark night sky is just perfect to think about the brilliance of the star that rested over Bethlehem to show where Jesus was born.

‘All out of darkness there came light, which made the angels sing that night.’

Revd Sue Martin

Curate at Gayton group of parishes

The First Candle!

By faithgoeswalkabout

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

Questions, questions, questions !

By faithgoeswalkabout

On October 23, 2011

In church seasons, theological

jes What a strange week it’s been! World news, Libya and finding Gaddafii. Events in the city of London, protesters at St Paul’s saw the cathedral closed for the first time since the Blitz.

What is going on?
Whatever you may think about Libya, the country will now face a future, and with determination to get things right. One of the first things they will look at is the laws and rules of the country. More often than once has a country found itself free, but before long civil uprising has started.

Laws and rules are there to make society a better place.
Protesters at St Paul’s, especially interesting. They’re a peaceful group and seem to have done nothing about breaking any laws, they just want the position to be heard. I think you have to give space for people to be able to make a stand.

In Matthew 22:34 – end, Jesus is questioned by a lawyer about the greatest commandments.

“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
Jesus replies immediately, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, this is the first and the greatest commandment. And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Even for today, these two commandments form the basis of all the laws. For laws are there to follow and in any society they form the backbone of the moral and ethical rules. They reflect our inner call of love and understanding for others.

Sermon for this week has more….

Revd Sue Martin

St Nicholas Church Gayton

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

It’s Just Not Fair!

By faithgoeswalkabout

On September 17, 2011

In church seasons, Faith goes walkabout, theological

The Labourers in the Vineyard

viney

It’s just not fair is it? Why can’t I have the same as you? I was here first!

Matthew 20:1-16 The Labourers in the Vineyard

Manna from heaven and quails eggs weren’t enough!

How much longer are you going to take us into the middle of nowhere? What are we doing? Exodus 16:2-15

Questions questions, questions!

We have a very good sense of fairness, we should after all be treated in exactly the same way, shouldn’t we? We should all have the same rights to have just what we want. That’s right isn’t it? We should after all have the same money for the work we do, we all work hard don’t we?

What’s the answer? Read more in Faith Goes Walkabout under Trinity about these great stories.

Revd Sue Martin

Curate in the Gayton group of parishes, Norfolk

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

The Season of Trinity

By faithgoeswalkabout

On June 28, 2011

In church seasons, pastoral, theological

green stole

The church year and the liturgical calendar are steeped in history.

The different times in the year have their own colours and green is the colour for Trinity.

The picture of the stole is taken from the collection by Juliet Hemingray, Church Textiles.

Trinity Sunday marks a significant time as the fulfillment of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

After Trinity Sunday falls another eighteen Sundays until we get to October 30th as the fourth Sunday before Advent.

This time is also called ordinary time, which means the counted weeks or the weeks through the year.

There is a new section -Trinity, on Faith Goes Walkabout. Although it does have reference to the Holy Trinity, it will include other postings and sermons to reflect aspects of our own lives.

In the meantime, I have finally purchased the stole from Juliet Hemingray, I will at last have the correct colour in a beautiful shade of green, with fishes and waves.

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

Easter Sunday , Alleluia, Christ ok Risen!

By faithgoeswalkabout

On April 29, 2011

In church seasons, theological

Easter Sunday

Matthew 28:1- 10

Alleluia, Christ is Risen!

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.

And so to Easter Sunday, the good news that Jesus is risen. Jesus said to the disciples, ‘Remember I am with you always to the end of the age.’

The true message of Easter, Jesus is alive and with us now and forever.
God sent his only son to be with us to show his love for all his people.

The sermon for Easter given at St Nicholas church Gayton can be seen on the faith and practice tab.

Revd Sue Martin