It’s that time of year again - a sense of slowing down, of conserving energy - a pause perhaps in the busyness of life. Seeds lay dormant in the ground, squirrels bury supplies of nuts and other food to keep them going through the winter, hedgehogs lower their body temperature and slow down their heart rates as they hibernate.It might seem that it’s a bit gloomy but it’s only a time of waiting, for the cycle of the seasons to move onwards through winter and into spring. And just as nature has a seasonal cycle to follow, many people will be looking towards Advent (it’s on 1st December this year). It’s that pivotal moment when Christians enter a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas. And I expect there will be a last-minute dash to the supermarkets to get a chocolate Advent calendar to open each day!It’s a time to give thanks for what has been, and prepare for what lies ahead – to find contentment in the little things and enjoy every moment of the season.In a contemporary version of the Bible, Jesus says, “Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” I love that phrase ‘the unforced rhythms of grace’ – each time I read it I take in a deep breath and let it out slowly, and pause to listen to my breathing and my heartbeat.Instead of ‘hibernating’, let’s breath deeply and enjoy the change in the seasons – kicking up the leaves as you walk through the woods, enjoying the freshness of the cold air as you see your breath, being thankful that the sun is shining above the clouds.And on gloomy days – remember that Jesus is the light of the world. Even if we don’t give him a second thought, we are always on his heart and he surrounds us with his love. May we all know God’s constant love and peace, even as the seasons change around us. Revd Anne
On Saturday 28th September, in St. Botolphs church, Colchester, Revd Emma Barr, who has served in our parishes since last summer as curate, was ordained priest, along with 5 other colleagues for the Colchester area. In a beautiful service, full of deep meaning, Bishop Roger, welcomed them into the priesthood, and Janet Nichols, the diocesan rural adviser and agricultural chaplain preached.Following her ordination, on Sunday 29th September, there was a special united service in Little Horkesley, with Emma presiding at her first communion. In token of our appreciation for all that Emma brings to the ministry in the 6 parishes, a small gift was given, and the service was followed by a splendid lunch and lots of cake in the village Hall.A fine weekend of celebrations, to mark this important step on Emmas journey.
Any holiday plans?Having exhausted the vastly interesting subject of the British weather, a great conversation starter for any Brit, then at this time of the year, the conversation will often turn to ‘any holiday plans?’ ‘are you going anywhere nice?’ Perhaps this year, we might be trying to work out where we can get go to beat the rather damp weather. Whilst many people have to plan their holidays to coincide with the school breaks, some of us are able to plan around them and go either before the end of July, or later in September or October. Indeed, I have already been on holiday, spending a fantastic week away with my husband and son, and yet we never left the county … and the sun shone too! We spent the week walking the whole of the Essex Way, the 82 mile series of footpaths from Epping Station to Harwich. Every day, we experienced a different kind of scenery, from lots of woodland the first day, a very muddy day, to the final day when we were walking along salt marshes to the coast, and everything in between. (photo is us at the halfway point)Holidays are a great time of year, normal rules are suspended, you can get up with you like, go to bed when you like and to some extent, you can do whatever you like. It is a time for living expansively, for exploring new places, for doing things you’ve never done before and experiencing new things. It is a time for enjoying this world and everything in it … and you don’t even need to go far from your own doorstep to have a holiday. That’s what the biblical idea of sabbath is all about. The bible tells about how God made the world and then, on the sabbath, he rested – not because he was exhausted, but because he wanted to enjoy the world he had made. Christians believe that God blessed these times of sabbath rest and consecrated them. They are genuinely holy days (holidays) in which we glimpse something more of the abundant grace and generosity of God. So whatever you are doing, I hope it will be a time of true re-creation. A time in which you can learn the unforced rhythms of grace.May God bless you Heather
Sermon for Michael and All Angels – Daniel 10:10-19a; Revelation 12:7-12; Matthew 18:1-10Today, as well as celebrating with Emma as she presides at her first communion following her priesting yesterday, is the feast of Michael and All Angels.So, what do we think of when we think of angels?We must imagine something, after all how many times has someone said to you, or you have said to someone else ‘you’re an angel’?What do we mean by that?We mean, they have done something for us, which has brought us comfort, helped us, guided us in some way. Angels wing their way in and out of our lives. we speak of angels in our attitude to hospitality and kindness to strangers; to acts of generosity – whether intentional or spontaneous. We speak of guardian angels and of being angels. Angels readily make their way into modern culture, through literature and song.Abba – sang ‘I believe in angels, something good in everything I see.’Robbie Williams sang ‘’cause I’ve been told, that salvation lets her wings unfold, so when I’m lying on my bed, thoughts running through my head, and I feel that love is dead, I’m loving angels instead.’Robbie’s angel offers protection; the assurance of not being forsaken; a blessing of love in weakness and pain. It is a song full of longing; it presumes that angelic affection is more constant than human love.Yesterday, with these words, the Bishop addressed the congregation at St. Botolphs, words which remind us of the role of priest, he saidPriests are called to be servants and shepherds among those to whom they are sent. They are to be messengers, sentinels and stewards of the Lord, with all God’s people, that’s all of us gathered here, they are to tell the story of God’s love. They are to resist evil, support the weak, defend the poor and intercede for all in need.But words which also echo, at least in part the role of angels … though angels do it a whole lot better than us human beings, whose own agendas and interests often send us off track. This is why we set aside time privately and when gathered together week by week, to refocus our bodies, hearts, souls and minds on God. The words we say, the postures we adopt, the praises we sing, the gifts we taste and touch all align us with God, preparing ourselves for his service.Perhaps because the readings and theme for this Sunday were in my head when I went on holiday, I was particularly struck by two images that I came across on my travels.You have them on a card in your service sheet.The first image was of Saint Michael, found on the outside wall of the church of St Michael in Sant’Angelo. Perhaps it strikes a rather fearsome image, an angel, sword in hand, holding down the dragon with one foot. The image we might get having read our passage from Revelation this morning. As Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven, as they were cast down to the earth.It reminded me of a school nativity play I attended several years ago, where a young boy, Issac, who attended the after-school club which the church ran, had been cast as the angel Gabriel. In a break from the more traditional image of angels we might see in school nativity plays, not only was the angel Gabriel played by a boy for a change, but Issac, a keen biblical scholar, had done his research and decided that the typical costume of white robes, fluffy wings and a silver tinsel halo, seen in most school nativity plays, was not quite what he thought angels would look like, and so when he appeared, with his double edged sword in hand, judging by the rather audible gasps of the assembled parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, it’s no wonder Mary and the shepherds, were at first afraid.It was an awesome thing to see and certainly got the parents talking and thinking a little more about their image of angels.At the heart of this feast day, is the recognition of the reality and presence of heavenly beings, the heavenly host, and their participation and ultimate victory in the war against darkness. We are reminded of the reality of spiritual warfare, of evil, just as Emma and those ordained priest with her yesterday, were reminded they are to, along with all Gods people, remember that’s each one of us, to resist evil.The second image taken on our holiday, is rather whimsical perhaps. Every day we would pass by these wings on the wall outside a jewellers shop, during the day time, unlit, they simply merged into the background, easy to miss, but at night, when they were lit up, people would stop, and have their photo taken on their way past. As night by night, I wandered by and saw people having their photos taken, I wondered what they imagined angels are like?And so on the final night I stopped, simply to have this photo taken for today …. Did I imagine myself as an angel … certainly not. But it did remind me of the presence of angels all around us, for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.Our gospel reading this morning ended with these words ‘Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for a tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my father in heaven.’Oh to be a child and to see the world through the eyes of a child once more.To have washed away the layers of cynicism, and rationalism.To be as humble as a child.I, as I am sure you have too, have encountered many people in my life, who have been like angels, people who have supported, guided and strengthened me. But I can’t say that I have ever seen an angel ….But I have been in the same room as one.It happened a long time ago, when Megan was just 3 years old, a child.We had just lost our daughter Grace, and one afternoon, Megan was transfixed by something that had caught her attention in the corner of the room by the television.The television wasn’t on, but she was completely engrossed in a conversation which I couldn’t understand.When finally she turned away, I asked her what she had been doing.Her response somewhat took me by surprise.I have been speaking to the angel … she said it in such a simple, matter of fact manner, that it was absolutely obvious, she must have thought that I could see the angel too, why wouldn’t I be able too, after all, she could! Anyway as I tried to grasp what she was saying I asked and what have you been talking about …Megans response – we have been talking about Grace, the angel wants us to know, that we don’t need to be worried or sad, Grace is with God in heaven. As simple as that.A message from an angel, at just the right time.At Christmas time we focus on this role of angels as Gods messengers … passing on heavenly messages to Mary, Joseph and shepherds on the hillside. The word for a messenger in Hebrew is Malach and in Greek, angelos, which is where we get the word ‘angel’ from. Angels in the literal sense are Gods messengers.Echoing the calling of priest to be messengers, sentinels and stewards of the lord, with all Gods people, remember that’s each one of us, telling the story of God’s love.Today we are reminded that we do none of this in our strength, we have the strength and power of Christ within us through the Holy Spirit, and a host of heavenly angels, round about us, supporting, encouraging, comforting and guiding us.Whilst our children can delight and remember that angels and archangels are on ‘our side’ and that their angels are always before the father.There is wonder in it for us adults too, that we are allowed to believe in angels without being sentimental or sappy. Yes, they are real. Yes, they are near. Yes, they fight with us.And that is Good News.Let’s pray Heavenly Father, we thank you for the calling you have laid on each one of us. We thank you that you have called Emma to priesthood, and we pray for Gods continual blessing on her as she ministers in our parishes, proclaiming your word in season and out of season. We pray, that with your holy angels round about us, we may all be messengers of hope, sharing your love with all in need. In Jesus name we pray. Amen
