Faith Goes Walkabout – Page 2 – Thoughts and reflections

Christmas

On December 24, 2022

Christmas and so many years ago Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem. The shepherds on the hillside were the first visitors. The Magi came from the east as they followed the star. Why didn’t he appear amongst wealth and fortune like other kings?
He was born to be amongst us, to be with all people, and especially for those most in need.
And one of the best things to do this Christmas is in some way to remember and help people where life is hard.
So turn on the lights, eat the mince pies, deck the hall with bows of holly but don’t forget what it’s really about. Happy Christmas!

Christmas is Coming!

By faithgoeswalkabout

On December 20, 2022

In Christmas, church seasons, Faith goes walkabout

St Mary’s East Walton, West Norfolk

The last of the shopping, the final decorations, how many more lights can we have?

Watching the night skies when it has been so cold and the night skies have shimmered with stars have been amazing. Jupiter has been shining bright in the evening sky. How much brighter it would have shone on that Christmas Eve before Jesus was born as it moved towards an alignment with Saturn and the star Regulus.

A time for awe and wonder, a time to experience how large is the universe and how small our part plays, but yet for each one of us we are important to God.

Mary and Joseph would have been approaching Bethlehem so many years ago, the city would have been seen under the same sparkling sky.

Let’s journey together under the same starry skies.

Rev’d Sue Martin

Advent Sunday

By faithgoeswalkabout

On December 2, 2022

In Advent, church seasons, Diocese of Norwich

St Mary’s East Walton

Advent means the arrival or the coming.

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 to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light from the collect.

What does that mean, the works of darkness, the armour of light?

Read more in Advent 2022...

Remembrance

By faithgoeswalkabout

On November 14, 2022

In Poppies, Remembrance

This year has seen war far too close at hand and we have felt at several times that it could get even closer. What ever has happened… A phrase I keep hearing is … Not in this day and age.

Armistice Day, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The battlefields of the First World War 1914-1918 were silenced, the atrocities and enormous loss of life in the worst of circumstances came to an end. Soldiers and all involved in the war eventually came home.

And from February this year we have seen war, with destruction of cities and homes, people fleeing from their country in search of shelter.

At times it’s like the world has been shaken up!

But we all live with the hope that we can all one day be free…

Rev’d Sue Martin

Harvest Services with Schools

By faithgoeswalkabout

On October 19, 2022

In church seasons, community, Diocese of Norwich

Harvest services from our schools have filled the churches. Way beyond our expectations. Churches bursting at the seams. Food donations piled high at the font and the altar. All ready to be taken to the town food bank.

Children’s voices raised the roof. Prayers read and stories told.

What more could I add than just the biggest thank you from the depths of my heart for bringing back the love, laughter and joy to church.

Rev’d Sue Martin

St Michael and All Angels- Michaelmass

By faithgoeswalkabout

On September 30, 2022

In Faith goes walkabout, Michaelmass

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

The to angels is said to be:

First Order are Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones,

Second order Dominions, Powers and Virtues

Third Order Principalities, Archangels and Angels

Terms also to describe angels are sons of God, ‘holy ones’, Angels are mentioned in the divine council of God as members of a heavenly chorus,

St Michael is gentle and brave, gallant and bold.

From the hymn by Jan Struther,

Let faith be my shield and let joy be my steed

‘Gainst the dragons of anger and the ogres of greed:

And let me set free, with the sword of my youth,

From the castle of darkness, the power of the truth.

Michaelmass, September 29th is the time we remember St Michael and also celebrate the changing seasons of the agricultural world.

Sun and Moon- How Amazing is That!

By faithgoeswalkabout

On August 14, 2022

In Faith goes walkabout

Full Moon August 12th St Botolph’s Church. Grimston

In this heatwave I have been enjoying being in the garden in the evening. We have a wonderful view of the western skies . On Tuesday evening I watched and I waited. The sky slowly changed from pink to darkness. The sun went down in the west and the moon came up in the south.

How amazing was that!

The moon slowly changed from having pink edges to a beautiful white with just the outline of the craters on the moon visible.

How amazing it was. Then in the darkness I saw the bats overhead. I heard the call of the tawny owls. I watched as one flew from one oak tree to another and then started to call the young over to it. I looked up at the sky when the stars were appearing overhead , many billions of light years away.

How amazing is that!

God’s world is full of awe and wonder. Read more in Sermons 2022.

Rev’d Sue Martin

The Queen and Paddington

By faithgoeswalkabout

On June 12, 2022

In Faith goes walkabout

by Eleanor Tomlinson

On a journey together, hand in hand, coats and hats on and bags in hand. Who would have ever suspected that marmalade sandwiches unite the Queen and Paddington. But we know no that the Queen saves hers for later!

What a statement of truth, sincerity, honesty and a life of service is hidden from view but so obvious as they set off together. One foot in front of the other they both set of on the life journeys with all that they need.

Rev’d Sue Martin

The walk to Golgotha

By faithgoeswalkabout

On April 15, 2022

In Faith goes walkabout, Holy Land

Golgotha in 2015

And yet… they took Jesus and he walked carrying the heavy cross through Jerusalem and the Via Delarosa and on the hill of Golgotha they crucified him.

As we face depths of despair in our lives let us walk on in faith knowing that the story does not end in death but in resurrection.

In our world we pray for those who will face violence today, who will face death. Keep them strong and brave and let the Son shine in their lives today.

Amen Rev’d Sue Martin

Acts of Kindness

By faithgoeswalkabout

On April 4, 2022

In Faith goes walkabout

Grandad and grandchild in tune…

An Act of kindness can mean many things, it can mean helping someone along the way, it can mean listening to a friend. It can mean walking in step with someone else. Holding a hand to support, or just to show you care is a sign across the generations. Sometimes older and younger people are much more in tune with each other.

I came across this picture of a colleague who helped me along the Way and made such a difference to my journey. Who is helping who in the picture? Or are grandchild and grandad just connected and see the joy in the same things.

Nearing the end of Lent I have created a set of Prayers including this picture.

Rev’d Sue Martin