The Chaplain’s Blog

Interpreting Amos for Lanner & Four Lanes recently

Amos 6.1a, 4-7

Complacent Self-Indulgence Will Be Punished

6Alas for those who are at ease in Zion,
   and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria,
the notables of the first of the nations,
   to whom the house of Israel resorts!
4 Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory,
   and lounge on their couches,
and eat lambs from the flock,
   and calves from the stall;
5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp,
   and like David improvise on instruments of music;
6 who drink wine from bowls,
   and anoint themselves with the finest oils,
   but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!
7 Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile,
   and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.

 

 

A Local Version of Amos 6.

Alas for those who put their feet up in Lanner

and those who feel safe on the top of the Hill in Four Lanes

The parish counsellors and the members of parliament, the bankers &company directors to whom the nations look.

Alas for those who lie on Slumberdown mattresses

And lie on couches from Furnitureworld

And eat lamb from Trevarthens the butchers

And beef from the Tesco cold meats cabinet

Who sing idle songs to the sound of the organ

And  improvise upon the keyboard and guitar

Who drink wine from tall glasses

And anoint themselves with moisturiser from Boots

But are not grieved over the destitution of the poor

They shall be the ones who will feel the exile of guilt

And their revelry will be no more……put their feet up 

Part One – the picture in my head and a general moan. 

My first memories of church on the cusp of the 1960s were going to Sunday School in the building next to the church and one day being told I was too old for the Sunday School and would go to the main church now. The daunting atmosphere made me turn round a few metres inside the door and walk out never to return. Part of that, I guess, is that my parents did not go to church, my father, an elder in the Church of Scotland, never felt comfortable in the Anglican church in England. So I put my hands up that I start from a fairly negative place.

My next church experience in the enlightened 1970s (as an argumentative atheist) at the age of 21 was having to attend church for special occasions with my class of ten- and eleven-year-olds in the North London Church of England Primary School where I got my first teaching job. (God definitely has a sense of humour!)  Trying to keep them interested and, above all, quiet was quite a challenge so it did not improve my opinion about the church’s attitude to children, namely that they were definitely wanted to be seen, to be small adults and definitely not heard unless they were singing or reading.

Since then, the growth of Sunday morning sports clubs and the demise of organised religion in general has seen a huge drop in attendance by children and families.  Much of life and news is captured in bite sized social media clips for both children and adults and the choice of church or a sporting activity and being with one’s teammates is not really a fair contest.

What does church have to offer children? That is not the same question as ‘what does being a Christian offer?’ which has a different answer entirely.

The large warehouse-based Pentecostal church on the nearby industrial estate offers an indoor skate park side room and ride on toys in the main auditorium for the little ones. The service is loud enough to drown out the noises and so for young parents it might seem a good choice. Other denominations have traditional Sunday School where they have enough children and the children may or may not join the main service at some point.

Over the years in our benefice churches, I have seen and experienced a variety of approaches and to say that I hold fairly strong opinions about some approaches is to understate my passionate for education and how we treat our youngsters. Here are a few examples I have experienced  over the last 4 decades…. I am sure you have others that you can tell me about later….

  • The full high church experience: Children are encouraged to join the choir, robe and be acolytes, incense boat carriers etc  and a room might be provided for parents to remove children who are not coping with the service.  My suggestion, once upon a time was to make the Lady Chapel in one of our churches into a sound proof room with a screen and a loudspeaker broadcasting the service to any adults having to take children out would still be able to feel part of things…. Of course it was dismissed instantly but I like to put ideas out there!
  • Children go out for the first part of the service for a Sunday School experience and come back to sit with the leaders, or with their parents at the Peace and report on what they have been doing as part of the notices slot.
  • The traditional approach of making any children sit quietly in the main service because the feeling was that the discipline of this would inculcate a love of the liturgy. Sunday school provided mid Sunday afternoon.
  • Family services with and without communion where the attempt is to involve everyone – especially those with a shorter attention span. My favourites for these when we had lots of very small children was a bespoke service sitting in a circle in the Lady Chapel with the children trapped in the middle so they could not run off and became everyone’s responsibility.
  • Breakfast / café church where there was an activity table in a fairly prominent place where the children could participate in challenges related to the service theme and still be part of the whole service. (Some of these were eucharistic some not – the other advantage of these was that they were in the Crypt / church hall which was much cheaper to heat in the winter)
  • Occasional Children’s service (annual?) ….. written specifically for children, e.g. Christmas Eve service which is probably the best attended service in the Church calendar apart from the occasional large funeral which will, unsurprisingly, not involve kids.
  • The Hybrid….. a service aimed at adults but with a bit in it aimed at the children who are expected to sit quietly for the rest of the service. (Personally, I find this sort of ‘keep everyone happy by giving them a bit of what they might like’ service very difficult. More of this in a future post) 
  • Messy Church – obviously aimed at children and totally different to the liturgical needs of most pew-dwellers.
  • Invitation services aimed at the uniformed and other organisations.. but you have to have something attractive to invite them to. Remembrance services are an interesting example where it might be the be experience in the church year for those people in church.

So roll forward to the early 1980s as a parent of very young children and the weekly battle to keep them amused in the pews – the rigmarole of choosing quiet toys and activities to take and the juggling of attention on them while trying to attend to the service.  I really do not blame parents who give up and stay at home.

The attraction of dropping them off for football training, parkour, swimming, cricket or rugby is huge compared with the battle of pew pew-containment. Is it any wonder our churches are shrinking.

Now this is the point where I hope some Readers / readers will jump in and with exclamations about what happens in their church where it is all different and thriving and I would love to hear about how you do it, the demographic of your area etc.

Deanery Chaplains

The plan is for the Deanery Chaplains to be commissioned in October at the annual Reader Service but before then each of the prospective chaplains will have to be recruited / appointed.

Some of the Deanery Reader Stewards have taken up the important work of chaplain with great enthusiasm since the title of Deanery Reader steward was made redundant and I have been hugely grateful for their support and commitment.

The more I speak to Readers, the more I am convinced of the importance of chaplaincy and for more local chaplains.  “Why?” you may ask……

When you look at he diocesan website there is an encouraging page on Clergy Wellbeing Clergy Wellbeing Archives – Truro Diocese : Truro Diocese  which lists a variety of resources for Clergy and some resources for Diocesan staff.  In speaking to Readers about their clergy, however, there is a difference between providing a service and people actually using it; or at least using it before the problem gets really serious.

 

Readers are not mentioned.

Because we are such a disparate bunch in the Reader community it is hard to describe what the life and duties of a typical reader might be, there is no such thing as a typical Reader! Some Readers are quite content taking evensong and preaching once a month, others are church wardens, running a foodbank and leading worship weekly, while others are balancing Reader duties with working full time and supporting a family.

The stresses on Readers are very varied as a result.

  • Depression and frustration at not being able to minister
    • Through lack of a working team
    • Lack of engagement with the incumbent
    • Ill health or caring for someone with ill health
  • Transition
    • Too many duties across too many churches
    • Being taken for granted
    • Feeling they have very little say in choice of a new incumbent
    • Feeling threatened by not getting a new incumbent.
    • Churchwardens not including them on rotas
  • Balancing Ministry and family life
    • Where a spouse or child is ill mentally or physically
    • Financial pressures and the need to work for a living
  • Faith
    • Even Readers can suffer doubts and anxieties!
    • Mismatches of churchmanship or theology with their local church or new incumbent.
  • An aversion to bureaucracy
    • Finding it difficult to engage with safeguarding training or the requirements of health and safety in the modern church
    • Feeling that “on the Way” for example is something that is being “done to” them.

…and so on. I am quite sure you can think of more!

Chaplains are not just there to mop things up and being consoling when things get tough, they are also have a duty to be proactive and to provide the support before it becomes a big issue where someone has to ask for help. Asking for help is a tough thing to  do and people have to know they need it. Chaplains who get to know their people are invaluable here.

Currently we do not have enough Chaplains to cover all Deaneries and in some Deaneries there are folks who are not Chaplains who would be brilliant at it.

If you know someone who you think would be a brilliant chaplain…..  possibly covering a nearby Deanery if not their own, please do let me know.

If, after prayer, you think your vocation might be to minister to your fellow Readers as Chaplain then please do let me know as well!

If you just want to chat about it, then join us on Zoom on Monday morning or give me a call.

 

The duties of Local Reader Chaplains might include the following

 

    • To attend Chaplaincy Meetings (three monthly)
      • to share responsibility for the pastoral care of Readers
      • to discuss issues relating to the wellbeing and care of individual Readers (including those in training and Readers Emeritus)
      • to provide a forum for support, mutual learning and discussion for those providing pastoral care to Readers
    • To be in regular contact with Readers under their care.
      • g. birthday cards, phone calls, email or possibly the occasional newsletter.
    • To consider arranging training or social meetings
    • To foster vocations

Jim

This week has been an another interesting one beginning with preaching at our Benefice Joint Service at All Saints Lanner.  It is amazing that after 34 years of preaching that I still get that adrenaline hit in those minutes before as I pray prior to preaching but if I did not get it, I would start to worry that I was starting to take the privilege of preaching for granted.  Although I had a slip of paper with half a dozen well-rehearsed points it was more of a ‘comfort-blanket’ and I did not refer to it. 

You may be relieved that I am not going to relate the seron content here!

Monday Morning and Ministers in Conversation (on ZOOM) was the first time I have logged in where the women outnumbered the men which i thought was fantastic!  There were some great discussions and conversations  and I do hope more folk will spare an hour of their Monday mornings and join us.   Anyone, lay or ordained…. or worship leader…. or in training…. or retired is most welcome to join us! Just look out for the link in the emails and drop in between 10 and 11!  I know some who would like to join can’t because of other commitments – if I get enough requests, I will set up an evening one as well.

Deanery Reader Chaplains

The Deanery Chaplains are going to be a key part of the way Readers / Licensed Lay Ministers are looked after and represented.  It is vital to have some folk who will contact, listen to and be available to Readers in their areas whether they are current, in training or retired. They will also relay Reader concerns to the Warden’s Group and be an influence on the way the diocese works with Lay Ministry. If you are not already in the role please do consider whether it is part of the vocation to which God is calling you. If you have been a DRS and you feel that it is time for someone else to step up, please do not feel guilty about stepping back and do let me know. 

On Monday afternoon I helped lead the Safeguarding Leadership Course which, as always, provided a great forum for discussion and I invariably come away with something I need to remember to do from a job description for a toddler group helper to a risk assessment for food bank volunteers. 

I am still unconvinced about the wording of the booklet instructing participants to reflect on four questions before they come to the first session. The problem, for me,  is the mention of a word count of 250-350 words.  Yes, the invitation to use bullet points has been added but it still looks like an examination instruction and that is not what we are doing safeguarding for.  We want folk to reflect on the issues and to make some notes for discussion on each of the topics….. why does the National Safeguarding Team insist on making it look like part of a GCSE syllabus? It does a disservice to the course, to the promotion of safeguarding and to its credibility!  That I get frequent moans that it is a box ticking exercise is unsurprising, but it is also saddening as I am a passionate promoter of safeguarding in its widest sense! 

Tuesday began with my ZOOM morning prayer using a musical version of the Northumbrian Office with the lectionary readings prescribed for the day. Laughter before hand as always and prayerful reflection from a faithful group to begin the day. 

Then New Curate Chris and PTO clergy Margaret arrived to plan Sunday’s service which is trying desperately to find a family friendly interactive experience crammed into an ‘informal’ communion …… in a normally high church setting….. It is tricky! 

In the meantime, the damson tree in the garden is creaking under the strain of the ripening fruit and I am steeling myself for some afternoons of balancing on the steps with a bucket!  Then it will be the turn of the apple tree; things seem to be ripening quite early this year! 

Wednesday was annual MOT and service day for the car, so I took the opportunity to take Barney the Collie and take the scenic route home around Carn Brea via a cup of coffee with the grandchildren in Carnkie. The car passed without issue thankfully! 

On Thursday I took the funeral of a local man at Treswithian Downs Crematorium which was a good opportunity for our Curate Chris to see a different style having experienced the very different approach of our other PTO priest, Father Peter.   The family was very grateful. Because he had been a part time fireman, a fire engine pulled up behind the hearse and four  firemen in full kit shouldered the coffin into the crem.   The sister very kindly said that it had been worth the seven hour drive to attend the funeral of her brother. 

 

Safeguarding Prayers 

Loving God, we pray that the church may be a place of welcome, security and compassion.

Keep us watchful yet caring, trusting yet ready to question, that all who worship in our churches may do so in safety and in the knowledge of your love;

May the doors of the church be wide enough to receive all who come seeking God and fellowship.

May the doors of the church be narrow enough to shut out pettiness and pride, envy and enmity.

May the threshold of our churches be no stumbling block to young or frail feet. May the threshold of our churches be too high to admit complacency and self-seeking.

May the church be, for all who enter, a safe place and the doorway to a richer life in Christ.

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Blessing

May God bless us with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that we may seek truth boldly and love deep within our hearts.

May God bless us with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.

May God bless us with the gift of tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.

May God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we really can make a difference in this world, so that we are able, with God’s grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.

Amen

Safeguarding Prayer

Lord Jesus we thank you for calling us to the service of others.

Bless us with a generosity of spirit to ensure the vulnerable are protected.

Bless us with  compassionate hearts so that we will reach out to those who are wounded by abuse.

bless us with courage and determination as we seek the safety of everyone in our parish communities.

Help us dedicate ourselves to this work of service and pray that you will help us to do your will at all times and in all places.

Amen

Lord, our God, Look with favour on our children whom we as a Church commend to your tender

care.

Your Son, gladly welcomed little children.

He took them in his arms, blessed them, and held them up as an example for us all.

We pray that you, Father, will also send your blessing upon all of us gathered here this day, so that

we may play our part in helping our children to grow in Christ,

and by the power of the Holy Spirit, may they become Christ’s witnesses in a world which craves

their energy, light and generosity.

Allow us to create environments where both children and priests flourish and minister to each other

in a spirit of light, love and joy.

We also beg your pardon for the times we have failed in this ministry. We remember those who

have been hurt and those who are hurting, may your healing be a source of strength and comfort to

them and their families.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen Lord, we thank you for the gift of our children;

they are our light and our joy.

Give us wisdom to guide them, patience to teach them, and a desire to encourage them always. As

we strive to love them sincerely, may we never betray their trust, dampen their hope, or discourage

their spirit.

May we help them achieve their potential and fulfil your dreams for them.

May your grace and love fall gently upon them giving them the inner strength, peace and patience

they will need for the journey ahead.

And as we strive to create safe environments where we can freely minister to them, may we be open

to you ministering to us in and through them. Amen

Loving God,

we pray that the church may be a place of welcome,

security and compassion.

Keep us watchful yet caring,

trusting yet ready to question,

that all who worship in our churches may do so in safety and in the knowledge of your love;

This week I had a lesson in how to use he CMS (Contact Management System) with the very patient Lesley Fusher, which holds all the records for the Diocese. In future all emails from me will come through that system.

 

The advantage is that only one list will have to be kept up to date.  The disadvantage, at least initially, is that some Readers may drop off the list and some folk who have requested to be kept in touch but are not on the CMS database might miss out.  If that is you, perhaps because you live outside the diocese or because you hung up your blue scarf some years ago, then please let me know and I will make a separate group and forward the emails to you. I have found one already, Chris K.!

 

Last Week was the meeting of the Warden’s Group which is the key group who look after Readers and promotes Licensed Lay Ministry.

 

Various topics are discussed from the Annual Reader Service planning to queries from individual Readers and from the Handbook updates to Reader Safeguarding matters.

 

  • The group decided that we should resurrect the title ‘Reader Emeritus’ for those who no longer officiate with a blue scarf!  Do you know someone who used to be a reader or someone whose license has lapsed? We want to make sure they are on the Readers Emeritus list (if they want to be!) so that they receive prayer and relevant communication.

 

  • The new reader handbook – what will change? The reader handbook is being rewritten to focus on modern Licensed Lay Ministry and to show that the Diocese is really serious bout promoting and valuing our vocation. It will reflect the requirements for regular ministerial review, safeguarding, the scope of Reader ministry and the evolving committee structures.

More news on this towards the end of the summer when we hope to have a draft to send out for consultation and comment.

 

  • Deanery Chaplains! Changes to the areas in which they operate and in their duties and responsibilities – there is likely to be a commissioning in October.  Some chaplains (DRSs) have not been able to do very much in their areas, either because of lack of response or because they are too busy themselves. The idea is that we will group deaneries together so that there are a number of Readers and nobody is isolated making it possible to have training, discussions and the occasional social event. It will also give the chaplains a list of folks to pray for and to contact every now and again for pastoral work.  I came up with a few ways of doing this but came unstuck with crossing Arch-deaconries… so back to the drawing board for a week or so!

 

  • The reader magazine- what happens when the subscription runs out in January? I know some of you will be disappointed that the diocese will no longer be paying the Transforming Ministry Magazine subscription, whereas others will either not mind or not care. When subscriptions run out in January Readers who want to continue with it will be expected to takeout their own subscription. If there is anyone who really wants the magazine but cannot afford the subscription, there will be a limited number of bursaries.

 

  • I spoke at length with Ruth Trinick (the Bishop’s secretary) and Mel Pomery (our administrator amongst her many other roles) about communications and the following things were put to the wardens group:

 

  • Licenses to fall due when DBS was due for renewal. The job of sending out renewal notices for both will be Mel’s.
  • License renewal changes to a three year cycle because DBS has moved from 5 years to three in line with safeguarding training. (The DBS and Safeguarding are a CofE requirement)
  • When your DBS runs out (even if that is longer than three years away) your license will need to be renewed then. Readers over the age of 70 will not longer be asked to apply for PTO- Permission to Officiate, they will continue to be licensed like everyone else. Age is no barrier!

A bumper sticker on the Choral Evensong Appreciation Group page on Facebook…. I could not resist sharing this with Martin Adams – it may well appeal to some of you! 

126 CV TRINITY VII 310722 This is a link to Peter Coster’s latest weekly posting on his thoughts for this Sunday- I always look forward to Peter’s contributions- there is always something that sets me thinking.  When we think of Readers as being Community theologians who teach, preach and enable everyday faith, Peter really hits the mark.  The experience of being a Reader is very varied throughout the diocese and where it is difficult to work in a team, perhaps because of transition or because then incumbent is unwell or even, on occasion, unwilling, Readers have to find creative ways of fulfilling their roles. Peter’s weekly emailing is a wonderful example of a creative approach to reaching people.  

Some Readers are using social media creatively to reach people and one of those is John Wallis who uses Facebook to keep his presence and promote conversation. 

In the Reader Service this year Rev Canon Jane Kneebone, our outgoing head of Reader Training will be preaching a her last official contribution to the Readers.  At that service some Readers have been asked to tell us about how they enable everyday faith which should be very interesting, and, I hope, inspiring! 

 

                     Saturday July 2nd 2022

Chaplain’s Blog 02-07-2022

I am hoping that next week might be a time of taking a step back and reflecting on the busy times of previous months, but as in all these high hopes things turn up that must be done, or that cannot be avoided – or they are things we just want to do even when we should be saying, “no”

However with Ministers in Conversation on Monday morning  and story telling sessions at a local primary school on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings it might be tricky!

On Thursday I am seeing my spiritual director over a cup of coffee and on Thursday afternoon I have booked a ministerial review using the new format to produce a work agreement. Probably very little will change from what I do know but it is good to be able to look back and take stock.  

As we have a new curate, I have suggested that they should be there for the meeting because it is a good learning opportunity for him to see how a review might be done as part and parcel of the work of the ministry team. 

If working in teams is the way of the future and we are certainly “on the Way” to that with fewer stipendiary clergy in charge of ever more churches, then training for incumbents needs to include all the tools for leadership and people management as much as theology!  The community of licensed lay ministers has a responsibility to help and support here as far as our abilities and energies will allow. We must play our part in being encouraging, enabling, and empowering, fostering the vocations in others, and supporting those who take on leadership roles. (Even if that support sometimes means a tricky conversation as a critical friend)

Last Thursday some brave souls came forward to selection for training for Licensed Lay Ministry and as always, it was a privilege to listen and hear their stories and then to be part of the team / panel to decide the next part of their ministerial path.  In general, we have fewer people coming forward, and certainly few faithful folk under the age of 50 (or even 60) which means that the number of readers is decreasing overall and the average age is increasing year by year. As there will be fewer clergy, there will be fewer Readers but hopefully those in post will be energetic and committed team players.

Work Agreement-ministerial review template final May 22

But….

Back to that work agreement form!  A reader suggested to me the other week that once someone was a “Reader” that they were always a Reader…. In much the same way as a Priest is always a priest even if they cease to operate as one. I disagree, and certainly the wording on the work agreement template would support my opinion,

We understand a Reader to be ‘A Lay Minister working under episcopal licence and in agreement with their incumbent, theologically trained and qualified to preach, teach, lead church services and interpret the Christian faith, and to offer pastoral care in the name of the church to people in sickness and in health, in dying and bereavement. They assist in mobilising fellow laity for mission and helping to grow disciples of Jesus Christ.’

If a Reader is no longer licensed and working as part of an Anglican ministry team, then they are no longer a reader until they reapply for a license.  Too much is made of titles for identity.  I was a teacher for many many years, and I still feel like a teacher, especially when I am story telling in schools, but I am retired and cannot claim, nor want to claim that I am a teacher- that is for those young, committed folk with energy – I am an ‘ex-teacher’!   Does my identity rely on whether I am a Reader, a licensed Lay Minister or a chaplain? Frankly they are only words to help others know why I am doing a particular task…. When it is time to hang up my blue scarf, I shall not be hanging on to the epithet like an old Major who needs the title to prove he should be in charge of a parochial church council!

Please have a look at the work agreement form, and if you have not already done so, have a go at filling it in! Better still, arrange an annual chat with your incumbent and go through it together.  It was very good for me to list all the facets of my ministry and to reflect on the things that had been ‘particularly life giving’ and the ‘particularly challenging!’

We have a Warden’s Group meeting coming up on the 19th so if there are things you think we should hear or consider please let me know!

The annual return form will be sent out shortly – please do your best to fill it in and send it back even if you have to make an informed guess at how many times you preached or read the gospel.

I have a meeting with Ruth and Mel at Church House on the 11th to talk about admin matters, reminders for training and licensing and lists. I know tha some of you have dropped off lists  for one reason or another – if you need anything sorted please do let me know or if you have a problem or issue with getting communications… 

122 CV                    Thought for the Day – St.Thomas and Trinity III

                                                                       by

                                                                 Didymus Jnr

 Evensong Readings:

Job ch,42, vv1-6

1 Peter ch.1, vv3-12

 

I suppose I had better come clean.  I have had a birthday, on St.Peter’s day, and I have to accept that I am a year older.  I have received cards from both family and friends, and I take this opportunity to thank those dear friends that sent their greetings.

 

Yes, and I am little nearer taking the hand of Jesus that reaches out to us on such occasions.  Having remembered my namesake, I must now remember my pseudonym’s ancestor.  Like Peter, Thomas had his faults, and in his future life he too, would have had cause to hold his head and groan “How on earth could I have said that”?

The great hymnwriter, Isaac Watts, was a wise and clever man not only skilled in music and poetry, but in theology and logic as well.  He overflowed with faith and music, having written over 600 hymns.  What a teacher!

Watts had summed up old age in the memorable hymn which says:-

“Time, like an ever-rolling stream,

Bears all its sons away;
They fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.”

Old age is a matter of mind over an ageing body.  Of course life is more painful and one bends the day and its routine to minimise that pain.  Less gets done.  One does not look forward, rather back, to memories which will bore younger generations stiff.  Even though they may be polite, our memories will be foreign to them, a world of pencils. pens and notepads rather than smartphones and laptops.  What fascinated us – our first car, the ability to reach distant family members by telephone, travelling abroad – is taken for granted by today’s generations.  They, like us, reach for the future standing on the shoulders metaphorically of earlier generations.  They too, will be boring when their turn comes. 

Memories encourage fellow ancient crustaceans to look back at their lives and share their thoughts.  It is good to look back, to see how life has changed and in many respects improved.  I can remember seeing a steam lorry delivering coal and coke, horses and carts, the travelling knife and scissors sharpener on his cycle, helping the milkman and much more, but I must not become a bore as well.

But as Watts observed, time does not stand still.  It is, as an ever-rolling stream, constantly changing, and we need to fasten on to the wonder of the moment before it passes – an amazing sunset, a freshly mown field*, a clear starry night, a lively sea, wonderful clouds, trees, animals, a view, and more, much more of God’s wonderful Creation.  It is a moment of Carpe Diem, to seize the moment and to absorb its beauty and magic ere it disappears into time’s rolling stream.

(*Sorry about the hay fever – Ed),

We should not forget people either, the pleasure of meeting family or friends, activities, occasions – all these will go from us.  The memories of dear relatives and friends no longer seen but fondly remembered.  The young chorister whose singing transfixed a cathedral service has croaked the way into a deeper adult voice.  The young athlete who ran, jumped and swam, has travelled into middle age where such things are less easy when pushing a pram or digging the garden.  Now he or she rumbles along the pavement on a mobility scooter.  And so on.  Life does this to us.  The ease with which we can capture the moment with a camera of phone and then share it is a great help.  Families and friends thousands of miles apart can share pictures at the touch of a phone pad.

St.Thomas, the original Didymus, was one of the twelve Apostles, Disciples of Jesus Christ.  We know a little about him, that his name was “twin”, and he came from Galilee.  Twin with whom we don’t know, but maybe a sister?  Pieter Paul Rubens’ painting of Thomas is here.

What little we know of Thomas in the Gospels stands to his credit, except the famous occasion when he refused to believe his ten colleagues.  Jesus had appeared before them, but Thomas, on rejoining them could or would not believe them. 

Just think about what Thomas was being invited to believe for a moment.  Nobody had been asked that before.  In the modern vernacular, were they having a laugh at Thomas just because he had been out at the wrong time?  Who knows?

When Jesus returned later to demonstrate his injuries to Thomas, the latter’s confession of faith in Jesus was absolute.  Thomas addressed Jesus as “My Lord and my God”.  Although divinity was implied, Thomas was alone in addressing Jesus as God.

Thomas went east from Israel, as far as India and preached there, where he is regarded by some as the patron saint of India.  His name is given to the famous teaching hospital at Waterloo, SW London and of course more than a few churches and chapels.  We give thanks for him despite his humanity.

AMEN

The Lord’s

Table

Penwith Deanery Readers/Lay Ministers’ Newsletter

Issue 9

   

This very old rose was planted by my grandfather some seventy years ago. Its fragrance is beautiful. I can never pass it without stopping to enjoy what Papa planted. We are blessed by so much that has been lovingly planted in our life’s garden!

I was reminded yesterday when I stopped of this song written by Graham Kendrick in 1986.

May the fragrance of Jesus fill this place. (Men)
May the fragrance of Jesus fill this place. (Women)
May the fragrance of Jesus fill this place. (Men)
Lovely fragrance of Jesus, (Women)
Rising from the sacrifice (All)
Of lives laid down in adoration.

May the glory of Jesus fill His church. (Men)
May the glory of Jesus fill His church. (Women)
May the glory of Jesus fill His church. (Men)
Radiant glory of Jesus, (Women)
Shining from our faces (All)
As we gaze in adoration.

May the beauty of Jesus fill my life. (Men)
May the beauty of Jesus fill my life. (Women)
May the beauty of Jesus fill my life. (Men)
Perfect beauty of Jesus, (Women)
Fill my thoughts, my words, my deeds, (All)
My all I give in adoration.

As we lead and share in Worship, may this be our prayer.

May we be blessed and be a blessing!

John,

(Penwith Deanery Lay Ministers’ Chaplain)

Friday 24th June 2022

Deacons and Priests

As I write this the new Deacons who have their initiation this evening and those to be priested tomorrow are finishing their time at Epiphany house on Silent retreat.  I had the joy and privilege of being their chaplain for the day yesterday – being available for conversation, leading Morning and Evening prayer and acting as Deacon at the lunchtime eucharist service.  I hope the fact that my daughter chose to ring my mobile phone as I spoke the introduction to Morning Prayer (yes, I should have switched it to silent) will be a lasting lesson to them not to do the same. 🙂 

On Tuesday I went to Lis Escop to observe the legally binding promises that group made complete with bewigged lawyer as witness.  It certainly marked the solemnity and importance of what they were undertaking. 

Petertide Ordinations 2022 – Truro Diocese : Truro Diocese – A link to those involved this year. 

Vocations: 

Whenever I am involved in these things, be it Chaplain on an Ordinand’s retreat or on the panel for Reader selection it makes me review my own vocation because I have always held the view that vocations evolve over time.  

In a discussion with St Austell Readers recently the fact that both warden and deputy warden are ordained ministers was questioned and why they were not lay positions. Further to that it was suggested that I might take it on!   My thoughts are that the wardens position needs to be held by someone who can action change and not merely talk about it.  My vocation, although it has shifted a bit over the years has always been in support of others, to act as a critical friend where needed and to come up with ideas.  In teaching I was happiest as deputy-head and really did not like my spells as headteacher where I spent far too much time dealing with administration rather than anything to do with the children!   In the church, I love my role as Reader/Licensed Lay Minister because I can support my incumbent, take some of the load and I am in the glorious position of being able to suggests things without being where the buck stops.

Chaplaincy to the Readers 

Our deaneries are all very different in both character and in the distribution of Licensed Lay Ministry.   Previously each deanery had a deanery reader steward, or DRS and that role has now changed to Deanery Chaplains to Readers.  I do wonder if this should be extended to Deanery Chaplains to Lay ministers to include worship leaders and others who hold some sort of diocesan authority.  Graham in St Austell is already inviting worship leaders to take part in their meetings which I think is a good move. 

We are exploring how we might group the deaneries so that ministers are not isolated and without colleagues or a chaplain.  More news on this as it is discussed.  We do have deaneries without anyone and readers who feel called to chaplaincy but are not in that Deanery. 

Please do have a look at the previous post https://www.readers-chaplain.org.uk/the-training-and-maintenance-of-readers-1919/

This came up in a collection of papers had I been sent by A reader called Frank Mitchell who was also a local historian. As a young trainee reader back in 1986 Frank was kind enough to share his wisdom and wide knowledge.  This little snippet from the Truro Diocesan Magazine might just interest you as it did me. 

I received an invitation yesterday from the Archbishop of York… well the archbishops office inviting me to the CRS 100 year celebratory bun fight in York  – which I declined on account of the 6 hour drive

Form the Turo Diocesan Magazine