A Service of Holy Communion took place on Sunday 13 June @ 9.30am in our Main Church capped at 50 attendees.
The Sermon is available as audio HERE.
A Service of Holy Communion will be offered
for Wednesday 16 June @ 10.30am
in our Main Church capped at 50 attendees.
The Sermon is available as audio HERE.
A Service of Holy Communion will be offered
for Wednesday 16 June @ 10.30am
in our Main Church capped at 50 attendees.
Our Services
Sundays @ 9.30am Holy Communion — Main Church
Wednesdays @ 10.30am Said (short) Communion — Historic Church
20 June — 3rd Sunday of the Month @ 5pm — OPEN SPACE
Sundays @ 9.30am Holy Communion — Main Church
Wednesdays @ 10.30am Said (short) Communion — Historic Church
20 June — 3rd Sunday of the Month @ 5pm — OPEN SPACE
|
13 June - Pentecost 3 Sermon
Series: Faith in Adversity Daniel #1 - Intrinsic Faith on Daniel 1:1-17 by Rev Jennie Savage podcast HERE |
6 June - Pentecost 2 Sermon
"How long, oh Lord?" on 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 by Rev Jennie Savage podcast HERE |
Pentecost (2014) Edgardo de Guzman
Vicar's Reflection
A reflection on the Holy Spirit
Jesus said,
"The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.
So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." John 3:8
In the movie Chocolat, there is a great use of the medium of wind. It is the wind who blows the unusual woman, Vianne, and her daughter Anouk into town, whose presence and their shop of tempting chocolate disturbs the equilibrium or status quo for the townsfolk.
The wind blows open the church doors. But the Conte de Reynaud bolts the doors against the wind as he also tries to shut out the presence of the new arrivals. Full of misguided devotion, he cannot (until the end) accept the spirit of change, because he craves his own order and tranquility above all. Yet he cannot stop it, he cannot stop this Vianne who is breathing new life into the community, and finally even into the Conte himself!
Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit which is described with metaphors of wind and fire, great metaphors upon which to reflect on the Holy Spirit’s activity around us.
Wind has the power to move and to uproot. In the ancient languages, wind is also connected with breath, the power of life. Wind can change directions. Winds can be gentle, or blow a gale. Above all, we do not control the wind, it will blow where it wills. This reminds us that the Holy Spirit is of God, God who is not only within, but also Other.
Fire has the power to refine and transform. God has been called a consuming fire. God’s fire has been called the refiner’s fire.
There is a line in a prayer: Holy Spirit, you are like fire. Burn away the dross of our false desires. There’s much in our lives, and certainly in society, that needs to be sifted through if not thoroughly purged.
The Holy Spirit is both a comforter and a disturber. There are times we need to be disturbed!
To have a wakeup call. And sometimes we may find that some very disturbing experiences in life, perhaps seen in hindsight, did a good job of purging, that they were a time of growing, perhaps learning some hard lessons.
A reflection on the Holy Spirit
Jesus said,
"The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.
So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." John 3:8
In the movie Chocolat, there is a great use of the medium of wind. It is the wind who blows the unusual woman, Vianne, and her daughter Anouk into town, whose presence and their shop of tempting chocolate disturbs the equilibrium or status quo for the townsfolk.
The wind blows open the church doors. But the Conte de Reynaud bolts the doors against the wind as he also tries to shut out the presence of the new arrivals. Full of misguided devotion, he cannot (until the end) accept the spirit of change, because he craves his own order and tranquility above all. Yet he cannot stop it, he cannot stop this Vianne who is breathing new life into the community, and finally even into the Conte himself!
Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit which is described with metaphors of wind and fire, great metaphors upon which to reflect on the Holy Spirit’s activity around us.
Wind has the power to move and to uproot. In the ancient languages, wind is also connected with breath, the power of life. Wind can change directions. Winds can be gentle, or blow a gale. Above all, we do not control the wind, it will blow where it wills. This reminds us that the Holy Spirit is of God, God who is not only within, but also Other.
Fire has the power to refine and transform. God has been called a consuming fire. God’s fire has been called the refiner’s fire.
There is a line in a prayer: Holy Spirit, you are like fire. Burn away the dross of our false desires. There’s much in our lives, and certainly in society, that needs to be sifted through if not thoroughly purged.
The Holy Spirit is both a comforter and a disturber. There are times we need to be disturbed!
To have a wakeup call. And sometimes we may find that some very disturbing experiences in life, perhaps seen in hindsight, did a good job of purging, that they were a time of growing, perhaps learning some hard lessons.
By Peretz Partensky from San Francisco, USA - White Doves at the Blue Mosque, Afghanistan, CC BY-SA 2.0, httpscommons.wikimedia.orgwindex.phpcurid=24568193
There is one other popular image for the Holy Spirit, that of the dove. This image is known from the accounts of Jesus’ baptism, when the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit, like a dove, descended down and upon Jesus.
The Biblical image of the dove is not the domesticated variety that lives safely and confined in the dovecot. The rock doves of the Bible flew in from the wild and back out into the wild.
The Celtic Christians used the common wild goose as the symbol of the Holy Spirit, wild being the operative word. Geese are not controllable and they make a lot of noise! They have a habit of biting those who try to contain them and they fly faster in a flock than on their own.
Michael Mitton writes: ‘The Holy Spirit can inhabit some of the wildest and darkest places this world has to offer. The Holy Spirit is wonderfully free, able to go to the dark places of our own lives, for healing of the dark unvisited places of our churches, and to the dark and demon-infested places of our society.’ *
It is rather wonderful that the Holy Spirit is not controlled, neither by institution nor individual, for we all are in need of its cleansing and renewing power.
* Quoted by Ray Simpson; Exploring Celtic Spirituality; (Kevin Mayhew, 1995) p.165
May God’s Spirit be with you.
Jennie
The Biblical image of the dove is not the domesticated variety that lives safely and confined in the dovecot. The rock doves of the Bible flew in from the wild and back out into the wild.
The Celtic Christians used the common wild goose as the symbol of the Holy Spirit, wild being the operative word. Geese are not controllable and they make a lot of noise! They have a habit of biting those who try to contain them and they fly faster in a flock than on their own.
Michael Mitton writes: ‘The Holy Spirit can inhabit some of the wildest and darkest places this world has to offer. The Holy Spirit is wonderfully free, able to go to the dark places of our own lives, for healing of the dark unvisited places of our churches, and to the dark and demon-infested places of our society.’ *
It is rather wonderful that the Holy Spirit is not controlled, neither by institution nor individual, for we all are in need of its cleansing and renewing power.
* Quoted by Ray Simpson; Exploring Celtic Spirituality; (Kevin Mayhew, 1995) p.165
May God’s Spirit be with you.
Jennie
