“On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after the resurrection of Jesus, the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them and it filled the house where they were meeting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each one of them. Everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” . . . . . Acts 2:1-4 (New Living Translation) Can you remember your Pentecost moment? It’s something you can never forget. Some of us remember where we were when President Kennedy was assassinated. More of us remember the exact moment we heard of the death of Princess Diana but can you remember where you were when you felt that rushing wind, tongues of fire or waves of peace, calm and stillness, when you were changed for ever on that day when the Holy Spirit entered your heart and mind and soul? Jesus had gone, fifty days after His resurrection, now ascended and returned to His Father but he’d sent another to be with His followers. The Holy Spirit is the third part of the triangle (the Trinity) that is God. The Spirit is His life-giving power – the bit of God that dwells inside us, spurring us on, bringing us comfort, guiding us in what to do – making us more like Christ. The Holy Spirit appeared like “tongues of fire” on their heads and set the disciples ablaze. It was the Tower of Babel reversed (Genesis ch.11). At Babel humans clambered up to be near God but here, God has already come down to be one of them. Now all the nations could understand each other. Now language was not a barrier. The Holy Spirit sent the disciples out to talk about all they had seen and heard to spread the Good News and the Spirit empowered them to live God’s way. God made his presence known to this group of believers in a spectacular way – violent wind, fire and His Holy Spirit. Would we like God to reveal Himself to us in such recognisable ways? He may do – or maybe not. Elijah needed a message from God (1Kings 19:10-13), experiencing a great wind, earthquake and fire but God’s message came in a gentle whisper. God may use dramatic methods to work in our lives – or He may speak in a gentle whisper. We just need to wait patiently for God and always listen. Our Christian faith is not limited to any race or group of people. Christ offers salvation to all people regardless of who or what they are. Those visitors in Jerusalem were surprised to hear the apostles and others speaking in languages other than their own but they need not have been. God works all kinds of miracles to spread the Gospel, using many ways and languages as He calls all kinds of people, not just a select few, to become His followers. No matter what your race or language, your education or status in society, God speaks to us through a raging furnace or a gentle whisper – and when the Holy Spirit enters your life, you’re never the same again. Are we listening for our Pentecost moment? Have you had your Pentecost experience? Ask God to pour out the Holy Spirit in your life – it’s too good to miss! Prayer “Father God, we pray that as we celebrate Pentecost, we recognize our utter dependence on You and stand overwhelmed by Your power. We praise You that on this Day of Pentecost, Your promise of the Holy Spirit is for us today. May we know and experience what it means to be filled with the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the life-enhancing power and presence of the Holy Spirit. May He empower us to live in You. Amen.” “O God of burning cleansing flame; Send the fire! Your blood-bought gift today we claim, Send the fire today! Look down and see the waiting host, And send the promised Holy Ghost; We need another Pentecost! Send the fire today! Send the fire today! William Booth (1829-1912), founder of The Salvation Army AuthorPeter Jolly He earned a BA at Cambridge after studying archaeology, anthropology and history. He’s a skilled painter, plays three instruments, wrote and published a children’s book, can speak Welsh, can fly fighter jets, has a rare species of frog named after him, and drives a Aston Martin fuelled by surplus British wine! I mean, is there anything more British than that? At 11am on Saturday 6th May 2023 in Westminster Abbey the ceremony, which marks the formal ascension of King Charles III as Monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and other realms and territories of the Commonwealth, took place. The coronation bestowed upon King Charles III the title of ‘Defender of the Faith’ and ‘Supreme Governor of the Church of England’, and is intended to bind king, people and Christ together by means of covenantal promises. The pomp and pageantry was spectacular. Great theatre, moving musical accompaniment, and poignant liturgy, wrapped in history and tradition,all pointed to one thing, and one thing alone. That Christ is Lord. The first words of the coronation service are the words of a greeting, said by a child. The child said, “Your Majesty, as children of the Kingdom of God we welcome you in the name of the King of Kings.” During the time of Jesus, the most important religious ceremony was the Passover Meal. It was a ritual centered around food and family, fellowship and friendship. The words used to shape the meal time retold the story of the Exodus, and the freeing of God’s people from slavery. The first words spoken were those of a child and are still practiced and known today as the Ma Nishtana, which means "What is different?" or "What has changed?" in Hebrew. What has changed? In 1953 when Queen Elizabeth was crowned the country was very different. The Christian identity of our nation was self-evident. 80% of the country identified as Christian as opposed to 46% today. Some 10 million people regularly attended church, as opposed to 3 million today. In the early 50s there were emerging signs of prosperity as the country developed and rebuilt from the affects of the war. Today we find ourselves in a cost of living crisis and after extended period of austerity, and the country feels greatly divided on matters of faith, politics, and what constitutes personal freedom and truth. We are encouraged and indeed sometimes funnelled into taking a stance, and to be opposed to the other that thinks and acts differently, and to defend at all costs the idea that our way is the right way. The casualty of this is not the pride of the one we oppose but our own humility. The problem is not that we may think differently to others, but that we are surprised and affronted by it. On a day like today the irony is noted. That the Church of England was birthed from protest and defiance, and yet the universal Church of Christ was intended at the dawn of Creation through the first utterances of the Word of God to be an instrument of love and mercy. When Jesus said the greatest among you should become like the one who is the youngest, what do you think he meant? When he said the one who is at the table may well be the greatest but I have come as the one who serves. What do you think he meant? When the child greeted the king at the start of the Coronation service the king responded with these words: In his name, and after his example, I come not to be served but to serve. When the Archbishop of Canterbury was asked what the purpose and theme of the coronation service is, he answered that the Coronation is about service. To reflect the nature of Christ who came as the one who serves. Service. The biblical word for service used in the gospel reading today is the Greek word diakonos. New Testament scholars will tell you that this is to be rendered in English as the act of humble service. Prior to the writing of the New Testament, the word was used slightly differently though. Plato, for instance– used the word in such a way to emphasis ‘agency’, and ‘message’. It may leads us to consider a more comprehensive reading of the gospel today, that service is not something assigned only to our intentions and to our personal values, but something that is embedded in our 'agency', and that every act of service has the power to convey a 'message' to those we serve. I remember when working in retail the secular mantra of ‘the customer is always right’. Customer service was defined not by the act itself, but by the experience of the customer. In PC World if the customer entered the store and a member of staff greeted them, that was good. If the customer found what they were looking for, it was at the right price, and they received assistance along the way, and then made the transaction with someone who was polite and courteous, tick tick tick. All was good. Service as experience is the prevailing view of society, and that’s before you get into the idea of after sales service – guarantees and warranties. It flows into church life too. When I want to visit the church, is the door unlocked, is it quiet and peaceful. On a Sunday morning is the church warm and comfortable. Do I feel I receive a good service from the church, is it welcoming and hospitable. Is it there when I need it to be. Service as experience can easily be our mode of thinking. But If our understanding of service is defined by only what we receive we miss the point entirely. Service by proxy is another way we consider service. Yesterday’s coronation service could easily lead us to think that the nation has dressed one man for humble service. Indeed as Christians we can easily slip into thinking that the Holy Spirit enables one man in Jesus to personify service on our behalf. That we are passive yet grateful recipients of the perfect example of our Lord Jesus. But if we live with the idea that someone else can serve in the way we intend to but do not then we miss the point entirely. The crowning and clothing of the King was a powerful symbol of not only one man being clothed for service, but the calling of a nation to the service of Christ. In the same way Jesus modelled humble service to God and sacrifice for the sake of all in his journey to the cross, of which the cross stands as a powerful symbol. The cross now represents not only the act and obedience of Christ, but the calling of a whole church to live likewise. In what was a tremendously moving and powerful service, the Coronation speaks of a nation that yearns to live under one authority, to be united once again, to be a people defined by the goodness of our history, the solidity of our traditions. To be measured by our service to those in need, and to be judged by the grace we receive and offer. May this era return us to Christ, and lead us to glory. God save the King. Amen. Amen. Revd Jeremy PutnamRevd Jeremy is the Priest in Charge of the three parishes of Offwell, Farway and Widworthy. Our church year starts with the promise that Jesus will return (Advent) and then the joyful celebration of Christmas that God is with us. Learning to live in this amazing promise of Divine accompaniment is something that we gradually undertake throughout our lives. When life is smooth and assured, when life is plentiful and joyful, it is easy to claim the reward and blessing for ourselves, and forget that God is rejoicing too. In the moments of intense sorrow, struggle, pain, and anger, we are quick to bear the burden ourselves forgetting that when we weep, God weeps too (John 11:35) and when we are frustrated, God is frustrated too (Matthew 21:12). Sharing these moments of sorrow and joy with God is a fundamental expression of our walk with Jesus Christ, and essential to our discipleship. This year during Holy Week and Easter we are asked to pause and reflect on God’s presence in our lives, and consider what we might learn through the events of this week. Over the course of the next few days we will consider the events of Holy Week through our five senses to help us experience God through our own humaness and intimacy. I invite you to slow down, to pause and rest while we reflect on the events of that most Holy Week. Consider what Jesus underwent in order that the joy of Easter morn would echo in your soul, heart, body and mind. This booklet outlines the services in our three parishes and makes suggestions for daily reflections at home. The week will begin with our Palm Sunday service. Evening worship for Monday through to Wednesday will be a time of contemplation and corporate reflection; on Maundy Thursday we will mark the last supper with a quiet reflective said Communion service, including anointing with oil; and on Good Friday we keep the last hour at the Cross, a time to reflect on Christ’s final act before his death. On Easter day we will mark the resurrection and the joy of Easter in all of our three parishes. We hope this Holy Week and Easter will be a moving and blessed experience for you, and pray that you will be able to engage with this earth shattering story in a way that enlivens you and blesses you. May God bless you this week and may his peace dwell richly in your hearts and minds this Eastertide and always. AuthorRevd Jeremy Putnam From Hero to Zero Les Reed, once manager of Charlton Athletic FC has held an extraordinary record ever since his time in office in 2006. Mr Reed lasted only 7 games in charge, and still to this day holds the shortest reign in Premier League history. I’d like to think this is an exceptional example, but unfortunately there are plenty of managers that over the years have lasted less than ten games. The game of football has often been accused of being very short-sighted. Heroes reduced to zeros in a matter of days, messiahs to mess-ups in a month, kings to criminals in a season. I can’t help but think that the culture of our time all too often reflects the same short-sighted attitude as that of the premier league. Celebrities come and go, politicians rise and fall, major government policies are often accused of being vote winners instead of really investing in the future of our country. The ‘quick fix’ seems to be a slogan of honour for a new generation of movers and shakers, rather than taking time to consider the future as well as the present. If you lived in the 1950s, you may remember how the country felt at the time. Still rebuilding from the devastation of the war, there was a strong sense of unity, both in recovery, as well as hope for the future; unemployment was low; the welfare state and the introduction of the NHS meant that people were eating better, working more safely, and living more healthy. The spirit of Britain at the time was to bless the next generation, and leave their children with a healed and prosperous country. Have we lost this desire to invest in the future? In the midst of a world that is obsessed with instant gratification making the most of life now, have we lost the culture of ‘paying it forward’, of legacy and gift; handing on a better world to our children? his week the Church marks the beginning of Holy Week with our Palm Sunday celebrations in which we are reminded of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. On that day in Jerusalem palm leaves were waved by the hundreds; praises sung with loud voices rejoicing at the sight of the one who would reclaim Israel, and begin the liberation of God’s people. Six days later they were calling for him to be crucified. In their view he’d gone from hero to zero, from messiah to mess-up, from king to criminal, in a matter of days. How fickle the crowds were. It is easy for us to look back and say they were too impulsive and quick tempered, but are we any different? Despite our short-sightedness, the Easter story reminds us that God is not. His plan is for eternity. He cares for the here and now, but he also cares just as much for tomorrow and forever too. Jesus championed a way of life that was exemplified by his cross and passion. His sacrifice and resurrection ensured that we have life; a life for the here and now, but also a life for all eternity. Choose His way and you choose life; for today, for tomorrow and forever. May you have a blessed and life filled Easter season. AuthorRevd Jeremy Putnam The shortest day of the year is far behind us and the Spring Equinox (20th March) is nearing by the day. Spring brings with it themes of renewal, rebirth and restoration that are central to our Christian faith and help build on our collective anticipation for Easter. However, the forty days of Lent that precede the most holiest of weeks must come first. Dark and slow, with its call to go deeper into faith, Lent not only invites a new appreciation of life, but also beckons us into a renewed relationship with God and strengthens the positive relationships we have with others.
Lent is so often trivialized with talk of giving up chocolate. And yet for 40 days, we have the opportunity to contend with something that so often gets pushed aside. Lent invites us to consider what it means to live. Most days I will take my dogs on a long walk around Offwell. Now and then I will run the route with them. The circuit is a 2 1/2 mile loop. Rock Ln, N Combe Rd and then Ramsden Ln back to the Rectory. The dogs love it. The younger one is almost always out front, whilst the other is just beside me matching the pace. By the end we're all exhausted, and I wonder why I do it. It's painful, and at times hazardous. But despite the exhaustion and the perilous patches of slippery manure underfoot, I love it and I can see the dogs love it too. The mix of struggle and exhilaration sums up Lent. The dark and deep reflective nature of the season, the look at life and faith through the lens of prayer, fasting and giving can bring to the surface some tough questions for us. But it is always lifegiving, fulfilling, and of course, will ultimately be good preparation for the joy of Easter. This month's Link Newsletter is an invitation. Don't worry, I'm not suggesting you go running with my dogs! Instead, you might like to consider taking a walk with God. Lent begins on Wednesday 22nd February. You are warmly welcome to join us for a special Ash Wednesday service at which ashes are imposed on the forehead of each person in the sign of the cross, including the person leading the service. This symbolizes our fragility and mortality (the ashes) as well as our salvation (the cross). Revd Jeremy Putnam The moment I realised that Offwell, Widworthy and Farway had very little light pollution was early September. I have a telescope which I’d not been able to use for seven years due to the flood lit night sky above Truro. There is nothing better than looking up on a clear night and seeing the stars and planets stretched out in front of you. I was thrilled when I managed to fix my telescope on Jupiter, to see its swirly red eye with its orbiting moons. Absolutely fantastic.
Devon is one of the ancient homes of the Celtic Christian practice. In this tradition there are two books, the Big Book and the Small Book. The Big Book refers to the universe, to creation, to everything that has been spoken into being by God. In this ancient tradition the universe is like a sacred vibration, a living text that we can learn to read by being attentive to the voice of God. The Small Book is the book of Scripture, the Bible, in which we listen for God speaking to us through the sacred witness and words of God’s people. As we learn to read the Bible, we come to learn how God works through people like you and me. We learn of God’s wisdom revealed through life, and we learn the way in which God speaks to the human heart and into human history. If we listen only to the Small Book and ignore the Big Book, we may miss the vast utterance of God in all things. If we listen only to the Big Book and ignore the Small Book, we may miss the intimacy of His voice, and God speaking in the secret places of the human heart. This month the Church marks the Epiphany, when the Magi pursued the signs in the night sky and took note of scripture in their preparations. Navigating life can be difficult at times, and you may be thinking of starting a New Year’s resolution as many do. If the Epiphany tells us one thing, it must be that we are richly rewarded whenever we make time to be attentive to God in whatever we do. Being a Christian in the outdoors helps remind us that the church is not a place, but a people. It helps remind us that when we leave the church building on a Sunday, church doesn’t end, it’s just beginning. It also reminds Christians that the God they witness in creation is exactly the same God they experience when they gather on a Sunday. Wherever you are and whatever you do I hope you find God, his peace and his blessing. Revd Jeremy Putnam |
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