Church attendance

Our Vicar, Revd Canon Richard Hancock (Oxford Diocese, UK) recently attended in Sweden a conference to consider Church Attendance and, in particular, why so few young men go to Church.  In his sermon today he pointed out that there are far more distractions nowadays than there were years ago when there was no tv and no cinemas or sporting activities on Sundays (Chariots of Fire ?) - whereas now Mums and Dads often have few other opportunities to take the kids swimming or to football; and with so many Mothers working they need their rest at the end of the week.  This brings us back to “you don’t have to go to Church to be a Christian” .  There must be lots of reasons for lower Church attendance, the main one being - I think - that youngsters are no longer brought up to it.  But the biggest change in the last few years has been the growth of Information Technology: I don’t think I know any youngsters who do not have Internet access - but where do they read about Church activities in their area?  They don’t, usually, because we have not cottoned on to the use of the Internet to publicise what is going on.  And how do you find the C of E TV channel?  You don’t, because there isn’t one.  And how many parishes circulate a newsletter to every home at least once a month?  Very few, I suggest - I don’t know of any: they all offer news-sheets to Church attendees but they’re the very people who don’t need them!  I have always thought that my Vicar’s sermons are exceptionally good - but he is preaching to the converted.  His words need to be circulated to those outside the building as well as those inside.  Just a few thoughts.......

For the Church

We pray for ourselves, Father, Your church: we long for a fresh outpouring of Your Holy Spirit  that we may  grow in our experience of your love, forgiveness and healing.   Challenge our contentment to stay as we are; renew our vision of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus that, through our words and the way we live, others may be drawn to Him. Keep us ever mindful of the task Your Son has set us - to spread your Gospel of love throughout the world.

Heaven

For some time I’ve been puzzling over “sacrifice”; if you offend God, how can you make peace with Him simply by killing a few sheep or goats?   I have no answer.   But I have a vision of Heaven as a lake of utterly pure water - one speck of dirt and it is no longer 100% pure - so no-one who dies can get there (as mankind is impure).   So God has an idea - to beget a perfect human being who, upon his death, CAN enter that pure lake - AND CAN BRING WITH HIM ALL HUMANKIND! I haven’t worked it all out yet - I’m no theologian - but I think I’ve started.

Intercessions 20 May 2012

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father:

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you promised through your Son, Jesus Christ, to hear us when we pray in faith.

We pray for ourselves, Your church: we long for a fresh outpouring of Your Holy Spirit  that we may  grow in our experience of your love, forgiveness and healing.   Challenge our contentment to stay as we are; renew our vision of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ that, through our words and the way we live, others may be drawn to Him. Keep us ever mindful of the task Your Son has set us - to spread your Gospel of love throughout the world.

In the Shrivenham and Ashbury Benefice (Oxfordshire, UK), we pray for Richard, Edwin, Anne and all the Ministry Team.   We thank you that we can come to church openly and without fear; and we ask you to comfort and encourage Christians and those of other faiths in foreign lands who do not enjoy such luxury.

Strengthen all bishops, priests, deacons and lay workers in the service of Christ, that all who confess your name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.

We thank you, Father, that you have been pleased to bless us with Elizabeth our Queen, and Philip her loyal consort.  In this year of Jubilee, we pray that you will grant her your gifts of love and joy and peace as she continues in faithful obedience to you and in devoted service to all her people.

Give wisdom to all in authority. At this time of financial crisis we pray that you will guide the leaders of all nations to make wise and fair decisions.

Direct this and every nation in the ways of justice and of peace, that we may honour one another and seek the common good.

Father, give grace to us, our families and friends, and to all our neighbours, that we may serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.

Here in Shrivenham we thank you for all those who take so much trouble and give so much time and money to the churches and village organisations, and who help to make it such a pleasant place in which to live.   Guide us to seek out and bring happiness to neighbours who are lonely or unhappy.  

Abroad, we pray for the troubled people of Greece...Syria...Iran...Afghanistan...and wherever there is discord.   As the Olympic flame arrives we pray that the Games will be a time of community and sportsmanship and will lead to peace between nations.

Father, we pray for the sick - those who are ill in mind, body or spirit, that knowledge of Your love will comfort them; and that You will bless and encourage all who care for them.   We think particularly of  those whose sickness or disability is regarded as incurable.

In our village family we pray for ....... and others of whom we know.   Give them courage and hope in their troubles and bring them the joy of your salvation.

Hear us as we remember those who have died in the faith of Christ ....... and others known to us. According to your promises grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.

In a moment of silence we bring our private joys and sorrows to you, our loving Father.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of  Mary & Joseph, Andrew and all your saints we commend ourselves and the whole creation to your unfailing love.

Riots

The Archbishop of Canterbury seems to blame us for the riots because we have let down those who felt the excitement of the call to riot.   But what about the Church?   Does not the Archbishop share the blame?  The Church exists solely to spread the Gospel of Love throughout the world - has it failed in England?  When we moved house 35-odd years ago, our first visitor was the Vicar.  He welcomed us to his Parish and hoped we would join his congregation but put no pressure on us.  I look at the pictures of the rioters and wonder into how many of their homes a priest has entered - to what extent do our priests and ministers reach out to the uncommitted?  Week after week I listen to wonderful sermons in church, but the priest is preaching to the converted - how does his words reach the outside world?  Visiting may be out of the question nowadays but the Christian message must be heard : surely it is the job of the Archbishop and his colleagues to devise the ways and means.

Trees

An addendum to 28 November: At Colin's funeral we suggested that, instead of spending money on flowers, people might like to make a donation in his memory to The Woodland Trust.   Subsequently we discovered amongst his papers a cutting of the poem "Woodland Burial" by Pam Ayres -


   Don’t lay me in some gloomy churchyard shaded by a wall
   Where the dust of ancient bones has spread a dryness over all,
   Lay me in some leafy loam where, sheltered from the cold
   Little seeds investigate and tender leaves unfold.
   There kindly and affectionately, plant a native tree
   To grow resplendent before God and hold some part of me.
   The roots will not disturb me as they wend their peaceful way
   To build the fine and bountiful, from closure and decay.
   To seek their small requirements so that when their work is done
   I’ll be tall and standing strongly in the beauty of the sun.


It seems that our suggestion would have met with our brother's whole-hearted approval!

Goodbyes

We've had a spate of funerals in the past three months - my brother Colin on 19th September, Cathy's mother-in-law Marian on 18th November (Colin's birthday!) and our friend from Kennington days, Bert Brown on 25th November.   Colin having professed himself to be a non-believer, his service was somewhat muted: conducted by Revd Talisker MacLeod from the church my sister Margaret attended for many years, she steered a delicate path between atheism and Christianity.   Some commented on her unusual Christian name but the history of the MacLeods shows it to be entirely appropriate.   Marian's was even less religious - no prayers except the Lord's Prayer, no priest but an "Independent Minister", who spoke very well about the way Marian had enriched the lives of so many people and will live on in our hearts.  Bert's was the most "orthodox", conducted by Deacon Beverley Miles.   Bert was a World War II veteran and two poems reflected this: at the start of the service -

"When you come to the end of a perfect day and you sit alone with your thoughts,
While the chimes ring out with a carol gay for the joys that the day has bought,
Do you think what the end of a perfect day  can mean to  tired heart ?
When the sun goes does with a flaming ray and the dear hearts have to part?
Well, this is the end of a perfect day, near the end of the journey, too,
But it leaves a thought that is big and strong with a wish that is kind and true.
For memory has painted this perfect day with colours that never fade,
And we find at the end of a perfect day the soul of a friend we’ve made."

And at the end .......

“Miss me, but let me go.......”

"When I come to the end of the road and the sun has set for me,
I want no tears in a gloom filled room - why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little, but not for long, and not with your head bowed low,
Remember the love that we shared - miss me but let me go
For this is the journey we all must take and each must go alone
It’s all part of the Maker’s plan a step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart, go to the friends that we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good works - miss me, but let me go."

May they all rest in peace.