Church Services Coming Up over the next month Sunday 23 July – 10:30 at Grosmont, St Matthew, Holy Communion Sunday 30 July (Fifth Sunday) – 10:30 at Egton, St Hilda, Holy Communion the Summer Fair at St Matthew’s in Grosmont is happening on this day from 11 am – please do come along and support it if you can – the Grand Prize draw is at 3 pm. Sunday 6 August – 10:30 at Goathland, St Mary, Holy Communion Sunday 13 August – 10:30 at Lealholm, St James, Holy Communion Sunday 20 August – 10:30 at Egton, St Hilda, Holy Communion followed by refreshments/lunch in The Vicarage (note that this was originally going to be on 30 July but we have moved it so that we can go to the Summer Fair) – please do come along – we’ll be having an extended ‘house warming party’ all afternoon (until 5 pm) - Just bring yourself and any friends/family too, all welcome! Readings for Sunday 16 July follow these links to view the readings: Romans 8:1-11 Matthew 13:1-23 Sermon for Sunday 16 July at St Hilda, Egton I might have told some of you that Sam is the green fingers in our house. I can do garden infrastructure to a certain degree, and I tend to stick to that. But anything green would be at grave risk if I touched it! It’s well known to people like Sam, who grow things, whether in a window box, allotment, field or garden, that the soil needs to be nourished so plants can grow and flourish. We can see amazing results if we dose a small potted plant with liquid fertiliser, if we replenish the soil in our window box, if we dig compost into the allotment, if we fertilise the fields. But however good the seed quality is, a rich harvest cannot be achieved without good soil in which to sow our seeds. --- In Jesus' day sowing seed was somewhat haphazard. Weeds, most commonly a kind of thorn, were not cleared first, but ploughed straight into the ground. The paths through the fields became hard like roads, and seeds were scattered everywhere: on paths and edges where the underlying limestone was very near to the surface, making the soil very thin. So, to his listeners, Jesus’ description in today’s gospel reading would have been instantly recognisable. Jesus was illustrating his teaching with everyday events, through the language of work, of weather, of nature. Jesus knew that if he spoke in the dull and boring language of the priests, of the Temple or synagogue, the people would not hear what he had to say. And there’s a lesson there for people like me! Jesus grew up in the countryside, and much of his teaching involved the use of symbols taken from nature; he spoke the people's own kind of language, and so they listened to him. It’s easy to become distracted when people speak in a way that doesn’t relate to us, our needs or our lives; it’s easy to listen but not absorb what’s said, it’s easy to miss the crucial heart of a message. But despite Jesus’ down to earth approach, it still wasn’t everyone who listened to him. People still became distracted – that’s what happened to many of Jesus' listeners: some listened but didn’t want to know; some heard but didn’t understand; some listened and heard but were too frightened to take up the challenge and respond. But Jesus gives everyone the best chance of hearing the message. He prepares the ground in the way a person of the earth would do, with symbols which speak to the experience and hearts of his listeners. He valued each person in the crowd in our reading. And when we value someone, we take the trouble to approach them at their own level. --- So, what does this mean for us? How well do we listen to others? How often do you telephone someone and know, by the noise in the background, that the television or radio is claiming half their attention? How often do we ask people how they are because of social convention, without thinking, rather than wanting to know the truth and the detail of their answer? If someone listens to us attentively, we feel valued. And when someone speaks to us in our own language it feeds and enhances the person that we are, helping us grow. This, I think, is how Jesus listens to us and it’s how we need to listen to him, not only in our prayers but as he speaks to us through others. And I think the only way we can hear Jesus through other people is by being fully present to each person we speak to: hearing each and every spoken and unspoken need. This deep listening is our spiritual fertilisation. When we enter into it, it nourishes the life of God within us. God is with us in the great and in the minute events of our lives. God speaks to us in gentle tones and in language we understand. We need to listen to Jesus: he is the sower. But Jesus is also the seed and the food for growth. If we listen carefully to those we meet, then perhaps the harvest will take care of itself? Because by listening to others we are listening to Jesus. I’ve been attempting to do that since I started here, and I’m working my way round gradually speaking to as many people as I can. But my task is almost impossible, there are too many people: there are limits to what one set of ears can hear! Maybe part of our journey together over the next few months is for all of us in our church communities to listen to others that we know, that don’t come to church, but we think might give it a try. We could each listen to their answer to a simple question: what can the church do to help you? --- I wrote a piece for August’s parish magazines yesterday in the midst of a completely disorganised and untidy vicarage, jam packed full of boxes. Sam, Amy, Meru and Malkie plus two very large removal vans arrived on Wednesday, and everything is now in the vicarage. It feels like an impossible task to get everything sorted out in the house! But my experience is nothing new. I’m sure most of you will also have faced the challenges of moving house or starting a new job, or both, and will have survived the experience. And there are so many challenges facing us, personal and the collective challenges we face in our world. Moses, his son, Aaron, and the ancient Israelites, also faced difficult challenges, both personal and collective, around 3500 years ago. God was acutely aware of those challenges then, just as God is acutely aware of our challenges today. In the Book of Numbers, God speaks the words of an ancient blessing to Moses. Maybe we need to pass that blessing on to others we meet? Why not go and visit that person you know well, but before you ask them… what can the church do to help you? …maybe have a cup of tea and then remind yourself, and your friend, all about the amazing blessings we receive from God: say the ancient words of God’s blessing from Numbers to yourself and your friend, quietly and slowly: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.’ You both might then be able to listen to Jesus more clearly. And if we listen carefully to those we meet, then perhaps the harvest will take care of itself? Because by listening to others we are listening to Jesus. Amen. --- these two books, edited by Jane Williams, were again very helpful with planning this week’s sermon writing: Williams, J (2009), Ed., ‘Lost for Words, A Sermon Resource for the Anglican Three Year Cycle,’ Redemptorist Publications, Chawton, UK. Williams, J (2011), Ed., ‘Lectionary Reflections, Years A, B and C.’ Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, London, UK. --- The Reverend Anthony Bennett --- Interim Minister & Deanery Enabler Middle Esk Moor | Whitby Deanery | York Diocese --- email: anthony@egtonvicarage.org landline: 01947 899843 mobile: 07484 735284 web: middleeskmoor.org blog: thoughtsfromegtonvicarage.org
We had the most wonderful time at St Hilda's tonight in Egton, celebrating Hetty and Marley's Confirmation and first Holy Communion. Bishop Paul joined us and our organist did a super job as we sung along to some of Hetty and Marley's favourite songs. Thanks to all involved, especially our friends at Egton CE VA Primary School.
Church Services Coming Up in July TODAY - Monday 10 July – 18:00 at Egton, St Hilda, Confirmation with Holy Communion please come along and support this, if you can, as we celebrate two children from Egton School making the decision to be confirmed – Bishop Paul will be presiding and there will be refreshments and cake after the service in The Vicarage. Sunday 16 July – 10:30 at Egton, St Hilda, Holy Communion Sunday 23 July – 10:30 at Grosmont, St Matthew, Holy Communion Sunday 30 July (Fifth Sunday) – 10:30 at Egton, St Hilda, Holy Communion followed by refreshments/lunch in The Vicarage - please do come along – we’ll be having an extended ‘house warming party’ all afternoon (until 5 pm) - Just bring yourself and any friends/family too, all welcome! Readings for Sunday 9 July follow these links to view the readings: Romans 7:15–25a Matthew 11:16–19, 11:25–30 Sermon for Sunday 9 July at St Matthew’s, Glaisdale Our gospel reading ends with this verse: " Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” I’d like us to focus three words from that this morning: “…learn from me...” --- Egton CE Primary School, which is just up the road from me, is due an Ofsted inspection imminently. The headteacher and staff there are all organised and ready, and they do a sterling job day in day out providing an excellent standard of education for their primary-school-aged children. They got outstanding in their Church School inspection, or ‘SIAMS’ inspection, earlier this year and it is a wonderful school. So, they shouldn’t have anything to worry about. But they are just so very stressed. And that all brings to mind the very sad death-by-suicide of the headteacher Ruth Perry, who, before she so very sadly died, was told that Caversham Primary School in Reading would be downgraded to inadequate. Whatever we might feel about the pros and cons of how we run our school inspections, I think it would be impossible not to feel the level of anxiety when you walk into the staff room at Egton School at the moment. And, alongside that, I think it would be fair to say that teaching has taken quite a lot of criticism in the UK in the past few years. Researchers point towards an increase in verbal and physical violence in the classroom in secondary schools, which paints quite a depressing picture. Back in 2005, some researchers attempted to alleviate these issues by asking famous people for the names of any teacher who’d inspired them. A tsunami of names came forward as a result! Every person they asked could remember at least one or two teachers who’d had a profound influence on them: to change, or certainly add to, their lives and futures. Sometimes it was their academic gifts, but it was more likely to have been their ability to inspire their pupils, to give them a special something which spurred them on to achieve their very best, even to reach heights previously unimagined. Think for a moment, who were your inspirational teachers? I have one that springs to mind: Mr Sweeney – a really good A level maths teacher, but an even better careers teacher who got me into Sheffield University back in 1988: I have such a lot to thank him for! --- No one can overestimate the influence of a good teacher; even if we cannot remember a thing they actually taught us! Good teachers will be remembered with fondness long after their words have been forgotten. That’s because people are more important than words. Qualities like kindness and generosity are always more enduring than an ability to teach about principles or rules. In today's Gospel, Jesus offers himself as a teacher: "learn from me", he says. At this point in his ministry, Jesus must face up to being rejected by the religious leaders and the "wise" people of his time: his message found no place in their hearts. Becoming experts in the Law had prevented them from recognising the coming of God's Messiah: the coming of God's kingdom. Instead, Jesus found a ready audience among the people that were considered social outcasts: the tax collectors and sinners, those unable to keep the Law in all its detail, but those that welcomed Jesus' message and the hope it brought. Unfortunately, the experts were so preoccupied with following the intricate details of the Law that they’d largely lost sight of the Law’s purpose: to lead people to God. They were no longer open to hearing the word of God, because they did not need it. They placed the Law above every other consideration, even above people: the Law became an end in itself. But Jesus offered a different "yoke", a simpler one. We don’t have to worry about hundreds of laws, or keeping the minutiae of rules and regulations: Jesus simply offers himself as the role model to follow. He alone is the way to God. Follow him and we’ll find God. Like a good teacher, the lasting impression Jesus makes resides more in who he is, rather than in anything he says. Jesus asks us to be like him, to be gentle and to acknowledge our need for God. And it’s only when, like the tax collectors and sinners, we’re open to the words of God, only when we admit our dependence on God, that we’re able to receive God's mercy. And, like them, we experience God's love and mercy, not by mindless obedience, but by meeting a person: Jesus, God's own Son, face to face. --- Jesus says his burden is light. We can be burdened with all kinds of things: the opinions of the moral watchdogs who claim superior knowledge of God, telling others how to live, what to do and think, even when and how to pray. They forget that rules in religion are only useful if they lead us towards God, towards the love and freedom he offers. We have the burdens that come from living in an increasingly secular society. We have the burdens of unreasonable expectations and demands to live with: overbearing parents, the demanding boss, the inquisitive neighbour. We could also say that in the Church of England, in this place, we carry the burdens of unreasonable expectations and demands: declining congregations, increasing costs, greater demands on PCCs and their members. And then there’s ourselves: there’s our own guilt, our own low self-esteem, the unattainable tasks and goals we set ourselves each day. We can become overwhelmed by all these burdens. But Jesus' yoke is easy: it fits us perfectly, it’s tailor-made for each individual. And I think that’s because the task Jesus sets us is simple – we just need to be ourselves: we need to, each of us, be the person God wants us to be: using Jesus as our teacher. And Jesus teaches us to: be gentle, with ourselves and others; be humble, acknowledging our need for God; be creative, working with God to build the kingdom; be passionate, focusing on the important issues and values that matter to each of us. And we shouldn’t think that we must do everything all by ourselves, because God, the Holy Trinity, created us to work in deep relationship with each other: just as the Holy Trinity is a deep relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus teaches us to work together: each of us as his hands and feet, using the gifts and talents we’ve been given. We need to resist becoming overburdened by any unreasonable demands: maybe we can do that best by working and sharing together? And maybe we need to do that in such a way that we focus all our work on getting to know Jesus, the person, first and foremost? Because, if we learn from Jesus, we will find rest. Amen. --- these two books, edited by Jane Williams, were very helpful with planning this week’s sermon writing: Williams, J (2009), Ed., ‘Lost for Words, A Sermon Resource for the Anglican Three Year Cycle,’ Redemptorist Publications, Chawton, UK. Williams, J (2011), Ed., ‘Lectionary Reflections, Years A, B and C.’ Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, London, UK. --- The Reverend Anthony Bennett --- Interim Minister & Deanery Enabler Middle Esk Moor | Whitby Deanery | York Diocese --- email: anthony@egtonvicarage.org landline: 01947 899843 mobile: 07484 735284
