Category: theological Page 4 of 8

Helicopter Crash in North Norfolk

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

Advent 2

By faithgoeswalkabout

On December 8, 2013

In church seasons, Faith goes walkabout, pastoral, theological

Posada

The Advent journey of Mary and Joseph and their donkey is experienced more and more in our churches and homes.

The tradition of Posada, which began in South America is now taking root in the UK.

Crib figures, representing Mary, Joseph and the donkey travel around a village or town stopping(by arrangement!) where there is a place for them to stay with a warm welcome.

Night after night, the figures are taken from one host home to another; hospitality, the lighting of a candle and a very simple act of worship are shared. There is time to wonder on these amazing overnight guests and to reflect on what Advent really means.

Rev’d Sue Martin

image courtesy of spiritualchild.co.uk

Advent 1

By faithgoeswalkabout

On December 1, 2013

In church seasons, theological

First Sunday of Advent December 1st

Advent literally means ‘ to the coming’ or the ‘arrival’.

Just as it’s getting darker and darker with the nights getting longer and longer, we start thinking about the light of the world;
All out of darkness there came light,…
The light of the world has come among us cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light from the collect.

What does that all mean, darkness, the works of darkness, the armour of light?
The world had been in a place where things were not going well, Isaiah refers to a conversation about how God has become very unhappy about what is happening on earth. No one appeared to be listening to him, so he decides to send his Son.

And now, in Advent, getting ready, thinking about Christmas day and for us as Christians seeking the message that comes with the arrival and birth of Jesus. So what do we do! How do we get ready?

Read more in Advent of Faithgoeswalkabout.org

Rev’d Sue Martin

Voyage of the Dawn Treader

By faithgoeswalkabout

On November 18, 2013

In pastoral, theological

Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Journeys and destinations

Where sky and water meet,
Where the waves grow sweet,
Doubt Not, Reepicheep,
To find all you seek,
There is the utter East.

(Chapter 2 Voyage of the Dawn Treader ( Tales of Narnia) by C.S Lewis)

Pilgrimages, like in the Voyage of the Dawn Treader are fraught with mystery, testing and transformation. We can have a pilgrimage of our own faith journeys and not even set foot outside the house.

Or we can embark on an adventure with real travel and set out to journey, to find whatever we do along the way.

The destination or the end point may be a goal, when we first set out, but over time it can change, we can find that what it was that we were searching for is not the right thing at all. Or even that we have it all the time, right back in our own hearts and homes.

Read more in sermons on faithgoeswalkabout…

Rev’d Sue Martin

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

St Michael and All Angels

By faithgoeswalkabout

On October 7, 2013

In church seasons, theological

Michaelmass, St Michael and All Angels

St Michael,Ashwicken

Gentle and brave, gallant and bold.

Michaelmass, summer is coming to an end, a time when the beautiful warm weather starts to become a little cooler as autumn approaches.
September 21st is the time when the sun is at the autumn equinox and directly overhead at the tropics, the time of spring tides and full moon.

At Michaelmass in the agricultural world, the summer seasonal work was at a close and those working on the land would be looking for work elsewhere for the winter season. A time for change.

But angels! And St Michael…

The strange thing about angels is they are often in church, as wooden angels in the roof or in other places, but it is seldom that we talk about angels.
Outside the church, it’s different, people often talk about angels, guardian angels, messengers, spiritual beings, moving from one place to the next, moving from heaven to earth.
For many people, searching for some signs of spirituality the concept of angels is a real help. They are visible, in the form that we imagine them in, whereas God is very hard to imagine in any visual sense.

Michael is seen as the chief of archangels, a defender, guardian, protector of Israel. He is shown in Daniel as a warrior and of course in Revelation he is the slayer of the dragon and also the angel who cast out the Satan from the heavenly thrones.

Michaelmass is the celebration of St Michael who above all was;

St Michael
Gentle and brave, gallant and bold.

Sermon on www.faithgoeswalkabout.org

Rev’d Sue Martin

Curate in Gayton Group of Parishes

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

I have a Dream…

By faithgoeswalkabout

On September 1, 2013

In church seasons, Faith goes walkabout, theological

I have a dream…. That one day my children will be judged, not by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character’.

Martin Luther King August 28th , 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington.

Powerful stuff…. and this particular piece,etched in the memories of so many came from within, it was not scribed before.

Towards the end of Martin Luther King’s speech there was a voice from close by but in the crowd. The voice was from Mahalia Jackson who shouted,
‘Tell them about the dream, Martin’.

King had been preaching on dreams for sometime, since 1960, then called The Negro and the American Dream. King suggested that, ‘It may well be that the Negro is God’s instrument to save the soul of America.’

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was partly intended to show mass support for the civil rights legislation proposed by President Kennedy in June. King and others agreed to keep their speeches calm, and to avoid provoking civil disobedience,sometimes associated with the civil rights movement.

The speech went a long way to be linked with the Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and the Emancipation Proclamation.

One of the interesting comments mentioned on Thought for the Day was that it was a dream, a vision, a hope, a wish……
Not a complaint, not a statement with issues, not an indictment to riot….

This week it would be good to just spend time to reflect how far we have gone and how far we have still to go.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Curate at Gayton Group of Parishes

www.faithgoeswalkabout.org

Trinity _Three in One and One in Three

By faithgoeswalkabout

On June 2, 2013

In church seasons, theological

trinty

For many this conundrum of the doctrine of the Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has been the source of much confusion, misuse, and controversy through the ages.

Are we really worshipping three gods? And have we fallen back into creating a pantheon of gods like the Romans, the Hindus, and other religions.

I like to think about the Trinity as in 2 Corinthians, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
Three in one, and one in three.

Not part of, or in any dimensional way that we can conceive, but a God who finds ways to ensure we can find him and work with him to make this world his own, and a better place for all people.

In the Old Testament we find that God has worked with the prophets and Moses to ensure that his people are kept safe.

Jesus, God’s only Son is sent from heaven to be with us, for always.

As he returns to heaven he does not leave us alone but sends the Holy Spirit, the enabler and mission giver.

Three in one and one in three- see Trinity Sunday on FaithGoesWalkabout.org

Rev’d Sue Martin

Ascension Day 9th May

By faithgoeswalkabout

On May 10, 2013

In church seasons, Faith and business, theological

cloud Have you ever found yourself gazing up at the clouds? Looking at the sky, waiting for something.

The disciples were told by the two men in white; we assume Elijah and Moses,
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand and look up to heaven?”

John 14:23-29
Acts 1: 1-11
Not an unreasonable thing to do, I would have thought if someone had been standing with you and then Lo and Behold ! There he is, carried up in a cloud.

Well I would definitely be standing there even today looking upwards, amazing!

It’s rather like when you have been to the theatre and it has been an amazing performance , a ballet, musical opera, something spectacular. The curtain goes back and forth at the end.You would like to stay there and maybe the curtain will pull back one more time and you will see the ballerina again.

Keep gazing though, because this time Jesus was going into heaven. But he did leave with the disciples the message that the Holy Spirit would come among them.

In other words look beyond the possible and into the vision. What we can do if we really have inspiration, being inspired, spirit given, looking heavenwards.

Tocare el cielo con ditto. Touch the sky with your finger tips.

Rev’d Sue Martin