Homeward bound

Dear friends,

Christopher Nolan’s epic new film “The Odyssey” powerfully depicts the pull of home, after years of war.

In Ukraine, the war and destruction continues, with thousands displaced, and in France and Spain many are forced by nature’s wrath to leave their dwellings. Communities are broken. Will they ever be re-made? Can our connections with time and place be recreated? What does family mean? Where do we belong? Where are my roots?

The release of the Odyssey has brought with it an upsurge in interest in the world of the Greek classics, and the ancient Greek of Homer. The teaching of classics has collapsed over my lifetime, with education having “other priorities.” I confess, given the option between Latin and German at secondary school in the 1970’s, I chose the latter, which I never regretted, but it would have been better with hindsight to have been required to do both. Theological education for ministry, happily, brought with it a chance to learn New Testament Greek (different from the ancient Greek language) which has proved useful and stimulating throughout. The “koine” Greek of the gospels was the “common tongue” of the ancient near east in the first century – the “English” of the era – and one of the reasons that the Good News of Christ could spread throughout the known world so effectively. (Latin was the “official” written and business language of the Roman Empire, which Christendom would in due course adopt). The Greek language today is a heavily evolved descendant of this “koine” that St Paul and others would have been so familiar with. However we identify belonging – place of birth, language spoken, dwelling place, community, family ancestry or national heritage, “home” is a gift, a “being in relationship” with God, oneself, neighbour, and land. When these relationships are all right (in the sense of good, whole and truthful) there is peace in the deepest sense. The Jewish people have a world for this peace of fulfilment and wholeness, which you may have come across. It is “Shalom”. A rich, full, and meaningful contentment. When we say “peace be with you,” in church, it is this in this sense: “Welcome home.”

Worship Services for Sunday 2nd August

9.30am All Age Service at St John’s Stoke Row with Revd Kevin Davies

11am Morning Prayer at St Peter and Paul, Checkendon with Revd Kevin Davies.

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

Worship Services for Sunday 9th August

9.30am Morning Prayer at St John’s Stoke Row with Revd Kevin Davies

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

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

Advance Notice: Team Service at 10.30am on Sun 30th August, St John’s Stoke Row.

A songs of praise style service celebrating the music of the psalms, with Revd Kevin.

Please pray for

Those whose journey has come to an end, and their families. Those who are beginning a new stage of their life’s path, perhaps through marriage, or childbirth, or a new employment. Those who have nowhere to call home, and who care not. Those in France and Spain who have fled their homes, and do not know whether they will have anything to return to after the fire has passed.

The friends and family of Paul Dutton, whose funeral will be at Checkendon on Tuesday 4th August at 3pm.

Rain! The fields and the gardens are parched and dusty. We are (nationally) living beyond our means in terms of water husbandry. Why not consider an extra water butt, or even a cistern, for outdoor non-potable use next year? In the Rectory garden, the watering can has a daily round; the tomatoes and outdoor cucumbers are responding with joy. At least something loves the heat.

May the shalom that Christ gives be with us all, and may we all find our dwelling place with Him.

Your Rector

Canon Kevin.