Advent Course Week 2

On December 5, 2015

Mary and Joseph Leave Bethlehem

Luke Chapter 2 verses 4-6

‘So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.’

Mary returns to Bethlehem from her cousin Elizabeth. She is met with disbelief at her story about an angel and carrying the Messiah.

The wise men are travelling towards the alignment of Jupiter, Saturn and Regulus but are spotted by Herod’s men. Herod does not want them in his lands.

The shepherd has more problems with paying his taxes and looking after his sick wife and baby.

We see Mary and Joseph leave Bethlehem.

Follow the course on www.faithgoeswalkabout.org/adventcourse

Rev’d Sue Martin Diocese of Norwich

Advent A Course on The Nativity

By faithgoeswalkabout

On November 29, 2015

In church seasons, Uncategorized

BBC The Nativity

The greatest story on earth, the birth of Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago.

The BBC produced a series in 2010 on The Nativity, looking at the whole story and bringing a new dimension into what it could have been like for Mary and Joseph at that time in Judea.

I had wanted to explore this representation for a while and decided to lead an Advent Course based on the series.

Over the next four weeks we will be exploring the alignment of people and places, the journeys made and the sacrifices that brought Jesus into this world born in a stable as a vulnerable baby.

In the first week we saw how Mary and Joseph met and became betrothed, Mary’s family, her cousin Elizabeth, and the appearance of Archangel Gabriel to Mary.

The 4 weeks will appear under Advent in Faith Goes Walkabout and if you are interested please do comment.

Rev’d Sue Martin Chaplain in the Diocese of Norwich

Living Together

By faithgoeswalkabout

On November 15, 2015

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

On Sunday November 15th I was delivering a Holy Communion service in the village church. It was an unremarkable day, the same lovely group of people and cheerful organist.

I have come to know and love this church and know that there are always one or two little things that don’t quite work out. This Sunday, it was the microphone system and although we struggled with all the switches and the sound system we couldn’t get it to work.

Looking at the altar in the chancel and where the congregation were sitting, attached to the pews at the back of the church, I didn’t fancy having to shout my way through the Eucharist. I took the brave decision to ask if everyone could move forward to the front!!

If you too are a confirmed Anglican, you know what a big ask that is!

But very willingly everyone moved forward and the benefits were that I didn’t have to shout and they could hear me. Success!!

Being together, finding ways to make things work. Just what living together is really about. God’s love finds us all and we can all share, make changes and love one another as Jesus has asked us to do.

And the kite picture? Well, it is very bright on this autumnal day and also it shows what can happen when we all pull together.

Rev’d Sue Martin – Hospital and Hospice Chaplain Diocese of Norwich

Welcome at West New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea

By faithgoeswalkabout

On November 7, 2015

In Faith goes walkabout, Uncategorized

In September 2015, I arrived in West New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea. The warriors were the most spectacular sight and a welcome of dance, colour and warmth. We were to see the dancers on a few occasion, they were with us at church, at the Franciscan Friary in the middle of the rain forest.

In the two months since I have been back, these moments sit in my heart. A welcome warmth as we approach November darkness. A time when we were with Christians in a very different place and surrounded by love and faith.

A lasting memory is of being in the middle of the rainforest and waiting for the warriors and dancers to arrive, which they did in complete darkness, amazing! We returned with some songs and actions, I led the warriors, dancers and children with Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes! Still a teacher at heart then!

Somehow I know that this place will stay with me and I hope that I can go back there soon. There is a great deal that we can do to help the people, they have nothing and yet they have everything. There’s is not a life of need for material things. It is a life of family, tradition and faith with all the love and joy in knowing Jesus.

Rev’d Sue Martin Diocese of Norwich

St Michael and All Angels

By faithgoeswalkabout

On October 4, 2015

In Uncategorized

A Little Lower than the Angels. Hebrews, 2:7
Michaelmass, the season when the summer is coming to an end, a time when the beautiful warm weather starts to become a little cooler and the autumn approaches.
We have seen the autumn equinox impressively this year marked by the super moon and the eclipse. A wonderful sign of God’s world.
Michaelmass was the time in the agricultural world when the summer seasonal work was at a close and those working on the land over the summer seasons would be looking for work elsewhere for the winter season. A time for change.
In Thomas Hardy novels he makes full use of the season to show a whole army of characters with their agricultural implements and particular skills in field work to be present at a market of fair in the local towns.

St Michael is the guardian angel of autumn or Michaelmass. He is the Archangel responsible for courage and bravery, he is the defender of faith and is known for his slaying of the dragon.

Sermon for 18th Sunday after Trinity at All Saint’s Church Ashwicken 4.10.15

Rev’d Sue Martin FaithGoesWalkabout.org

Pilgrimage to Papua New Guinea

By faithgoeswalkabout

On August 22, 2015

In Uncategorized

On Wednesday 26 August 2015 I will be starting a pilgrimage to Papua New Guinea.

As I start to prepare beyond the packing I remember this pilgrims prayer from Mallorca.

Set out! You were born for the road Set out! You have a meeting to keep. Where? With whom? You don’t yet know Perhaps with yourself? Set out! Your steps will be your words the road your song the weariness your prayer. And at the end your silence will speak to you.

Set out! Alone or with others; but get out of yourself. You have created rivals you will find companions. You envisaged enemies You will find brothers and sisters. Set out! You were born for the road. The pilgrims road.

Someone is coming to meet you is seeking you, so that you can find him. In the temple at the end of the road.

In the shrine at the depths of your heart. He is your peace He is your joy.

Go, God already walks with you.

Taken from Eglisia Paroquial , Arta Mallorca

Rev’d Sue Martin Diocese of Norwich

Come away and rest a while…

By faithgoeswalkabout

On July 18, 2015

In church seasons, Faith goes walkabout, theological

Seventh Sunday after Trinity July 19th 2015

‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ Says Jesus to the disciples. Mark 6:31

What a powerful few words. How often would we like someone to say that to us.

Come away and rest a while….

What’s been happening to Jesus and the disciples? Why are they so tired and in need of rest?Jesus saw that his disciples were getting tired and so asked them to come away and rest.

They went in a boat and to find a deserted place, they set off into the Sea of Galilee and headed up the shore, from Capernaum.

But the crowds had seen them and were following on the shore and in fact arrived before they did. So the only rest the disciples has was in the boat. The Sea of Galilee can be incredibly calm and restful beyond measure so let’s hope that they did get some rest before they clambered out of the boat.

When they arrived at the shore Jesus sees the crowds and feels compassion for them as he says, they are like sheep without a shepherd,

And he walks up the hill and starts to speak to them.

Interestingly in today’s readings, we miss out the next section which is the Feeding of the Five thousand, which is a story to itself. And then the calming of the waves, these are both very active sections from Jesus.

And we do all need rest and a time and a place where we can feel peace and calm. Easier said than done!!

Ahead of us we have the summer, holiday time. To experience the real joy of love and laughter and to find space for each other.

In our busy lives it’s hard sometimes to find some space and to Come Away to a deserted place and rest a while.

We rush around getting so much done and achieving more and more, there is more and more on offer for everyone of us and that is really wonderful.

But in the midst of all the running around and endless activity can we find some space, some space to find God and to let God find us. If we never speak to God and say prayers, if we never give thanks and spend some time in worship, how can we expect Him to be with us?

Come Away and rest a while…come to a deserted place all by yourselves.

Amen

For more see Sermons on Faith Goes Walkabout

Rev’d Sue Martin

Calming the Storm

By faithgoeswalkabout

On June 20, 2015

In church seasons, theological, Trinity

Calming the storm, energy and power, who’s in control?

Who is this that even the wind and the storm obey him?

Trinity 3 June 21st 2015, Mark 4:35 – 41 (full version in Sermons)

Let’s go on a journey to the Sea of Galilee and go back a few years, well let’s make it 2000 years or so.

A hot and sunny day, Jesus had been talking and talking and just wanted a few moments of peace and so drifted off to sleep.

The Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) is in northeast Israel, near the Golan Heights in the Jordan Rift Valley, an area where there are earthquakes and previously volcanic activity It’s a large fresh water lake about 10 miles by 7 miles and is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth.

Jesus went out in the boat with the disciples to go the other side.

‘A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat so that the boat was already swamped.’

And what was Jesus doing during this storm?

Fast asleep in the stern of the boat! Imagine the wind raging the small boat boat being tossed around by the great waves…. And Jesus was fast asleep.

You can imagine that the disciples were panicking, Not surprising! So they wake him and ask,’ Is he not bothered that they are about to sink!

Jesus tells the wind to stop and the sea to be still.

‘Then the wind ceased and the sea was dead calm’.

Imagine their faces, ‘Who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Calming the storm, energy and power, who’s in control and where is the fear?

Faith in Jesus and goodbye to fear!

Rev’d Sue Martin – Faith Goes Walkabout

The best gift of all! The Holy Spirit

By faithgoeswalkabout

On May 24, 2015

In Faith goes walkabout, Pentacost

Acts 2: 1- 21

And just how amazed do you think the disciples would have been to find that they were speaking in different languages!

Can you imagine it now? What would people have said?

A great crowd of people at a special festival, tongues of flame start to appear from all around, mmmm not looking to good. Someone by now would have called the police on their mobile.

Come quick please, I think we have been tricked! This new band have sent fire into the crowd and now there are men who are talking in all sorts of different languages. Youd better hurry!

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.

Peter, standing with the other 11 disciples, addressed the crowd. He interpreted the tongues as the fulfillment of Gods promise, described in Joel

Peter went on to baptise about 3000 people that day. They were from countries far and wide; they had the potential to cross cultural boundaries. They had the power and the spirit to take the word of God across the world.

The church and Christianity started here!

Rev’d Sue Martin, Diocese of Norwich – www faithgoeswalkabout

Easter Sunday

By faithgoeswalkabout

On April 5, 2015

In Easter, Faith goes walkabout

Easter Sunday April 5th

Is there Hope?

Matthew 28:1- 10 Acts 10 34-43

Alleluia, Christ is Risen!

He is Risen indeed, Alleluia!

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. What was that like then?

And so to today, the good news that Jesus is risen.! Alleluia!

This is the good news, the news we all share even today 2000 years after the event and it hasn’t changed, He is risen indeed Alleluia!

But let’s go back to that tomb, the tomb given by Joseph of Arimathea. There are tombs in Jerusalem just like the one given by Joseph and I have seen a later tomb where they think Joseph of Arimathea was later buried.

In the morning Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus had gone to visit the tomb and see where they had laid his body. It had been such a dreadful day on Friday their sorrow and grief were unmeasurable but together they walked to the tomb, maybe like us today to visit the gravesides of our relatives, in respect and in love.

In Matthew we hear that an angel had rolled back the stone and was sitting there. This is a very short passage, but it says all that is needed.

The guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women,

‘Do not be afraid, He is risen. Go and tell his disciples.’

What could have been in the minds of the two Mary’s – joy, exhilaration, fear, wonder.And then on the way to the disciples they met Jesus. Immediately they bowed down and worshipped him.

In the meantime the soldiers had described what had happened and the story was made that his body had been taken by the soldiers, for fear of reprisal from the crowds.

The eleven disciples were making their way to the mountain in Galilee, when Jesus appeared to them.Jesus said to them,

‘Remember I am with you always to the end of the age.’

And that surely is what the Easter message is about. Hope, resurrection, a life hereafter.

What happen to us in this world when we lose all hope? This is such a sad and miserable place to be, the depths of despair.

But Hope… Jesus gives us that hope forever, a love that never ends, a hope for all to be well, a love that is unconditional, a hope that one day we will all meet with Jesus.

Jesus risen from the dead, alive and with us, here, now and forever.

Rev’d Sue Martin Diocese of Norwich