Something ridiculous

Dear friends,

The late theologian Hans Kung, in his vast work “Does God Exist?” sagely wrote that “any talk of God which does not begin, or end, in silence, knows nothing.”  Those of us whose daily work revolves around words – their use, their arrangement, their creation, know that periods of inactivity, and revival are crucial to the engines of creativity, in much the same way as our cars need oil, diesel, or something in the battery. Holiday times are important for rest and refreshment. Sometimes clergy go on retreat, or for a quiet day, to specifically focus upon the life of the Spirit. We stop saying things and learn again to listen. Politicians, too, have a “recess”, when the work of government goes into a lower gear. Some are fortunate enough to get away to a different place, where a change of scene, a change of climate, perhaps a change of menu too, remind us what is special about home, as well as what is interesting and unique about being “away”.  Unfortunately for churchmen and politicians alike, it seems that the media in all its enormity never takes any kind of break, but rolls on regardless, an all consuming hydra, that demands (or even contrives?) content even when there is none, or when there are just the same old sadnesses, which can be redressed for the season. It was quite wonderful to be away last week, and not have any news of any kind, nor to feel any kind of obligation to seek it out. The only piece of news that would have been useful to me would have been a little more clarity about when and for how long the M25 would be closed. You know the sinking feeling; you’ve just passed the last junction, and now three of the four lanes are showing the red cross of doom above them. Unfortunately for our society, the highways department haven’t yet twigged that the education department banned the use of the red cross for marking school work about twenty years ago, with the result that we (obviously) now have a generation of drivers who neither observe, or understand the road signs. The consequence: chaos.

Please do join us on Sunday, if you are able, to offer prayers for our confused and fractious world, which is, notwithstanding, a place of beauty, and loved by God.

Worship Services Sunday 10th August

9.30am Morning Prayer at St John’s Stoke Row with Mr Peter Ferguson

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

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

Sunday 17th August

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

11am Family Worship at St Peter and Paul, Checkendon with Revd David Benskin.

Sunday 31st August

10.30am Team Service at St Leonard’s, Woodcote, with Revd David Benskin

Something sublime

One of the most moving choral concerts I have ever attended was as an undergraduate when a group of us went to hear Peter Phillips conduct the Tallis Scholars at Dorchester Abbey. The forty different choral parts of “Spem in Alium” wove their way around the Abbey vaults, taking us all heavenwards for a brief time. The way the final notes lingered and echoed around the space has remained with me. In another version of heaven, the Abbey tea rooms continue to serve cake around a communal table, in a wonderful reminder that heaven, when we arrive, will hold faces both familiar, and also unmet. This is a more recent rendition of the Tallis, by the Byrd Ensemble. Do look at the translation of the Latin, which is a prayer for our time if I ever saw one. (or, indeed, anyone suffering in a motorway queue).

Thank you for your support for all our churches: St Peter and St Paul’s clock is back in operation, and keeping perfect time, thanks to its new satellite monitored autowind system. Thank you to all of you who contributed to funding this. Do look up at the clock as you are passing. And when you hear the chimes, check them against your watch! Sunday Services will continue at the (precise!) usual times throughout the summer – please note that August is a five Sunday month, and so there will be a Team Songs of Praise Service at St Leonard’s Woodcote, on August 31st at 10.30am. Your prayers are asked for the family of Martin Morgan, whose funeral will be at St John’s Stoke Row on Tuesday 12th at 11.30am.

May the love of the Lord Jesus draw you to himself.

Your Rector, Canon Kevin