‘Religion is the cause of all wars.’ – we hear it said regularly. This bit of ‘pub nonsense’ has taken such a hold in popular thought, and has become such an excuse for opposing all religion, that it is important for us to challenge and refute it at every opportunity.

And nonsense, it certainly is. Such great warmongers of the past as Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan weren’t moved by religion. Nor, in our own times, were Hitler, Stalin, Mao or Pol Pot who between-them killed 100 million people – they all tried to destroy religion. Our own government sent die army to the Falklands or Iraq for what it regarded as reasons of national self-interest – perhaps also for secular, democratic ideals – not because of religion.

It is true that religion can get entangled with nationalism and tribalism, as in Ireland and the Moslem world today. But the gun-carriers in Ireland, though labelled ‘Catholic’ and ‘Protestant’, weren’t religious people at all, but fierce Irish or British nationalists. Just as so-called ‘extreme Islamicist’ terrorists aren’t even good Moslems, but anti-Western nationalists who have picked up a smattering of religion to justify their cause.

Truly religious people, of all major religions, seek peace, and find common cause with the truly religious of other faiths. Whatever our faith, we all need to distance ourselves from those who, with mixed motives, try to use our religions to fight other battles. And  together, to make it clear we are working for peace. And so to make sure the ‘peace loving’ atheists and secularists who are now so powerful have no ammunition for their war on us.

Robert.

We don’t know the date when Jesus was born.  We surmise it wasn’t December 25^th, if only because the shepherds wouldn’t have been out in the fields watching over the new-born lambs then. But by 336 AD, the Roman church was celebrating his birthday on December 25^th because that was when the city celebrated the end of the sun’s decline and the beginning of its ascent. The church offered the birth of Jesus the ‘Sun of righteousness’, ‘the light of the world’, as an alternative to the old feast.

The symbolism of the light is such a strong one, especially for we in these dark northern climates, and the Christingle or ‘Christ light’ service has become one of the most popular of the season.  Dorie Day, one of the longest-standing members of the All Hallows’ congregation, recently gave me for the archives a poem on the Light of Christ written by Mrs Ennis, wife of a previous Vicar here, which was distributed round the parish on a bookmark for Christmas 1959;

‘Lighten our darkness, we pray; Lighten the dark world today,

With thine unquenchable love; Lighten us all from above.

Lift up our hearts, Lord we cry, Up to the light from on high.

Let they light shine well within.  Chasing the darkness of sin,

Chasing the turmoil and fears, Lord, from the on-coming years.’

May the light of Christ shine brightly for you and yours this Christmastime and New Year.

Robert.

I remember the evening at theological college when a group of us, in mischievous mood, decided to test the theory that nothing is quite so intimate as prayer. Whenever a fellow trainee-Vicar knocked at the door, we invited them to come in and join us for a prayer session. None of the three who knocked took us up on it; they all looked slightly shocked, and disappeared smartly down the corridor!

I think it is true that most Anglicans regard prayer as one of the most intimate, private things we do. Even most spouses hesitate to pray together. We prefer to keep our deepest thoughts for God alone; we lack confidence about the way we pray, the words we choose, the silences that punctuate them, the worldly thoughts that intrude. The same is true about our whole ‘spirituality’, the way we relate to God; we tend to regard it as so personal that we do not discuss it much, and would find it hard to put it into words if we did.

For this reason, I would not expect a large response to the article ‘Finding a Companion for your Walk with God’, printed below. But it might be right for some; and if it encourages the rest of us to open up the subject of prayer and spirituality, that would be good. Because for all of us, prayer, however poor we feel we are at it, is the channel of so much of our contact with God, the inspiration of his Spirit, the influence of his Word. The more we learn about prayer, the more alive our faith and the stronger our church; and, however unconfident we may feel about it, we all have something to teach each other about prayer and our ‘walk with God’.

Yours prayerfully, Robert.

……………………..

FINDING A COMPANION FOR YOUR WALK WITH GOD

The most precious part of our lives is our walk with God. Whatever else we pay attention to, nothing is quite as important as knowing and loving God and being known and loved by God. Each one of us has our own particular way to God that he has lovingly set out for us. So listen out for God in your life, and follow his promptings in your own heart.

Many of us find it helpful to have a companion to help us on our journey with God-literally someone who shares ‘bread’ (com pan) with us We might call such a person variously a ‘Spiritual Companion’, a ‘Soul Friend’ or a ‘Spiritual Director’.

You do not have to have a spiritual companion, but you might just find one useful to you. A companion like this can listen to you carefully and utterly confidentially, help you to listen to God’s call for you, and sustain you on the wonderful pathway to God. A good friend could be your companion, a member of your local church you really trust could be your companion, one of your parish ministers could be your companion.

Some people find it more helpful to have a more formal spiritual companion, who is not a close friend or someone from their local church community. If you would like to have help in finding a spiritual companion, you can start with a leaflet we have produced;

contact Canon Dr Nigel Rooms, Director of Ministry and Mission at Dunham House (01636 817231,) who will be glad to help you with a copy of the leaflet and then talk to you about the kind of person who might be suitable.

If you would like to read some more, Gordon Jeff’s ‘Spiritual Direction for every Christian’ (London: SPCK, 2007) is a good place, to start.

With our prayer that you may always be able to find and follow God’s invitation and call for you, wherever you are on your journey.

The Diocesan Spiritual Direction Resource Group.

As the nights draw in, and ‘mists and mellow fruitfulness’ are in the air, Harvest Festivals mark the changing of the seasons. St Ed’s, with Angela returning again to conduct the services and a Supper following a shortened Harvest Evensong, is on October 3^rd. At All Hallows’ we wait until, the 17^th, when we have (in the best sense of the word) an old-fashioned Parade Service to mark 25 years of the Beaver Scout colony in Lady Bay – 25 years of comradeship and of the leaders’ hard work for the boys of our parish which certainly deserves a great celebration. Afterwards, there will be a social in the church hall (no beetles will be hurt in the process!) followed by a lunch provided by the Lady Bay Scout Group, to which all are invited.

The end of the month brings our Patronal Festival at All Hallows’ (remember to put your clocks back), with Remembrance Sunday on November 14^th, and St Ed’s Patronal Festival on the 21^st, when our Area Dean, John Bentham, will preach at Evensong.

With the shorter days of autumn limiting activity, and the dark evenings prompting contemplation, our regulars tend to attend church a bit more regularly; and some people who have never attended regularly, if at all, are more inclined to do so. Do help them on, with a word of encouragement or even an invitation to come to church with you. Our Harvest Festivals and other autumn ‘specials’ are a particular opportunity.

I look forward to seeing you – and perhaps someone with you?

Robert.

OF READERS AND OTHERS

So the summer has gone, with its joys and some sadnesses, several affecting our hard-working and valued Readers. Amongst the joys; on August 1^st those at All Hallows’ helped Dave Allen celebrate his retirement from headmastership. Amongst the sadnesses; elsewhere we report on Angela Harrington’s farewell morning on August 8^th - at least we look forward to seeing Angela again regularly. But sadly, we also note the death in August of Rob Tyler, husband to Ann, our other Reader at St Edmund’s. We had enjoyed getting to know Rob, a lovely man and himself a Reader until ill health intervened, in recent years, and offer our sincere condolences to Ann.

Angela’s departure has necessitated some rearrangement of services and who takes them. All Hallows’ service pattern stays the same. At St Ed’s, in the mornings George Punshon will take Communion on 5th Sundays instead of alternate l sts. In the evenings, there will be Communion on 2^nd and 4^th Sundays instead of 3^rd and alternate l sts. This will leave the way clear on 1^st Sundays for Angela to return to take Mattins and Evensongs. I shall have to leave the All Hallows’ morning service early on 2nd and 4th Sunday mornings to take the service at St Ed’s, leaving George to complete the service there. We are most grateful to George for his extra ministry; also to Reader Ruth Holbrook who will be doing more at All Hallows’. And I would also mention those ‘suitable lay persons’ at both churches who I will call on from time to time to take Morning or Evening Prayer (in accordance with Canon B11.1). I was delighted to hear on my return from holiday how well Wardens and helpers had coped with one or two unexpected situations – it is encouraging to know what depth we have in our ministry. With God’s Holy Spirit, we will continue to give him the praise that is his due.

ANGELA

The big event in the benefice this summer is of course the move of Angela Harrington, who is so much part of the life both parishes. A lifelong resident of Lady Bay, her father sang in All Hallows’ Choir, and late husband Frank was an outstanding member of the Tennis Club. In recent years, Angela has been well-known through her work in Mr Singh’s pharmacy. And of course, she has been a member of St Ed’s for 30 years. Angela became a Reader in the 1990s, and since 2000 has taken 6 of the 8 services each month, and been main pastoral leader amongst about a dozen tasks. Beyond that, she has simply been Angela, friend and adviser to us all. .

So Angela’s move to Wales is a big thing St Edmund’s in particular; but has an effect also on All Hallows’; for George Punshon and I will both be diverting some time and energy from there to continue the pattern at Holme Pierrepont. Churchwardens will help us keep a pastoral eye on the congregation, helping to identify who has been missing for a time for example – but I ask all at St Ed’s to assist us, by keeping us in touch with your own plans and needs, and with the needs of friends and neighbours – ALL OF US WILL HAVE TO PULL TOGETHER TO MAKE UP FOR ANGELA’S ABSENCE, and it will take us several months to ‘shake down’.

Angela’s move to be near family is also a big thing for her, and we wish her all God’s blessings, and know that our loss will be her new home’s gain. The official celebration of Angela’s service and farewell buffet will be at St Ed’s on August 8^th. If you have benefited from Angela’s ministry and have not yet received an invitation, do have a word with the Churchwardens as soon as possible.

ROBERT.

If you wish to join us for the party or contribute towards a gift, please

contact:

Brenda Stevenson 974 9700                           Colin Wightman 981 0413

Herbert Wakefield 01949 850699                   Ian Godson      933 2805

CONFIRMATION; do speak to me if you would like to explore the  possibility of this in the autumn.