An Ezekiel Moment.

Dear friends,

As Israelis and Palestinians dust themselves off, and see what shape and direction life and circumstances hold for them, separately or together, there is a corporate holding of breath amongst those who care in the international community. Is there a will for peace? Or will the men of violence find a way to shoot the white dove out of the sky? In dictator’s palaces, those long clinging to power revise their schemes, and revisit their machinations. In the fragile democracies, newcomers of all shapes and sizes are increasingly aware that wisdom and truth are shy guests, and that the loudest voices often have the least to say.

Ezekiel did not start out as a prophet. He was a well to do priest, whose comfortable world fell apart when Judah was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586BC. Jerusalem was besieged, and the city fell, its walls broken down. Thousands were slain. The Temple was destroyed, and its treasures carried off to Babylon, along with the royal family and all the higher echelons of Hebrew society. The “Babylonian captivity” would last for seventy years, until that Empire was overrun by the Persians under Cyrus. Ezekiel lost everything, but his life was spared and he was among those taken as a captive to Babylon. There would not be a (self governing) “Israel” again until 1947. After such a great calamity, the exiles could be forgiven for turning inwards, in mourning and introspection. Indeed, this response is exactly that found in Psalm 137: “By the rivers of Babylon, we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion…”.

Ezekiel, however, receives a divine “kicking”. (Ezk 1-3) He is given a task – to speak to the stubborn, obstinate, rebellious people – with God’s message. He sees a vision of the full glory of God – not in Jerusalem, not in the Temple, not at worship, but outside, in the Creation, in Babylon, the land of the destroyer. Ezekiel is reminded, with some considerable force, that Yahweh is Lord of all things, all peoples, all nations, and all time and history. The nascent prophet sits, possibly with those strumming their harps by the river, mute with awe. The musicians could have been forgiven for assuming that the priest was in mourning along with them. True, he was overwhelmed, but it was for a very different reason.

Worship Services for Sunday 26th January

9.30am Holy Communion at St John’s Stoke Row with Canon Kevin Davies

11am Holy Communion at St Peter and Paul, Checkendon with Canon Kevin Davies

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

Snowdrop alert

The first snowdrops are coming up in Checkendon churchyard, between the path and the wall. If you need a visual pick-me-up, look no further. Marvel too at the craftsmanship of the newly recommissioned lychgates, in memory of Joe Rush, from Foundry Cottage. May these gates be for us the way of life, leading us to Christ, who said ‘whoever enters through me will be saved’ (cf John 10:9).

Along with the churchyard snowdrops, the verbena in the Rectory garden is in goodly bud, and looking to explode into white clusters at any moment. There’s work to be done digging out compost heaps, and my annual internal debate as to the best time to prune the apple trees has commenced. It always comes around too soon! The birds are hungry; woodpecker, nuthatch and all the tits are constantly at the feeders. The shy blackcaps are getting bolder, but they never stop long enough for a photo opportunity. The rhubarb was caught out by the arctic blast last week and all the early growth (of the early variety)  has been frosted. The strawberry patch is looking very sorry for itself; there is almost nothing green to be seen. However last year’s crop is still in the freezer, making a great addition to rhubarb, whether simply stewed together, or under a crumble. For, bitter and bleak though January may be, either in weather at home, or troubles in the world, there is never a better time of year for a “proper pudding.”

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Canon Kevin.

PS Chef’s tip: For a browner, crunchier crumble, if you prefer, try adding 1/2oz of oatbran to your topping mix, and turning the oven up to 190 degrees C.