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Letters from the Rectory 2004
As our Saviour taught us ?
The Gospels give us two distinct accounts of Jesus teaching his followers how to pray to God our Father. In
Matthew and in Luke there are slightly different but easily recognisable forms of the prayer which we know as
the Lord?s Prayer (or Our Father). This prayer has been used by Christians in both public and private worship
for nearly two thousand years and can safely be said to be the most well known and most prayed of all
Christian texts. And yet the words we use today are very different from those used fifty years ago, one hundred
years ago and so on back to the time of Christ himself.
Of course Jesus? prayer would have been in Aramaic and quickly translated into Greek, Latin, Hebrew and
numerous other local languages but it is the Greek text that survives in the New Testament which is one of the
earliest and certainly the basis for any modern translation.
Translating scripture ? or indeed any piece of writing from Shakespeare to a travel brochure ? is a mine field
for those involved! There is never a shortage of people who are quick to complain about the beauty, poetry or
style of language used. I am reminded of the joke that Jesus himself would only have used the best version of
the scriptures ? the King James Version of the Bible. As obvious as it may seem to many of us there are still
people who do not realise that the Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew and the New Testament in
Greek. Every time it is translated and every time it is re-translated some new word, phrase or punctuation may
find itself added to the text.
One of the early problems of the written texts is that when they were copied mistakes made purely at random
by one hand-writer may then have been copied unknowingly by the person who wrote the next manuscript ?
and so on. It can not be denied that the early English translations of the Bible may be among the most
beautiful in terms of language but in some cases they are not the most accurate. Since the original translations
of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries many older originals of the early scriptures have been found. Modern
learning has also taught us new things about ancient Greek or Hebrew.
The problem for us today is finding a translation of the Bible ? and also the prayers to be found in the Bible ?
which is both understandable and beautiful. The worship of God ? like the Word of God ? deserves to be
rendered in the most fitting and finest words that we can use, and yet still remain faithful to the original text.
As so I want to briefly ask you to think over the next few weeks about the Lord?s Prayer. At Worship Committee
in January we discussed the version used in our church ? sometimes known as the ?modern version?. This
form has been used in the Church of England (and many other denominations) since the 1960?s with little
alteration. I believe it was used in St Agnes? parish almost from the start as well.
It is a good, accurate and reasonable version of the prayer and yet I know many people still like the traditional ?
Our Father which art in heaven ?? Traditions come and go and it may be that most people are happy with the
so-called modern text but may I ask you all please in your daily prayer life to use both versions of the Lord?s
Prayer over the next few weeks and think about each word and line. Try not to consider just whether the words
are traditional or whether one particular version brings back happy memories. Rather compare and reflect on
the different emphasis each prayer has.
The Lord?s Prayer is the prayer of all prayers. It has been taught to us by Jesus himself. It is the boldest of
prayers because Jesus tells us to call God ?Father? ? in Aramaic ?Abba? ? the equivalent of our modern day ?
Dad? or even ?Daddy?. What a privilege and a trust God has placed in us that we can know him intimately and
call him by name! Each petition of the Lord?s Prayer centres on our daily lives ? our past, present and future,
our cares, concerns and thankfulness, our neighbours, ourselves and indeed the whole of creation. It is in
many ways the only prayer that we need.
There can be no better foundation for our spiritual life than to reflect on this great prayer which Jesus himself
has taught us. I would be interested to hear your thoughts.
with love and my prayers
Stephen
MARCH 2004
letter from the Rectory - the Annual Parish Report
APRIL 2004
Christ is Risen! We are Risen!
The season of Easter fills the Christian with delight and with celebration for a number of reasons. Most
obviously we celebrate the fact that through Jesus’ death and resurrection we too – we ordinary men and
women – can share in that same resurrection. We too are given the gift of new life, eternal life. We experience
the resurrection in a number of ways.
Firstly in baptism we are reborn as God’s children. Not reborn as slaves or objects but as God’s very own
children. The Resurrection joy of baptism brings us closer to God than we could ever have imagined: we are
his own.
Secondly in our daily life the power of the Resurrection helps us to start again not just each day but each
moment of each day. Each time we recall our faults and sins and ask God for his forgiveness we experience a
small resurrection in our lives. It is as if we are reborn, we are given the opportunity to walk on, to let go of our
sins, to start afresh. This resurrection gift of forgiveness is given to us again and again without limit. God’s
grace has no limit!
Finally and perhaps the most amazing gift of all is the resurrection which we ourselves can enjoy after our
death. The hope and joy of new life which Christ promises to all who believe in him is comfort during this life –
as we commend our loved ones to God’s eternal care – and reassurance for us in the next life. The Easter
message is that we have not just this life to enjoy and worship God but the rest of eternity to live in the light of
God and in the presence of our loved ones and the saints: as we remember at each Eucharist, ‘angels,
archangels and all the company of heaven.’
Easter really is a time of unending joy. It is a celebration of God’s unending life; of his limitless grace and love.
The power of the Resurrection gave the first scared disciples the power they needed to carry on after Jesus’
death and to transform the world. It gives us the power to lead lives of hope and joy.
Our celebration of the Lord’s resurrection is the climax of our Lenten preparation, but it is also the start of our
mission. In rising to new life and proclaiming his destruction of the powers of sin and death Jesus challenges us
to do something about it. We who are powered by this Resurrection grace are to go into the world to change
the lives of our neighbours and friends. ‘May we whom the Spirit lights, bring light to the world!’
If the services and celebration of Easter have no affect on our lives then we have missed the point. If Easter
has no affect on the lives of the people around us then we have also failed in our purpose and presence as a
Church. So, recalling the three points I made earlier about baptism, forgiveness and eternal life:
+ Have we valued other people enough – letting them know that
they are God’s own people, cherished in his eyes?
+ Have we forgiven others, and kept on forgiving them, as much
as God continues to forgive us our sins?
+ Have we comforted one another and our neighbours and
friends with the knowledge that God’s gift of eternal life with
him is open to all?
The power of Easter gives us the strength to do all these things and much more.
May God the Father of our Risen Lord Jesus give to us all the knowledge of his presence, the power of his
Spirit and the strength to proclaim Christ’s power over death.
Christ is Risen! Alleluia!
with love and prayers, Stephen
MAY 2004 - The Politics of Christianity
'It is necessary only for the good man to do nothing for evil to triumph' Edmund Burke
This quote is a well-known and powerful reminder to us of our duty both as human beings and especially as
Christians.
At a time when we need perhaps more than at any other to be aware of our role in society and in the world, it is
a stark reminder of the problems caused by political apathy on one hand, and political extremism on the other.
I need hardly remind people of the immense struggle of past generations of men and women to exercise their
right to have a say in, and even control over, the way our lives our run. Over the centuries the struggle for
democracy has taken a long and painful, sometimes life-taking path. The right of a vote for men and women of
all backgrounds, races, classes and occupations (‘all sorts and conditions’) is now sadly taken for granted and
yet is the result of a group of people who have gone to extreme lengths to win for all of us this basic human
right: a say in what affects us, a right to dignity and human worth.
a serious duty ...
Next month we will once again have an opportunity to exercise this democratic right when we can vote for both
new local councillors and our Members of the European Parliament at the election on June 10th. For all of us
this is an important day. Of course we also have the right NOT to vote. We must give thanks that this right NOT
to do something is also enshrined in our countries law. How disturbing it would be if we were marched to polling
stations and forced to choose between a number of options. But to those who do choose to vote there is a
serious and weighty duty to vote according to conscience and for the better rights of people. For the Christian
there is a further layer to these elections – we are not just politicians on that day. We are politicians, citizens
and the ‘hands through which Christ’s work is done today’ (St Theresa of Avila.)
The ongoing tension between politics and religion is as awkward a topic today as it has ever been: from
medieval times, through the Reformation period, to the momentous time of the 1980’s when Archbishop Runcie
was able to challenge Margaret Thatcher’s government through the Church’s report, ‘Faith in the City’. For
some Christians there is a difficulty in the church’s involvement in what many see as simply ‘worldly affairs’.
two extremes...
The problem may be quickly – and crudely – summarised as this. On the one hand there are those who would
argue that, following Biblical teaching, the Christian is to be in the world and not of the world. These people
would suggest that whilst we live in an earthly situation we should set are minds only on those things of God’s
kingdom. This ‘pure’ vision of faith would not contaminate itself with any worldly thought – materialism, politics,
finance or personality - but would see the Christian community as a somewhat separatist and radical rejection
of worldliness in order to live lives based solely on God’s kingdom.
The other extreme is where the followers of Christ feel such a compulsion to bring about God’s kingdom (as
they understand it) that they seek to establish such a close connection between religion and the world that
they set up religious ‘states’: all the workings of the world must be ordered and executed according to the
teaching of God. This second belief can of course manifest itself in a number of ways, including the extreme
politics of right-wing dictatorships bordering on fascism or extreme socialist ideals stifling free-thinking and
liberation. The dangers of these extremist positions have been all too clear during the past century.
So what is a good relationship between Christianity and politics? What is the relationship between our living
faith with Christ (as our King and Lord) and the world, our community and our neighbours?
our duty to Christ ...
I seriously believe that our duty as Christians is to be involved with the world of politics in the same way that we
are to be involved in our families, our communities and our churches. St Theresa’s prayer is an excellent
charge to the Christian today:
Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours; yours are the eyes through
which to look at Christ’s compassion to the world, yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good,
and yours are the hands with which he is to bless us now.
St Theresa of Avila (1515-1582)
We have a duty to Christ to do his will. We have a duty to Christ to stand on the side of the poor, the
marginalised, the needy, the sick and the lost. We have a duty to Christ to be involved with our world. This duty
springs from our Baptismal promises; the Church of England Baptism service contains the following charges:
• Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?
• Will you seek and serve Christ in all people, loving your neighbour as yourself?
• Will you acknowledge Christ's authority over human society, by prayer for the world and its leaders, by
defending the weak, and by seeking peace and justice?
So the Christian cannot be anything other than a political person, for we believe that Christ’s kingdom can only
be brought about through transforming the world. It is true that many of the issues dealt with by politicians
today may seem uninteresting or at times irrelevant, but we have a duty to do as Christ would have us do. It is
in the little things – the voting, campaigning and working for justice, on a national and local level – that we can
begin to transform the standards of the world into the standards of God’s kingdom of justice and peace for all
people.
At the heart of this mission of Christians is a central belief in the value, worth and dignity of all God’s children. It
is a call for equality and freedom which is under threat at this time – not just from the perpetrators of evil and
terrorism but from those who claim to be working to fight this evil.
There is a local issue which I believe requires urgent action by Christians, and people of all Faiths and people
of good will. And this is why the forthcoming local elections are so important.
The Manchester Diocesan Officer for Ministry and Society writes:
‘As you know, this year the local elections have been moved from their normal day in May to coincide with the
European elections, due on June 10th. This means that in addition to concern about extremist political groups
in certain local elections, we now have another area of concern that affects every one of us directly.
‘In the past, extremist groups have targeted a limited number of areas – e.g. in the 2003 elections the BNP
[British National Party] contested ten wards in Oldham, one in Manchester, one in Stockport, one in Tameside
and two in Wigan. In June their participation in the Euro elections means that they will be on a ballot paper in
every part of the region…
‘… the Euro elections are according to Proportional Representation. In a first past the post system, it is very
unlikely that a candidate with a small proportion of the vote will get elected. In a proportionate system with multi-
member constituencies, however, the situation is different. If a party were to get only as much as 10% of the
vote in the North West Euro elections, then it is likely that the first candidate on their list would become a Euro
MP. Mr Nick Griffin, national chairman of the BNP, is candidate number one on the BNP list for the North West
region.
‘In the light of all this it seems important that in our local churches and local communities we raise awareness
and action based on the New Year message sent out from Greater Manchester Faith and Community leaders.
It is signed by the leaders of our own Diocese, together not only with their Christian partners but also in
partnership with Hindu, Jewish and Muslim leaders.’
As a priest I certainly do not have any right, authority or indeed wish to tell you how to vote. However, I strongly
urge you to consider carefully the words above from the Diocesan Officer, together with the Message sent by
the Faith leaders which is printed after this letter; and on June 10th to go to the polls with a sense not just of
personal duty but with a duty as one who believes, trusts and teaches the love and liberation which is God’s
wish for all his children. Remember Edmund Burke’s words, ‘It is necessary only for the good man to do nothing
for evil to triumph’.
May Christ our King give us the courage to change the things that we can change.
Peace to you all, Stephen
New Year Message from Greater Manchester's Faith & Community Leaders December 2003
As we enter another year, we commit ourselves to deepening the bond of trust we share together and to
working for peace in our communities and the wider world.
We pray that true peace will soon descend not only on Iraq but also on the whole of the Middle East. We pray
that the leaders of the various communities will come to realise that fighting achieves nothing, as all sides are
poorer in the end.
In our own communities 2004 brings with it the local and European elections on the 10 June. In our region not
only will residents have to vote for nine members to serve in the European Parliament, but also, this time, for
all three members representing them on their local council.
The British National Party (BNP) will once more field a large number of candidates hoping to build on the 16
Councillors they already have on various councils, as well as a seat in the European Parliament.
In casting our votes let us remember that misrepresentations about asylum seekers, refugees, racism and
encouragement of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia will drive a wedge between our communities.
We urge you to use your vote, as a low turnout may lead to the very thing Edmund Burke warned this country
about. 'It is necessary only for the good man to do nothing for evil to triumph'
Signatories:
Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch (Bishop of Manchester)
Cllr Mohammed Afzal Khan (Muslim Council of Great Britain)
Revd Peter Brain (Moderator, United Reformed Church)
Bishop Terence Brain (Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford)
Mr A.K Sinha (Hindu Community Representative)
Mr David Arnold (President, Jewish Representative Council)
Mr Henry Guterman (Vice Chairman, Council of Christians and Jews)
Father Ephrem Lash (Orthodox Church)
Revd David Willie (Methodist Church)
Rt Revd Michael Lewis (Church of England Bishop of Middleton)
JUNE 2004 : The Way of the Christian.
At the Archdeacons Visitation at Manchester Cathedral last week (May 12th) we witnessed the legal swearing
into office of Churchwardens, Sidespeople and PCC members. After being to such services for nearly ten
years I still find it odd that this legal requirement takes place – the Diocesan Registrar in his wig and gown,
the formal wording of the duties of the parish officers. Thankfully we are reminded in the service that these
legal and administrative necessities are in place to support us in our main task as Parish communities: namely
the proclamation of Christ’s loving Word to his people so that the church community may be truly a place
where we bind all together, support the weak, teach the faithful and encourage one another.
Each of the officers stood up to affirm their commitment to their role and this was placed within the context
of New Testament scripture. Each of the passages from St Paul’s letters were well known, but there was one
passage which stood out especially. It is a well-known verse from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, ‘Do nothing
from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.’ (Ch2 v3)
How difficult it is – if we are honest – to regard the other people we meet as ‘better than ourselves’. I
believe here that Paul is not just talking about those whose faith or way of life is obviously better than ours,
but rather it is an encouragement to view everybody we meet as being better than ourselves. In all honesty
we must find this one of the most difficult passages to truly believe and put into practice. Can we really
consider everyone we meet as better than ourselves?
I don’t think that words from scripture can always be taken at face value or applied literally to our everyday
lives but here is a verse which we cannot deny as being truly of the essence of Christ. If we consider
ourselves one of Christ’s own people then we have no option but to practice this sort of extreme humility –
no matter how heavy the cost.
Humility is an unpopular concept and an uncomfortable one too. Not surprising! Think about the people you
meet and know, the people you read about and see in the news. The people who wind us up, who annoy and
irritate, those who offend and hurt us. How are we to treat these people as, ‘better than ourselves’?
To be a true follower of Christ we must imitate his ways. He who ‘emptied himself, taking the form of a
slave’ is the pattern for our life also. We are not called to think badly of ourselves, but rather to think better
of others. Indeed, to think badly of ourselves would go against God’s teaching that we are good, we are
worthy and we are ‘made in his likeness’. We are not called to accept and honour all the deeds of other
people but rather to place ourselves at their service. Even the most hated or difficult person is worthy in
God’s eyes of our compassion, concern and love.
So of all the signs of a Christian, humility is one of the hardest to live out. But there is a great reward for us
if we try to hold others as better than ourselves. In doing so we will acknowledge the presence of God in
even the most difficult of people and so come to understand more and more about the richness of God’s
presence in his creation.
Of course we are not alone in this. We are strengthened by God’s indwelling Spirit – the Spirit which was
given to us at our baptism, the grace freely given to us at the Eucharist and the power of God we call upon
each day in our prayers. It is God who enables us ‘both to will and to work for his good pleasure’ (Phil 2. 13).
A serving Church, a caring Church, a compassionate Church is brought about through humility. ‘Do nothing
from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves’ and in doing this
work of Christ, St Paul reminds us that we will ‘shine like stars’ in the midst of the world. (Phil 2.15)
Every Parish Church, every Christian community is called to be a ‘star’ in the world. A place that stands out
because of its hope, its love and its joy – even in the darkest places. This is our calling as a parish and even if
our own star is at times not very bright, with God’s help we can together shine to his glory.
With my love and prayers
Stephen
JULY 2004 - Apparently there’s a game on …
It’s Monday night and the PCC has finished – somewhat low in numbers but apparently there’s a game of
football being played elsewhere. Portugal I think. At school I spent most of the time trying to get out of
playing football in PE lessons (sport has never been one of my strong points!) but since being ordained it
seems to have been very important to those around me. My priest-colleague in my first two parishes was a
huge Wrexham fan (oh dear!) and spent what seemed like hours telling me about the fortunes and – more
often – misfortunes of their games. It should have been obvious to me in moving to Manchester that I would
need to become more aware of the pros and cons of supporting either the reds or the blues, it seems
remaining neutral is not an option. As a football outsider it amazes me the amount of passion that is
generated by the game. Part of me, I think, is envious. Why can’t I muster up that sort of passion for a sport,
a game, or team?
There has been an interesting debate on the BBC website about the similarity between church attendance
and football: the rituals, the chanting, the loyalty, the seasonal Calendar, the special clothes worn. The
author of the main article says that football is the new religion. Canon Robin Gamble at the Whit Walks last
month described Manchester has being a city centred too much on football. Well, I disagree.
The passion and energy that people show towards the game of football is admirable in many ways. It is an
energy which is well directed – towards a positive, vibrant and healthy goal. The game of football – like most
sports – has the capacity to unite and to cheer people of amazingly diverse backgrounds. It has the ability of
allowing people to celebrate, giving people permission to shout, jump, cheer and become passionate about
something. These things are good – they are not a threat to religion. In fact rather than being a threat to
religion – and particularly the Christian Church – they may be just the life and vitality that we need to place
God back at the heart of people’s lives.
Being passionate about something is good. Being so excited, energised, committed to something so positive
is good. It is what human beings do so well. The mission for the church should not now be in challenging this
passion but should be of harnessing this passion and using it for so many other important things.
Imagine a world where all the energy, time and money that is put into football was also put into issues of
justice, fair trade, peace, safety, unity and quality of life. Imagine a world – or a country, or city – united
against hunger, against poverty, against prejudice. The passion of the footballing public is proof that the
human race can become involved – committed even – to something if they see it as important.
Our calling as a church is to try to harness this passion and encourage people to show the same commitment
to the rest of life. This can only be done by the example and witness of our own lives. I openly admit to
being envious of the passion for football some of you have. It inspires me to try to learn more about the
game. (I have even spent an hour or so reading about Euro2004 though I don’t think I am any wiser!) I believe
that when people see us – as Christians – with our passion about life, our passion about justice, peace and
love, then they will long to find out more about what drives us to act in this way.
The greatest advert for the Christian faith is you. Your life, your character and your love: your passion. Thank
God that humanity has the capacity to show such great enthusiasm and passion. May God give you the
strength of passion for the Good News of Jesus Christ that your lives, and the life of the church, attract
people to the greatest goal of all – the life and love of Christ our King and Saviour.
Have a wonderful summer
love Fr Stephen
August/September 2004
Rejoice and be glad for you are the light of the world.
Hopefully by the time this magazine is published the weather will have improved and summer will be in full
swing. However I hope you will allow me to talk a little bit about what is planned for Autumn this year as this
is the last magazine before the start of an exciting few weeks in our Parish.
For a few months the Worship Committee (with the support of the PCC) has been thinking about a series of
events around the month of October which will help to both bind the parish together and welcome new
people into our congregation. The events and services are a mixture of things we have done for years and
some new events designed to encourage other people who live in our parish to join us at St Agnes’ for the
first time.
A month of mission…
Starting with the Harvest Thanksgiving service at the end of September and ending with the Festival of All
Saints & Souls at the beginning of November there will be opportunities for praying, exploring, and
celebrating our Parish life together. The theme is Rejoice! ‘Rejoice and be glad for you are the light of the
world.’ Please make a note of the details below and look out for further details at the beginning of
September.
Rejoice: A Festival of Faith in St Agnes’ Parish
Sunday 26th September:
Harvest Thanksgiving – a special service to celebrate harvest and draw attention to the inequalities in the
world of food, water and shelter. We are combining this with a Diocesan campaign called, ‘Back to Church
Sunday’ which through personal invitations delivered around the parish and posters seeks to encourage
those who have ‘fallen away’ from the church to come back.
Sunday 3rd October:
The Parish Festival – a celebration of our united parish life: the family of St Agnes with St John with St
Cyprian. There will be the usual faith lunch after the Eucharist and we are inviting to this service all those
who have been baptised and married at St Agnes’ Parish Church over the past four years.
Weekend of 8-10th October:
A social event for all the family – possibly a party, disco, meal – for young and old.
Sunday 17th October:
The Eve of the Feast of St Luke, an evening service of healing and prayers for the sick in the parish.
Saturday 23rd October:
The Autumn Fair
Sunday 31st October:
The main parish Eucharist will combine both All Saints and All Souls – a real celebration of the joy of the
kingdom of heaven which our Saviour Christ promises to those who follow him. We will remember all the men
and women of God over the centuries, the famous saints and our own loved ones, families and friends who
have died and now enjoy eternal rest in Christ. We hope to invite the families and friends of those who have
died over the past few years to join us at the service.
Throughout the six weeks of this ‘month of mission’ there will be structured prayer diaries available to
encourage everyone in the parish to join together daily in praying for our local concerns (this will be centred
around our usual 6pm Evening Prayer slot). To encourage greater prayer, support and pastoral care you will be
invited to join in house groups – collections of 10-20 people living within the same few streets. These will
meet at times convenient to you and can take the form of anything you like. All I ask is that you try to meet
to pray together, share some simple food perhaps or meet to study the Bible or discuss your faith.
For all of these events there will be resources available to explain what this is all about and why we are doing
it.
‘Rejoice and be glad for you are the light of the world.’
Mission starts with ourselves. I hope that in undertaking this month of events we may build one another up
and, having placed prayer, fellowship and worship at the heart of our parish life at St Agnes’, others will be
encouraged to join us in celebrating the love of God here in Longsight.
As I say more details will be given out later, but please can I ask you to note the events and dates and to
start praying for the ‘mission month’.
‘Rejoice and be glad for you are the light of the world.’
With my love and prayers,
Stephen
OCTOBER 2004
When I give food to the poor they call me a Saint.
When I ask why the poor have no food they call me a Communist.
These words are from Archbishop Oscar Romero who was killed while saying Mass in his cathedral in San
Salvador in 1980. Romero was a staunch defender of social justice and human rights in his native El Salvador.
Trying to find balance between the established order and the desperate plight of the Salvadorian people, he
spent much of his life following the path of least resistance. As the situation worsened around him, he finally
knew that he could not stand by and watch innocent life being destroyed, tortured, and murdered at the
hands of the fringe elements in the government. He was ultimately assassinated in 1980 for his outspoken
rhetoric about these crimes.
It is often said both from inside and outside the Church that politics and Christianity don’t mix. I don’t
believe this to be true. Those inside the church may say this because they wish to shy away from the more
radical side of Jesus' gospel teaching. Those outside feel that faith is an irrelevance and has no part to play in
the more practical world of politics.
You do not need me to tell you just how political some of Jesus' actions, words and teachings were. Jesus'
own life saw him engaged in political events connected with his country, the ruling powers, and the religious
institutions. Seen from a few years later even the circumstances and results of his life and ministry are
political - his birth, life, death and power of his resurrection. One of the purposes of the Church is to carry
on this gospel of human, social, and community action. This is not an optional extra, but rather a duty of
Christians that we promised at our baptism. Politics - the nature of relations between different people - is at
the heart of our Christian calling. It does not necessarily mean party politics (which unfortunately is often
the limited way in which we view politics today) but rather a concern for creation, a concern for people and
a concern for life itself.
In the last few years since I have been at St Agnes' we have been involved in a number of campaigns - trade
justice, environment, amnesty international, Christian Aid, fair trade. All of these are of major concern to us
as both human beings and as Christian believers. There are of course many more causes, organisations and
campaigns we can be involved in and the mail every week at the Rectory contains two or three mailings from
charities and organisations - Christian and secular - which require attention.
At the PCC meeting in September we decided to start a regular group to look at these issues both for action
campaigns and for help in deciding which missions and charities we support financially throughout the year.
Under a general title of 'peace and justice group' I would like to find out what would be most suitable for our
parish.
How often? - monthly? twice monthly?
When would be the best time to meet? - Morning, afternoon, evening, weekday or weekend?
What sort of format? - prayers, coffee and discussion?
Where? - in church, the rectory or in peoples houses?
I would like to see a core group of people meeting regularly to discuss issues but it would be important that
the group was open to anyone and everyone. Of course the group would not have the authority to spend
parish money! but as an advisory group to the PCC and a discussion group and prayer group I think it would
make a valuable and crucial addition to parish life.
Please let me know your ideas and if you are interested. I really do see this as an integral part of our parish
outreach work. The PCC may make the decisions and allocate the money, but it is up to every member of the
Church to be active in the gospel message.
With my love and prayers, Stephen
November 2004: Some thoughts from the Rectory …
Baptisms
During the past six weeks or so we have baptised eight children during the Sunday Eucharist. This is a
wonderful bit of news and it has been especially nice to see the babies and their families join us for worship
on other Sundays too. All too often those who seek the services of the church can come just once or twice.
I am glad that they have continued to attend and hope that we will welcome them each week and speak to
them and involve them in the life of our parish. Please remember them in your prayers.
Welcoming
Our Diocesan Bishop, Nigel, once said that after each service we should spend three minutes seeking out
those who are new or those we have not spoken to for a while rather than head for friends. It is all too easy
for us to speak to just friends or rush around sorting out business. Can I suggest that we try to follow Bishop
Nigel’s idea that after the service we seek out other people first and then our friends after?
Photography
At baptisms and weddings I remind those present of the church’s policy on video and photography. The PCC
has made the following decision: That NO photography or video-recording can be made during any of our
services. We must remember that our services are firstly and most importantly times of worship. A number of
people feel that flash photography and videos are intrusive. May I remind you that if you wish to take
photographs or recordings please do so after the service has finished.
Collections
During the harvest service at the end of September we held a collection for the work of Water Aid who
provide clean water and new water wells for people in the third world. Thank you for your generosity. By the
time this magazine is published we will also have held a collection for the Christian Aid appeal for those
affected by the recent hurricanes in the West Indies and the floods in Bangladesh. This appeal is of particular
importance to us as we remember families and friends who have been affected by the disasters. Thank you
again for your generosity. We continue to hold those affected in our prayers.
Community Garden Project
A group has been formed to look after the church garden. The first day of clearing and tidying will be
followed in the new year by a series of events to start planning and planting new shrubs and borders.
Thankfully this year we have put a stop to the cricket and ball games in the grounds and the gardens are
beginning to recover. This new project involves many people from the local community and I see it as an
important link between the church and local residents. Our grounds must be welcoming and accessible to
local people. With a bit of work I hope that they might become a place of relaxation once again where local
people of all faiths and none may come to enjoy some green space.
Finances
I have said before that this is my least favourite area of church work! The reality is though that we need
more money. It still costs over £600 a week to ‘run’ the church and yet we rarely collect over £300 a week in
collections. I understand that money is not something that many of us have much of but I must please ask
you to rethink your giving patterns. It is clear that many people are still not using Gift Aid as a way of helping
the parish. If you pay tax then PLEASE sign a form. It costs you nothing; it does not affect your income or
savings in any way at all. But, it does help us get extra money from the Inland Revenue. If you want to know
more, or have any questions, please speak to me. I know that finances are a personal and confidential thing
but it is essential that we increase our giving over the next 12 months. To break even we would need £8.50
each week from every child and adult who regularly attends. I know that this is beyond what many of you can
afford but I hope that you will at least reconsider your giving. Let me also take this opportunity to thank you
for what you do give. Our financial giving is an important part of our personal Christian faith and stewardship.
If we believe the church should exist in this place we need to pay for it.
Fundraising
The PCC has looked at new ways of raising money to help supplement church funds. Times and patterns
change and it may be that we need to rethink ways of raising funds. It is crucial that we start looking at ways
of collecting money from people other than just congregation members. Please give your thoughts to a PCC
member. We will need a fundraising group to meet regularly to coordinate this. PLEASE consider volunteering
– otherwise you may get asked to join!
Prayer List
I spoke briefly during October about the changes to our intercessions list used on Sunday mornings at the
Eucharist. For those of you who weren’t there let me explain what we are going to change and why. The
current list is very long and contains many names which have been prayed for for months or even years. From
November the intercessions list will be renewed every month. At the back of the church a prayer list will be
set up with two columns. Please add to the list names of those you would like to be prayed for. One column
is for those to be prayed for on Sunday – the newly ill, those in need, particular prayer intentions for the
week or month. In the second column please add the names of those with long term prayer needs, long term
illness. This second list will be used at the weekly services. Remember, it is not necessary for names of
everyone to be read out at every service. God knows our needs before we ask and he is never far from those
who have been commended to his care through prayer. The names on our list are merely pointers and guides
for our prayer; they are not for God’s benefit! Prayer is the heart and the energy of our Christian life and
when we pray for someone we know that God hears us. Our persistence in prayer should be based on our
continuous offering of prayer to God and not merely the listing of name after name. Let us re-invigorate our
prayer life by renewing the list monthly and by spreading the word that the prayer of the church goes on
seven days a week – the Sunday Eucharist is only one part of that continuous round of prayer offered to God
in this parish.
and finally, Silence!
A number of people have told me that the level of chatter and noise before the services is getting too much.
Please remember that apart from the most urgent conversations the time before worship is for private
meditation and preparation and not a time for catching up on the week’s events. For this reason it is crucial
that we try to get to church on time. The service starts at 10.30am and the corporate silence before is as
much a part of worship as the service itself. If you do arrive late please be aware of others who are praying
by closing the doors quietly! Please avoid all unnecessary talking before the service. Likewise the Peace is a
time in the Eucharist for sharing Christ’s peace and demonstrating that wonderful gift of reconciliation and
wholeness to which Christ calls all of us who are his followers. Again it is not a time for conversation and
chatter, but a solemn and moving sign of the inner peace that we share as those who are about to receive
Christ in the holy Sacrament. We do not need to share the Peace with everyone! After the service has ended
then we can meet our friends and share news and conversation. This social sharing afterwards is a
continuation of our communion with one another.
With love and prayers,
Fr Stephen
DECEMBER 2004 / JANUARY 2005
Dear Friends
This is the time of year when it is hard to think of something new to say about Christmas, but thankfully this
morning I have received the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Christmas message to the Anglican Communion. As
usual Archbishop Rowan has expressed so perfectly the truth about Christmas. It is printed below in full. All I
wish to add is my own Christmas greetings to you all.
May God give you courage during the solemn season of Advent.
May God give you his peace during the joyful season of Christmas.
May God give you hope and every blessing for the new year which lies ahead.
May the peace of the Christ child be with you all.
with my love and prayers,
Fr Stephen
Christmas message from the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Anglican Communion
A few weeks ago, I took part in a discussion that involved a number of people working with children and
young people who suffer from different forms of 'autism' - the kind of disorder that seems to cut people off
from ordinary communication and shows itself in strange repetitive behaviours and sometimes in violent
outbursts. We watched a video showing the work of one of the most experienced therapists in Britain, and
then heard her talking about what she is trying to do with her methods.
The first thing we saw on the video was a young man, severely disturbed, beating his head against a wall,
and then walking fast up and down the room, twisting and flicking a piece of string. The therapist's first
response was strange: she began to twist and flick a piece of string as well. When the young man made a
noise, so did she; when he began to do something different, like banging his hand on a table, she did the
same.
The video showed what happened over two days. By the end of the two days, the boy had begun to smile at
her and to respond when touched. A relation had been created. And what the therapist said about it was
this. Autism arises when the brain senses too much material coming in, too much information. There is a
feeling of panic; the mind has to regain control. And the best way of doing this is to close up on yourself and
repeat actions that are familiar; do nothing new, and don't acknowledge anything coming from outside. But
when the therapist gently echoes the actions and rhythms, the anxious and wounded mind of the autistic
person sees that there is after all a link with the outside world that isn't threatening. Here is someone doing
what I do; the world isn't just an unfamiliar place of terror and uncertainty. And when I do this, I can draw
out an answer, an echo; I'm not powerless. And so relationship begins.
To see this sort of thing in action is intensely moving. This is real mental and spiritual healing at work. But it
gives us a powerful image of what it is we remember at Christmas.
Human beings are wrapped up in themselves. Because of that great primitive betrayal that we call the Fall of
humanity, we are all afraid of God and the world and our real selves in some degree. We can't cope with the
light. As John's gospel says, those who don't want to respond to God fear and run away from the light. But
God acts to heal us, to bring us out of our isolation - which is as bizarre and self-destructive as that young
man beating his head against the wall. And he does this in a way that is just like the therapist in the video.
He does what we do; he is born, he grows up, he lives for many years a life that is ordinary and prosaic like
ours - he works, he eats, he sleeps. Here is ultimate love, complete holiness, made real in a back street in a
small town. And when he begins to do new and shocking things, to proclaim the Kingdom, to heal, to forgive,
to die and rise again - well, we shouldn't panic and run away because we have learned that we can trust him.
We know he speaks our language, he has responded to our actions and our words, he has echoed to us what
we are like.
Christ does not save the world just by his death on the cross; we respond to that death because we know
that here is love in human flesh, here is the creator's power and life in a shape like ours. As we read the
gospels, we should think of God watching us moment by moment, mirroring back to us our human actions -
our fears and our joys and our struggles - until he can at last reach out in the great gestures of the healing
ministry and the cross. And at last we let ourselves be touched and changed.
That's what begins at Christmas. Not a doctor coming in with a needle or a surgeon with a knife, but a baby
who has to learn how to be human by watching; only this baby is the eternal Word of God, who is watching
and learning so that when he speaks God's transforming word we will be able to hear it in our own human
language. He is God so that he has the freedom to heal, to be our 'therapist'. He is human so that he speaks
in terms we can understand, in the suffering and delight of a humanity that he shares completely with us.
And now we must let him touch us and tell us that there is a world outside our minds - our pride and fear and
guilt. It is called the Kingdom of God.
May the blessing of Christ our incarnate King be with you all at this season.
+Rowan Cantuar