Thoughts and reflections

From under the shower

For many people, their most profound thoughts (and their finest vocal performances) occur in the bathroom. June Foster is no exception. Here is the first of what I hope will be a series of her meditations from under the shower.

Quit often odd thoughts, some very odd, occur whilst I am under the shower. This morning I was thinking about The Daily Service yesterday, Tuesday. The Daily Service, found on BBC Radio 4 long wave at 9.45am, is sometimes, but not always, very inspiring. Yesterday Bishop Joe led a really good service, focusing on creation: how all living things both great and small are created by God. Bishop Joe described himself as of diminutive stature and added that size does not matter to God who loves all that he has made. There was some lovely music and I found the fifteen minute programme very helpful. But later in the day, I thought again about all living things both great and small and wondered if that includes the corona virus. The thought took me back to years ago when I questioned the place of infectious bugs in our system. I never came to a satisfactory conclusion then and still do not understand.

Then, walking the dog yesterday, I noticed a picture of a rainbow in someone’s front room window. It reminded me of the original story of the rainbow, being a sign of God’s covenant made after the flood – Noah’s story. Is it possible that our experience today is an opportunity to re-think the way we humans are treating the planet and to reappraise our side of the covenant with God signified by the rainbow in Genesis? There has not been a world-wide infection as virulent and as contagious as this corona virus for some time, and things are changing as a result. All life has had to slow down, giving the planet a chance to take a rest from the destructive activities which normally take place. Also, people are changing – for the better. There is now much more compassion, many kindly offers of help and a sense of community.

So what do I do with all these thoughts? I am going to display a rainbow in my window.

Lament and the BBC Daily Service

Rev. Deborah Perreau has reminded me of the importance of the Biblical tradition of lamentation at times like this, and sent the clip of this recent BBC Radio 4 Daily Service, led by Fr. Michael Hall. Click on the image below to listen to the service via the BBC Sounds app.

A light in the darkness

A piece of artwork, displayed in a local window, prompted Robin Bailey to these thoughts.

Last week I was walking home from town and decided to take a longer route than usual to get some extra exercise. As I walked along Crimchard, someone who presumably lives there had put up some rather naïve artwork with some predictably trite exhortations about the present state of emergency. The one which my eye was drawn to was a painting of a headless priest holding the chalice aloft. Where his head should have been was a large red X and under the body was the exhortation ‘TRUST IN YOURSELF.’

Once I was at home and calmed down over a soothing cup of Italian coffee, I reflected on something I had been told some years ago when I was working at Navy Headquarters. It was a soulless modern building, totally open plan; even my boss who was a Commodore (RN) didn’t have an office. The only person on our floor who had a discrete office was the Chaplain General of the Navy.

There was a balcony area with tea/coffee making facilities where people used to congregate for a few minutes while making a drink to take back to their desks so it was not unusual to have a conversation with anyone from an Able Seaman to an Admiral, the place being rather overborne with such high ranking officers.

One day, the Chaplain General was out on the balcony and he told us about a time when he had been out in Afghanistan at Camp Bastion. At the time he was the Camp Chaplain in the days when attacks by the Taliban were commonplace.

Someone suggested to him that they should hold a candlelit vigil one evening so they decided to do that outside in the open. To his surprise, a large number of servicemen and women turned up. It was a scary event as he said; the candle was like a target for any sniper, even though the camp perimeter fence was a long way off. Happily, no shots were fired.

The next time they held a similar service, someone said maybe you should erect a tent and hold the service in there; at least the Taliban wouldn’t be able to see the candle. So that is what they did. Except when the service was held, only a handful of people turned up. Reflecting on this later, he wondered if the tent was the problem. So, almost in self-disbelief, he arranged another open air service days later. Once more, lots of people turned up.

It was almost as though tacitly everyone was saying, look in times of danger and emergency, we have to trust in God.

It seems that is a message we need to take to heart at present. I sense that God is at work in this entire melee. Perhaps he is trying to remind us not to take for granted all those gifts he has surrounded us with. One of which is our NHS. So clap for them by all means if it makes you feel good. But don’t forget the architect!

The unexpected joy of going to church online

Here is a link to an article, published in a recent issue of The Spectator, by the arts journalist Fiona Mountford about what has been for her a very positive experience of online worship.

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-unexpected-joy-of-going-to-church-online

Please email mick@mickgowar.net to let us know about your experiences and opinions concerning online worship and what online facilities you would like to see continue once the coronavirus lockdown ends.

Thoughts on 'The Kingdom'

It will soon be the start of Thy Kingdom Come, the international ten days of prayer, in which Christians will pray for more people to join us and become Christians. As you'll see if you click on the link in bold type above, a lot of thought and detailed planning has gone into the various ways in which prayers and services can be shared while we are all under lockdown. What perhaps isn't so clearly explained is what is meant by 'Kingdom' - especially now, when church buildings are closed and clergy, who surely must be significant figures in this 'Kingdom' (after all, they are 'ministers') , are compelled to remain physically apart from their parishioners. June Foster has been giving this important matter some thought:

I quote: "Peter C. Phan, a Vietnamese Catholic theologian argues that the next 50 years of the church will not see a new form of Christendom, but a new way of being the church. He argues that, in Asia at least, the kingdom of God and not the church will be the centre of the church's life and activities. He goes on to say that no longer is the church the pinnacle or the centre of the Christian life, but the reign of God is installed as the ultimate goal of the church. In effect, he argues, for a kingdom-centred church rather than a church-centred kingdom."

My first reaction to reading this was , well, it's all happening now. Getting to church is not the main event of the week. But the worship at home, being provided with really good services is already replacing what has been the norm all my life.

My next reaction was to imagine St. Mary's church in 50 years time - or may be sooner. The south door has become the main entrance for a new construction within the present building. In the south aisle there would be a series of rooms for single occupation. available for those in need of overnight stay. There would be a toilet and shower block at the west end of this new construction, together with some kind of eating facilities and a day centre.

The north aisle also, with a new construction within the existing building, would house an office and storage spaces. The Faucus chapel and the sanctuary reserved for daily prayer and services. All this would cost millions of pounds, but if it is God's will, the money will come in - think how much is being raised by an elderly gentleman and a small child committed to their cause.

It seems probable that in 50 years, or sooner, Thomas and Georgina Hallett will be the only surviving members of our congregation and for them and their generation, this would be a wonderful project.

Such a suggestion would raise a few eyebrows, but the idea of the church becoming the centre of Christian life in this way is, to me, very appealing. A pity I shan't be around to be a part of it.