Acting Archdeacon's Charge for Church Warden's Visitation

 

Acting Archdeacon of Hastings - Archdeacon’s Visitation – Charge to Churchwardens 2023

(Psalm 47)

Matthew 16:13-20

Ephesians 4:1-16

 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

My wife told me this address should be entitled “Some Things I’ve Been Meaning To Say”.

But it isn’t!

You could say it is about “body building”, a subject on which I’m sure you can see I am an expert!

 

I want to begin by thanking you for all that you do in the life of the church and for your willingness to serve for this next year as churchwardens.

 

I’m going to try to resist the temptation to preach a very long sermon to you, but you never know!

There is much that could be said about your important office.  

And I have some notices to give you, so that’s something to look forward to!

(I’ve printed out a page of A4 which you might like to photograph or look at or take if you don’t catch all the dates).

But first I want to reflect with you briefly on something from our two readings.

And also to remind you of the official description of the role of the churchwardens, although how we put this in to practice might vary considerably from place to place.

 

Jesus said: “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”

I hope you find that an encouraging verse!

Jesus himself will build his church.

It’s not exactly a promise about your parish church or mine.

Or even about the dear old Church of England.

But is it not an enormous comfort to know that Jesus will build his church?

HE - WILL do it.

 

Being a Vicar or a church warden can sometimes be a lonely calling.

We can be conscious of heavy responsibilities.

And sometimes we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders.

We soon learn that we can’t please all the people all the time.

We would never say this, but we can almost begin to imagine that the Kingdom of God depends solely on us.

 

But with us or without us, Jesus means to build his church.

It is, in the end, his church, not ours.

It is his kingdom – not my empires – that really matters.

 

Christian ministry in Britain today is sometimes slow and hard.

In some parts of the world, the gospel is spreading like wildfire, but in some parts of our land the flame sometimes burns low or splutters.

Some of us will feel we’re struggling to keep the flame alive.

The church is sometimes ignored or ridiculed.

We might not face outright persecution, as some of our brothers and sisters around the world do, but we sometimes don’t see the enthusiastic response for which we pray.

It can be hard for us to adjust to what in some ways is a post-Christendom context in England.

We seem to many more marginal and irrelevant or even wrong or wicked than perhaps we care to admit.

But we should remember, as our Psalm had it, that God remains on the throne of the universe.

Jesus has ascended to his heavenly throne in triumph.

Church growth is his business, not just ours, and the Lord of the church knows what he’s doing.

Jesus would say to us, as he did to his disciples: “Do not fear, little flock!”

“Be of good courage! I have overcome the world!”

“I am with you always. I will never leave you or forsake you.”

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, therefore go and disciple the nations”

“Rejoice that your names are written in heaven!”

 

Some seed will still fall on the path and be plucked up by Satan, or on stoney ground, or be chocked by weeds, but the seed of the gospel is good and powerful.

The Sower will have a mighty harvest.

The Word of God will produce a crop, 30, 60 or 100 times what was sown.

 

Jesus’ mustard seed will grow and become the largest tree in the garden in which the birds of the air will come and nest.

The yeast of the gospel will work its way through the whole batch.

The earth will be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

The rock that was not cut out by human hands will become a huge mountain and fill the whole earth.

The stone the builders rejected is the capstone.

 

Jesus will build his church.

And he invites us to join in with his building project.

 

Ephesians 4 also speaks of the building up of the church, not now as a building, but as the body of Christ.

You’ll notice that the job of the Vicar, the Pastor-Teacher, is not to do everything.

He or she is not to be a one-person band who singlehandedly visits and evangelises and pastors everyone, on top of doing all the admin and fundraising and co-ordinating the building project and...

No, rather, the minister is to prepare God’s people for works of service.

There are a variety of different gifts and roles in the church, but what we’re seeking is an every-member ministry, where each part of the body is valued and plays its part:

Where all serve and grow together.

Everyone is needed!

The building of the church is the business of the whole body, not only of the big toe and the elbow, as it were.  

 

And you as church wardens can play a vital role in that:

Perhaps in spotting others who could be encouraged to serve.

Certainly, I hope, in encouraging your clergy.  

 

You can all be a force for building up, for encouraging, for seeking the health and flourishing of the whole body.

When I worked for the Christian Union movement in Universities, we used to have a mantra:
“Encourage the good wherever you see it!”

Sometimes one had to look pretty hard.

I’m not sure I was ever quite reduced to saying to anyone, “Oh, I like your shirt”, but sometimes it came pretty close.  

There is so much to be said for being positive, for saying thank you, for showing appreciation.

 

Leaders sometimes have to say tough, unwelcome things.

There could be a time for a challenging question from a church warden.

But let it be in the context of love and support.

Let your clergy and your volunteers know that you are on their side and grateful to God for them.

 

I come now to the notices and resources I’ve mentioned on the sheet.

 

Could I just ask you to satisfy my curiosity, by the way, and raise your hand, please, if you are serving as a church warden for the first time?

 

You can find on the diocesan website a useful 23-page PDF guide on “Being a church warden”.

 

But let me remind you again of the official role description: “Canon E1: Of Churchwardens

 

4. The churchwardens when admitted are officers of the bishop.

They shall discharge such duties as are by law and custom assigned to them;

they shall be foremost in representing the laity and in co-operating with the incumbent;

they shall use their best endeavours by example and precept to encourage the parishioners in the practice of true religion and to promote unity and peace among them.

They shall also maintain order and decency in the church and churchyard, especially during the time of divine service.

5. In the churchwardens is vested the property in the plate, ornaments, and other movable goods of the church, and they shall keep an inventory thereof which they shall revise from time to time as occasion may require.

On going out of office they shall duly deliver to their successors any goods of the church remaining in their hands together with the said inventory, which shall be checked by their successors.”

I’m praying for you that you might indeed work well with your clergy and be a blessing to one another.

That you might co-operate really well with the minister and with others.

 

There are always niggles and issues.

And people can often be grumpy and gossipy.

But you have an opportunity to seek to be really exemplary:

To pray for grace to be a godly example, promoting unity and peace “so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

You can make this great building project of Jesus’ your own goal and ambition.

We can all seek to play our own small part in building his church, in seeking the health of the body.  

 

If you’d like to think a bit more about how you can support your clergy, there’s a useful document on the Church of England website for local congregations under the section on the Covenant For The Care And Well-Being Of Clergy.

Search “Clergy covenant” and you’ll get it, I think.

 

There’s going to be some training offered for churchwardens by the proper Archdeacons, which I understand has been very much appreciated in previous years.

These sessions are both going to be via Zoom on 12^th September at 6:30pm.

And on 20^th September at 3pm.

(The same session repeated twice).

  

There’s also going to be a Church Buildings Update Evening in this Archdeaconry on 8^th November, and at other times in other parts of the diocese.

 

We encourage you to support Ride and Stride and the Sussex Historic Churches Trust, which can be a useful source of help with repairing our church buildings.

The Ride and Stride event is on the 9^th September.

You can find details of that online.

 

As I hope you know, this year we’re having a Diocesan Year of the Old Testament.

It’s not too late to join in with that, not least in our online reading group in Genesis and Exodus.

We’re thinking about the life of Abraham on Wednesday so let me know if you’d like to join us.

Next year will be our Year of the New Testament.

In 2025 we’ll have a Year of Faith.

We celebrate the anniversary of The Council of Nicaea in 325.

And 950 years since the establishing of the Cathedral at Chichester.

 

Your rural dean, the staff at Church House, Hove, and the Archdeacons are here to support you in your vital work.

We pray especially for Archdeacon Edward for the happy day of his return:

that he will come back on the 1^st August very much Ministerially Developed by his lovely leave and ready to solve all your problems!

 

In all seriousness, I can stay around as long as necessary afterwards so please do grab me if there’s anything you’d like to say or ask.

 

May God bless you in your role.

And may your churches be built on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ and his Word.

May the whole body work together in healthy unity and peace, growing up into maturity in Christ, as each part does its work.

And so to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit be all honour and power and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

 

* * * NOTICE SHEET * * *

 

 Acting Archdeacon of Hastings - Archdeacon’s Visitation – Charge to Churchwardens 2023

(Psalm 47)

Matthew 16:13-20

Ephesians 4:1-16

 

Thank you! We’ll be praying for you.

 

You can find on the diocesan website a useful 23-page PDF guide on “Being a church warden” and other information for churchwardens - https://www.chichester.anglican.org/information-for-churchwardens/

 

https://www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/legal-services/canons-church-england/canons-website-edition  - “Canon E1: Of Churchwardens

 

4. The churchwardens when admitted are officers of the bishop. They shall discharge such duties as are by law and custom assigned to them; they shall be foremost in representing the laity and in co-operating with the incumbent; they shall use their best endeavours by example and precept to encourage the parishioners in the practice of true religion and to promote unity and peace among them. They shall also maintain order and decency in the church and churchyard, especially during the time of divine service.

 

5. In the churchwardens is vested the property in the plate, ornaments, and other movable goods of the church, and they shall keep an inventory thereof which they shall revise from time to time as occasion may require. On going out of office they shall duly deliver to their successors any goods of the church remaining in their hands together with the said inventory, which shall be checked by their successors.”

 

The Covenant For The Care And Well-Being Of Clergy - https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/clergy-resources/national-clergy-hr/supporting-clergy-health-and-wellbeing/covenant#na

 

Training for churchwardens via Zoom on 12^th September at 6:30pm and on 20^th September at 3pm.

  

Church Buildings Update Evening in this Archdeaconry on 8^th November, and at other times in other parts of the diocese. (Time and venue TBC)

 

Ride and Stride and the Sussex Historic Churches Trust - 9^th September - https://ridestride.org/counties/sussex/

 

Year of the Old Testament - it’s not too late to join in with that, not least in our online reading group in Genesis and Exodus – marc_lloyd@hotmail.com

Next year will be our Year of the New Testament.

In 2025 we’ll have a Year of Faith.

We celebrate the anniversary of The Council of Nicaea in 325.

And 950 years since the establishing of the Cathedral at Chichester.

 

Your rural dean, the staff at Church House, Hove, and the archdeacons are here to support you in your vital work.

 

 

An invitation to the Psalms

 For our parish magazine:

From The Rectory

 

No hot takes on the news from me this month. I want to use this page to invite you, or welcome you back, to The Bible’s Book of Psalms – the 150 poems, prayers and songs to be found in the Old Testament. If you’re off to the beach this summer, why not pack a Psalter? You could read the Psalms in Miles Coverdale’s beautiful translations in The Book of Common Prayer (1662). Or you could find a whole host of translations online such as at biblegateway.com. The New International Version is popular – we use it in church. If you’re looking for something fresher, The Message by Eugene Peterson might be worth a look. Or Robert Alter’s translation and commentary could be of interest.

Sometimes the church has neglected the Psalms. I feel I don’t know them as well as I should. The Second Council of Nicaea in 787, decreed that, “Candidates for a bishop’s orders must know the Psalter by heart” and had that rule been preserved, we might have a rather different church leadership.  

 

The Psalms occupy a very special place in the Bible. As with all Scripture they are the words of God, given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but in particular they are human words which God invites us to say or sing back to him. Here is a guide to infallible prayer and worship. Here are songs God loves to hear, because he gave them. Here are prayers which we know are according to God’s will. Knowing, prayer and singing the Psalms would be a spiritually transforming experience. We can come to them with confidence as the Word of God, as textbook worship and prayer.  

 

The German Reformer, Martin Luther wrote about the Psalms: ““The Psalter should be precious to us if only because it most clearly promises the death and resurrection of Christ, and describes his kingdom, and the nature and standing of all Christian people. It could well be entitled a “Little Bible” since everything contained in the entire Bible is beautifully and briefly comprehended, and compacted into…a Manual [or handbook]. It seems to me as if the Holy Ghost had been pleased to take on himself the trouble of putting together a short Bible…touching the whole of Christianity…in order that they who are unable to read the whole Bible may nevertheless find almost the whole sum comprehended in one little book…the Psalter is the very paragon of books.” There’s almost everything in the Book of Books!

 

Although divine, the Psalms are very human. It feels like all human life is here. Joy and delight. Great love and faith. But also sorrow and despair. These poems are an anatomy of the soul in all its conditions – including its ailments. The human heart is laid bare. The Psalmists had a very robust and real relationship with God. They felt they could be honest. If they were angry or at a loss, they felt God could cope with that! They bring their emotions, doubts and fears as well as their noble aspirations to God. Whilst there is great artistry in the Psalms (they love an acrostic, for example), there is no pretence. Whatever your mood or situation, however happy or desperate, there is a psalm to meet your need.  

 

(My friend, The Revd Ben Williamson, whom we support in his church planting work in Greater Manchester, has written a one-line summary of each Psalm which you might find helpful in choosing a Psalm: benjaminwilliamson.co.uk/2011/09/10/one-line-psalm-summaries/)

 

Jesus, of course, would have said and sung the Psalms. Like all the Bible, the Psalms are ultimately about Jesus. It is always worth thinking about what a particular prayer would have meant on the lips of Jesus. How does it relate to his life and mission? Many of the Psalms are by King David, and Jesus is the Davidic Messiah, great King David’s long-promised greater son. Many of the Psalms are spoken by an innocent person suffering unjustly and trusting God. It is not hard to hear the crucified Jesus here. The Psalms were the song book of Israel and Jesus is, as it were, the epitome of the nation, the True Israel, the only perfectly faithful Man of God. The Psalms are ultimately the songs of Jesus. But they are also our songs because we are Jesus’ people. We sing these songs by faith in him. His story is our story. We march to his tune.

 

On Saturday 14^th October, we’re having a day thinking about and mainly singing the Psalms. We’re expecting some interest from beyond the parish so you might like to book now to avoid disappointment. I shall be there and singing enthusiastically so the line is no musical ability required! I hope you can join us. psalmroar.org/sussex/

 

The Revd Marc Lloyd

On long, slow, patient, attentive Bible Reading

 I wonder if we are sometimes a little hasty and impatient in reading Scripture.

Maybe we are in a hurry to get through our daily readings, to tick off our devotional. We want to get a blessing and to see the cash value of what we are reading for today. We want something that will make an immediate difference, something which we can do now. And there is good in all this, of course. The Bible is meant to be a light to our path.

If we are preparing to preach or teach, maybe our prep is crammed in and hand to mouth. We want to crunch it down into points, to churn out our applications. We latch on to something that we know will make a message. Maybe we discard the loose ends or are wary of ambiguity or pointless speculation. We must feed the people - but not just fast food or the same two or three standard meals.

Perhaps the Bible often seems strange or puzzling. Or we skip over details. If we're honest, we're very ignorant of the Bible and its world. We can't say our imaginations are shaped by it. Maybe there is symbol and significance we don't really ponder. Many of us, and I include myself in this, are still infants in the reading of the Bible and there is so much to learn.

Reading the Bible is a life long project. Perhaps it is a little daunting, but it's also a wonderful adventure, an inexhaustible feast. And we might get help from the whole church down the ages. We should dare to stray beyond our favourite passages and our inherited outlines of the correct answers. We shouldn't worry if we don't get it all now. We never will.

A more patient, attentive, curious reading might help us to see patterns and connections.

I've been looking at the life of Abraham and the echoes / plays on other Scriptures seem rich. Creation, Fall and Exodus seem to be recalled or transposed. It is not obvious always what to make of these links, but maybe it is worth just seeing them and sitting with them. As part of a life time of prayerful Bible reading, they might form part of the fertile compost in which knowing Jesus can flourish.

Today's Bible reading, whether long or short, leisured or brief, might contribute to all our other readings as we store up treasure, seeing things old and new.

In God's economy, no time spent with the Bible is ever wasted, even if we don't know the fruit right now. We plough on in hope! Happy reading! 

Thomas Traherne on The Cross

 Thomas Traherne speaking quite marvellously about the cross: 

"(58) The Cross is the abyss of wonders, the centre of desires, the school of virtues, the house of wisdom, the throne of love, the theatre of joys, and the place of sorrows; It is the root of happiness, and the gate of Heaven. 

(59) Of all the things in Heaven and Earth it is the most peculiar. It is the most exalted of all objects. It is an Ensign lifted up for all nations, to it shall the Gentiles seek, His rest shall be glorious: the dispersed of Judah shall be gathered together to it, from the four corners of the earth. If Love be the weight of the Soul, and its object the centre, all eyes and hearts may convert and turn unto this Object: cleave unto this centre, and by it enter into rest. There we might see all nations assembled with their eyes and hearts upon it. There we may see God’s goodness, wisdom and power: yea His mercy and anger displayed. There we may see man’s sin and infinite value. His hope and fear, his misery and happiness. There we might see the Rock of Ages, and the Joys of Heaven. There we may see a Man loving all the world, and a God dying for mankind. There we may see all types and ceremonies, figures and prophecies. And all kingdoms adoring a malefactor: An innocent malefactor, yet the greatest in the world. There we may see the most distant things in Eternity united: all mysteries at once couched together and explained. The only reason why this Glorious Object is so publicly admired by Churches and Kingdoms, and so little thought of by particular men, is because it is truly the most glorious: It is the Rock of Comforts and the Fountain of Joys. It is the only supreme and sovereign spectacle in all Worlds. It is a Well of Life beneath in which we may see the face of Heaven above: and the only mirror, wherein all things appear in their proper colours: that is, sprinkled in the blood of our Lord and Saviour.

(60) The Cross of Christ is the Jacob’s ladder by which we ascend into the highest heavens. There we see joyful Patriarchs, expecting Saints, Prophets ministering Apostles publishing, and Doctors teaching, all Nations concentering, and Angels praising. That Cross is a tree set on fire with invisible flame, that Illuminateth all the world. The flame is Love: the Love in His bosom who died on it. In the light of which we see how to possess all the things in Heaven and Earth after His similitude. For He that suffered on it was the Son of God as you are: tho’ He seemed only a mortal man. He had acquaintance and relations as you have, but He was a lover of Men and Angels. Was he not the Son of God; and Heir of the whole world? To this poor, bleeding, naked Man did all the corn and wine, and oil, and gold and silver in the world minister in an invisible manner, even as He was exposed lying and dying upon the Cross.

(61) Here you learn all patience, meekness, self-denial, courage, prudence, zeal, love, charity, contempt of the world, penitence, contrition, modesty, fidelity, constancy, perseverance, contentation, holiness, and thanksgiving: With whatsoever else is requisite for a Man, a Christian, or a King...." (Meditations) 

How I like to start and end a sermon

 In some circles, it is typical to start a sermon with a joke. But I can never remember any good ones. 

Or something from the newspaper. But I don't normally read one. 

I sometimes like to start by saying: 

"In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

This reminds us all what we are about, I think. 

It gestures to the Proclamation Trust slogan that: "When God’s word is faithfully taught, God’s voice is truly heard."

Or in the words of the Second Helvetic Confession:

Wherefore when this Word of God is now preached in the church by preachers lawfully called, we believe that the very Word of God is proclaimed, and received by the faithful; and that neither any other Word of God is to be invented nor is to be expected from heaven: and that now the Word itself which is preached is to be regarded, not the minister that preaches; for even if he be evil and a sinner, nevertheless the Word of God remains still true and good.

The preached word is the Word of God.  

The minister, then, speaks as Christ's authorised representative, his spokesman and ambassador. This reminds him what he is about. Not to entertain but to proclaim good news. 

We don't want best thoughts from the Vicarage or commentary current affairs. Give us the Word of God, preacher!

And I like to finish by saying: 

And so to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit be all honour, and power and glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 

I think I got this from The Revd Paul Blackham but if anyone knows anything about the origins and prevalence of this tradition, I would be interested. 

It is always good to praise the Triune God! But I like this ending because it reminds us that the sermon is doxology. It is worship, our response to God's Word and his grace. And it is oriented to worship: that we might love God with heart, mind, word and action. The sermon is not for information but for transformation. We pray that in the light of what is said, in this brief hour together and in the week ahead we might more faithfully live lives of worship to King Jesus. If the sermon is not to the glory of the Triune God, we'd better not bother with it. 

Just in case the preacher might enjoy being six feet above contradiction too much, this ending reminds us that it is all Soli Deo Gloria, for the glory of God alone. 

As we finish our sermons, we give glory to God and we encourage our hearers to do the same by adding their Amen and by responding to God's word in faith and gratitude. 

May God make the middle of our sermons more attuned to their beginnings and endings. Amen. 

Sing Old Songs

 I am all for contemporary Christian songs. The Christian faith is ever relevant and every song was contemporary once.

But we should also sing things that have stood the test of time.

Indeed, we want to express our unity with all Christians down the ages and around the world.

I find it especially encouraging when we can sometimes sing some of the oldest Christian songs. If they sang this 1000 years ago, perhaps we will also be singing it in 1000 years time, or 10 000 years. If the church in the UK has its problems today, then this was also true in the past. There are past glories and we look to God for future glories.

Let's not be stuck in one particular century or decade for our singing.

(I'd love people to share links to their favourite old stuff in a tongue understanded of the people)

Go local! On not driving past a Bible-believing church that is trying

This is a plea to those who would like to think of themselves as bible-believing people with a heart for the gospel. (And perhaps especially to those who have been committed believers for a few years). 

I know you will have your important theological convictions that might be more aligned with a church a few miles away. 

You will have your musical and liturgical tastes. 

You will want times and groups that can work for you. 

You need to have your needs met if you are to grow in loving Jesus. That is totally true.  

You're looking for peers for yourself and maybe for you kids. I sympathise. 

But I want to urge you to try your nearest church. Perhaps especially if you are an evangelical and the local church is trying to believe and share the gospel. If this church is finding it hard to grow and thrive, maybe the motor car is partly to blame. 

If you have a car, you could no doubt find something bigger and better. There are many advantages to a larger church. I am all for larger churches. I belonged to one as a student although it was across town. I benefited hugely. Maybe that was the right thing for me at that time. I found some ways to serve there. 

But your local church might need you. There might be wonderful opportunities to use your gift and to serve. 

In a church of say 50 people or fewer, your presence could make a big difference, whereas if there are already 100 people, your impact is likely to be rather less. 

Humanly speaking, there can be quite a fine line between small and likely to dwindle and viable with potential to grow. But if we all despair of the day of small things, we can guess the result, unless the Lord graciously sends revival. 

If you and a few other people dedicated themselves to the local church, together, and perhaps working with other Christians in the wider area (perhaps to put on some joint youth work, for example), you could have a huge impact on your local community. 

How much easier to invite your neighbours to the church in your parish.

Belonging to a smaller local church may certainly have its costs and sacrifices. But it a bit easier to be involved and serve if your travelling time is reduced. You can be there a bit earlier and linger longer. Getting to something midweek may be less of a juggling-act ordeal.  

If you join a smaller church, it could lead to a music or singing group, or a good service sheet, or effective AV, or a prayer triplet. Perhaps a few of you could start a new Bible study or home group. Or put on an outreach event. 

I confess we use supermarkets. There is lots of choice. It is probably cheaper. But we also use our village shop. We really want it to continue. So we try to support it, even if there are some things we can't get on special offer at 3AM there. Well, I'd like the local church to grow and thrive to serve the local community. 

You could be part of something wonderful. You could be a huge blessing to others. Maybe your local church needs you. 

You must do what you feel is right. It's not for me to tell you which church to go to. But would you think and pray about it? If you're moving, try local! Maybe your pastor would bless you if you said you are thinking of moving to your nearest church and throwing yourself in for the sake of the gospel in your immediate locality. 

By all means tell me how wrong I am, but maybe...?

(I'm grateful to those who have commented on FB and elsewhere. I've made a couple of small additions to this since I originally posted it). 

Ascension Deficit Disorder?

 A brief sermon for the Ascension 

Look away now if you are coming to church tonight (St Giles, Dallington, 7:30pm, Thurs 18th May)

Acts 1:1-11 (p1092)

Luke 24:44-end (p1062)

 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

It’s so easy to be distracted or pre-occupied, isn’t it?

 

Perhaps we live in an especially anxious age.

And maybe TV and social media have destroyed our attention spans.

But these dangers of distraction and pre-occupation seem to have afflicted the Apostles too.

They are very much part of life in 21^st Century Britain, but they are also part of the human condition.

Indeed, if we wanted to risk being corny, we might say that we are in danger not only of attention deficit disorder but of ascension deficit disorder.

Perhaps the ascension can help us if we feel distracted or preoccupied.

 

First, the disciples seem distracted.

They have a pressing question for Jesus in Acts 1v6.

It’s on page 1092 if you want to look at it and you’ve lost it.

The disciples ask Jesus, 1v6, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

That’s their big question.

Jesus has been speaking to them about the kingdom of God (v3), and they have a question about the kingdom of Israel.

Maybe they hope to see a proper king of Israel restored and the Romans booted out.

Perhaps they think still in nationalistic terms, whereas Jesus is going to send them to the ends of the earth.

We know that the disciples competed for the top jobs in Jesus’ kingdom:

They wanted to sit on Jesus’ right and left when he came into his kingdom.

Perhaps they’re still hoping for earthly power and prestige.

They are going to receive power from on high, but maybe not quite the sort of power for which they hope, and maybe not for the purposes which they imagine.

Jesus’ disciples, perhaps, still have much to learn.

And no doubt, so too, do we.

Jesus’ ways are not often our ways.

He might surprise us, as he often seems to have surprised his first disciples.

 

Jesus tells them, in effect, to mind their own business – not worry their heads with these matters.

V7, Jesus says to them, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.”

Don’t worry, he tells them, God the Father has it all under control.

He has his plans and he doesn’t necessarily want to tell you the schedule or all the details you’d like to know.

But God also has a plan for you: a purpose, a mission.

V8: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

That’s the programmatic verse of the book of Acts which we see playing out in the following chapters and in the rest of human history.

Jesus doesn’t give his disciples all the answers, or all the information they’d like.

He doesn’t satisfy their curiosity.

But he does give them a job to do.

He tells them what they need to know to do it.  

And he’s going to give them the power to do it – the supernatural power of God the Holy Spirit.

 

So Jesus’ ascension challenges our priorities.

It might encourage us to ask new and better questions:

To change our focus and our hopes:

To look to the Kingdom of God and the Word of God, rather than our own hopes and plans.

 

Jesus then ascends to heaven and is hidden from their sight (v9).

It’s hardly surprising that, v10, they stand there looking intently up in to the sky.

No doubt they’re amazed and preoccupied.

If they had questions before, perhaps they have even more now.

Who knows how long they would have stood there looking up into the sky if the angel hadn’t intervened.

The angels ask them why they are standing there looking up into the sky (v11), and it’s not hard to say why:

We’ve never seen anyone ascend to heaven before!

Suddenly Jesus is gone.

It takes some getting your head round.

They have to sort out their ascension deficit disorder.

 

But the angels speak of the plan of God:

V11: “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you in to heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

 

Maybe they are distressed and confused by Jesus’ going.

The angels want them to think too about Jesus’ return.

 

Jesus had spoken to them about the kingdom of God.

Jesus was God’s king.

When Jesus came he announced and inaugurated the kingdom of God in a new way.

His death and resurrection secured his kingdom and demonstrated his kingship.

Now Jesus’ ascension is his enthronement as king.

It was very nice of the UK to arrange a coronation as a helpful small-scale illustration of the enthronement of the world’s true king.

 

And one day the king will come again as judge to bring in his kingdom in all its fullness.

As the disciples set about their mission to be witnesses for Jesus in the whole wide world, they must keep in mind that second coming of Jesus.

That is the great event to which all history is now moving.

They are to urge people to get on board with the way the universe is going, to be ready for what’s coming:

To be ready for who is coming, because Jesus the risen king will return in glory to judge the living and the dead.

 

So as Jesus’ disciples, we are to be neither distracted not pre-occupied.

Rather, we too share in the Apostolic Mission to be witnesses to Jesus the King to all the nations.

He now claims their allegiance.

And God the Holy Spirit will empower us.

 

Jesus the King has come.

Jesus reigns as king.

Jesus the king will come again.

 

If we are distracted or preoccupied, perhaps the ascension can help to heal our disorders.

 

So let us be about the business of the King.

Let us give ourselves to His Majesty’s Service:

Confident of his rule and equipped for his service.

 

And so to God the Father, God the risen, ascended Son, and to God the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory and power, for ever and ever. Amen.  

(The phrase “ascension deficit disorder” was taken from a cartoon seen on Facebook)

Parish Magazine Item for the Coronation II

From The Rectory

 

As I said last month, I’ve long been an enormous fan of the coronation service. I was glad that my favourite bit about the Bible as “the most valuable thing this world affords” remained in. And for all my love of traditional pageantry and so on, I think the desire to make the occasion seem more inclusive was, on balance, understandable and probably well done.

 

If you’re interested in reading more about the service, I enjoyed Tom Holland’s Comment is Free piece in The Observer / Guardian which you can find free online: ‘Our bronze age coronation rites seem to speak to a modern love of the sacred’ - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/30/bronze-age-coronation-rites-seem-to-speak-to-a-modern-love-of-the-sacred

 

The order of service was on The Church of England website and in particular there was a version with commentary which is worth a look - https://www.churchofengland.org/coronation/liturgy. (As I say, I draw your attention to the presentation of the Bible towards the beginning).

 

I’ve also been giving out a slim book by Roger Careswell from 10ofThose called God Save The King! I’m afraid we’ve used up all our stock, but you might even get it at a much better discount now if they’re not all sold out! - https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products?q=Coronation

 

Though I thought I was quite familiar with the service, I admit I was a little rusty on the royal regalia. We all think we know about the crown jewels, of course. But who knew about the significance of spurs, one glove and bracelets? I’m still not sure what the redemption of the sword was all about.  

The orb remains a powerful symbol, I think. The globe is under the cross. Christ is the king. And the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of God and of his Christ.

 

As we marvel at the King’s regalia, we might think of the regalia of Christ and of the Christian.

 

Jesus was crowned with thorns. His wounds are the trophies of his victory. We may glory in the crucified and risen Messiah.

 

And the Bible has much to say about the Christian dress code. It speaks of what we out to put off (all sin) and what we ought to put on.

 

One of the most striking images of the coronation was Charles divested of all his royal robes. As he stood in a simple white shirt, the humanity, weakness and frailty of us all was proclaimed. Even the best of men are only men at best. God sees our hearts. And all of us have things which we ought to put off: sinful attitudes from which we need to turn.

 

We are to put on Christ (Romans 13:14). We are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3:12). The believer is not to lounge around in her pyjamas but is to put on the full armour of God. A look at The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chapter 6 would show us the Christian also splendidly arrayed for a life of real meaning and significance. Here we are dressed not for the ceremony of court but for a real fight.

 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 

If the apparel of the King at his coronation matters, so does what we put on and put off each day.

 

As we pray for King Charles, let us also pray that we would be clothed with Christ by faith and by all his virtues which would adorn our lives. In the title of the coronation service, we too are “called to serve” Christ the King and all people as made in the image of God. May we more and more reflect the likeness of Jesus, crucified, risen, ascended.

 

The Revd Marc Lloyd 

The Revd Marc Lloyd