Category: theological Page 6 of 8

Sitting on Top of the World

On October 22, 2012

In church seasons, Faith goes walkabout, theological

Sitting on Top of the World

A huge step downwards...

Felix Baumgartner, an Austrian helicopter pilot had been lifted up by a helium balloon to over 128,000 ft above Mexico, sitting on top of the world.

From there he emerged from his capsule in a suit, similar to a space suit and fell back to earth at 833mph.

Wow!! You might say it was utter madness, a stunt for publicity, what a waste of money or many other things but actually… Wow!

Sitting on top of the world!

The beautiful blue planet of earth lay beneath him, at the edge of space.

There’s a very good song by Delta Goodrem called Sitting on top of the World, a real rousing song and full of ‘feel good’ factor. If you don’t mind all the glitz, you can view on Youtube!

But what could it have been like! Once having made the decision, there was no choice but to get down, if he had gone up and up into space all sorts of things would have happened,he would not have survived for long.

What did he think at that point? He said he felt small and very alone and just wanted to get down.

Feeling small, humbled…the enormity of space around him. Looking down on the world below… all very theological.

God looking down from the heavens…

In the video of Felix’s descent the only sound you can hear is of his breathing, no screams, no shouts of joy or fear just silence. When he landed on his feet he fell to his knees and gazed upwards, Mmmm.

A fuller sermon is under Trinity on Faithgoeswalkabout, interesting for reflection.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Passing People By

By faithgoeswalkabout

On July 16, 2012

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

Passing people by, walking on the other side of the street, not sharing a glance…an every day happening on most city streets. The Big Issue seller, with his back pack resting by the side has a struggle to make contact with those walking past.

What does it cost to be civil or smile or show some support, it doesn’t always mean parting with money.

A lack of care or an indifference seems to happen more in a wealthy society. And however many laws and regulations we have, a system built on increasing individual’s or an organisational wealth then maybe that inner morality is hard to maintain.

The Chief Rabbi, Dr Jonathan Sacks says in article for the Times,

‘Morality matters. Not just laws, regulations, supervisory authorities, committees of enquiry, courts, fines and punishments, but morality, the inner voice of self restraint that tells us not to do something even when it is to our advantage, even though it may be legal and even if there is fair chance that it won’t be found out.

Because it’s wrong. Because it’s dishonourable. Because it’s a breach of trust.’

The book of Amos, from the Old Testament, is also a book about society around the 700’s BC. A central plank to Amos is about social justice, and he wrote as a prophet about a society, where people were greedy and had stopped adhering to values, the wealthy elite had become rich at the expense of others. They had also reached a low point in their relationship with God.

They were passing people by, walking on the other side of the street and caring for themselves.

There is more about this under Trinity, in Faithgoeswalkabout.org for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Aung Sang Suu Kyi

By faithgoeswalkabout

On June 27, 2012

In community, pastoral, theological

aung sang

A person who I have enormous respect for and who is in the news at the moment is Aung San Suu Kyi, back in England after 24 years in Burma, leader of the pro democracy party in Burma.

Her father was the leader of the Burmese Democratic Party and was killed by the military when she was very young. Her mother remained in Burma and Suu Kyi came to England and was educated at Oxford and married Michael Aris and they have two sons.

24 years ago, they all went to Burma for a visit to her mother who was not well. Whilst she was there she was asked by members of the democratic party to become their leader. She had no intentions or ambitions to become leader but over time felt that she should do this.
Michael took the boys back to the UK and it was expected that before long suu Kyi would follow. It took 24 years.

In that time, she was threatened, her home was destroyed, her followers were treated abysmally in dreadful conditions and the military were convinced that at some stage she would leave to retrun to England.

Her mother died, her husband died, her boys grew up. There were times when they were allowed into the country and the military always thought that she would go back with them.Then they would not allow her to return.

An amazing story full of courage, full of quiet resolve in the face of fear, full of life’s terrible moments. She was not a woman with wealth, domination or anything else that would give her power. She was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1991 whilst still held in Burma.

But what she did have and I’m sure still does, is inner strength a quiet resolve and an ability to dissolve fear, which is the greatest weapon that her enemies had against her.

Portrayed so well in the film The Lady, directed by Luc Besson.

Rev’d Sue Martin, Curate in Gayton group of parishes

The Mustard Seed

By faithgoeswalkabout

On June 21, 2012

In church seasons, Faith goes walkabout, pastoral, theological

The Mustard Seed 2nd Sunday after Trinity

mustard seed

The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed.

I have to say that the world is a pretty big place.

The vastness of the oceans, the great continents and land masses, no-one could say that our world is small.

And the universe, well there is something that is so vast it the size is beyond our comprehension.
But is that really so?

A visit to Sydney Observatory, a close look at the craters of the moon through a very large telescope and a glance at the southern skies in the planetarium… how to find an emu in the black spaces or the winged fish in the southern cross.

This is quite a big universe we are part of.

But how big is the kingdom of heaven? Bigger than the widest ocean, taller than the highest mountain(to quote a children’s song). But yet it is as small as a mustard seed!

Our understanding of the size and dimensions of heaven can only ever be hinted at.

Jesus uses this story along with the other parables as a way of trying to makes sense to us and to the people he was talking to on the banks of the Sea of Galilee about the kingdom. A place for us all, so vast and yet no size at all or at least not as we know it.

Our world and creation is a wonderful place, but yet, is like a tiny part of that mustard seed.

Visit Trinity page on Faith Goes Walkabout.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Curate at Gayton Group of Parishes

The Vine and the Vine Grower

By faithgoeswalkabout

On May 6, 2012

In church seasons, pastoral, theological

viney I am the true vine and my father is the vine grower. The Son and the Father.

Jesus uses the vine as a powerful illustration of the relationship between himself, the Father and the disciples. In nature and in spiritual life pruning produces abundant fruit.

And then there are the branches… or the disciples and ourselves. The branches that keep on spreading outwards and producing fruit. Fruit, the same as in a harvest, but this time in the goodness and love that shows in our lives and just as how we are.

Abide in me and I will abide in you. The last chapters of John are packed full of meaning!

Abide, or long lasting, to dwell, to endure and to remain. A promise that doesn’t go away.

This is one of the ‘I am’ stories. No longer just a parable but a strong statement. A paraclete, coming from the Greek word parakletos meaning comforter, teacher, advocate and mediator.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Curate at Gayton group of parishes

The Stranger at Easter

By faithgoeswalkabout

On April 11, 2012

In church seasons, theological

Easter tomb

Walking on the road to Emmaus on the same day that Jesus appeared to Mary and Mary Magdalene, were two of the disciples. They were according to Luke; 24 verses 13 – 35, talking about the events that had happened.

Jesus walks with them but they did not know him. He asked questions about the last few days as if he was unaware.

“Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” asks the disciple, and he goes on to recount all the events to Jesus.

After listening, Jesus becomes known to them and they are amazed to be with him and plead for him to stay with them forever.

Sometimes we are all very blind to things we don’t want to see or are unable to understand. The disciples were still in a state of shock and disbelief.

I wonder what questions we would have asked?

How would we recognise if Jesus is walking alongside us?

What would we want to tell him about our lives and things that are happening today?

Rev’d Sue Martin Curate at Gayton Group of parishes

Faith Goes Walkabout

Country to City

By faithgoeswalkabout

On March 24, 2012

In church seasons, community, theological

st Peters From country to city, different places, 100 miles apart, but time to spend in both and reflect on what life may hold.

Do you ever wonder what it is that makes you want to get up in the morning? What will you do today that will make you smile at the least and jump for joy at the best?

Is it the thought of sorting another load of washing?

Is it the thought of getting on the bus and going to work? The early waking up by the children as they put the TV on again far too early?

When I wake up in the morning, after a cup of tea….I look forward to what I’m going to do and every day is different.

Working with people and developing plans for projects that will enable people to find that energy, that light, that spark which will help them to see that God does care about them.
For me my work and my faith are entwined together.

lambs 2012

Living and serving in the country, I work in the city and it has been a great priviledge to be at St Peter’s Walworth for the last month, in the middle of a city community.

On Sunday 26th March I preach at St Peter’s. You can find it under Lent on Faith Goes Walkabout.

Rev’d Sue Martin

A Service of Reflection at the End of the Day

By faithgoeswalkabout

On March 11, 2012

In church seasons, pastoral, theological

catkin

St Mary’s Church, Gayton Thorpe, March 11th

As the winter slowly turns to Spring, we look for signs; signs that will show new life and new beginnings.

The catkins and pussy willow in the hedgerows are a joy, the small birds emerging in song and that tiny glimmer of the sun give promise. The feeling of gladness in your hearts as the winter is being left behind.

And so with Lent, a time for reflection as well as the giving up of something special.

This is a new style of service in a deeply rural church with a round tower and ancient footpaths leading to the Norfolk coast, where(so we’re told!) travellers caught ferries to the continent.

And so a service of reflection in Lent, a time for stillness and for letting God find us where we are in our lives, before the business of Spring catches us in its arms and whisks us away.

More details can be found in the Lent section on Faith Goes Walkabout.

Rev’d Sue Martin
Curate at Gayton Group of parishes

Ash Wednesday at St Peter’s

By faithgoeswalkabout

On February 24, 2012

In church seasons, community, theological

Prayfulness, forgiveness and ready to listen to God. What a start for Lent!

Something very moving about the first Eucharist of the Lent season. A real change in mode,the quietness, simplicity of the church and that time ahead, the 40 days in preparation.

And then the school arrived! 200 or so children from the primary school, music and voices filled the church. How wonderful to be part of that celebration.

The children had written down things they wanted to say sorry for and these were brought to Father Andrew, who set light to them and turned them to ash. All the children were then signed with a cross using the ashes of their words…. something both myself and they will remember.

And so Lent starts, what will you do to mark it as special?

Rev’d Sue Martin

New Year and Epiphany

By faithgoeswalkabout

On January 6, 2012

In church seasons, theological

3 wise men

January 6th and twelfth night means that the season of Christmas is finished for now.

Epiphany starts with the story of the Three Wise Men. Travelling across the desert and following the star, what a wonderful story.

Decorations down, Christmas trees put away or taken outside, tinsel and cards put into little boxes.

But we can’t do that with Christmas! It’s here for good!

The good news lasts forever.

When the winter continues and the days remain dark for a little longer yet, think back to all those messages of hope and light coming into the world…Jesus with us.

Rev’d Sue Martin