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Letters from the Rectory 2002
May 2002
Hail Mary Full of Grace the Lord is with thee
For many years the month of May has been devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. For all
Christians of all traditions Mary must surely hold a particular and special place in the story of
our Faith. Whether we honour Mary with great prayerful devotion or whether we consider her
in the same way as any other saint, the study of her life and witness to God and her Son Jesus
is a great source of devotion and spiritual value.
Because of the particular place she holds in the story of both the Incarnation and the Passion
of our Lord many beliefs and myths have surrounded her birth, life and death.
It is significant to note that Mary has over 320 titles. Some of these our well known and
commonly used (the Blessed Virgin, Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Queen of Heaven, Madonna,
Mother of God) while some are less well known, and, at times, rather curious (Loom of the
Incarnation, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, Aqueduct of Grace).
Along with a host of names and titles, Our Lady has a whole diary of feast days ? 42 according
to one calendar. In the Church of England the main commemorations of Mary are: the
Annunciation (Mar 25), the Visitation (May 31), the Blessed Virgin Mary (Aug 15), her Birth
(Sept 8) and her Conception (Dec 8).
She also has a number of traditional devotions and prayers - the most used of these is her own
song of joy, the Magnificat (Luke 1. 46-55). The Hail Mary, the Rosary, the Angelus and the
Regina Coeli are all devotions with a Marian theme.
The Month of Mary ? May ? provides us with an opportunity to focus our attention on the
Blessed Virgin and to consider how our own calling to serve God in his Church might be
strengthened by her example of obedience and faithfulness.
With so many titles, feast days and devotional items to choose from it is difficult to know
where to start in modelling our own Christian pilgrimage on Mary. Here are just three ways in
which a May devotion to Our Lady may benefit us in our spiritual life this month.
1. Mary and the Birth of Jesus. By re-reading the Christmas stories outside the emotion and
busy-ness of December we can focus on how we present Christ to the world. How do we bear
him in our lives? How can we deliver his joy and life-giving power to the people of our local
community?
2. Hail Mary! the Lord is with thee (Luke 1.28). We greet so many people each day and use
words so easily. How can we deepen the knowledge of Gods abiding presence with us? Can our
own words of welcome and of comfort help other people to recognise the Risen Christ in their
lives?
3. The Song of Liberation. The Magnificat (Luke 1.46-55) expresses a radical interpretation of
the justice and freedom that God wants for the world. Do we work for the scattering of the
proud? the lifting up of the lowly? the filling of the hungry? Our faith without action is of little
earthly use. Mary?s song challenges us into a practical faith.
Almighty and everlasting God, who stooped to raise fallen humanity through the child-bearing
of Blessed Mary: grant that we, who have seen your glory revealed in our human nature and
your love made perfect in our weakness, may daily be renewed in your image and conformed
to the pattern of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fr Stephen.
Hail Mary Full of Grace the Lord is with thee
For many years the month of May has been devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. For all
Christians of all traditions Mary must surely hold a particular and special place in the story of
our Faith. Whether we honour Mary with great prayerful devotion or whether we consider her
in the same way as any other saint, the study of her life and witness to God and her Son Jesus
is a great source of devotion and spiritual value.
Because of the particular place she holds in the story of both the Incarnation and the Passion
of our Lord many beliefs and myths have surrounded her birth, life and death.
It is significant to note that Mary has over 320 titles. Some of these our well known and
commonly used (the Blessed Virgin, Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Queen of Heaven, Madonna,
Mother of God) while some are less well known, and, at times, rather curious (Loom of the
Incarnation, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, Aqueduct of Grace).
Along with a host of names and titles, Our Lady has a whole diary of feast days ? 42 according
to one calendar. In the Church of England the main commemorations of Mary are: the
Annunciation (Mar 25), the Visitation (May 31), the Blessed Virgin Mary (Aug 15), her Birth
(Sept 8) and her Conception (Dec 8).
She also has a number of traditional devotions and prayers - the most used of these is her own
song of joy, the Magnificat (Luke 1. 46-55). The Hail Mary, the Rosary, the Angelus and the
Regina Coeli are all devotions with a Marian theme.
The Month of Mary ? May ? provides us with an opportunity to focus our attention on the
Blessed Virgin and to consider how our own calling to serve God in his Church might be
strengthened by her example of obedience and faithfulness.
With so many titles, feast days and devotional items to choose from it is difficult to know
where to start in modelling our own Christian pilgrimage on Mary. Here are just three ways in
which a May devotion to Our Lady may benefit us in our spiritual life this month.
1. Mary and the Birth of Jesus. By re-reading the Christmas stories outside the emotion and
busy-ness of December we can focus on how we present Christ to the world. How do we bear
him in our lives? How can we deliver his joy and life-giving power to the people of our local
community?
2. Hail Mary! the Lord is with thee (Luke 1.28). We greet so many people each day and use
words so easily. How can we deepen the knowledge of Gods abiding presence with us? Can our
own words of welcome and of comfort help other people to recognise the Risen Christ in their
lives?
3. The Song of Liberation. The Magnificat (Luke 1.46-55) expresses a radical interpretation of
the justice and freedom that God wants for the world. Do we work for the scattering of the
proud? the lifting up of the lowly? the filling of the hungry? Our faith without action is of little
earthly use. Mary?s song challenges us into a practical faith.
Almighty and everlasting God, who stooped to raise fallen humanity through the child-bearing
of Blessed Mary: grant that we, who have seen your glory revealed in our human nature and
your love made perfect in our weakness, may daily be renewed in your image and conformed
to the pattern of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fr Stephen.
June 2002
Ministry in the Church
At the end of this month we celebrate the Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. It is at
Petertide that the church traditionally ordains men and women to the ordained ministry. This
year it will be 6 years since my ordination and after the Parish Eucharist on Sunday 30th June I
invite you to join me for a drink in the Community Hall to celebrate with me.
I won?t bore you with my life story but many people ? especially non-church friends ask me
when I first felt that I wanted to be a priest. My response was always that I can?t remember a
time when I didn?t want to be a priest. It might sound strange but as child I saw the vicar at
my local church in Shrewsbury standing behind the altar and I remember thinking that I wanted
to do that aswell. As I grew older the feeling became stronger and as I learnt more about
ordination I was fortunate in being supported by my family, friends and parish church in
exploring the ordained ministry.
Most of you will be aware that over the last 20 years or so there has been a decrease in people
coming forward for the ordained ministry and many questions have been asked as to why this
may be.
The role of the clergy in society and also in the church itself has changed dramatically over the
years and there may be a sense of uncertainty as to what it is the parish priest?s function is in
an (apparently) secularised country. This together with an increasing involvement for the laity
in the pastoral, liturgical and administrative work of the Anglican Church has meant that
perhaps it is time to think again about our own vocations as Christians.
Whilst everyone Christian is called to ministry within the Church through the sacrament of
Baptism there is always a need for certain specialised ministries to be exercised. In the Church
of England at the present time there is a huge variety of ministries for those who feel called to
serve God in his Church in a particular way.
Here are some particular ministries which you may like to consider:
priest, preside at the sacraments, preach, teach and exercise pastoral care. They, with their
bishop, are responsible for the cure of souls of everyone living in that parish, which explains
why priests are very often at the heart of a community?s life. Priests serve in a wide variety of
roles: urban, rural and in many forms of chaplaincy. There are a wide variety of
full-time/part-time packages. Generally, but not always, stipendiary priests are ?full-time? and
non-stipendiary priests are ?worker priests?.
deacon, assists priests in this ministry and may also have a special responsibility in the wider
community. Like priests, deacons can be either stipendiary or non-stipendiary. Generally a
deacon serves a year before being priested; nevertheless, some deacons elect to remain as
permanent deacons.
Lay ministers
Lay ministers serve as pastoral care workers, counsellors, and educators and in many other
ways.
readers, readers are lay people who bring their gifts of voluntary service to teaching,
preaching, leading worship and pastoral care.
During the month of June as we pray for those being ordained and licensed in our diocese
would you too think and pray about your own ministry? Is God calling you to a particular
ministry in his church in this diocese?
A busy parish such as ours is a powerful spiritual environment for the nurturing of vocation.
Through prayer and exploration we may find amongst us one who is called to serve in our
parish.
Please think about the ordained and lay ministries of the church ? is God calling you to the
ordained ministry? as a locally ordained priest or deacon in this parish? as a Reader?
If you would like to explore this further then please contact me for more information. God calls
all sorts of people to all sorts of ministries. Reading once again Jeremiah?s call (Jer 1) may
remind us that it is God who initiates his relationship with us and equips us for this work, no
matter how small or helpless we may feel. God has given us all gifts to use for his glory ? how do
you use yours ?
with love and my prayers, Fr Stephen
Ministry in the Church
At the end of this month we celebrate the Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. It is at
Petertide that the church traditionally ordains men and women to the ordained ministry. This
year it will be 6 years since my ordination and after the Parish Eucharist on Sunday 30th June I
invite you to join me for a drink in the Community Hall to celebrate with me.
I won?t bore you with my life story but many people ? especially non-church friends ask me
when I first felt that I wanted to be a priest. My response was always that I can?t remember a
time when I didn?t want to be a priest. It might sound strange but as child I saw the vicar at
my local church in Shrewsbury standing behind the altar and I remember thinking that I wanted
to do that aswell. As I grew older the feeling became stronger and as I learnt more about
ordination I was fortunate in being supported by my family, friends and parish church in
exploring the ordained ministry.
Most of you will be aware that over the last 20 years or so there has been a decrease in people
coming forward for the ordained ministry and many questions have been asked as to why this
may be.
The role of the clergy in society and also in the church itself has changed dramatically over the
years and there may be a sense of uncertainty as to what it is the parish priest?s function is in
an (apparently) secularised country. This together with an increasing involvement for the laity
in the pastoral, liturgical and administrative work of the Anglican Church has meant that
perhaps it is time to think again about our own vocations as Christians.
Whilst everyone Christian is called to ministry within the Church through the sacrament of
Baptism there is always a need for certain specialised ministries to be exercised. In the Church
of England at the present time there is a huge variety of ministries for those who feel called to
serve God in his Church in a particular way.
Here are some particular ministries which you may like to consider:
priest, preside at the sacraments, preach, teach and exercise pastoral care. They, with their
bishop, are responsible for the cure of souls of everyone living in that parish, which explains
why priests are very often at the heart of a community?s life. Priests serve in a wide variety of
roles: urban, rural and in many forms of chaplaincy. There are a wide variety of
full-time/part-time packages. Generally, but not always, stipendiary priests are ?full-time? and
non-stipendiary priests are ?worker priests?.
deacon, assists priests in this ministry and may also have a special responsibility in the wider
community. Like priests, deacons can be either stipendiary or non-stipendiary. Generally a
deacon serves a year before being priested; nevertheless, some deacons elect to remain as
permanent deacons.
Lay ministers
Lay ministers serve as pastoral care workers, counsellors, and educators and in many other
ways.
readers, readers are lay people who bring their gifts of voluntary service to teaching,
preaching, leading worship and pastoral care.
During the month of June as we pray for those being ordained and licensed in our diocese
would you too think and pray about your own ministry? Is God calling you to a particular
ministry in his church in this diocese?
A busy parish such as ours is a powerful spiritual environment for the nurturing of vocation.
Through prayer and exploration we may find amongst us one who is called to serve in our
parish.
Please think about the ordained and lay ministries of the church ? is God calling you to the
ordained ministry? as a locally ordained priest or deacon in this parish? as a Reader?
If you would like to explore this further then please contact me for more information. God calls
all sorts of people to all sorts of ministries. Reading once again Jeremiah?s call (Jer 1) may
remind us that it is God who initiates his relationship with us and equips us for this work, no
matter how small or helpless we may feel. God has given us all gifts to use for his glory ? how do
you use yours ?
with love and my prayers, Fr Stephen
July 2002
Sing to the Lord a new song
The sponsored hymn sing in June was a great evening combining prayer, fun and music. This
alone made the event a huge success but on top of that fellowship we raised an amazing
£365 for church funds. Thank you to everyone who gave money and also an especial thank
you to Dorothy for playing the piano and to Karen and Katherine for their lively commentary
and persuasive hard sell!
In the course of the evening we sang such a diverse selection of hymns and songs ? old and
new, emotional and fun, jubilant and poignant. It was particularly interesting for me (as one
of those responsible for the weekly choosing of hymns) to hear the stories behind peoples?
choices. We all know the power of music and word combined, but it can affect us in
different ways. A hymn that can pass the ears of one worshipper can evoke important
memories for another.
We know that the book of Psalms is the ancient hymnbook of the Jewish people and it is
often quoted by Jesus himself in the Gospels. Such a source of wisdom and theology that
was so widely known and used in every day conversation helped to link the daily lives of the
people to their more formal prayer and worship time.
In our own sponsored hymn sing we heard from some people how they said or sung hymns to
themselves in times of anxiety or worry or in times of stress and hardship. The intimate
weaving of Biblical passages and hymns into our own daily lives can only help to strengthen
our faith, encourage our souls and enlighten our understanding and vision of God in the daily
routine.
Many people find it hard or impossible to maintain a regular pattern of prayer and worship
during the week but if we are to really see our lives as ?prayer? and a reflection of God?s glory
then we need to regain our understanding of what worship and liturgy means to the
Christian.
Worship is the most important and the primary task of the Church. Mission, teaching,
pastoral care and all other Christian actions should flow naturally from worship. It is with the
praise of God and constant prayer that the rest of our lives as Christians fall into place.
The word liturgy comes from the Greek words for ?work? and ?people? ? liturgy is therefore
the work of the people of God. It is as crucial to the maintenance of society and life as the
daily tasks we have to perform.
Whether we lead Sunday worship, join in prayer at church, sit in reflective silence at home
or sing hymns as we drive our cars and clean the house, prayer and worship should never be
disassociated from the rest of our lives. It is the Sunday Eucharist that empowers us to face
next week as much as it concludes and helps make sense of the week gone by.
As trite as it may at first seem, a hymn whistled as we work is as beautiful to God as a prayer
offered kneeling in the pew.
Summer gives some of us an opportunity of rest from normal routines so that we can find
new ways to see God in our world and offer him more praise and worship springing from the
ordinariness of the life he has given to us.
With my love and prayers for a restful and joyful Summer. Fr Stephen.
Sing to the Lord a new song
The sponsored hymn sing in June was a great evening combining prayer, fun and music. This
alone made the event a huge success but on top of that fellowship we raised an amazing
£365 for church funds. Thank you to everyone who gave money and also an especial thank
you to Dorothy for playing the piano and to Karen and Katherine for their lively commentary
and persuasive hard sell!
In the course of the evening we sang such a diverse selection of hymns and songs ? old and
new, emotional and fun, jubilant and poignant. It was particularly interesting for me (as one
of those responsible for the weekly choosing of hymns) to hear the stories behind peoples?
choices. We all know the power of music and word combined, but it can affect us in
different ways. A hymn that can pass the ears of one worshipper can evoke important
memories for another.
We know that the book of Psalms is the ancient hymnbook of the Jewish people and it is
often quoted by Jesus himself in the Gospels. Such a source of wisdom and theology that
was so widely known and used in every day conversation helped to link the daily lives of the
people to their more formal prayer and worship time.
In our own sponsored hymn sing we heard from some people how they said or sung hymns to
themselves in times of anxiety or worry or in times of stress and hardship. The intimate
weaving of Biblical passages and hymns into our own daily lives can only help to strengthen
our faith, encourage our souls and enlighten our understanding and vision of God in the daily
routine.
Many people find it hard or impossible to maintain a regular pattern of prayer and worship
during the week but if we are to really see our lives as ?prayer? and a reflection of God?s glory
then we need to regain our understanding of what worship and liturgy means to the
Christian.
Worship is the most important and the primary task of the Church. Mission, teaching,
pastoral care and all other Christian actions should flow naturally from worship. It is with the
praise of God and constant prayer that the rest of our lives as Christians fall into place.
The word liturgy comes from the Greek words for ?work? and ?people? ? liturgy is therefore
the work of the people of God. It is as crucial to the maintenance of society and life as the
daily tasks we have to perform.
Whether we lead Sunday worship, join in prayer at church, sit in reflective silence at home
or sing hymns as we drive our cars and clean the house, prayer and worship should never be
disassociated from the rest of our lives. It is the Sunday Eucharist that empowers us to face
next week as much as it concludes and helps make sense of the week gone by.
As trite as it may at first seem, a hymn whistled as we work is as beautiful to God as a prayer
offered kneeling in the pew.
Summer gives some of us an opportunity of rest from normal routines so that we can find
new ways to see God in our world and offer him more praise and worship springing from the
ordinariness of the life he has given to us.
With my love and prayers for a restful and joyful Summer. Fr Stephen.
August / September 2002
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE SIMPSON?S
After weeks of speculation in churches and certain parts of the media the 104th Archbishop
of Canterbury has been named as the Most Reverend Dr Rowan Williams currently Archbishop
of Wales and Bishop of Monmouth. The press has concentrated on the views of the
Archbishop, so different from the other candidates and at times seen as controversial in a
church which has not been seen as at all radical for a number of years.
The appointment of Dr Williams has been accompanied by great shouts of joyful expectancy
from some parts of the Church and with wary concern from others. It is true to say that in
Rowan Williams we have a bishop who is not afraid of speaking out on issues that mean
something to him or on issues that ?society? (whatever that may mean) want him to talk
about. Here is a man who can voice his opinion with great eloquence, understanding and
relevance.
It is sad of course that the arrival of such a brilliant theologian ? and one whose standing is
greatly respected in non-church circles aswell ? has meant that the pressure is on him more
than perhaps it has been on any other Archbishop. The pressure to fulfil the immense role and
satisfy the demands of the variety of groups and wings within the Anglican Church.
Reading through the Church of England?s website pages on the roles of the Archbishop of
Canterbury it is a daunting task which lies before him. It is one that will inevitably lead him
into areas of great difference, controversy and importance. Areas not just of importance to
the church and its sometimes inward-looking concerns, but also of great interest to the
country at large and in fact throughout the world.
Dr Williams has become known as a bishop whose favourites television programmes include
Father Ted and The Simpson?s (He wrote the forward to a book published last year ?The
Gospel according to the Simpson?s? in which he discusses the moral and religious dilemmas
encountered by the family and how they tell us more about today?s society).
It is this interest in contemporary culture and his ease at discussing issues such as divorce,
homosexuality, the war on terrorism, and the recent proposed attacks on Iraq which win him
both friends and enemies.
But the role of a Christian ? whether as a lay person or a bishop ? is to engage with all areas of
society and the life of the world and reflect on them through the eyes of Christ. This
theological consideration of the world around us is the first step in expressing our faith with
others. Engaging with the world and learning to connect with it in a Christian way is the
beginning of mission ? it is the way in which we connect our faith and our life and how we
begin to share our faith with others.
As a bishop and especially as Archbishop, Rowan Williams is called to be both prophet and
pastor to his Diocese of Canterbury and to the Church of England. It is his duty to care and
lead the people of God ? to perform the pastoral duty of nurturing, teaching and living out the
Christian faith. But Christians are also called to be prophetic in their ministry. The
proclamation of the Kingdom of God is not just a comfortable retelling of an old and reassuring
story. It is also an uncomfortable and at times painful sign to the world and to the Church of
our constant need to be aware of our ways and the ways of God.
The pattern of living has been shown to us in Jesus Christ ? the one who came among us as
one of us, the man who challenged the world, the teacher who spoke openly about what was
important to his hearers, the unusual Messiah who turned the world upside down. The Christ
of the gospels who transformed peoples lives was a man who spoke out against injustice and
hatred, one who ultimately gave his life for us so that humanity could be freed from the
chains of guilt, oppression and sin.
Being a Christian means following Christ?s example and engaging with the world in all its joys
and sorrows, in the comfortable places and the uneasy places. As we prepare to welcome the
104th Archbishop of the historic see of Canterbury we pray for Rowan Williams that he may
faithfully and wisely pastor the Anglican family. It is no easy task and he asks for our prayers to
carry out this onerous and solemn role.
But the Archbishop of Canterbury ? like any other bishop ? is no different in his calling than
you or I. The working out of faith in a modern world is a job for each of us who proclaim
Christ?s name and profess our faith in him. As baptised members of the Body of Christ we too
are called to be both pastor and prophet. We are called by Christ himself to love with extreme
compassion and to fight for the liberty and dignity of all God?s people.
It is no easy task to follow this Christian path ? either for Rowan or for us ? but with the grace,
guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit we can be assured that God has equipped us to be
his ambassadors in the world.
May God strengthen and inspire us all to proclaim afresh the liberating power of Jesus Christ.
with my love and prayers
Fr Stephen
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE SIMPSON?S
After weeks of speculation in churches and certain parts of the media the 104th Archbishop
of Canterbury has been named as the Most Reverend Dr Rowan Williams currently Archbishop
of Wales and Bishop of Monmouth. The press has concentrated on the views of the
Archbishop, so different from the other candidates and at times seen as controversial in a
church which has not been seen as at all radical for a number of years.
The appointment of Dr Williams has been accompanied by great shouts of joyful expectancy
from some parts of the Church and with wary concern from others. It is true to say that in
Rowan Williams we have a bishop who is not afraid of speaking out on issues that mean
something to him or on issues that ?society? (whatever that may mean) want him to talk
about. Here is a man who can voice his opinion with great eloquence, understanding and
relevance.
It is sad of course that the arrival of such a brilliant theologian ? and one whose standing is
greatly respected in non-church circles aswell ? has meant that the pressure is on him more
than perhaps it has been on any other Archbishop. The pressure to fulfil the immense role and
satisfy the demands of the variety of groups and wings within the Anglican Church.
Reading through the Church of England?s website pages on the roles of the Archbishop of
Canterbury it is a daunting task which lies before him. It is one that will inevitably lead him
into areas of great difference, controversy and importance. Areas not just of importance to
the church and its sometimes inward-looking concerns, but also of great interest to the
country at large and in fact throughout the world.
Dr Williams has become known as a bishop whose favourites television programmes include
Father Ted and The Simpson?s (He wrote the forward to a book published last year ?The
Gospel according to the Simpson?s? in which he discusses the moral and religious dilemmas
encountered by the family and how they tell us more about today?s society).
It is this interest in contemporary culture and his ease at discussing issues such as divorce,
homosexuality, the war on terrorism, and the recent proposed attacks on Iraq which win him
both friends and enemies.
But the role of a Christian ? whether as a lay person or a bishop ? is to engage with all areas of
society and the life of the world and reflect on them through the eyes of Christ. This
theological consideration of the world around us is the first step in expressing our faith with
others. Engaging with the world and learning to connect with it in a Christian way is the
beginning of mission ? it is the way in which we connect our faith and our life and how we
begin to share our faith with others.
As a bishop and especially as Archbishop, Rowan Williams is called to be both prophet and
pastor to his Diocese of Canterbury and to the Church of England. It is his duty to care and
lead the people of God ? to perform the pastoral duty of nurturing, teaching and living out the
Christian faith. But Christians are also called to be prophetic in their ministry. The
proclamation of the Kingdom of God is not just a comfortable retelling of an old and reassuring
story. It is also an uncomfortable and at times painful sign to the world and to the Church of
our constant need to be aware of our ways and the ways of God.
The pattern of living has been shown to us in Jesus Christ ? the one who came among us as
one of us, the man who challenged the world, the teacher who spoke openly about what was
important to his hearers, the unusual Messiah who turned the world upside down. The Christ
of the gospels who transformed peoples lives was a man who spoke out against injustice and
hatred, one who ultimately gave his life for us so that humanity could be freed from the
chains of guilt, oppression and sin.
Being a Christian means following Christ?s example and engaging with the world in all its joys
and sorrows, in the comfortable places and the uneasy places. As we prepare to welcome the
104th Archbishop of the historic see of Canterbury we pray for Rowan Williams that he may
faithfully and wisely pastor the Anglican family. It is no easy task and he asks for our prayers to
carry out this onerous and solemn role.
But the Archbishop of Canterbury ? like any other bishop ? is no different in his calling than
you or I. The working out of faith in a modern world is a job for each of us who proclaim
Christ?s name and profess our faith in him. As baptised members of the Body of Christ we too
are called to be both pastor and prophet. We are called by Christ himself to love with extreme
compassion and to fight for the liberty and dignity of all God?s people.
It is no easy task to follow this Christian path ? either for Rowan or for us ? but with the grace,
guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit we can be assured that God has equipped us to be
his ambassadors in the world.
May God strengthen and inspire us all to proclaim afresh the liberating power of Jesus Christ.
with my love and prayers
Fr Stephen
October 2002
Life is a roller coaster
October places us at the beginning of what can be for some a mad rush towards Christmas. The roller
coaster feeling of life is reflected in the Church?s calendar as well as the life of our schools and the
nation. Harvest starts the ball rolling and then we continue with Dedication festival, All Saints, All
Souls, Remembrance, the Autumn Fair, Advent, Carol Services and then Christmas itself. In all this rush
and busy-ness there comes a point when all of us may scream to hear that ?still small voice of calm?
that the hymn talks about. But calm and quiet are not add-ons to the Christian lifestyle but central
important facts about our faith. The calm and peace that we long for is ? or should be - built into our
life by our regular attendance at public worship and the time we give to private prayer and Bible
reading.
Be still and know that I am God
These words from Psalm 46, v10 are well known by Christians. They remind us of two important points,
which connect together. Firstly we are reminded that the human soul needs to work at seeking God.
It is not always easy to glimpse God?s presence in every day life and not always that easy to feel close
to God in our worship time. Through the psalm God calls us to ?be still?, to stop and seek silence and
tranquility - to take our minds away from the distractions of life and put all our energies into focusing
on him. These first two words of verse 10 are a direct call for preparation. He does not tell us to just
know that he is God but rather we are to prepare ourselves, to calm our minds and to physically get
ready for our encounter with our Creator.
Secondly God tells us that when we have settled ourselves and focused on him we can then begin to
understand what it means when he says ?I am God.? The full weight and importance of what it means
to be our God is only understood after we have laid our hearts, soul and mind open to his power. To
fully ?know? that God is indeed our God is an amazing act of faith. An act which is not as easy to
achieve as some people would like to think.
Knowing God requires strength of will and mind to search for him and open our lives to his power to
heal, power to save and power to transform. We find an opportunity for this ?stillness? and ?knowing?
God most obviously in our worship.
When we join together at the altar to celebrate the Eucharist we are honoured that we are about to
meet our Lord in a special way through his
Word and the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. In worship at the Eucharist we are joined by angels
and archangels and all the company of heaven, the church of all time and in all places, as we worship
God.
Such worship involves shouts of praise and silence adoration, joyful action and meditative stillness.
As the busy-ness increases perhaps it is time to remind ourselves of the healing power of worshipping
with our brothers and sisters in the faith as we join together at the Lord?s table.
Preparation and Silence
The new Common Worship Eucharist service has the note: ?Careful devotional preparation before the
service is recommended for every communicant. Silence is particularly appropriate within the Prayers
of Penitence and of Intercession, before the Collect, in response to the reading of the Scriptures,
after the Eucharistic Prayer and after the distribution.?
It is more important than ever that we remind ourselves of the importance of preparation and silence
in our worship. ?Before the service talk to God? says the poster, ?during the service let God talk to you
and after the service talk to one another.? It isn?t always as easy or straightforward as this but we
must try our best to prepare ourselves for worship.
Practical Suggestions
1. Before the service avoid unnecessary chatter and quietly concentrate our thoughts on the service
about to begin and our lives that we offer to God during it.
2. Please ensure that mobile phones are switched off during worship!
3. After the service we continue our fellowship by sharing our news and our concerns for one another
during coffee and tea.
4. If you are able, join us on a Wednesday morning ? and on other occasional festivals - for the said
Eucharist that provides us with another opportunity for praying together and receiving the sacrament
of Holy Communion.
In this way we continue the Church?s work as the book of Acts reminds us: ?they devoted themselves
to the apostle?s teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers? (Acts 2.42).
As this busy time approaches let us pray for our Parish ? for each other and ourselves - that we may
know what it is to ?Be Still and know that I am God.?
With my love and prayers
Fr Stephen
November 2002
A world apart and yet nothing changes . . .
A few weeks ago Canon John Whittaker (Rector of St Agnes in the 1950?s and 60?s) gave a number of
bound copies of the St Agnes Parish Magazine to the parish. The obvious and immediate interest is in
the style and nature of the adverts and articles ? Slade sweet Shop and Lending Library at 55 Slade
Lane, Ivy Clegg?s stocking and ?gowns? shop also on Slade Lane and the Slade Supper Bar selling fish,
chips and peas until 12 pm every night at number 59 Slade Lane.
The whole magazine is printed with photographs and contains news of the various parish organisations
aswell as details of worship and of course ?The Rector Writes?. The circulation in 1962 was ?over 1000
copies? per month.
So some things may have changed but it is interesting to note the contents of the November 1962
magazine ? 40 years ago ? to see that the Church?s concerns both on a parochial and national level
remain much the same.
The November 62 magazine starts with a reminder that St Agnes parish were holding their Christian
Stewardship Sunday on the 25th ? and a short and direct plea for people to increase their giving and
consider regular weekly or monthly covenanting to, ?ensure that St Agnes Church will always be there
for those who need her.? Forty years on and it is with pleasure that I can take this opportunity on
behalf of the Wardens to THANK YOU all so very much for your generosity in responding to our recent
Gift Day ? so far the total is over £1000. This is a wonderful total ? Thank you to everyone who gave
money. We need £600 a week to meet our commitments ? in 1962 they needed £52 a week and
received £42!
In his letter the Rector writes of his time serving during the war and talks about the atomic bomb on
Hiroshima in 1945. He then speaks about the church?s need at Remembrance time not only to pray for
those who died during conflict but also to pray for peace and that God would ?kill the bitterness and
fear in our own hearts, to try to love people of all nations because Jesus died for them all.? Specific
threats may have changed over the years but the message seems to have an even stronger
significance for us in 2002 in light of the present so-called ?war on terrorism?. The Church?s message of
peace and reconciliation needs to be proclaimed stronger than ever this Remembrance time.
The Mother?s Union and C of E Men?s Society were going strong in 1962 ? today the MU still survives
and continues its important work in strengthening the domestic life of our nation. Please continue to
pray for the MU in our parish and deanery. Have you considered joining? The MU works in practical
ways to help families and has a crucial role in prayer and support.
Notes from the Rectory include a comment on the recent Harvest services with the following
paragraph: ?After the evening service the Teen-age Group dismantled the ?harvest? with remarkable
speed. With the help of two car drivers ? Mr Allen and Miss Reeve ? and a big group of ladies, who had
obviously postponed their washday, more than 150 parcels had been distributed before midday on
Monday.?
Forty years on and the work continues ? the goods collected at our 2002 harvest have been delivered
to Lifeshare to help with their work with those who are homeless in our city.
In 1962 the Second Vatican Council of the Roman Catholic church was beginning and the Rector hoped
that increased ecumenism may result from that huge meeting. Today we move closer together ?
however slowly ? and Churches Together in Longsight continues to bring together the various
congregations in worship and mission. Canon Whittaker continued the theme of Christian unity in an
article about the church in Uganda ? which in 1962 was on the brink of independence. How the
Churches saw themselves as an important part in the transition of Uganda into full independence is a
remarkable account of the importance of the Church in national life.
There is a double page spread devoted to youth work and the scout group ? a sign of the strength of
the work then taking place. In 2002 we may not have the same numbers but we certainly have the
same dedication. The Junior Church at St Agnes is a lively group of leaders and young people who
explore the faith each week during Sunday worship. We hear them through the glass even if we don?t
see them! Please help them know that they are in our prayers ? both leaders and children ? and that
we appreciate the importance of their contribution. The ?Twist Night? for 1 shilling and 6d in the
school organised for them in 1962 has long since gone! but as a Church we need to respond to the
needs of our younger members today. How can we incorporate Junior Church more fully into the life
of our Parish?
The final page is devoted to the Church diary ? and again nothing changes ? the worship of Almighty
God continues in this building in just the same way. All Saints, All Souls, Remembrance all had special
services in November 62 and each week there were special prayers for healing ? including on the last
Wednesday of the month ? the Laying on of hands, a well-attended service celebrated this year on
October 20th.
Despite changes in style and context the content of the magazine ? and therefore the content of
parish life remains the same: the importance of regular and committed giving, the fellowship of
society?s and groups within the parish, the mission and unity of the Church and perhaps most
importantly the continuous worship of God.
Those who read this magazine in forty years time will, I believe, also see a community of Christians
based around the building of St Agnes church whose lives are focussed on mission, ministry and
worship. We have much to give thanks to God for in our new combined Parish ? in many ways our
world is different ? a world apart from 1962 ? but thanks be to God that our purpose, our vision and our
commitment to the Faith of Jesus Christ has not changed.
During November ? the season of saints and souls, the time of remembrance of those who have passed
before us, may God continue to pour down his blessing on all we do in his name, for the furthering of
his kingdom and the building up of all his people in our community.
With my love and prayers,
Fr Stephen
December 2002
Just for the children?
The debate about the inflatable Father Christmas which sits on the Town Hall roof has been unfolding
in the Evening News over the last few weeks. After being dumped by the council as being too costly a
number of Councillors, newspaper readers and then the paper itself started a campaign to re-instate
this famous Manchester landmark. One of the quotes in the paper ? from a councillor ? was that
Christmas was after all just for the children. There was the implication that if the childlike elements of
Christmas were taken away from our city then the season would have little or no point. ?The magic of
Christmas? (that phrase which has become more widespread than any Biblical passage) has been
reduced to lights, wonder, and presents - a general season of children-based fun that adults feel they
can easily join in with in a non-religious way ? for the sake of the children of course.
Despite my usual avoidance of all things Christmassy (at least until mid December if I can help it!) I got
off to a rocky start this year when I stood in Albert Square to watch the switching on of the Christmas
lights. It was still only November and the excellent display centred around a magical balloon from which
someone hung above the square and danced to music, characters and songs from Beauty and the
Beast and the firework finale. All very impressive and although I obviously didn?t expect a religious
ceremony I was conscious that this whole spectacle ? as amazing and magical as it was ? was totally
void of any reference to the baby Jesus, the Christian story, or even the faintest hint of anything
spiritual.
Now I am not naïve enough to expect a Christian Christmas spectacular, nor foolish enough to expect
that the Christmas marketing of Manchester will be imbedded with Christian meaning and emphasis
but all this secular festivity must make us ask ourselves in the Church some questions about how we
can re-proclaim the message of the Incarnation in a world which is apparently spiritually ?numb?.
The Christmas story was always faced with danger of being sentimentalised ? it has the right
ingredients: a baby, the sweetness of Mary, the star-lit night, the angels and shepherds nursing little
lambs. The fairy-tale elements are all there and the Church has been happy to present this side of
Christmas to generations of people. It is a useful and fairly harmless representation of the facts which
might spur people on to think about the meaning of Christmas that we so desperately want to hear:
love, joy and peace. But sadly in a 21st century world where human beings are driven by individualism
and the need to succeed these gifs of love, joy and peace are not fashionable goals. They are all to
easily seen as soft and weak distractions ? there is little or no profit to be found in them. They are
signs of a childish naïve personality and not the marks of a grown up man or woman of 2002. The
Christmas story is indeed the territory of children. A new born baby seen against a world of glitter,
snow and candles may not appear to be of much use in the reality of our present world.
Perhaps the church has not been skilful enough in the past to present the unique power and effect of
the truth about Jesus? birth. Perhaps we might have been guilty of contributing to the spiritual
numbness of our nation? If the wonder of God-on-earth is to be useful to a modern world then the
church ? Christians like you and me ? must be ready to speak of Christ with the same confidence and
power that the angels used when they told the shepherds.
As 2002 draws to a close we are faced with an incredible and awesome task of speaking Christ?s
message to a world more needful than ever. The sentimental Christmas must be backed up with a
purposeful and powerful Christmas message. If war is to be avoided in Iraq the Church must preach
peace, and reconciliation and condemn violence and destruction. If races and nations are to live
together comfortably then the Church must preach justice and love. If the poor and homeless are to
be given hope then the Church must preach charity and concern. If terror and hatred is to be
confronted then the Church must preach humility and acceptance.
Christmas is for the children ? the children of God. The image of a baby lying in a manger must be
presented in the context of that same baby who grew up to suffer and die for our foolishness and
pride. God?s coming among us through the birth of his Son is an historical event that has immense
implications for us today. It is also a continuous demonstration of that amazing love which he has for
us. A love which when fully understood is so vast, so deep, so strong and so amazing that it has the
power to transform our world into the kingdom that Jesus taught of. A kingdom for which we must
yearn.
I wish you all a Christmas full of peace and joy. May Christ ? the hope of nations ? fill you all with the
power of his love.
Fr Stephen
.
Life is a roller coaster
October places us at the beginning of what can be for some a mad rush towards Christmas. The roller
coaster feeling of life is reflected in the Church?s calendar as well as the life of our schools and the
nation. Harvest starts the ball rolling and then we continue with Dedication festival, All Saints, All
Souls, Remembrance, the Autumn Fair, Advent, Carol Services and then Christmas itself. In all this rush
and busy-ness there comes a point when all of us may scream to hear that ?still small voice of calm?
that the hymn talks about. But calm and quiet are not add-ons to the Christian lifestyle but central
important facts about our faith. The calm and peace that we long for is ? or should be - built into our
life by our regular attendance at public worship and the time we give to private prayer and Bible
reading.
Be still and know that I am God
These words from Psalm 46, v10 are well known by Christians. They remind us of two important points,
which connect together. Firstly we are reminded that the human soul needs to work at seeking God.
It is not always easy to glimpse God?s presence in every day life and not always that easy to feel close
to God in our worship time. Through the psalm God calls us to ?be still?, to stop and seek silence and
tranquility - to take our minds away from the distractions of life and put all our energies into focusing
on him. These first two words of verse 10 are a direct call for preparation. He does not tell us to just
know that he is God but rather we are to prepare ourselves, to calm our minds and to physically get
ready for our encounter with our Creator.
Secondly God tells us that when we have settled ourselves and focused on him we can then begin to
understand what it means when he says ?I am God.? The full weight and importance of what it means
to be our God is only understood after we have laid our hearts, soul and mind open to his power. To
fully ?know? that God is indeed our God is an amazing act of faith. An act which is not as easy to
achieve as some people would like to think.
Knowing God requires strength of will and mind to search for him and open our lives to his power to
heal, power to save and power to transform. We find an opportunity for this ?stillness? and ?knowing?
God most obviously in our worship.
When we join together at the altar to celebrate the Eucharist we are honoured that we are about to
meet our Lord in a special way through his
Word and the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. In worship at the Eucharist we are joined by angels
and archangels and all the company of heaven, the church of all time and in all places, as we worship
God.
Such worship involves shouts of praise and silence adoration, joyful action and meditative stillness.
As the busy-ness increases perhaps it is time to remind ourselves of the healing power of worshipping
with our brothers and sisters in the faith as we join together at the Lord?s table.
Preparation and Silence
The new Common Worship Eucharist service has the note: ?Careful devotional preparation before the
service is recommended for every communicant. Silence is particularly appropriate within the Prayers
of Penitence and of Intercession, before the Collect, in response to the reading of the Scriptures,
after the Eucharistic Prayer and after the distribution.?
It is more important than ever that we remind ourselves of the importance of preparation and silence
in our worship. ?Before the service talk to God? says the poster, ?during the service let God talk to you
and after the service talk to one another.? It isn?t always as easy or straightforward as this but we
must try our best to prepare ourselves for worship.
Practical Suggestions
1. Before the service avoid unnecessary chatter and quietly concentrate our thoughts on the service
about to begin and our lives that we offer to God during it.
2. Please ensure that mobile phones are switched off during worship!
3. After the service we continue our fellowship by sharing our news and our concerns for one another
during coffee and tea.
4. If you are able, join us on a Wednesday morning ? and on other occasional festivals - for the said
Eucharist that provides us with another opportunity for praying together and receiving the sacrament
of Holy Communion.
In this way we continue the Church?s work as the book of Acts reminds us: ?they devoted themselves
to the apostle?s teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers? (Acts 2.42).
As this busy time approaches let us pray for our Parish ? for each other and ourselves - that we may
know what it is to ?Be Still and know that I am God.?
With my love and prayers
Fr Stephen
November 2002
A world apart and yet nothing changes . . .
A few weeks ago Canon John Whittaker (Rector of St Agnes in the 1950?s and 60?s) gave a number of
bound copies of the St Agnes Parish Magazine to the parish. The obvious and immediate interest is in
the style and nature of the adverts and articles ? Slade sweet Shop and Lending Library at 55 Slade
Lane, Ivy Clegg?s stocking and ?gowns? shop also on Slade Lane and the Slade Supper Bar selling fish,
chips and peas until 12 pm every night at number 59 Slade Lane.
The whole magazine is printed with photographs and contains news of the various parish organisations
aswell as details of worship and of course ?The Rector Writes?. The circulation in 1962 was ?over 1000
copies? per month.
So some things may have changed but it is interesting to note the contents of the November 1962
magazine ? 40 years ago ? to see that the Church?s concerns both on a parochial and national level
remain much the same.
The November 62 magazine starts with a reminder that St Agnes parish were holding their Christian
Stewardship Sunday on the 25th ? and a short and direct plea for people to increase their giving and
consider regular weekly or monthly covenanting to, ?ensure that St Agnes Church will always be there
for those who need her.? Forty years on and it is with pleasure that I can take this opportunity on
behalf of the Wardens to THANK YOU all so very much for your generosity in responding to our recent
Gift Day ? so far the total is over £1000. This is a wonderful total ? Thank you to everyone who gave
money. We need £600 a week to meet our commitments ? in 1962 they needed £52 a week and
received £42!
In his letter the Rector writes of his time serving during the war and talks about the atomic bomb on
Hiroshima in 1945. He then speaks about the church?s need at Remembrance time not only to pray for
those who died during conflict but also to pray for peace and that God would ?kill the bitterness and
fear in our own hearts, to try to love people of all nations because Jesus died for them all.? Specific
threats may have changed over the years but the message seems to have an even stronger
significance for us in 2002 in light of the present so-called ?war on terrorism?. The Church?s message of
peace and reconciliation needs to be proclaimed stronger than ever this Remembrance time.
The Mother?s Union and C of E Men?s Society were going strong in 1962 ? today the MU still survives
and continues its important work in strengthening the domestic life of our nation. Please continue to
pray for the MU in our parish and deanery. Have you considered joining? The MU works in practical
ways to help families and has a crucial role in prayer and support.
Notes from the Rectory include a comment on the recent Harvest services with the following
paragraph: ?After the evening service the Teen-age Group dismantled the ?harvest? with remarkable
speed. With the help of two car drivers ? Mr Allen and Miss Reeve ? and a big group of ladies, who had
obviously postponed their washday, more than 150 parcels had been distributed before midday on
Monday.?
Forty years on and the work continues ? the goods collected at our 2002 harvest have been delivered
to Lifeshare to help with their work with those who are homeless in our city.
In 1962 the Second Vatican Council of the Roman Catholic church was beginning and the Rector hoped
that increased ecumenism may result from that huge meeting. Today we move closer together ?
however slowly ? and Churches Together in Longsight continues to bring together the various
congregations in worship and mission. Canon Whittaker continued the theme of Christian unity in an
article about the church in Uganda ? which in 1962 was on the brink of independence. How the
Churches saw themselves as an important part in the transition of Uganda into full independence is a
remarkable account of the importance of the Church in national life.
There is a double page spread devoted to youth work and the scout group ? a sign of the strength of
the work then taking place. In 2002 we may not have the same numbers but we certainly have the
same dedication. The Junior Church at St Agnes is a lively group of leaders and young people who
explore the faith each week during Sunday worship. We hear them through the glass even if we don?t
see them! Please help them know that they are in our prayers ? both leaders and children ? and that
we appreciate the importance of their contribution. The ?Twist Night? for 1 shilling and 6d in the
school organised for them in 1962 has long since gone! but as a Church we need to respond to the
needs of our younger members today. How can we incorporate Junior Church more fully into the life
of our Parish?
The final page is devoted to the Church diary ? and again nothing changes ? the worship of Almighty
God continues in this building in just the same way. All Saints, All Souls, Remembrance all had special
services in November 62 and each week there were special prayers for healing ? including on the last
Wednesday of the month ? the Laying on of hands, a well-attended service celebrated this year on
October 20th.
Despite changes in style and context the content of the magazine ? and therefore the content of
parish life remains the same: the importance of regular and committed giving, the fellowship of
society?s and groups within the parish, the mission and unity of the Church and perhaps most
importantly the continuous worship of God.
Those who read this magazine in forty years time will, I believe, also see a community of Christians
based around the building of St Agnes church whose lives are focussed on mission, ministry and
worship. We have much to give thanks to God for in our new combined Parish ? in many ways our
world is different ? a world apart from 1962 ? but thanks be to God that our purpose, our vision and our
commitment to the Faith of Jesus Christ has not changed.
During November ? the season of saints and souls, the time of remembrance of those who have passed
before us, may God continue to pour down his blessing on all we do in his name, for the furthering of
his kingdom and the building up of all his people in our community.
With my love and prayers,
Fr Stephen
December 2002
Just for the children?
The debate about the inflatable Father Christmas which sits on the Town Hall roof has been unfolding
in the Evening News over the last few weeks. After being dumped by the council as being too costly a
number of Councillors, newspaper readers and then the paper itself started a campaign to re-instate
this famous Manchester landmark. One of the quotes in the paper ? from a councillor ? was that
Christmas was after all just for the children. There was the implication that if the childlike elements of
Christmas were taken away from our city then the season would have little or no point. ?The magic of
Christmas? (that phrase which has become more widespread than any Biblical passage) has been
reduced to lights, wonder, and presents - a general season of children-based fun that adults feel they
can easily join in with in a non-religious way ? for the sake of the children of course.
Despite my usual avoidance of all things Christmassy (at least until mid December if I can help it!) I got
off to a rocky start this year when I stood in Albert Square to watch the switching on of the Christmas
lights. It was still only November and the excellent display centred around a magical balloon from which
someone hung above the square and danced to music, characters and songs from Beauty and the
Beast and the firework finale. All very impressive and although I obviously didn?t expect a religious
ceremony I was conscious that this whole spectacle ? as amazing and magical as it was ? was totally
void of any reference to the baby Jesus, the Christian story, or even the faintest hint of anything
spiritual.
Now I am not naïve enough to expect a Christian Christmas spectacular, nor foolish enough to expect
that the Christmas marketing of Manchester will be imbedded with Christian meaning and emphasis
but all this secular festivity must make us ask ourselves in the Church some questions about how we
can re-proclaim the message of the Incarnation in a world which is apparently spiritually ?numb?.
The Christmas story was always faced with danger of being sentimentalised ? it has the right
ingredients: a baby, the sweetness of Mary, the star-lit night, the angels and shepherds nursing little
lambs. The fairy-tale elements are all there and the Church has been happy to present this side of
Christmas to generations of people. It is a useful and fairly harmless representation of the facts which
might spur people on to think about the meaning of Christmas that we so desperately want to hear:
love, joy and peace. But sadly in a 21st century world where human beings are driven by individualism
and the need to succeed these gifs of love, joy and peace are not fashionable goals. They are all to
easily seen as soft and weak distractions ? there is little or no profit to be found in them. They are
signs of a childish naïve personality and not the marks of a grown up man or woman of 2002. The
Christmas story is indeed the territory of children. A new born baby seen against a world of glitter,
snow and candles may not appear to be of much use in the reality of our present world.
Perhaps the church has not been skilful enough in the past to present the unique power and effect of
the truth about Jesus? birth. Perhaps we might have been guilty of contributing to the spiritual
numbness of our nation? If the wonder of God-on-earth is to be useful to a modern world then the
church ? Christians like you and me ? must be ready to speak of Christ with the same confidence and
power that the angels used when they told the shepherds.
As 2002 draws to a close we are faced with an incredible and awesome task of speaking Christ?s
message to a world more needful than ever. The sentimental Christmas must be backed up with a
purposeful and powerful Christmas message. If war is to be avoided in Iraq the Church must preach
peace, and reconciliation and condemn violence and destruction. If races and nations are to live
together comfortably then the Church must preach justice and love. If the poor and homeless are to
be given hope then the Church must preach charity and concern. If terror and hatred is to be
confronted then the Church must preach humility and acceptance.
Christmas is for the children ? the children of God. The image of a baby lying in a manger must be
presented in the context of that same baby who grew up to suffer and die for our foolishness and
pride. God?s coming among us through the birth of his Son is an historical event that has immense
implications for us today. It is also a continuous demonstration of that amazing love which he has for
us. A love which when fully understood is so vast, so deep, so strong and so amazing that it has the
power to transform our world into the kingdom that Jesus taught of. A kingdom for which we must
yearn.
I wish you all a Christmas full of peace and joy. May Christ ? the hope of nations ? fill you all with the
power of his love.
Fr Stephen
.