The season of Advent is traditionally described as a season of waiting, a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ Child. Yet for many of us these weeks are some of the most hectic of the year; we are occupied with buying and wrapping presents, writing cards, doing extra baking, making arrangements for visitors or planning journeys to see others. Those employed in education, retail and finance, and many other sectors, including the church, find this an especially busy time. Waiting is the last thing we feel able to do, and we have little space to think about our hearts, when there is so much else to prepare. Nevertheless, the Christmas stories can provide us with a rich focus for thought at this time of year. In the midst of my own activity, I have been reflecting on the description in Luke’s gospel of the visit of Mary, the mother of Jesus, to her cousin Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist. This is a story about two women, from among the many women whom Luke brings to our attention in his gospel. They are ordinary enough women, who would have spent much of their lives busy with mundane chores. Yet, they were women for whom life, in the culture of their day, was not straightforward, Elizabeth, because of her long years of childlessness, and Mary, with the prospect of a child to be born outside marriage. It is easy to see that Mary might have wanted the advice of her cousin about the troubling message she had just received from the angel Gabriel. Both these women were soon to become mothers. Along with mothers before and since they must have shared the uncertainty and risk of childbirth, the doubts as to their own abilities to care for their babies, and their hopes for what their children would become.I once saw a painting hanging in a chapel in south-west England. I have been unable to discover the artist or even its title, but it depicts two women greeting each other, full of joy. It is the moment of meeting described by Luke, as Elizabeth and her own child recognise the identity of the baby Mary is carrying. Mary’s joy finds expression in the song which we call the Magnificat, praising God for what he will do through the child in her womb. It is a song which promises the lifting up of the humble. It announces that God is turning the world’s values upside down. In his poem, ‘The Visitation’, Malcolm Guite describes Mary and Elizabeth as ‘two women on the very edge of things’. They are humble and ordinary, and yet God will use them to change the world. They are more than women, and more than mothers. They are people who are faithful and obedient to God’s call on their lives. Each of us, whether we are women or men, can be faithful and obedient like them. We can never be too ordinary, too doubtful of our own abilities, or our lives too complicated for God to call us.Over the next few weeks, as Christmas draws near, in the midst of our work and our busyness or in a rare moment of quiet, might we too hear his call?
As part of the year’s Ride + Stride, I recently completed a walk round the six churches of the Pontesbury and Stiperstones group, raising money in aid of the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust, and to support Holy Trinity, Hope and All Saints, Shelve. Ride + Stride is a national event, the largest source of income for many Historic Churches Trusts which enables them to make financial grants to places of Christian worship. In Shropshire there are over 300 Anglican churches in regular use and many churches and chapels of other denominations. As we know, responsibility for the maintenance and repair of our churches falls upon parishes; our church buildings are not maintained or financed by the Church Commissioners, Diocese or State. So, grants from the Trust and others are vitally necessary to help with the cost of repairs. Many churches are Listed Buildings, which means they are of architectural and historic interest. But for those of us who worship in them, or who attend at significant moments in our lives for baptisms, weddings, or funerals of loved ones, they of course mean much more. When Jacob awoke from his dream of the ladder to heaven, he said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know’ (Genesis 28.16). For many, church buildings are places to meet with God in a special way, whether during worship together, or sitting on our own in the silence. Visiting each of the churches in our group on foot rather than by car as I usually do, gave me the opportunity to appreciate better each within their own distinct setting and community, arriving at walking pace, often using footpaths or bridle paths which predate our modern roads, and so seeing things from a different angle. Rowan Williams’ little book, ‘Being Disciples’ which I have been re-reading recently, speaks of the quality of expectancy, that watching and listening to what is around us, in the belief that at any moment we might see something of God. That can be true as we read the Bible, as we walk our local footpaths, as we deal with whatever tasks face us every day, and as we worship in our churches. But Williams goes on to talk about the expectancy which we are called to when we look at one another. He admits this is not always easy: ‘Yet it can’t be said too often that the first thing … to think of when in the presence of another Christian ... is: what is God giving me though this person?’ The way our churches are organised in parishes, deaneries and denominations may seem a bit random, and we may sometimes find working together challenging, even within our own congregations, let alone more widely or when we disagree. Yet with this kind of expectancy, we can approach each other ready to receive what Jesus has to give us, prepared to see things and people from a different angle. And sometimes, like Jacob, we will be able to say, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know.’ Rev Fran Brealey Being Disciples: Essentials of the Christian Life, Rowan Williams 2016 is published by SPCK You can find out more about the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust at https://shropshirehct.org.uk
This week we mark 30 years since women were first ordained to the priesthood in this diocese, at Hereford cathedral on May 7th 1994It was a significant moment, following many years of prayer and debate. Today the Church of England opens its orders of ministry equally to women and men, regardless of gender. We can give thanks for all the women since that day who have followed those pioneers and answered God’s call to serve as priests in this and other dioceses.One of those first 15 women ordained 30 years ago, Prebendary Frances Hancock, became Hereford’s first Diocesan Advisor for Women's Ministry. She had a key role in the campaign for women’s ordination in Hereford and was the unofficial leader of that first group of ordinands in 1994. Frances was a true pioneer, ordained deacon in London, she came to Ross-on-Wye to become Team Vicar of Bridstow and Peterstow, although as a deacon she was then unable to preside at the Eucharist. Almost 60 when she was ordained priest, she was the first woman ever to celebrate Holy Communion in Hereford Cathedral, in September 1994.Sadly, Frances died last December but she paved the way for many who came after her. Today in Hereford diocese we have more than 50 women serving as priests across a wide range of roles in sector and parish ministry. Half of our incumbents, and half of our rural deans are female. On Bishop’s staff we are blessed by the ministries of women priests Dean Sarah, Archdeacon Fiona, Dr Elizabeth Wild, our Director of Mission and Ministry and our Bishop’s chaplain, Nicol Kinrade. The ministry and mission of the churches in our own group have been sustained by a number of women priests over the years, most recently our dear friends Revd Pam Bickley and Revd Carolyn Chadwick.
DailyHOPE was initially launched in April 2020 as a response by the Church of England, Faith in Later Life and Connections at Holy Trinity Church in Claygate to support older people who would not be able to access online worship during lockdown.In 2023, Faith in Later Life took over the development and ownership of the line, but its aim remained the same; to ensure that the spiritual life of older people could continue to flourish. Data from the same year showed that DailyHOPE received almost 100,000 calls. Expected to end in January 2024, funding has now been secured for the phone line to continue.As DailyHOPE is relaunched and refreshed, Christians are encouraged to share the free telephone number – 0800 804 8044 – in their church and wider communities.The plan for DailyHOPE is to further develop the range of content and content providers in order to appeal to a wider audience of Christians, as well as older people exploring faith for the first time.Announcing the return of DailyHOPE, the Chief Executive Officer of Faith in Later Life, Alexandra Drew, said:“Closing the DailyHOPE line was an extremely heart-wrenching decision to make. I know that it’s been a lifeline to many older people, especially those unable to attend church in person, and without online access to spiritual comfort.“Amidst letters of thanks, and expressions of sadness at the closure, our prayers that God would yet provide continued, and although the timing wasn’t quite what we might have hoped for, God’s answer has been overwhelming. I’m thrilled to share the news that we have been able to restore DailyHOPE for a further season. Praise God!“We’re looking forward to welcoming new callers, as well as new content providers from across church traditions, and funding partners, to help us continue to bring DailyHOPE to older people, and others who are staying at home.”
