Topic: The Vicar Writes - Taken from the Parish Magazine

Dear Friends, 

Encouraged by Easter!    

Throughout this month we continue to celebrate Easter. Who could fail to be encouraged by the

good news that Jesus Christ was raised from death. The one who sacrificed everything to show God’s love for us was vindicated when God showed his faithfulness and restored him to new life. In doing so, he showed what the end of life’s story is for all of us.

I was reflecting on this idea in my sermon in Easter day. I include the text of it below for those who missed it or who wish to be reminded of it.

Encouraged by Easter! I have to say that I was; well, by the whole of Holy Week, actually. It was wonderful to have a large number of us taking part in the different services and trying to walk spiritually with Christ along the way of the cross. We had three hundred adults and children in Church on Good Friday morning – a great witness! But so was Easter Day’s congregations, with a record number of communicants at All Saints’: 241, with almost four hundred people in church across the two morning services.

I know that the number of people attending church isn’t everything. I also know that a small church with a faithful congregation is not a failed big church. At the same time, however, I was delighted, and certainly encouraged, by the fact that so many people – of all ages – in this parish chose to take Holy Week seriously and to come together to celebrate the resurrection on Easter morning. And just think, we are just one of eighteen Anglican parishes in Darlington, and just one of its many Christian Churches. And all the parishes of our Group reported having good attendances over Easter. I think we should all be encouraged!

John

 

The Vicar’s Easter Sermon:

Living the End of the Story

I started this year by reflecting on the Titanic, and I’m still reflecting on it. (Perhaps, I’m just all at sea!) I suppose that thought of the Titanic is hardly surprising at the moment, when the 100^th anniversary of its sinking is only days away. In my case, this is also explained by the fact that on Good Friday evening, I watched the first two episodes of Julian Fellowes’s four-part mini-series, Titanic.

If you’ve been watching it, you might agree that this mini-series has been done rather cleverly, though all the reviews haven’t been entirely positive. We’ve only seen two episodes, of course, but apparently in every one of the four, the ship sets sail and hits the ice-berg - every time! Why? Because you can’t begin to tell the story of the Titanic without an acknowledgement that the end of the story is a given – everyone knows how it will end. I asked someone if they were watching the new Titanic series, “Oh no!” came the answer, “We’ve seen it all before.”  I guess Julian Fellowes, when taking on the challenge, knew that when the end of the story is known – and well known, the important thing is how the story is told. It is exactly the same with Easter.

Mary goes to the tomb early, it’s still dark. She’s upset because someone has rolled away the stone and stolen Jesus’ crucified body. In her distress and panic she returns to the disciples. Peter and the Beloved Disciple come running, see the evidence, and one of them –the Beloved Disciple – believes: he is therefore the first person to believe in the resurrection according to St. John. Those two disciples leave, and Mary in her confusion starts quizzing the gardener. Then two words of dialogue reveal the truth: “Mary.” Rabbouni.”

We’ve heard it all before. We knew the end of the story before we came to church this morning. In fact that is the very reason we came to church this morning: to hear the end of the story we already knew. Except, we are asked to do more than hear it, we are asked to enter into it; to let this story become our story.

Through the services of the last week, we have been walking spiritually with Christ through the events of Holy Week. We have been experiencing the different moods and temptations. Several people told me how emotional they found the family service on Good Friday morning. Thanks to the efforts of a large number of you, about a hundred children and young people have been engaging with that story, through painting, woodwork, drama and so on; and it all reached its climax in that packed service.

“Come back on Sunday to find out the end of the story,” I said to the children. You could see the pity on their faces: “Poor Vicar,” they were thinking, “has no one told him yet?”

But it’s not just in churches that this story is being told. There are a growing number of towns and villages enacting passion plays. In Port Talbot last year, Michael Sheen, who grew up there, organised a 72 hour retelling of the Passion over the Easter weekend. It involved fifteen professional actors and over a thousand locals. Sheen, back there this year, thinks that every community could follow Port Talbot’s lead. Locals are reported as saying that it changed the town, resulting in... more cultural events and the refurbishment of many sites. To which one could respond, “What a failure!” The story of Christ’s passion is retold by over a thousand people, and the net result is a bit of a tidy up and a boost for culture. Have they misunderstood the story? Did they not enter into it? Do they not know how it ends?

But then, could people ask the same of us after we leave Church this morning? How are we transformed by it?

The events of Holy Week bring home to us the love of God for us. The events of Easter Day assert the triumph of God’s love over all that would thwart it. The end of the story is the triumph of life over death, of love over hatred, of health over sickness, of peace over conflict – and this is the story that Easter invites us to be a part of. Yes, this is about life after death, but it is also about sharing in Christ’s risen life now:  as we are transformed by degrees into his likeness. As the hymn puts it, “Changed from glory, into glory, till in heaven we take our place...” It’s echoing St. Paul – “All of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord, as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another...” (2Cor3:18).

This is life-transforming stuff. If in our homes there is just a bit of tidying up and some cultural entertainment by coming here, we have missed the point. 

The taste for enacting the Passion seems to be spreading: and the audiences growing. The Preston Passion was televised live by the BBC on Good Friday afternoon. There the hope is that it will entice people to find out more about the Christ who is at the heart of it. The director of it, Mr Murphy, had put the pressure on the actors in rehearsal, “We completely live or die by your talent, commitment, and enthusiasm...” What pressure! Thankfully, Christ doesn’t put the same pressure on us today – but one senses that he could. If our entering into the story of his passion and resurrection makes no difference to how we live, then what more can he do for us?

In the light of the Resurrection of Christ from the dead, the end of our story is not one that sees us condemned to the depths of some watery grave. Rather, we are destined for the life of heaven. That we know!  The question is: knowing the end of the story, do we accept the invitation to begin to live it now?

 

Extracts from the Vicar’s Report to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting was due to take place on Wednesday, 25^th April. Here are a few short extracts from the Vicar’s Report. The full book of reports of all parish officers and groups is available from Church: it’s a great way of catching up with all that is happening in the different areas of this church and parish. It can help us to pray for parts of our corporate life that we can so easily take for granted or not know about.

FROM GLORY TO GLORY

“All of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18. St. Paul is encouraging the Church in Corinth... This leads Paul to say, at the beginning of 2 Corinthians 4, “Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.”

Well, as a Church community we have no need to lose heart. Like St. Paul, we have every reason to rejoice in the fact that we can detect God’s Spirit working in us to help us become more Christ-like, and through us to make the world more like that than it otherwise would be. This growth and development may seem slow and imperceptible to us, perhaps, but we should have the grace to acknowledge it when it is there.

In 2009, we discerned that God was calling us to become more effective in growing his Kingdom by attending to three priority areas: Growing the Church, Growing as Disciples, and Growing in Service. We agreed that this would be regarded as our Parish Vision for at least five years and that it would help to steer our planning and prioritising. Over the last twelve months, the PCC has been reviewing the progress made, and has been greatly encouraged: we do not lose heart! Far from it!

... during the last meeting of the PCC year, the agenda was overtaken by other pressing business –happily this was the celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the seventy-fifth anniversary of All Saints’ Church.

Before looking more closely at progress with the Parish Vision, I would like to reflect on some of the people at the heart of parish life who help to make this church what it is. I know that I say something like this every year, but I do so because it is both true and important to mention: the contribution of everyone is vital and no one is taken for granted. St Paul, when reminding us that the body is made up of many different members, helpfully asserts that each is performing a crucial role. No member can therefore regard itself as more important than any other – or less important than any other! Each is important and each is valued. So it is in the life of this Church.

The Ministry Team

I always like to take the opportunity provided by my annual report to celebrate the blessing of the Ministry Team...

(Here the Vicar thanks every member of the ministry team: the retired clergy, readers, reader-in-training, and Youth and Children’s Minister.)

Mikaela’s post has been funded in part by a £10,000 per year grant from the Diocesan Mission Fund. In June this year, this grant will come to an end. The PCC believes that, by using a high proportion of its own annual charitable and missionary giving, it can secure sufficient funding for 2012-13. It rightly regards that this post is essential for the ongoing ministry with children and young families and is therefore actively exploring ways of securing sufficient funding for the medium term. This hope of success is helped by the continued commitment of Hummersknott Academy. It will be helped further if a grant application by Coniscliffe Parish for £3,000 per year for three years is looked upon favourably by the Diocesan Mission Fund. This will be used to support this full-time post.

The Wardens, Treasurers and Secretaries

(Here the Vicar thanks all the wardens, the PCC Treasurer, Planned Giving Treasurer, Millennium Centre Finance Director, PCC Secretary and Parish Secretary.)

I am particularly grateful to Jonathan Barker whose turn it is to retire this year...

Jonathan has done an excellent job in developing a strong team to be the Social Committee. In his time, this committee has not only organised countless fabulous social occasions – crucial in helping us all to get to know each other better and to be built up more completely as the body of Christ in this place – but also masterminded the summer and Christmas fairs. This is the sort of ministry that can lead to many headaches! Yet Jonathan, bearing the added stress of being a busy solicitor, has always managed to keep his smile! No doubt the support of his family- wife, Alison and son, Nathan – has helped enormously. He has also been helped by members of his committee, some of whom I know are choosing to use his retirement as an opportunity to take a step back or beginning to do a little less than usual... Anne Willson is worthy of special mention. Her ability to lead and motivate the catering corps has been formidable – we are grateful to her, and pleased that she still wishes to play her part, if not in quite such a demanding way.

We all owe Jonathan a debt of gratitude. We wish him well for a short retirement and look forward to him returning before too long to the ‘front benches’ in an active role, writes he Vicar hopefully!

(The Vicar reviews the progress being made with the Parish Vision)

From glory to glory: by degrees

So, this brief review of how we have made advances in the areas of our Parish Vision can provide encouragement and many reasons for expressing thanks to God: we do not lose heart! It also reminds us, though, that we have not finished yet! Perhaps we are being transformed, but it is always by degrees, as faithful people continue to grow in discipleship. Our hope is still to be transformed into Christ’s likeness, from glory to glory.

There is much to encourage us, not least the people who make up this church, and so we enthusiastically carry on with joy and hope.

John Dobson

Vicar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Topic: The Vicar Writes - Taken from the Parish Magazine

Dear Friends,                                  

Thine be the glory

Someone told me the other day that he had been thinking about the hymns that he would like at his funeral. This is a man who is not particularly old, seems in good health and shows every sign of living for several more decades. He was getting worried though, he’d chosen so many that he thought the service would turn into a songs of praise! “What’s wrong with that?” I asked him. God should be praised for the gift of life; he should be given the glory.

I guess our choice of ‘favourite hymns’ tells much about us and a good deal about how we see God and the world.  It also reveals a good deal about our character and about our outlook on life. The man who was advised by his future father-in-law to insist on Fight the good fight for the wedding service was learning something about the older man’s experience of marriage! At least it was a good fight!

Thine be the glory

One of my favourite hymns is Thine be the glory, risen, conquering son. I invariably choose it to be sung as the final, triumphant hymn for the 10.30am Festal Eucharist on Easter Day. With the stirring combination of E.L. Budry’s words and Handel’s tune from his oratorio Judas Maccabaeus, this hymn helps so send us back out into the world with confidence and hope, both being possible because of the resurrection.  

You probably know it well:

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory, thou o'er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.
 

Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son,
Endless is the vict'ry, thou o'er death hast won.

Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the Church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing;
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting. 

Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son,
Endless is the vict'ry, thou o'er death hast won.

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life;
life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love:
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. 

Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son,
Endless is the vict'ry, thou o'er death hast won.

Plenty of evidence

We sing this hymn with such confidence because we believe Christ to have been raised from the dead, and that truth changes us and the world for ever. Just think for a moment, though; if you were being asked to outline what the evidence is for our confidence, what would you say? The adults taking part in the Emmaus Course, the group that meets at the Vicarage on a Thursday evening,  are being reminded of all the evidence that we have for the resurrection of Christ from the dead. I’s worth just reminding ourselves of it at this time of year.

First of all, the biblical accounts tell of an empty tomb. If the authorities hadn't taken the body (and why should they?) they would have produced it when claims about Jesus' resurrection began to be embarrassing.

Secondly, the New Testament tells us that five hundred people actually saw Jesus Christ alive after he had been crucified. The encounter with the risen Lord changed people’s lives forever, resulting in them being prepared to die for their belief.

Thirdly, the Church began. It was quite obvious that the disciples did not expect a resurrection, in the same way that they hadn't really expected the crucifixion. After the death of their leader, they were demoralised and felt utterly defeated. Yet something happened which transformed their depressed state.  

The fourth area of evidence that points towards the resurrection of Jesus Christ being a reality is the fact that within the life of the Church, for two thousand years, people have claimed to know Christ personally.

This is the evidence that gives us confidence at Easter. It is the evidence that gives our faith a sure foundation. A sceptical age might choose to dismiss it before even considering its validity. What seems clear, however, is that those early disciples, and a growing number of us ever since, have been convinced that something ultimately momentous happened on that first Easter day. We might not want to have to describe exactly what, in fact we couldn't. But it gives hope for the future and makes a difference now.

Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom...

As the hymn reminds us, the living Lord still greets us in our daily living; he is a present reality in life. This Lord who has conquered death through his faithfulness to God is able to uphold us through difficult times and assure us that, in the end, all of life’s setbacks and difficulties, just like death itself, will be conquered.

I usually remind people at this time of year that it was Mother Julian of Norwich, a fourteenth century recluse living at St. Julian's Church in that city, who was convinced that God had revealed to her that, "All shall be well". Through the resurrection of Christ from the dead, God has revealed the same to us. Fear and gloom will be scattered, and through his deathless love we too will be made more than conquerors.

I wish you a very happy Easter

John

Topic: Articles

EXCITING HOLINESS

April is once again dominated by the suffering of Christ during Holy Week, and by the triumph of the resurrection at Easter. However, we are still encouraged by our calendar to remember certain people who have shown God to the world. In ways that have imitated Christ’s example of holiness and faithfulness, these people have helped the world to recognise God’s activity. Amongst them are the following:

Anselm, Abbot of Le Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher of the Faith: 21^st April

Anselm was born in Aosta, northern Italy, in 1033. As a young man, he left home and travelled north, visiting many monasteries and other centres of learning. After meeting Lanfranc at Le Bec, he became a monk and was to spend 34 years at that monastery as monk, then prior and finally as abbot. He had a very able mind and used this in the teaching of others, as well as in writing works of theology, philosophy and devotional material. After Lanfranc’s death, Anselm was made Archbishop of Canterbury. On two occasions he was forced into exile for standing up to the King in the defence of the rights of the Church. He was, however, admired by the Norman nobility and loved by his monks. He died on 21^st April, 1109.

George, Martyr, Patron of England, 23^rd April

George was probably a soldier living in Palestine at the beginning of the fourth century. He was martyred at Lydda in about 304AD, this was at the beginning of the persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperor Diocletian. George soon became known throughout the East as “The Great Martyr”. Before the Norman conquest, there were churches dedicated to him in England.

St. George, of course, is now known as the saint who courageously slew a dragon. This legend, however, may have resulted from his being mistaken in iconography for St. Michael who was often depicted wearing armour. Whatever the truth, there is no doubting his popularity, not least with soldiers returning from crusades. So it was George became patron saint of England, replacing Edward the Confessor. This was finally confirmed when King Edward III made him patron of the Order of the Garter.

Mark the Evangelist, 25^th April

John Mark was a Jew, and according to Paul’s letter to the Colossians, cousin to Barnabas. He was with Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey. He also went to Cyprus with Barnabas, and to Rome with Paul and then Peter.

St. Mark’s Gospel is generally thought to have been the first gospel to have been written, in the early 60’s when he was in Rome. It probably reflects St. Peter’s preaching as much as Mark’s own memories. There is a sense of urgency in St. Mark’s Gospel, and also a straight-talking style that does not spare the disciples from being presented as rather slow to learn a fundamental truth: sharing of the gospel involves the disciple sharing oneself sacrificially in both body and spirit. 

 Ramabai, Translator of the Scriptures: 30^th April

Mary Rambai was born in 1858, the daughter of a Sanscrit scholar who believed in educating women. Converting to Christianity, she still remained loyal to many aspects of her Hindu background. She became well known as a lecturer on social issues, becoming the first women to be awarded the title ‘Pandita’. She spent many years working for the education of women and orphans, founding schools and homes. She lived in great simplicity and opposed the caste system and child marriage. She died on 30^th April 1922.

 

Much of this information comes from “Exciting Holiness: Collects and Readings for the Festivals and lesser Festivals of the Church of England”, Canterbury Press, Norwich.

Topic: The Vicar Writes - Taken from the Parish Magazine

Topic: Clergy Questions

Is the Bible right when it says "As in all the churches of the saints, women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church." (1 Cor 14:33bff)? If so, is it wrong for women and girls to sing in the choir and say Amen when taking communion?
- Heather Jones