Messiah 25 The woman said, ‘I know that Messiah’ (called Christ) ‘is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.’ (John 4:25) I like to watch Science Fiction films and have been waiting for the latest film based on a book called “Dune” by Frank Herbert which I must have read in the 1970’s although I was rather put off it by the 1984 film which changed much of the main thrust of the book. In my view the book is a “Messiah”, or “Saviour” story. Where one person is prophesied to be coming to save the people from their plight. The difference between a Messiah and a Hero is that only one person can fulfil the role, rather than any number of superheroes, spies, or detectives. Obviously, my reason for liking this genre of film is that it is basically a retelling of the Bible story, where the Old Testament sets the scene, the failures and disasters in the world, and the need for the Messiah, and then predicts his coming (300 different prophecies). Then the changeover point comes, and Jesus is born at Bethlehem to a poor family, and the Messiah starts to be recognised. In the Gospel, Jesus doesn’t save the world for years, he needs to be known, and start to teach about God and be recognised, before actually doing what he came to do. On Good Friday He gave His life, that we might live. It is such a huge story that we spend all year in Church expanding what it means. If it doesn’t resonate with you as the most important thing in the world, dare I suggest you haven’t yet worked it out for yourself? All of us have fallen from God’s standards, and most of us have fallen even by our own standards. You need to know the Messiah so that you might feel the forgiveness of God and start the abundant life God wants for you. Many of our readers have abuse in their past. People have let us down, proved themselves unworthy of our trust, some have gone out of their way to cause us pain. All of us need to know the healing of God, to know he can help us to recover and rebuild, to feel safe and able to belong once again. Some have found themselves causing the hurt, and need God’s help in learning to stop, and to find God’s way forward. Church is one of the few places where we do not exclude guilty people. But what we have painfully learned is that we can’t just forgive and forget. God ensures justice, but also forgives, and we are constrained to protect the vulnerable. This is why safeguarding is so important in Church. To show God’s love to all those who come, while protecting the vulnerable and putting restrictions on those who have abused others. The Archbishop of Canterbury will be resigning because he didn’t do all that he could have done to protect others. Some of our Church members find it hard to have to keep redoing their safeguarding training, but this whole episode shows us just how important this training is. Then we too, can look after the sheep of his sheepfold. Do pray for the Saviour’s power in your own life, and ask this Christmas, that the Messiah will visit your life. 14 ‘I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. (John 10) Brian Leathers (November 2024)
https://www.youneedtotalkaboutgod.com/filmsFollow the link to five short films
Reparation16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3)As I started to write, the King was in Samoa, and the issue of reparation has come up. I was mulling over what it means, and in the context that I missed the deadline for the Mayfield magazine article, I realised that it is to do with putting right the past, or aspects of forgiveness, and of course forgiveness is at the heart of our faith.Reparation is a sort of repairing. We know from history that our ancestors built the might of the British Empire in no small part on the back of slave labour in our colonies. Huge parts of our economy depended on the wealth coming in from our empire, and it took a huge moral effort to forgo the equivalent of billions of pounds coming to England when a few Christian voices spoke out, and after decades, managed to outlaw slavery. Their efforts inspired Christians in other countries to gradually withdraw from their own addiction to slavery, and the world had to come to a new normality with millions of people having been displaced from where they originated.There is a 2006 film called “Amazing Grace” about how the slave trade in England was fought and defeated. You see, it took a particular Christian view of the world to see slavery as wrong. Many of our nation do not believe in God, and only have nature as their guide. But “survival of the fittest” would support slavery. If you really believe there is no God – how can you make any case that you ought to treat others with love and not exploit them? Surely you are stronger, and they are weaker!The concept of “karma” is gaining popularity, “what goes around, comes around”. Those who do bad things in life are destined to have a hard next life. This shows that slaves had done bad things in a previous life. There is no treating others as people just like ourselves.Self-interest seems to guide many: “The world will work better this way”. But that wouldn’t overcome an addiction to slave trade money.We have an ingrained Christian morality from English culture, but as folk abandon their faith how can they justify their statements. “How could the people of the slave times accept such a monstrosity?” is a 21st century world view. In the past, right across the world, all people assumed that every country had a right to attack and enslave weaker people. A better historical question would be “why did it ever occur to anybody that it was wrong?”It is because in the Bible, God created all people equal. That He showed that they were all sinners, and that Jesus died on the cross that we might be forgiven. The wrath of God is to be poured out on the unjust. There is hell to come. Those who feel for the oppressed people of the world can know that God will punish the sinners. But there is hope because the price for sin has been paid on the cross. Those who want to know God’s forgiveness have only to come to Jesus and ask for mercy.William Wilberforce was born into privilege in the world of colonial slavery. Coming to faith at the age of 26, he started to know the forgiveness of God, and realised for himself that slavery was wrong. He wasn’t the first to realise it, but being a man of power in the British government, he was enabled to make the steps that were to bring about the abolition of slavery. Slavery still leaves its mark, and today’s politicians will make their decisions on how to repair what they can.But you and I need forgiveness ourselves, for our own wrong attitudes and decisions. Do ask God today for his mercy. Let me finish the quote from John 3 as I finish. What is God’s verdict on your faith?19 This is the verdict: light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. Brian Leathers (October 2024)
In the parish of Dunstanding in the Mud – on Sea The Vicar cycles to meet with the PCC There’s an exciting new venture for them to agree A quite unusual experience it will be A unique opportunity has come our way With the International Space Station at the end of it’s day The first Church in space is what I have planned Now I just need ideas to see where we stand The Treasurer’s face is a study of fear We can only just pay Parish Share each year Don’t worry I’ve spoken to a man I can trust I think you might know him he’s called Elon Musk He’s offered free transport on his brand new spaceship I thought that was kind, but we’ll still leave him a tip The journey is quite long, so I think you will need To take a book with you for something to read. The Churchwarden will have to be on the first flight As he will get books out and turn on the light As it’s out of this world no faculty needed I’ve asked for a grant but that hasn’t succeeded. During the sermon I may ask you to sit, Whichever way up you find is the best fit Hanging on to my vestments is not a good look So, I think in the roof we’ll hang a new hook Now Communion will be different as you’ll understand The Wafers will float right out of my hand We’ll have to practice how to catch them next Sunday A fishing net or a tea strainer may come in handy. The wine will be different also you see How to get it cleanly to you all from me I suggest a syringe so with just a quick squirt I’m sure with practice we’ll get quite expert. A friendly old chap from the back of the room Said I’m sorry, I don’t want to cause unnecessary gloom Though I like the idea of going To Infinity and Beyond But I think dear Vicar you’ve probably been conned So, lets get our feet firmly back on the ground And back to normal – so who’s buying the next round? Rhona Burgess August 2024
