Pastoral Letter in time of Covid Δ 2021, 12 Sept Trinity 15

St Barnabas Anglican Church, Warrington, New Zealand 

Pastoral Letter in time of Covid Δ 2021, 12 Sept Trinity 15 

Blessings and prayers for Hilary, Rosalie, Carolyn, Claire, Kieran and Casey and the greater Ireland family. 

Readings: Proverbs 1:20-33 Psalm 19 James 3:1-12 Mark 8:27-38 

²⁷ Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” ²⁸ And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” ²⁹ He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” ³⁰ And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. ³¹ Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. ³² He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³ But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” ³⁴ He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵ For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. ³⁶ For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? ³⁷ Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? ³⁸ Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” 

Dear Sisters and Brothers, 

Grace and peace to you from God. 

It’s been a hard week, with the saddest of landmarks in the history of St Barnabas. On Tuesday we laid to rest Basil who must surely be the greatest servant in the history of our little church. I say that not only for the length and quantity of his service, but also for its significance in preserving the church. The stand out quality of Basil is not his dedication but the strength and purity of his faith. Amid the complications and distractions of human interactions, what mattered to Basil was the good news of Jesus Christ. 

Basil has been laid in the place Hilary and he picked back in 1981. It was a beautiful morning, warm and sunny, the graveyard at its best and the trees full of birds. I am struck by the fact that while Basil knew for 40 years where he would go, God knew from the creation that Basil’s service would bring him there. 

Nature has its own balance and Rowena has a new granddaughter. Mother and child are doing well, and granny floating on air. Blessings to Erica and all her family. 

Peter is progressing well and has moved to ISIS. I admire his fortitude, and thanks to Helen Beamish and Louise for the news. 

Ray has had a busy week, struggling against nature, technology, and Diocesan paperwork. I admire his persistence and am grateful for what he has achieved. I will attach the Covid plan approved by the Bishop, not only for your entertainment (or to help you sleep) but so you can see Ray’s efforts. 

I am saddened by all we have lost to Covid. One of the things we can see in the Auckland delta outbreak is the nature, the character, of a church. Where has Covid been transmitted from one person to another? Within ‘bubbles’, mainly families, sharing a home, sharing a family. Early on the authorities were worried about the social life of the young people who were infected: sports teams, pubs, night clubs and the casino. But we don’t hear of these places now. Loud and full of alcohol perhaps, but not so significant for human contact. Nearly half of the infections came from a church. We speak of ourselves as a family, I call you ‘Sisters and Brothers’, so I should not be surprised to find proof of this in infection rates. What we share, the body of Christ, is special. We cannot turn the clock back, but our fortitude now in keeping the work of church alive, will bring rewards in time. Jesus walked a hard road with hardly a complaint in order that we have church. 

Humans seem to have a natural inclination to collecting mementoes of our lives. In my bachelor days I used to get a coffee mug everywhere I went. When we were engaged and I had to reveal my faults to her before she found out the hard way, I showed her not just a few dozen on shelves, but 3 tea chests that I still had to unpack. Happily, it didn’t faze her at all. Indeed, she accurately predicted that it was the least of her problems. The medieval church was desperate for souvenirs, and churches used to fight for bones of saints or fragments of the true cross. Material connections to God. Jesus left us nothing like that. He didn’t write a book, conquer the Romans or establish a Christian state. 

Jesus left us ourselves. We have a sacrament, the breaking of bread, and ourselves. He must have been daft. It’s so important. The good news that God loves us and can give us eternal life, if we can only complete the training course that will make us more than we are, more than we can ever be if we have only ourselves for strength. Yet He only left us ourselves. No tools, no magic spells, no comfort blankets. He left us ourselves and told us to create God’s world. 

Will we stick at it till we do it? 

I look forward to seeing some of you tomorrow. Many will be unable to come and I commend to you not only the prayers below, but also the Bishop’s Morning Prayer service which you can join from the Diocese web site. (Calledsouth.org.nz) God’s blessing to you all, and to all in need at this time. 

Jeremy 

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

Collect: 

Almighty God, 

you are Alpha and Omega, beginning and end, 

the Word made flesh. 

Grant us the courage to take up our cross, 

and bear it gladly for the sake of the gospel, 

risking mockery and rejection, 

following the example of Jesus. 

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 

Summary of the Law 

Our Lord Jesus Christ said: 

The first commandment is this: 

‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. 

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, 

with all your soul, with all your mind, 

and with all your strength.’ 

The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ 

There is no other commandment greater than these. 

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 

Amen. Lord, have mercy 

Proverbs 1:20-33 

²⁰ Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice. 

²¹ At the busiest corner she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 

²² “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 

²³ Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you. 

²⁴ Because I have called and you refused, have stretched out my hand and no one heeded, 

²⁵ and because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, 

²⁶ I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you, 

²⁷ when panic strikes you like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 

²⁸ Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but will not find me. ²⁹ Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, 

³⁰ would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof, 

³¹ therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices. 

³² For waywardness kills the simple, and the complacency of fools destroys them; 

³³ but those who listen to me will be secure and will live at ease, without dread of disaster.” 

Intersession 

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

Almighty and ever-living God, who by thy holy apostle hast taught us to make prayers and supplications, and to give thanks, for all men: we humbly beseech thee most mercifully to receive these our prayers, which we offer unto thy divine majesty; beseeching thee to inspire continually the universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity and concord; and grant that all they that do confess thy holy name may agree in the truth of thy holy word, and live in unity and godly love. 

We beseech thee also to lead all nations in the way of righteousness and peace; and so to direct all kings and rulers, that under them thy people may be godly and quietly governed. And grant to all that are put in authority, that they may truly and impartially administer justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of thy true religion and virtue. 

Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all bishops, priests and deacons, especially to thy servant Steve our bishop, that they may both by their life and doctrine set forth thy true and lively word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy sacraments. Guide and prosper, we pray thee, those who are labouring for the spread of thy gospel among the nations, and enlighten with thy Spirit all places of education and learning; that the whole world may be filled with the knowledge of thy truth. 

And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace; and specially to this congregation here and scattered, that, with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear and receive thy holy word, truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life. And we most humbly beseech thee of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all them who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity. And we commend to thy gracious keeping, O Lord, all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear, beseeching thee, according to thy promises, to grant them refreshment, light and peace. And here we give you most high praise and hearty thanks for all your saints, who have been the chosen vessels of thy grace, and lights of the world in their several generations; and we pray that, rejoicing in their fellowship and following their good examples, we may be partakers with them of thy heavenly kingdom. 

Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our only mediator and advocate. 

Amen.