a Canterbury pilgrimage…

Chaucer has accompanied me on my own pilgrimage since schooldays;   I relished the story of his pilgrims doing something “religious”  which included so much fun and quite a lot of bawdiness !  No wonder Chaucer felt the need for a more sober reflection at the end.   I think it is a pity that since Reformation times religion has been so much associated with long faces, seriousness,   and holy huddles.   If we are going to recapture conversation about faith and life’s meaning within the world we live in today,   then we need to have a sense of fun and light-heartedness as well as interior commitment.    Our six parishes are strewn around the ancient pilgrim route,and I hope some of you will enjoy the following,  about a group walking the pilgrim route today, for charity :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/04/chaucer-canterbury-tales-2012-multimedia

I was moved,  and amused,  that towards the end of the account,  the writer says “ours was not a religious pilgrimage”;    (  “unlike that of the Wife of Bath ?”   I said to myself ! )   And yet…  the first glimpse of the Cathedral,   the welcome into the crypt,   the opportunity to share in Eucharist,  and the lingering over the end of Chaucer’s Tale  -  well,  if this is not “religious”  I’ll eat my Canterbury cap !    Except,  that  “relgious” seems such a useless word today;  you know,  someone is described as “very religious”  which means “not a person like you and me.”    We haven’t really found a word to replace it ….   and perhaps there is not a word at all, but only a lived life,  in union with Christ,  that speaks and invites to change and to joy.

Giving us the slip..

Giving us the slip -  a poem about Jesus

Jesus,  you come into this world and
continually give us the slip….
You crop up in Bethlehem
a place of no importance, when they were looking for you at the palace;
and even in a place of no importance, you found a place of lesser importance
in a cave, an animals’ shelter;
next we see you in old Cairo
when Herod’s soldiers are chasing you around Israel;
and then , years later, you had the cheek to give your parents the slip
in the Temple,  causing them the hell of a lot of worry….
and when they tracked you down,  it wasn’t playing games
with your mates,
but teaching old men new ways of understanding.
By now you are living in Nazareth, the place where no good
things come from;
And then, and then,
you turn up to surprise your cousin John
by confessing the sins that you didn’t have at the river Jordan
and before he can catch hold of the lamb of God
you are off again, taking half of his disciples with you….
and again after your teaching on  the mountainside
you slipped away from the crowd, undetected;
and in the storm on the lake you slipped away into sleep
and had to be roused by your desperate followers.

When the crowds searched for you, to make you King,
they could not find you,  though you were close at hand
and when Judas sought to understand you
you escaped the limits of his understanding.

And us other disciples too, you were much too elusive for us
teaching about about the need to die in order for new life to be born;
and then in your last days in Jerusalem,
we look for you in the Temple –  after all it belongs to you -
but you are not there, some say you went out to a garden
but we find only Peter and his friends sleeping;
and then suddenly you are arrested,  hauled before Pilate
and yet you escape from him into silence,  to his great amazement;
but then on the Cross you spoke…… seven words we treasure….
because love demanded them,
and finally, no, you did not give death the slip,
as some had forecast, and some still allege,
no, you took death as a draught, draining the chalice
bravely for us all, it was only afterwards that you gave Death the slip
in a way he had not foreseen but your Father had willed,
first treading down the locks and bars of his kingdom,
then dragging the ones you set free back up to the light,
the Easter light we celebrate and share with all whom you have ransomed
with your blood.

And then you are with us again, but we cannot hold you,
Mary reached out in the garden, when you dropped your
gardener disguise,  but you slipped away with a word of love;
and then those two on the road to Emmaus,  how you lifted their
hearts with words of scripture, until you broke the bread at supper
and slipped away,  leaving them with the broken bread
and the treasure of your life outpoured.

And after so many years we reach out for you again,
hoping to find you through prayer;
we kneel down and try to pray very hard
and make you present to us;
sending our earnest prayers up to heaven,
but no use,  so after a while we give up,
you have given us the slip again,
no prayers can bring you down
yes we will give up;
we get up to go,
and suddenly there you are kneeling just where we
were kneeling a minute before
ready to wash our feet
knowing its a rather shocking thing to do,
full of laughter
and teasing us with joy.

 

Towards wholeness in Lent…. not too late to catch up !

Sometimes I struggle in Lent.   I think I have “forty days and forty nights” phobia !   So it is good to come across something really helpful.  I hope you like this as well.  It was used at worship at Christchurch University chapel where clergy gathered with Bishop Trevor for a  day of reflection …. 

Lent Reflection from St. Mary’s Abbey, West Malling 

Lent can be more than a time of fasting; it can be a season of
feasting. We can use Lent to fast from certain things and to feast
on others. It is a season in which we can : 

Fast from judging others; feast on Christ dwelling in them.

Fast from the emphasis on differences; feast on the reality of life.

Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.

Fast from thoughts of illness; feast on the healing power of God.

Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.

Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger; feast on patience.

Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.

Fast from worry; feast on divine order.

Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.

Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.

Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.

Fast from hostility; feast on non-resistance.

Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.

Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.

Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.

Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.

Fast from facts that depress; feast on verities that uplift.

Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.

Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.

Fast from shadows of sorrow; feast on the sunlight of serenity.

Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.

Fast from problems that overwhelm; feast on prayer that undergirds.

                                             +       +       +

Syria, Christians and Muslims meet together …

Every day, my thoughts turn towards the people of Syria, a country very dear to me, and where I was Anglican chaplain for Damascus and Aleppo from 1975 – 1982, during my time as chaplain in Beirut. You can find some comments on Syria on the pre-prayer for Lent 2; ( if it is not up yet, it will be posted shortly. )

The following is a statement issued by a conference of leading representatives of Muslim and Christian communities in Syria, held in Larnaca, Cyprus, last week. It has been sent to me by Clare, who received it from Dr. Riad Jarjour, a Syrian friend and colleague: 

Final Statement:  “Call for Peace in Syria”;   22-23 February 2012,  Larnaca, Cyprus

Religions for Peace Middle East/ North Africa (MENA) Council, an international and independent NGO committed to peace, convened a meeting of Muslim Ulemas and Christian Clergy, in addition to a number of researchers and concerned persons from Syria and other countries, in Larnaca, Cyprus, on 22-23 February 2012. 

The meeting built upon the Religions for Peace MENA Marrakesh Declaration (16-17 November 2011) that rejected violence, the misuse of religions, and acknowledged religious diversity and respect for human dignity.     Given the recent bloody developments that stir conscience, and based on their religious and human responsibility as well as their belief in God Almighty, the participants agreed on the following: 

1. Our faith in the Lord inspires us to support the quest for a peaceful solution, mainly based on national dialogue and the rejection of all forms of violence regardless of its sources.

2. To reject the use of military and security measures by all parties after they proved inefficient and exacerbated the problem.

3. To call upon the authorities to the immediate release of prisoners of opinion to respect human dignity.

4. To refuse all forms of foreign interference given that the Syrian crisis is an internal issue which should be solved only by Syrians with the support of others.

5. To call Syria to embrace all its citizens, with no distinction or discrimination, as a mother nurtures its children within its territory and abroad.

6. To reject absolutely the violation of the territorial integrity of Syria or its ethnic, religious and denomination diversity.

7. To reaffirm that Christians and Muslims are historical components of the Syrian social fabric that should be preserved to guarantee the future, prosperity and coexistence in this country.

8. To acknowledge that the values of justice, freedom, dignity and equality are the basis of citizenship. Citizenship is not a grant but a right for every Syrian citizen.

9. To reaffirm the responsibility of religious, political and cultural elites to face all forms of religious incitement, and cooperate in disseminating a message of moderation, tolerance and rejection of hatred.

10. Through ‘Religions for Peace,’ to call upon all countries involved in economic sanctions imposed on Syria to reconsider these sanctions, which have affected the Syrian people, exacerbated the crisis and undermined stability and growth. 

We, the participants, pray the Lord to have mercy on the souls of Syrian martyrs, spare the lives of citizens, bring them together and establish security and safety. 

We express our appreciation for the efforts made by the Secretariat of Religions for Peace, in the person of the Secretary General and his colleagues, for hosting and supporting this meeting.

The point of praying …

As we enter Lent, I am thinking about praying – and even doing some !  But also I am thinking about what prayer does, what its purpose is.

I think the function of prayer is to pull our lives towards God, to orientate us in the direction of wholeness. Sometimes we think about prayer much too narrowly – saying special words in a particular place. It helps me to think about prayer in broader terms – which include looking and seeing.   Looking for God, for signs of his presence among us, signs of the Kingdom, waiting until we know the time is ripe for important decisions; discerning God’s will. Often I know that I cannot “see”, and yet at other times I can see. Rather like climbing a mountain in a mist. And what is most frustrating is that I am not in control of this“seeing” process, any more than I can say to the mist on the mountainside “be gone !”

I came across a wonderful piece of writing about prayer this week, and how it draws us more closely into the life of God. So I want to share that with you : 

http://liturgy.slu.edu/1LentB022612/reflections_rolheiser.html

you will also find some more thoughts for Lent in my pre-prayer : 

http://www.thesix.org.uk/pre-prayer.htm

Alan

A Song for Simeon at Hartlip

 The following is an address and a poem given by Canon Alan at St. Michael and All Angels Hartlip 

A Song for Simeon …. Hartlip, Anchorites and Faith,  29^th January 2012 

“In you O lord is the well of life
and in your light shall we see light… ” 

Today we celebrate Candlemas, and give thanks for the Well project, and all who work so hard to make it a success. 

The Gospel : Luke 2. 22 – 40 

At the end of today’s Gospel, we heard about the prophet Anna, how she lived in the temple and spent all her time worshipping there with prayer and fasting.   This week, I received an email from someone named Daniel Rollings, researching the history of anchorites and anchorholds in England.   An anchorite is a person set apart for the solitary life, and an anchorhold was where this person lived.   An anchorite was a hermit who lived all the time in a room built onto a church,  and was dedicated with the blessing of the bishop to lead a life of prayer and fasting.

There are some historical volumes with old photographs of our vestry down at the west end on the north side – which may have been an anchorhold;  apparently anchorites – or their patrons – favoured the northside, as it was a bit of extra penance not to have so much sunshine. I’m not sure I quite approve of that…. I’m rather a southside man myself.    Anyway, the only thing we know about our Hartlip anchorite is that his name was Robert.  

Well I wonder what would happen if today the vestry door creaked open and out stepped Robert, flummoxed to be experiencing the 21^st century;he would look around him, note the candles with approval, think that choirs had improved a lot since the middle ages – they have had a few centuries to practise -  though people do dress oddly , and we seem to have run out of incense,   and our Latin seems a bit… well, non-existent.

But Robert is a man of prayer, that’s what he spends all his time here doing,    so he is looking for something more important;   what is he looking for ?     He is looking to see if the Jesus he knows is at the centre of our lives,  and if his light shines among us.

“Well at least they are saying prayers in the nave rather than selling chickens,” he says to himself;    “that’s a start.” And, he adds, “ prayer is a dangerous thing…  you never know where it might lead you…. look where it led me !    It is always the beginning of something new, if it comes from where prayer ought to come from, out of the human heart… ” 

Well, Robert has retreated to his somewhat uncomfortable abode, but he suggested first, that rather than boring you with a sermon today, I might try a bit of poetry instead. “It usually works,” he says; “ try it.” 

And so… 

JESUS AT THE CENTRE 

Simeon came and saw and witnessed
Anna came and saw and witnessed
They saw something new,
Someone new
“Salvation ” , Jesus among them
Shining light upon them
Uncontainable
Unrestrainable
Jesus at the centre of their life. 

A woman came to the well
Weary and rejected
untrusting, at the end of her tether;
Jesus, waiting there for her;
quietly, patiently
knowing who she was
knowing what she needed
- not just water but salvation -
Telling her – her own story
She rushes away with a kind of wild joy
to tell her story, to tell his story
- the disciples scratch their heads -
and the village comes out to Jesus
and he is at the centre
as he meets them at the well
pouring out for them the water of life… 

Here we are today; candles burning
as in the Temple
anthems raising, Simeon inspired,
hearts hoping, Anna uplifted,  
for Jesus at the centre of our lives;
here with bread and wine he greets us
in the word of scripture meets us
“Follow me” his call to us,
“Don’t look back” his word to us
living water, new wine,
fire of love, refining fire
bread of life;
Jesus at the centre of our lives.

+    +    +

Bethlehem punch-up….

Oh dear,  it is the Middle East at it again,  including those Christians who shame themselves by relying too often upon Muslims to keep the peace between them.

I feel it very keenly,  having spent years in the middle of it all.

So I am delighted to see a really good article by Giles Fraser  ( lately of St. Paul’s ) which sets things straight.  And I  think  what he writes has a message for the Six in it as well;  how do we balance between buildings and being church ?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/dec/29/bethlehem-punch-up-monks-christianity

Happy New Year !  Out with the nonsense,  in with some common sense ( I hope ! )

Alan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bishops and benefits cuts…

 

A group of bishops has protested to the government about benefits cuts which could hurt the poorest section of the community, see :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2011/nov/19/letters-bishops-condemn-benefits-cap

 They point out that the Church has a responsibility to stand up for the poorest members of society,   -  which reminds me of the Gospel we heard today for Christ the King ( “Stir up Sunday” ) Matthew 25 vv. 31 -46. 

There is no doubt that cuts are necessary; but it is obscene for the wealthiest to award themselves massive percentage bonus increases at a time when others are having the little that they have removed from them. .

 

 

 

 

Do the weakest go to the wall ? Crisis at Christmas

Do the weakest go to the wall ?

Well, it all began in church ! Because this expression picks up situation in the pre-Reformation period when benches were provided around the walls of the church for those too weak to stand. Now the phrase sums up the danger of the weak and vulnerable being marginalised, specially at a time of economic hardship.

Homelessness is a terrible thing, and there should be no excuse not to address this as a common social priority, not just to be left to charity organisations with inadequate resources. Of course we need to face the fact that it is the tax-payer who funds the vulnerable if they are given Council assistance; but I would like to ask what is the alternative within a civilised society ? Helping the vulnerable isn’t easy, because you always get scroungers trying to cash in along with people with genuine needs, and so screening has to be a part of the process.

I commend to you the work of Crisis at Christmas, and their campaign to oblige local councils through a change to the law, so that no one is turned away and all single homeless people are entitled to written advice, real assistance and emergency accommodation when they need it.

I have vivid memories of several episodes during my time as hospital chaplain at the Medway Hospital, when the “no” was given from behind a glass screen at a Council office, and the chaplain was left to drive a poor homeless person discharged from hospital around Chatham and Maidstone trying to find accommodation !

Please read the following email…

Alan

—– Forwarded Message —-
From: Alexandra Sewell <alexandra.sewell@crisis.org.uk>
To: “alankeycol@btinternet.com” <alankeycol@btinternet.com>
Sent: Thursday, 17 November, 2011 16:58:05
Subject: Walk To End Homelessness

Dear St Mary the Virgin Church , 

This year Crisis at Christmas is 40 years old, to mark this event we are organising the Walk to End Homelessness in which 40 people will complete a sixty mile walk between Canterbury and London . Starting on Wednesday 7 December at Canterbury Cathedral and ending on Saturday 10 December 2011 at Southwark Cathedral. We are walking to mark 40 years of Crisis providing vital services for homeless and vulnerably housed people at Christmas time. 

The volunteer walkers will be going through Faversham and we would love to get you involved. We will be at United Reform Church, Sittingbourne on Thursday 8^th December at lunchtime and will be highlighting our No One Turned Away campaign throughout the event, which asks that the government should strengthen the law so that no one is forced to sleep rough. 

Here is a little more information on our campaign and how you can donate and support us before we reach you. 

Help us highlight the Crisis ‘No one Turned Away’ campaign 

It is shocking that a single homeless person can ask their council for help and still be turned away to sleep on the streets. With homelessness now rising, Crisis is using the historic opportunity of its 40^th Crisis at Christmas to call for a change to the law so that no one is turned away and all single homeless people are entitled to written advice, real assistance and emergency accommodation when they need it.  

We already have 4,000 signatures in support of our petition calling for a change of the law but with your help and that of others along the route we hope to collect many more. 

• Please forward this link on to your friends, colleagues and others asking them to sign up to the petition: http://tinyurl.com/nooneturnedaway 

• You can also print a copy of the petition sign up form attached and pass it around people at your church group.If you would like to be sent some printed copies then please get in touch with Alex Kennedy (alex.kennedy@crisis.org.uk; 0207 426 3863). 

• Finally, you can share the petition on facebook and twitter. 

When we get to Sittingbourne there will be an opportunity for you to present the walkers with any completed petition forms that you have gathered. We will have a photographer with us to capture your support. 

The walkers will then carry the petitions with them to London and eventually present them to parliament. You can find more information about the campaign at: http://www.crisis.org.uk/pages/no-one-turned-away.html

You can also sponsor the group of walkers taking part through our fundraising page. You can find out more about how to donate at: www.virginmoneygiving.com/crisiswalk

If you’re interested in supporting the walkers please contact Events Organiser kajal.odedra@crisis.org.uk or phone direct on 0207 426 3830.

Thank you for your support.

George Carey on the St. Paul’s happenings…

An important article by George Carey,  our former Archbishop,  points up some of the central issues :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8853098/The-Occupy-protest-at-St-Pauls-Cathedral-a-parable-of-our-times.html

Let’s see how the story develops,  not as spectators,  but as people of prayer.

The Bishop of London has offered to arrange a debate with the protestors including representatives from City institutions,  on condition that they agree to remove their tents.

I hope this offer produces a positive response;  unfortunately it is made against the background of an increasing hostility between the protesters and the Cathedral authorities, and human nature means people tend to dig their heels in when they feel under pressure.

Giles Fraser,  who has resigned as canon chancellor  has explained how he wanted to negotiate with the protestors to reduce the size of their encampment and come to other practical arrangements to allow life to continue as normal at St. Paul’s,  but was inhibited by the legal advice received by the Cathedral,  which suggested this might allow a continuing settlement.

Too often law and wisdom find themselves opposed these days !