Moat House Cake Sale October 26 @ 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Today, 28<sup>th</sup> October, we celebrate the feast day of the first century Saints Simon and Jude. These two saints remind us to learn all we can about Jesus and to share it with others, as they did. They were ordinary men who were chosen by Jesus to teach others about God’s love and to make disciples of all nations. Their lives help us understand that even average people can become saints when they decide to follow Jesus. Both Simon and Jude were also known by other names. Simon was often called the ‘Zealot’, a zealot being a person who was strongly committed to something and he firmly believed in the importance of following Jewish law. After meeting Jesus life for Simon was changed as he became convinced that the most important thing was to follow Jesus and his teachings. Another reason Simon was nicknamed the ‘Zealot’ was to stop people confusing him with the other apostle Simon, the one Jesus called Peter. Jude was also known as ‘Jude Thaddeus’ so he wouldn’t be confused with Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus. The only incident of note connected with Jude in the Gospels was at the Last Supper when Jude asked Jesus why he only revealed himself to the disciples and not to the whole world to which Jesus replied that he and his father would visit all those who love and obey him. Jude is acknowledged today as the patron saint of hopeless causes, a saint that people can pray to when they find themselves in desperate or hopeless situations and when they feel there is no one else to turn to. Both Simon and Jude travelled together in Persia to teach others about Jesus and because they had witnessed Jesus’ miracles many came to believe and were baptised. They both died as martyrs for their faith on the same day in Beirut. We are called to remain steadfast in our faith, despite whatever doubts, challenges, difficulties, uncertainties or fears may face or trouble us. Simon and Jude stand as examples of saintly followers and apostles of Christ and they and the other apostles, along with many others who have followed Jesus and his teachings over the centuries, beckon us to also be part of the whole company of God’s saintly people and to be zealous about sharing and living the Gospel. Fr Graham
The Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin. Sometimes I wonder why we always refer to these parables by focus on the negative - the lost sheep, the lost coin. I wonder what effect it would have to our understanding of these familiar parables by referring to them as the parable of the found sheep and the found coin. For the focus of both these parables is on the finding not the losing. We don’t know how the sheep and coin were lost but we do know how they were found. Not by chance, not by a quick glance round but by someone who searched carefully, meticulously and did not stop until they found it. I’m not very patient with finding things. I tend it give up and hope that the thing I’m looking for will turn up eventually when I stop looking for it. This usually works well in the case of Lego bricks, gloves and Flora’s homework book. But these parables tell us that God doesn’t work like that. Because he loves us God seeks out what it lost with determination and perseverance, carefully and meticulously searching until what is lost has been found. And when it is found, there is much rejoicing. Both of these parables end in joy. Both the shepherd and the woman call to their friends and neighbours to come and rejoice with them. They are so full of joy that they cannot contain it and keep it to themselves, one person alone cannot adequately celebrate it, they must invite others to come and in the party. Finding and restoring the lost gives pleasure to God and to those who love God. ‘Just so I tell you there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine who righteous people who need no repentance.’ ‘Just so I tell you there is joy in the presence of God over one sinner repents.’ If we call these parables the found sheep and the found coin it shifts our focus from the grief of being lost to the joy of being found. Thy Kingdom Come is all about focusing on that joy, both for those we pray for and for ourselves. For we are all sometimes the sheep who wanders off or the coin that falls down the back of the sofa, but we have a God who knows us and loves us, who will not stop searching for us and who always welcomes us with joy. The Parable of the Prodigal Son Yesterday I talked about the parable of the Lost Sheep and the parable of the Lost Coin. I wanted to rename them The parable of the Found Sheep and the Found coin to change the focus from the grief of being lost to the joy of being found. Today we heard what is usually referred to as the Parable of the Prodigal Son and again I would like to rename it. I would prefer to call it the parable of the Loving Father. For whilst most of the parable is given over to a description of the younger son’s actions, prodigal or otherwise, the focus of the parable is the Father’s actions and his love towards both his sons. The parable is about him and this is emphasised by how it begins ‘There was a man who had two sons.’ A man who loved both his sons equally and unconditionally. Both sons, in different ways are lost. The younger son knows that he is lost, ashamed of his actions he returns home seeking forgiveness. The elder son also is lost, lost in jealousy and resentment. It is the party that really upsets him. Accept the wayward son home to pay his dues yes, but throw a party for him? But as we saw from the sheep and the coin, this is what God does when the lost are found, he rejoices. The Father wants both sons to join the party, he comes out to seek them both. The younger son on the road and the older son outside the door. Henri Nouwen writes that ‘The joy that the Father feels at the dramatic return of the younger son in no way means that the elder son was less loved, less appreciated, less favoured. The Father does not compare the two sons. He loves them both with a complete love and expresses that love according to their individual journeys. He knows them both intimately.’ The Father wants to celebrate the return of both sons. ‘The return of the younger son makes him call for a joyful celebration. The return of the elder son makes him extend an invite on to the full participation in that joy.’ God invites us all to participate in this joy. The joy of being found, known and loved. The voice of the shepherd, the woman and the father who call others to rejoice with them are the voice of God. God wants everyone to share in this joy. ‘God’s joy is the joy of his angels and his saints; it is the joy of all who belong to the kingdom.’
Do you believe in the power of prayer? Do you think that God acts as a result of our individual and corporate prayer? William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury in the 1940s, is well known for saying, '<em>When I pray</em>, <em>coincidences happen</em>, and when I don't, they don't ...’On Thursday, this coming week, it is Ascension Day, the day when we commemorate that Jesus Christ ascended to be with His Father in heaven. Just before He departed from His disciples, He instructed them to gather together for prayer until the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them. The Spirit would give them power to witness for Him. In our reading from Acts, we read how Peter was indeed so emboldened when he was preaching the Good News to some Gentiles, that the Holy Spirit came upon them also. Jesus didn’t just choose his first disciples to bear fruit for Him, but also us, who have been chosen by Him. In John’s Gospel Jesus invites us to love and serve one another and to pray, asking our Heavenly Father to act in the Name of Jesus and to draw more people to Himself.From Ascension Day until Pentecost, we will, as we have done in the previous few years, take part in the ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ initiative. I would like you to watch a short video that explains a bit more about it.Play video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k3pIwVqisAI am going to talk about some of the events we have planned for this year, for our Parish, but before I do that, I would like to share with you what we hope to achieve.During the 11 days of Thy Kingdom Come, it is hoped that everyone who takes part will:· Deepen their own relationship with Jesus Christ· Pray for 5 friends, neighbours or family to come to faith in Jesus· Pray for the empowerment of the Spirit that we would be effective in our witnessAfter the very first Ascension Day, the disciples gathered with Mary, constantly devoting themselves to prayer while they waited for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Like them, our reliance on the gift of the Holy Spirit is total – on our own we can do nothing.We are praying that the Spirit will inspire and equip us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with our friends and families, our communities and networks. It is our prayer that those who have not yet heard the Good News of Jesus Christ and his love for the world will hear it for themselves, and respond and follow Him. Also, this year, we are considering those who have become lost, especially because of the effect of living through a pandemic. Specifically, we again invite each and every Christian in the Parish to pray that God’s Spirit might work in the lives of 5 of their friends or family who are yet to respond with their ‘Yes’ to God’s call.So, what have we got lined up?1. We are having an Ascension Day Service, at 5am (gasp!) outside the church, on the triangle where, hopefully, we will see the Sunrise at 12 minutes past 5. I challenge you to be there!2. At the back of the church, there are named Prayer Journals written by Archbishop Steven Cottrell for you to collect. These are for your own devotions, but will also be used during Compline each weekday evening at 9pm on Facebook Live. We will be delivering the Journals that remain here after this service, so if you could take one or more to deliver to people who live near you, that would be really helpful.3. During Morning Prayer at 10am each weekday morning on Zoom, we will be using specific Bible passages to reflect on the theme ‘Lost?’4. Louise is going to be especially busy with children and families. She will be posting a daily ‘Cheeky Pandas’ video on our Facebook page at 4pm. These were designed and produced by ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ for young children. All Year 2 children at Burbage Infants will receive a Family Adventure Prayer Map, which ties in with the Cheeky Pandas theme and can be used in conjunction with a phone app. Give Louise your prayer support – we really do want to reach local families with the Good News of Jesus Christ.5. On Friday 21<sup>st</sup> May, starting at 6pm and ending 24 hours later, on Saturday 22<sup>nd</sup> May at 6pm, we will stage our first, to my knowledge, 24-hour Prayer Vigil. Well, we have had two 24-hour choir ‘Hymnathons’ in the past, so why not? I am not expecting anyone to pray for the whole 24-hour period (but if you really want to, I won’t discourage you!). At the back of the church there is a sign-up list so you can volunteer to take a one-hour slot for prayer, which will either take place here in the Chancel, or during the wee small hours, you may pray at home. Just to show that I am prepared to put my money where my mouth is, so to speak, I have already signed up for one of the graveyard shifts! At the back of the church there are also a few handouts designed to help you to keep praying for an hour. I have registered our 24-hour Virtual Prayer Room with ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ and they have provided an online sign-up tool. Please use this if you are able, and I will endeavour to combine the online and physical lists. I will get Christine to send you all the link by email. https://www.24-7prayer.com/signup/be6bd9 Just imagine the power of there always being someone from the Parish praying over a 24-hour period. Expect the Holy Spirit to come in power!6. May I encourage you to pray at other times and in other ways. For instance, when you walk around the village, pray for the people who pass you in the street, or for those who live in the houses near you. And, of course, don’t forget to pray for your ‘5’.7. Finally, on Pentecost Sunday, there will be three services at St. Catherine’s, culminating with a Choral Evensong.…Much activity, but the emphasis is on Prayer and seeking to be empowered by the Holy Spirit so that we can be effective witnesses for Jesus. May we lovingly support one another during this season. Amen
