Devices and Desires

Dear friends,

No, it’s not a shorthand for a Christmas list, but a pithy reminder that we “follow our heart” sometimes to our own peril. The devices in this instance being those schemes of selfishness that can be found coiled like a dragon in the darker corners of our person,  – rather than the electronic “devices” held in our hands, which also, strangely, seek mastery over us. The Advent season and its attention to preparedness for Christmas is foremost a time of repentance, which urges us to attend to the inner you ahead of the coming of the Messiah the “maker of all things, Judge of all men”.  The prayer of confession written by Thomas Cranmer (who was very busy as a liturgist when he was not popping across to Wolf Hall) minces no words. It first appeared in the “Prayer Book” of 1552, survived its 1662 revision, and as those of you who are familiar with “BCP Morning – or Evening – Prayer” will know, remains in use today. It shows a naked humility before the majesty and mystery of God that is alien to most public discourse in the West in our time, a humility made all the more astonishing when you remember that the prayer was crafted in a period when “church as we know it” was being dismantled and appropriated by the State, and the temptation to triumphalism great. But what emerged were serious prayers for serious times, to which we do well to give heed in our own era, when frivolities flap and fluster.

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against thy holy laws.
We have left undone those things which we ought to have done;
and we have done those things which we ought not to have done;
and there is no health in us.
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders.
Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults.
Restore thou them that are penitent;
according to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
to the glory of thy holy name. Amen.

Worship Services for Sunday 15th December 2024

9.30am Informal Worship at St John’s Stoke Row with Mr Peter Ferguson

11am Family Service at St Peter and Paul, Checkendon with Canon Kevin Davies. An informal service for all ages, with the music group, and coffee from 10.45am

Midweek zoom service: Wednesday Evensong at 5.00pm  410 935 129

Wreckage

As we make our way gingerly along debris strewn lanes, grateful for the attentions of the electrical engineers who work in all hours (So that our homes may be warm, and….our external devices kept happy) it is in many ways a parable of the world we share. Kingdoms rise, and fall, wars rend the earth and greedy men shed blood. The Creation and the little ones suffer. We pray, in varying degrees of helplessness at all the brokenness. But do not give in to the coiled dragon. Widen your heart, so that there is room for Christ to shine his coming light and love. Reach outward.

This week’s musical offering has similarities with last week’s, in that there is a foreign tongue (this time Icelandic) and soulful strings. The UK choral group Voces8 have taken a song by the Icelandic group Sigur Ros, and rearranged it. Fljotavik is the short account of a shipwrecked small boat, and survival. Just four minutes, for when you feel unprepared for anything, and all at sea. Put every device aside, and turn it up. There may be uncertainty, but here you are, in spite of everything.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Your Rector  Canon Kevin.