Summer

Summer has finally arrived. 

It's been nine years 

since we moved to Chatteris. 

I can remember the day we arrived, 
blowing in with a February blizzard; 
a toddler in one hand 
and a newborn baby in the other. 
Where did the time go? 

Although some would no doubt still count as 'incomers', we quickly got 'stuck in' - putting down roots so that there is now a sense that our lives are being woven together with many others, into the unfolding fabric of this place. Yes, the Church is the people and not the building, but in Chatteris it didn't take long for me to see that the Parish Church stands like an historic icon at the centre. 

In Chatteris past, there was a Benedictine Abbey community of nuns who were responsible for the parish church, no doubt offering a well ordered oasis from the hell of everyday existence and a prayer-line to heaven. It was an island retreat for both pilgrims and saints.  

So it was not surprising that tinkers and tailors, tradesmen and farmers 

took refuge, gathering outside its gates, 

setting up shops and stalls until there developed a Market Town.

With the dissolution of the Abbey and the modernization of our town, 

the parish church remains at the centre:

Reminding us of it's place in the past

Contributing to the sense of social cohesion in present and 
Pointing us towards our purpose for the future.

The writer of Psalm 139 recognised the hand of God weaving together the threads of his own life, even before he was born. In the same way - like a Master Weaver - the Lord, in his beautiful purpose, still holds the threads of our lives together through his Church. 

After all, I wonder how can anyone 
claim to be a Christian without wanting

to be a part of his Church? 

It is a bit like claiming to be 
an 'eye' or an 'ear' 
without wanting to be part of a body.

It simply doesn't work. 
We all need a body.

The Bible as well as our own experience shows that Christian faith only works when 
we work it out together. 

(see 1 Corinthians 12-13)

I can honestly say that it is a real privilege to be a part of the parish church in Chatteris! For those who don't yet know, it is far from perfect and even a bit messy at times. But it also a safe place try out ideas, like starting the FOODBANK for example. There is a warm sense of teamwork a shared purpose as we work together for God's kingdom to come.

Many already know that we pray regularly for the town. But we needed a tool for better connecting with those for whom we pray.  So we thought, why don't we go out and ask people what they think and then how we might pray for them? That's how the idea for the survey began.

The Big Parish Survey
The plan of the survey is to ask as many residents of Chatteris as we can about their views on the town and how we can pray for them, over August and September. We want to let people know that at the parish church, we are listening to your concerns.

The survey will ask three questions:

• What is the best thing about living in Chatteris? 

• What is one thing you would like change about living in Chatteris?

• Is there anything specific you would like us to pray for?
  
  For those who are more technically minded, a fuller survey will be available online. 

  We plan to share the results of the first two questions in October and hopefully publish it in the local press. Prayer requests will be handled separately and given the undivided attention that they deserve. 

We hope that the whole project will build stronger bridges of understanding between us.

Searching

A few weeks ago a young man, starting attending services at the church. I will call him John. (Not his real name).  When I asked if he would like to meet up for coffee, he quickly said 'yes'. So one day last week, he came around.  

It didn't take long for the conversation to flow. "What prompted you to start coming along to church by yourself,' I asked.  

'I'm not sure", he said. " I thought there might be a God. If there is something out there, I wanted to find out. Since I started coming to church, all these coincidence have started happening.  Now I'm thinking, there must be a God.”

I listened to John's story as I do to so many, with great interest. Although his story is unique to John, it sounds so familiar. He was searching for something. 

You have probably heard the saying: “It is not what you know, but who you know that is important.” 

Perhaps as you read this blog, you recognize that you too are searching for something. A purpose in life? A fresh start? A new idea? A place to belong? Or even, like John, you might know that you are searching for God.

On that first Easter Sunday, Jesus did not ask Mary 'what?' she was looking for. He asked her 'who?' she was searching for, and that made all the difference. 

Knowing about Jesus is important. Knowing that nothing can stop God's love because he broke open the grave for you is important. 

But that knowledge in your head has no power unless it is experienced as new life flowing in your body and giving lifegiving love to your soul. Knowing about Jesus is important, but it is the act of knowing Jesus, and being in a relationship with him, the risen Saviour, that has the power to change your life.

This poster (above) is taken from the The Alpha Course. In Chatteris many people come along to the course to explore and find out more about Jesus. On the course you might learn more about Jesus and have an opportunity to ask questions, discuss your thoughts and concerns. But the Course, just like the first Easter event was not just about getting the information.

The story of Jesus is 'out there' for anyone who wants to know. Jesus was a good Jewish man who lived a long time ago in what is now modern day Israel. He was a teacher and a healer who demonstrated the love of God for people with signs and wonders. And in the end, he was executed like a criminal, not because he had done anything wrong, but because he was a man who claimed to be God. But we know the story doesn't finish there.

 

Crucified in Roman fashion, a soldier pierced his side with a spear to make sure he was officially dead. His body was then taken down and laid in a freshly cut tomb. A huge stone was rolled down into place, sealing it air-tight. A squadran of guards were posted. It was not suprising then that his followers hid themselves away behind locked doors. Their world had ended. Or so they must have thought.

Early the next morning, when it was still dark, a group of women took spices and oils to embalm the body of Jesus in the traditional Jewish way.  The group of women (Luke 24. 10) were rightly worried about how they might get into the tomb, because the stone was so large. 

I can imagine the scene. Imagine what it would have been like to arrive and see that the stone was rolled away. Imagine the confusion, when they couldn't find the body. They ran. They ran in all directions. Some of the women ran back to Jerusalem. Mary Magdeline literally ran into Peter and John. Falling at their feet sobbing, she exclaimed; 'They have taken our Lord out of the romb and we don't know where they have laid him!'  (John 20. 2)

 

Imagine the grief. Now Peter and John ran. But Mary couldn't bring herself to run anymore...

She stayed by the door of the grave weeping. Blinded by her grief, she couldn't even see the angels talking to her. But then, she hears the voice of Jesus, as he stands beside her. 

"Mary."  He says her name and the penny drops. Jesus shows himself to her and her world is turned upside down. She throws her arms around him.

'Mary!' - It gets as personal as that.

'Who are you looking for?'

Mary discovered the irony of faith: 
Jesus was looking for her. 

2000 years later and God is still seeking us out, one by one.  When we stop and turn to look, we find that he is standing right here. Right here with us. He seeks us out and once we have experienced his resurrection life, he sends us out to share the good news of this new life with others. 

Alleluia, Christ is risen!












 

Lent

Lent reminds me that nothing and no one in this world can really satisfy the deepest longings of my heart, because everything I can see will one day be gone. 

“Remember from dust you came
and from dust you will return."

During the Ash Wednesday service, Christians receive ash their foreheads to remind them of their Baptism; a sign of death and new birth.  And when we stop to think about it, our birth and death have a lot in common. Both mark the beginning of something new. 

Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan. When he arrived at the river, he saw crowds of people listening to John the Baptist. 'Prepare the way for the Lord' he preached. 'Turn away from sin and turn back to God'.

John's firey words were so powerful that people must have felt that God himself would arrive any minute! The truth of his preaching stung their conscience so many cried out to be made clean... and down into the river they went.

                  Going in and under the water,

                                 was like a death,

                                 dieing to the old self-sufficient 'self'.

                  Rising up out of the water,

                                was like a birth,

                                living and breathing for God,

                                with everything from God

John was surprised when Jesus came up to him and asked to be baptised. 

               'What? You should be the one baptizing me!' said John. 

But Jesus convinced him that it was the right thing to do, and so John took him into the river like all the others.  (Matthew 3. 13 - 17)

But when Jesus went down under the water and rose up again, it says that the Holy Spirit came on him and a voice from heaven said: 'This is my beloved Son. In him, I am well pleased!'  No one could see the voice, but the words broke in, and everyone heard it.

What a glorious picture of delight between a parent and child. Jesus was swimming in the river of his Father's pleasure; fully immersed in acceptance and drenched with joy, he knew where he belonged.

The Baptism of Christ, St Augustine's Church, Brighton

Over the centuries, many have followed Jesus into the waters of Baptism.  In times past, candidates for Baptism were prepared over a 40 day period which included fasting and memorising a catechism, which is a series of short questions and answers about God. These catechisms summarized the Christian teachings of the New Testament and were a great tool in passing down the Christian Faith to each new generation. This time of preparation and review and renewal is the origin of what later came to be known as Lent.

Here is my favourite question from The Heidelberg Catechism. It reminds me that nothing that this world offers can really satisfy my deepest longings because, like you, I don't belong here. 

                 Question:        What is your only comfort in life and in death?

                 Answer:           That I am not my own, but belong -

                                                      body and soul,

                                                      in life and in death -

                                         to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.

During the season of Lent, we take time to remember that our journey with God begins in the waters of baptism. We belong in life and in death to our faithful Saviour, Jesus Christ. Whether you remember it or not, your baptism into Christ is the source of your eternal identity and where your immeasurable value is found, swimming in the unconditional acceptance of God's eternal love. 

Epiphany

I was just looking at some old photos of Christmas services. The Nativity Family service on Christmas is always very special. Each year the numbers continue to grow. This year was no exception; we had close to 200 people. The newly formed Chatteris Gospel choir sang for us. Thanks to Vanessa Norman for starting this new choir! Jayne, once again, blessed us with her wonderful singing. The Bible readings were well done by children as young as 8 and as old as.. well, I couldn't say! But, it was impressive to have such a mixture of ages, including a prison guard and professional juggler among the readers. It all added to the colour and the wonder of a very special evening. 

We probably are familiar with the Christmas story. But each year we remember it - both as a way of passing it on to the next generation while helping each of us see our own place in God's (His) story. What part of the story do you identify with most? Where are you in the story?

Epiphany is at the end of the Christmas story – the bit about the wise men, or the 'Magi' as the Bible calls them. Who were they? They were astronomers and scholars who came from the far east (Iran? Saudia Arabia?). The Bible tells us that they had already been studying the stars when they saw an unusual light or star (or a comet?) which they considered to be a special sign from the heavens about a great earthly event. 

 

Have you ever looked for a 'sign'.  Has God ever shown you a 'sign'? What did you do about it?

What could it be? The Magi did not hesitate. They left everything to discover the answer, setting their course on a life-changing journey. They formed a great foreign caravan travelling across ancient trade routes, deserts and mountains to bring three presents: gold (fit for a king), frankincense (incense for worshipping God) and myrrh (oil for embalming the royal dead).

What would cause the Magi to leave everything and to bring these three presents?
 

'Who was this King they came to worship?' When King Herod asked this question they were able to show they had done their homework. More than 300 Jewish prophecies described a coming king. The Arabian travellers pointed to Micah 3. 1- 5 and explained that a Jewish King would be born in Bethlehem, but his rule would be over all the earth. 

How could one person fullfill more than 300 prophecies? 

After finding the child king, the Magi were warned in a dream to leave by another road. And so they did. They had found what they were looking for. Everything was revealed and nothing would ever be the same again. 

O God, by the leading of a star
manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:
mercifully grant that we,
who know you now by faith,
may at last behold your glory face to face;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.