Sunday, December 6, 2020

Christmas Services at St Barnabas Church

 

Christmas Services

Sunday 20 December, 9.30am:                                             Holy Communion

Christmas Eve

Thursday 24 December, 9pm:                                               Carol Service

Followed by a spoken Communion

Christmas Day

Friday 25 December, 10am                                                    Holy Communion

Sunday 27 December, 9.30am:                                             Holy Communion

Monday, September 28, 2020

Pet Blessing Service, Sunday 4 October @ 2pm

 There will be a Pet Blessing Service at St Barnabas Church on Sunday 4 October @ 2pm.

All creatures big and small as well as their owners welcome. It should be fun.

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

7th Sunday of Easter

St Barnabas Anglican Church, Warrington

You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist
him, steadfast in your faith.

24 May 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Grace and peace to you from God.
Today is the 7th Sunday of Easter.
We are at Pandemic Level 2.

Readings:
Acts 1: 6-14 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
The Gospel lesson is John 17:1-11.

Acts 1: 6-14
⁶ So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ⁹ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. ¹¹ They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” ¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³ When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴ All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. ⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸ Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. ¹⁰ And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹ To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

John 17:1-11 17 
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, ² since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. ³ And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ⁴ I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. ⁵ So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. ⁶“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; ⁸ for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. ⁹ I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. ¹⁰ All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. ¹¹ And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.


The Kingdom and Its Witnesses.
Eastertide is passing as we cautiously reach out of our bubbles. Thursday was Ascension and next Sunday will be Pentecost. We read of the resurrected Christ trying to get the Apostles organised for the time to come. During Eastertide we read from Acts every week. The Acts of the Apostles is a misleading title since we only hear about one of the Apostles (Peter) was doing or saying. We hear a lot about Paul in later part but Paul is never called an Apostle in Acts.

Throughout his ministry Jesus struggled with His followers. The centre of his message was the kingdom of God; but he meant one thing by the kingdom and those who listened to him meant another.

The Jews were always vividly conscious of being God's chosen people. They that would be shown by political success, and world domination. Humanly speaking that could never be. Palestine was a little country not more than 120 miles long by 40 miles wide. It had its days of independence but it had become subject in turn to the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks and the Romans. So the Jews began to look forward to a day when God would break directly into human history and establish that world sovereignty of which they dreamed. They conceived of the kingdom in political terms.

How did Jesus conceive of it? Let us look at the Lord's Prayer. In it there are two petitions side by side. "your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven." It is characteristic of Hebrew writing, to say things in two parallel forms, the second of which repeats or amplifies the first. That is what these two petitions do. The second tells us what God’s kingdom means. So, we see that by the kingdom Jesus meant a society upon earth where God's will would be as perfectly done as it is in heaven. Because of that it would be a kingdom founded on love and not on power. To attain to that men needed the Holy Spirit. Luke has talked before about waiting for the coming of the Spirit. We are not to think that the Spirit came into existence then for the first time. God is eternally Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but there came a special time when humans experienced to the full that power which had always been present.

The power of the Spirit was going to make them Christ's witnesses. The witnesses were to operate throughout the world: first in Jerusalem, then throughout Judaea; then Samaria, the semiJewish state, would be a kind of bridge leading out into the heathen world; and finally this witness was to go out to the ends of the earth.

Let us note certain things about this Christian witness.
First, a witness is someone who says “I know this is true.” In a court of law you cannot give in evidence something you heard from someone else; it must be your own personal experience. A witness does not say, "I think so"; they say "I know."
Second, the real witness is not of words but of deeds. At school we heard of David Livingston the explorer and how the American reported Stanley found him in the depths of Africa with that famous greeting “Dr Livingston, I presume?” After Stanley had spent some time with him, he said, "If I had been with him any longer I would have been compelled to be a Christian and he never spoke to me about it at all." The witness of the man's life was irresistible.

Third, in Greek the word for witness and the word for martyr is the same. A witness had to be ready to become a martyr. To be a witness means to declare the truth you know, no matter the cost.
Amen. So be it.

I used to think I was indecisive, but now I’m not sure. I can’t decide on a sentence so I have given you two. I could argue that there is balance as one is outward looking and one inward. The first is the theologically greater, being a sort of Christian mission statement. But then, I just like the drama of roaring lions. Perhaps together they will remind us that without the risen Christ, without the strength we get from the spirit within, we are not strong enough to witness Christ to the world.

According to Ashley Bloomfield, the Director General of Health, on Monday the Cabinet will consider whether to raise the size limit on gatherings to more than 10 people. After that Bishop Steven will have to decide if the churches in his see will open. Pray for these people, that with wisdom they will decide well.

As we await the decision please pray for our sisters and brothers in Georgia and Texas, especially the Catoosa Baptist Tabernacle in Ringgold, Ga., which resumed in-person services and later decided to suspend them after several families became infected despite the church’s socialdistancing and cleaning precautions. Also, in Houston the Holy Ghost Parish reopened but now has cancelled services indefinitely after one of its priests died and five other members tested positive for the virus.

Dr Bloomfield has praised the churches for our conduct during the Covid crisis, although it would seem that the Destiny church is having a bit of a crisis of its own. If a person without Faith said going to church was like going to the cinema I would be saddened to think about what they were missing without knowing. When brother Tamaki says it, I can only guess he doesn’t go the cinema. If you are praying for Dr Bloomfield, spare a word also for Dr Amy Acton, his opposite number in Ohio. You might think Dr Acton is living the American dream. Having grown up in extreme poverty she has, by hard work, reached a senior position in the public service. For many, she is a hero whose positive action has saved lives, and whose calm, clear and compassionate style is a national model for how leaders should be communicating. For others, Acton is a target. Protesters have descended on her home with guns and one republican representative has denounced her as a “medical dictator.” By contrast, Ohio’s Republican governor, Mike DeWine, has stood by his top medical adviser. Acton, DeWine has said in response to attacks from members of his own party, is “a good, compassionate and honourable person” who has “worked nonstop to save lives and protect her fellow citizens.”

Captain Tom from the UK, walking through his 100 birthday to raise funds for the NHS charities, first got promoted to Hon. Colonel, and has now been knighted for his services. It is astounding that someone, apparently with their life and work behind them, in fact can still become a significant influence in public affairs.

Blessings
Jeremy
Rev Dr JJ Nicoll, 0274 361 481
Priest-in-Charge, St Barnabas, Warrington, NZ

Collect 7th Sunday of Easter.
Holy God,
you have not left us alone
but promised your abiding protection.
In all we face,
grant us such a knowledge of your presence,
and abiding care,
that nothing can destroy our trust.
Through Jesus Christ our Liberator,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Confession
Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have wandered and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against your holy laws.
We have left undone those things
that we ought to have done;
and we have done those things
that we ought not to have done;
and there is no health in us.
But you, O Lord, have mercy upon us sinners.
Spare those who confess their faults.
Restore those who are penitent,
according to your promises declared to mankind
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may live a disciplined, righteous and godly life,
to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.

Prayer.
We praise you and we bless you, our risen Lord Jesus, King of glory,
for in your birth you were proclaimed the Prince of Peace,
and in your resurrection you breathe into your people
peace beyond this world’s understanding.
Be present, Lord, this day
with those whose lives are disfigured by conflict
and those whose hearts know no peace.
Be present to those who bear the burdens of Covid-19
Burdens of fear, of illness, of separation and loss.
To you, Lord Jesus,
true bringer of the peace of heaven,
be honour and glory, now and for ever.
All Amen.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus:
Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life:
Lord Jesus, come in glory.

Acclaim the Risen Christ.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He has given us new life and hope.
He has raised Jesus from the dead.
God has claimed us as his own.
He has brought us out of darkness.
He has made us light to the world.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

The Dismissal Gospel
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’
John (20:21-23)

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Saturday, May 16, 2020

6th Sunday of Easter

St Barnabas Anglican Church, Warrington

You will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”

17 May 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Grace and peace to you from God. 

Today is the 6th Sunday of Easter.
We are at Pandemic Level 2.

Readings:
Acts 7: 22-31 1 Peter 3:13-22
The Gospel lesson is John 14:15-21.

Acts 7: 22-31
²² So Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his words and deeds. ²³ “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his relatives, the Israelites. ²⁴ When he saw one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. ²⁵ He supposed that his kinsfolk would understand that God through him was rescuing them, but they did not understand. ²⁶ The next day he came to some of them as they were quarrelling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you wrong each other?’ ²⁷ But the man who was wronging his neighbour pushed Moses aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? ²⁸ Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ ²⁹ When he heard this, Moses fled and became a resident alien in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons. ³⁰ “Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush. ³¹ When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight; and as he approached to look, there came the voice of the Lord:

1 Peter 3: 13-22
¹³ Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, ¹⁵ but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; ¹⁶ yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. ¹⁸ For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, ¹⁹ in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. ²¹ And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

John 14:15-21
¹⁵ “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. ¹⁷ This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. ¹⁸ “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. ¹⁹ In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. ²¹ They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”


Faith and doubt: Knowing, loving, abiding.
It is perhaps fitting that we face these uncertain times during Eastertide. That period when we walk with the disciples from resurrection to ascension. It surprises, and sometimes alarms, me that atheists are so certain. It seems strange to me that someone should be convinced that the majority of people alive today are wrong. We are often in literature (or maybe just the books I read) presented with a kind of religious stereotype. Someone whose Faith is beyond all reason, all doubt and who may well do many of the things God has told us not to do because they are not, as living Christians usually are, struggling with understanding what we should do in life. In the real world I have encountered many whose beliefs make them hold ideas that I strongly disagree with; many Christians whose ideas are unacceptable to me. But I have never met a Christian without doubt. I walk on the beach in the morning and think “The world is so beautiful! God must have made this, it can’t have just happened.” But then other things just happen, like a virus which takes the weak and vulnerable, and I think “Why would a loving God make that?” The times when God has most closely touched my life contain both pain & blessing. Surely an all-powerful God could produce a world with the blessing and not find it necessary to include the bad stuff? After all our God is all powerful etc. etc. He’s not a kind of holy fire brigade or superhero rushing to save us from something he can’t really control. There is an old anecdote of someone who said that he had “skirted the desserts of doubt.” A more practical Christian responded that he would have been much better to go through them and come out at the other side.

Think of the disciples meeting the resurrected Christ: Aware of the power and joy of the risen Christ but at the same time facing a life where the earthly powers are against them and they must lock their doors against the world for fear of the threat it poses to them.

But we are not alone. When Jesus ascended to heaven he left us the Holy Spirit, which abides in those who know Jesus. An advocate that brokers our relationship with Jesus. As Jesus joins us with God.

I think we live in a world of uncertainty, and hence fear and loss, in order that we have the free choice to love God. It seems a big price to pay, but the gift of God’s love is immeasurable.

Amen. So be it.

Bishop Steve has announced that the Diocese will not be opening any churches for another fortnight. In the meantime, thanks to some prompt action from the Wardens I have submitted our proposal for St Barnabas and this has been accepted in principal by the Bishop and he gave his permission to hold a funeral on Friday 15th, although in fact this didn’t go ahead.

During Lockdown Basil and Rosalie have had the difficult experience of the death of Charles Rosenbrock who has lived near them for 38 years. They found Charles and Rosalie tried hard to resuscitate prior to the arrival of Police, Fire and Ambulance. Please remember Charles, his brother and sister, his niece Stephanie, his family and friends, and Basil and Rosalie in your prayers.

I am amazed at all the things I have not done during lockdown. I have been told this is because my brain is full of the certainties of these troubled times and doesn’t have capacity left much else. If you are like me and have things left undone, you may like to try the old confession I have included below. 

Blessings 

Jeremy Rev Dr JJ Nicoll, 0274 361 481
Priest-in-Charge, St Barnabas, Warrington,


NZ Collect 6 th Sunday of Easter.
God who speaks in silence;
help us wait in quietness.
When you seem absent,
grant us the faith that knows you are there,
bringing to fulfilment all you have started.
Through Jesus Christ our Liberator,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Confession
Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have wandered and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against your holy laws.
We have left undone those things
that we ought to have done;
and we have done those things
that we ought not to have done;
and there is no health in us.
But you, O Lord, have mercy upon us sinners.
Spare those who confess their faults.
Restore those who are penitent,
according to your promises declared to mankind
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may live a disciplined, righteous and godly life,
to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.


The Easter Anthems.
1. Christ our Passover lamb has been ' sacrificed: therefore ' let us ' keep the ' feast,
2. not with the old leaven, the leaven of corruption · and wickedness: but with the unleavened ' bread · of sincerity · and ' truth.
3. Christ being raised from the dead will never ' die again: death no ' longer · has dominion ' over him.
4. The death he died, he died to sin ' once for ' all: but the life he ' lives, he ' lives to ' God.
5. So you also must consider yourselves ' dead to ' sin: and alive to ' God in ' Jesus ' Christ.
6. Christ has been ' raised · from the ' dead: the first fruits of ' those · who have ' fallen · a'sleep.
7. For as by a ' man came ' death: by a man has come also the resur'rection ' of the ' dead.
8. For as in ' Adam · all ' die: so also in Christ shall ' all be ' made a'live. 1 Corinthians 5: 7, 8; Romans 6: 9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22

Glory to the Father and ' to the ' Son:
and ' to the ' Holy ' Spirit;
as it was in the beginning · is' now:
and shall be for ' ever. ' Amen.


Acclaim the Risen Christ.
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He has given us new life and hope.
He has raised Jesus from the dead.
God has claimed us as his own.
He has brought us out of darkness.
He has made us light to the world.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.


The Dismissal Gospel
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’ Matthew (28:9,10)

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Saturday, May 9, 2020

5th Sunday of Easter

St Barnabas Anglican Church, Warrington

I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
10 May 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Grace and peace to you from God.
Today is the 5 th Sunday of Easter.
We are at Pandemic Level 3.

Readings:
Acts 7: 55-60 1 Peter 2:2-10
The Gospel lesson is John 14:1-14.

Acts 7: 55-60
⁵⁵ But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” ⁵⁷ But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. ⁵⁸ Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.

1 Peter 2: 2-10
² Like new-born infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. ⁴ Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and ⁵ like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For it stands in scripture: “See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” ⁷ To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,” ⁸ and “A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. ⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

John 14:1-14
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ And you know the way to the place where I am going.” ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” ⁸ Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. ¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. ¹² Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.


I’ve had an odd kind of theological, or perhaps liturgical, failure during Lock down. Maybe just a senior moment, but it has made me reflect. How can I be sure I wash my hands for 20 seconds? Some pundits say we should sing Happy Birthday twice. “Surely a Christian can do better than that?”, I thought. So I decided to use the Lord’s Prayer. Once would be enough. I must admit that my ‘Lord’s Prayer is always a bit shaky. Unless I read it, some time on the way through I swop over to “Our Father” as it was when I learned it as a kid. Sometimes I get as far as trespasses instead of sins; sometimes I slip that old ‘it’ onto ‘as in heaven.” And I’m in the old version from then on. However, when I tried to use the prayer as an aid to personal hygiene, I just got tangled and lost. I kept missing out my daily bread and after that it was just a mumble of sins versus trespasses.

Those of you who pray for my soul will be glad to know that by banging my head against the Prayer Book, I have got there in the end. I can say my ‘Pater Noster’ in the way God would have intended, (if he had spoken modern English), and my hands are clean.

I don’t think there is a deep message in this, I think memory is fickle and very dependent on context. It is important when we read our liturgy to read and pass the words through our minds. The power of our liturgy comes in part from the efforts of great minds and 2000 years of reflection to choose the right words.

I enjoyed Louise’s reminder of the great uncertainties of our parents’ lives. It is hard to grasp all the events of a hundred years even if it is a human lifetime.

The great exploration at the beginning of the 20th century was quite close to home really as it was the expeditions to the South Pole. The explorers with Scott travelled by the sailing ship Terra Nova which is remembered visiting Port Chalmers on the way to the South Pole in 1911. The next ‘first visit’ was less than 60 years later when Apollo 11 went to the moon in 1969. From a sailing ship to a space rocket in the span of a human life.

One of the many sad stories from lock down was of a Mum giving birth without the father because he wasn’t allowed in the hospital. As a Dad who was there, for something that changed me and my life, I cannot imagine the loss and I feel the pain. Yet my Father would never have expected that. I was born in a hospital (Redlands Hospital for Women) which didn’t allow any men on the premises at any time. Indeed, I happened to find the only way I could have got in. What have we got that our parents didn’t have? If we look at the little things we can find lots of stuff. Mostly just stuff. In many individual cases there will be something important, but not something that comes from man’s ingenuity. The important things that express our created humanity have always been present.
Love, sacrifice, the creation of new life.
The love of God and the promise of redemption.

Amen. So be it.

As we approach Level 2 I have prepared a submission seeking the Bishop’s approval to reopen St Barnabas for Sunday Worship. I will share this with the Wardens this weekend, seeking their approval.

I do not approach this lightly, and wonder where we find ourselves. So many of us are in the “vulnerable” category that, if we are collectively sensible, and I’m not holding my breath on that, it will be a long time before our numbers are normal again and I suspect the first Sunday we will be able to count the congregating actually there on the fingers of one hand. I’m going to try to broadcast on my cell phone from the church and will let everyone know if we can have our own “Zoom” service.

Blessings
Jeremy
Rev Dr JJ Nicoll, 0274 361 481
Priest-in-Charge, St Barnabas, Warrington, NZ


Collect 5th Sunday of Easter. 
 
Almighty God,
who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ
have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life:
grant that, as by your grace going before us
you put into our minds good desires,
so by your continual help
we may bring them to good effect;
through Jesus Christ our risen Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Intercessions
We pray to Jesus who is present with us to eternity.

Jesus, light of the world,
bring the light and peace of your gospel to the nations …
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus, bread of life,
give food to the hungry …
and nourish us all with your word.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus, our way,
our truth, our life,
be with us and all who follow you in the way …
Deepen our appreciation of your truth
and fill us with your life.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus, Good Shepherd who gave your life for the sheep,
recover the straggler,
bind up the injured,
strengthen the sick
and lead the healthy and strong to new pastures.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus, the resurrection and the life,
we give you thanks for all who have lived and believed in you …
Raise us with them to eternal life.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us,
accept our prayers, and be with us always.
Amen

Acclaim the Risen Christ.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He has given us new life and hope.
He has raised Jesus from the dead.
God has claimed us as his own.
He has brought us out of darkness.
He has made us light to the world.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

The Dismissal Gospel

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.’ John 11.25,26

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Saturday, May 2, 2020

4th Sunday of Easter

St Barnabas Anglican Church, Warrington

..they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts.

3 May 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Grace and peace to you from God.
Today is the 4th Sunday of Easter.
We are at Pandemic Level 3.

Readings:
Acts 2: 42-47
1 Peter 2:19-25
The Gospel lesson is John 10:1-10.

Acts 2:14a, 36-41
⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All who believed were together and had all things in common; ⁴⁵ they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

1 Peter 2:19-25
¹⁹ For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. ²⁰ If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. ²¹ For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. ²² “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” ²³ When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

John 10:1-10 10
“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. ² The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. ⁷ So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

During this period from Easter to Pentecost we walk together with the risen Christ.

Except together sounds strange when we are isolating from each other.
The world has changed beyond our expectations.
Beyond any New Year resolutions; beyond any promises of reform we made when we entered Lent.

Level 4 isolation came suddenly and we adapted quickly. A sudden shift of outlook. Not a painless one. We suffer the pain of an empty church, of missing our Easter services. For many the earthly loss is severe. I for one am grateful that our government chose a course that put human lives before economics. In a world torn apart economic damage was coming, and I expect it will get worse before it gets better. So many people have told us the economic policy for unending growth was an illusion but is seemed easier to keep going along that way and hope the environment would somehow catch up. Now it’s just stopped. I’m frustrated about staff hanging round the hospital when there is work to be done, and I’m sure they are more frustrated than I, but my heart bleeds for my friends and colleagues in the UK where work is an exhausting nightmare.
We went into lock down so quickly we didn’t have time to think, but coming out we have time to fret about the unknowns. We’ve seen the outside world as a place of danger and now we must go there again.
Will we ever be able to mix again as before? To an extent it’s how we view things. We know that tens of thousands get carried away by the flu every winter, but there’s nothing we can do about that? Right? Now our hygiene is of a standard that would impress even the Pharisees of Jesus’ time. Some of it may even be worthwhile.
I ‘join’ Bishop Steve’s morning payers most days. It’s a good way to start the day. But a zoom meeting is not the same as being there. Will we ever all be together again at St Barnabas?

The Church must surely be the one institution which cannot know despair.
In the Christian faith there is hope for the world.
It is possible to look at the world and to feel that humans are possessed by a kind of suicidal insanity which cannot end in anything other than a disintegrated chaos.

Christ has the remedy for the human situation. The application of that remedy is the business of the Church; it’s our business.

In the Christian faith there is hope for all.

There was a popular sermon title that was much used by evangelists in times gone by:
“No man need stay the way he is.”
Often a person will defend himself or herself by saying: "I can't help it. I'm made that way. That's my nature. I can't change myself."

That is the final heresy.
True, we cannot change ourselves. But if Christ cannot change us, then the whole claim of Christianity is a lie.

But if the Church is to change the world and to change men and women, we must be changed. We are tired, the world is demanding and we’ve been doing the same things for ages. There are so many people in the wider Church who have simply accepted the situation.
I was reading one of William Barclays books of daily prayer, written 50 years ago, and came across this for my birthday: “Diminishing and ageing congregations, an increasing irrelevance in the eyes of the common man-there are many who are well aware of these things, but they have simply accepted them as things about which there is nothing to be done.
Of course, the situation will not change without blood and sweat and tears on our part. But a Church which has accepted the situation is a Church which is on the way to death.

God give us, not the defeatism which accepts things as they are, but the divine discontent which in the life and the strength of Jesus Christ will battle to change them.”
Well, the ageing people Barclay wrote about will all be dead now, so it’s our problem.

Amen. So be it.

Bishop Steve shared this poem written by the Diocesan accountant. Those who have heard Ginny speak at Synod will have noticed she’s unusual for an accountant. Her minister (she’s a Presbyterian) set the congregation the task of writing some lock down poetry. Most of us will just be grateful we are Anglican. But if you are a closet poet, please share.

Blessings
Jeremy
Rev Dr JJ Nicoll, 0274 361 481
Priest-in-Charge, St Barnabas, Warrington, NZ

Collect 4th Sunday of Easter.
God of our futures;
you go ahead of us to prepare a place for us.
Help us put our trust in you;
in this life, may we be freed from our fears;
and, in the life to come,
know you face to face
Through Jesus Christ our Liberator,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Intercessions
In joy and hope let us pray to the Father.
That our risen Saviour may fill us with the joy of his glorious and life-giving resurrection … we pray to the Father.
Hear our prayer.
That isolated and persecuted churches may find fresh strength in the good news of Easter … we pray to the Father.
Hear our prayer.
That God may grant us humility to be subject to one another in Christian love … we pray to the Father.
Hear our prayer.
That he may provide for those who lack food, work or shelter … we pray to the Father.
Hear our prayer.
That by his power war and famine may cease through all the world … we pray to the Father.
Hear our prayer.
That he may reveal the light of his presence to the sick,
the weak and the dying,
to comfort and strengthen them …
we pray to the Father.
Hear our prayer.
That, according to his promises, all who have died in the faith of the resurrection may be raised on the last day …
we pray to the Father.
Hear our prayer.

That he may send the fire of the Holy Spirit upon his people, so that we may bear faithful witness to his resurrection,
we pray to the Father.
Hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father,
you have delivered us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your Son:
grant that, as his death has recalled us to life,
so his continual presence in us may raise us to eternal joy;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Poem by Ginny Kitchingman our Diocesan Accountant 
 
And are we learning anything?
That something so tiny
can be so powerful.
But didn’t we already know that?
Didn’t Jesus say something about
a mustard seed?
though it is smaller than all the seeds
yet when it is sown,
grows up larger than all the garden plants.

And are we learning anything?
That you can’t find yeast
in the supermarket.
Suddenly everyone wants
a raising agent.
Feels the need to be
lifted up.
But didn’t Jesus say something about yeast?
even though she put only a little yeast
in three measures of flour,
it permeated every part of the dough.

And are we learning anything?
That sometimes the best thing
is to stay home.
Just stay.
Don’t go rushing around
being busy busy busy.
Just stay.
And think about what is the most
important.
And isn’t that what Jesus said
to Martha?
Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled
about many things
but only one thing is necessary.

Saturday, April 25, 2020

3rd Sunday of Easter Message from Jeremy

26 April 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Grace and peace to you from God.
Today is the 3rd Sunday of Easter.
The 5th (Last) Sunday of Pandemic Level 4.
The feast day of St Mark.

Readings:
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
1 Peter 1:17-23
The Gospel lesson is Luke 24: 13-35.
the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Acts 2:14a, 36-41
¹⁴ But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, ³⁶ Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” ³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” ³⁸ Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” ⁴⁰ And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” ⁴¹ So those who welcomed his message were baptised, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 

1 Peter 1:17-23
¹⁷ If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. ¹⁸ You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. ²⁰ He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. ²¹ Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. ²² Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. ²³ You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. ²⁴ For “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, ²⁵ but the word of the Lord endures forever.” That word is the good news that was announced to you. 

Luke 24:13-35
¹³ Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁴ and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, ¹⁶ but their eyes were kept from recognising him. ¹⁷ And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸ Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in
these days?” ¹⁹ He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. ²¹ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. ²² Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, ²³ and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” ²⁵ Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! ²⁶ Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” ²⁷ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. ²⁸As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. ³² They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” ³³ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. ³⁴ They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” ³⁵ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. 

I’ve changed my mind. I’ve no idea if it was a good trade or not. Might just be a fancy which came to me at Morning Prayer today. Of course, if I wasn’t so lackadaisical I’d have printed Sunday’s material before now & it would have just been a fancy I could use another day. The lectionary offers 2 sets of readings for today and I had chosen those for the celebration of St Mark. This was because the Gospel is a warning from Jesus to the disciples not to be distracted from God’s message by the bad things that happen in this world. That just seemed very apt for our troubled times. That set of readings is, to the preacher, a mixed bag. For Mark’s feast day we have the bit from Acts where Paul drops Mark from the missionary team because he is unreliable, has a row with Barnabas, and Barnabas and Mark go off on a separate journey. They could have had the passage from, say Colossians where Paul writes from prison in Rome and says that Mark is there with him. It’s good to keep your saints humble by reminding them of the weaknesses of their youth. There is a different set of readings for those who will celebrate Mark tomorrow. And the Gospel is the famous story of the road to Emmaus. So I have dropped the theology of faith in the face of the evils and afflictions of the world, in favour of a good story. Well, what better narrative than the risen Lord walking with us? This walk with Jesus is not the only trek that we have been following during Lockdown. Many of you, like me, will have been fascinated by Capt. Tom Moore and his fundraising walk. Tom’s first claim to fame is he shares a birthday with the Priest in Charge of St Barnabas. (Ha! You fell for the idea that some deep message was coming). Tom is an old soldier, who is very appreciative of a recent hip replacement in a public hospital. Having served in WW2 he recognised where the front line is in Britain now and wanted to make a gesture of thanks to the NHS. Tom conceived the idea of doing a lap of his garden (25m) for each year of his life while seeking sponsorship through a JustGiving webpage. I think he’s a bit wily; combining the physio he had to do with some fundraising. He set out on 6 April, hoping for 10 laps a day but allowing for delays to make sure he reached his target before this Thursday. He thought he might raise £1000. Last I saw, he’d passed £30 million.
Tom is a little older than me and this will be his 100th birthday. I’d say he’s lucky to have made it considering he served in tanks in Burma during the 2nd World War and then took up motorbike racing when he got home to Britain. He has acquired another curious record (no pun intended) having recorded a cover version of “You’ll never walk alone” he’s the first person to be at the top of the hit parade on their 100th birthday. He reached his 100 lap on 16 April, but has kept going for the next 100. It appeals to us that an old soldier is out doing his bit on ANZAC day, even if it’s really a coincidence because of his birthday. Tom’s message is simple, and quite like our PM’s. Service is needed, in the present time, as it was in his, and Tom applauds those who put themselves in harm’s way for the greater good, for the care of those peril.
Amen. So be it. 
 
I realize I forget to include anything interesting last week. For those following the Nicoll domestic drama, Jack has been back at work for over a week now and is really appreciating having something to do. The refit is really over and they will have to move out the flat soon and live on the boat. They also will have to go to sea (they can’t remain in the dock once the work is done) so we’re on tenterhooks to find where they will go. Most likely place is Minorca, as they probably won’t be allowed anywhere else.

The Quiz.
For those of you who tried the quiz, here are the answers.
1. Joseph of Arimethea
2. Hilda
3. Edmund. (He was finally laid to rest in Bury St Edmunds).
4. The Venerable Bede
5. St Ninian.
6. Cuthbert.
7. Alban.
8. 7th Sept.: King James the VI/I wasn’t nice and quite vindictive. He didn’t like to be reminded of his debt to Elisabeth I, so the date of her ascension to the throne was recorded in the Prayer Book under the name of a non-existent saint, or possibly by mis-spelling one no one had ever heard of.

For those of you who care about Saint’s days, all my books say Mark’s day is 25th April (except in Venice where they keep 31st January: the day they stole his bones for their cathedral) but the Lectionary definitely says 26th but can be deferred to the 27th. Covid Level 2.

As those of you who followed the Diocesan email that Louise passed on, will know, when the nation moves to level 2, we will need to obtain permission to reopen the St Barnabas. I have downloaded the form and will fill it in and pass it on when I have done so. Many of us carry a ‘high risk’ label so I expect early services to be quite small. We’ll keep everyone informed.
For a prayer this week I have used a confession, in case you are getting behind. Also the Nicene Creed, in case you haven’t reminded yourself of where we stand as Christians. 

Blessings
Jeremy Rev Dr JJ Nicoll, 0274 361 481
Priest-in-Charge, St Barnabas, Warrington, NZ 

Collect 3rd Sunday of Easter.
Almighty Father,
who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples
with the sight of the risen Lord:
give us such knowledge of his presence with us,
that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life
and serve you continually in righteousness and truth;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

Confession.
Jesus Christ, risen Master and triumphant Lord,
we come to you in sorrow for our sins,
and confess to you our weakness and unbelief.
We have lived by our own strength,
and not by the power of your resurrection.
In your mercy, forgive us.
Lord, hear us and help us.
We have lived by the light of our own eyes,
as faithless and not believing.
In your mercy, forgive us.
Lord, hear us and help us.
We have lived for this world alone,
and doubted our home in heaven.
In your mercy, forgive us.
Lord, hear us and help us.
 
Nicene Creed.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen