The Great Os - not Honey Nut Loops

One of the great joys of Advent is remembering that move from the Jewish faith to the new faith of Jesus, and remembering just how different and shocking the new faith seemed to Jews, even to the Jewish followers of Jesus.

From the 16th December, a series of antiphons are sung, called "The Great Os."  They are all cries for God to come into our lives, but are all different ways of looking at God, and develop as we get nearer to Christmas.

The first ones, O Wisdom, O Adonai, O Root of Jesse, O Key of David, O Dayspring and O King of the Nations represent the older, Jewish, way of seeing God, referring to various attempts by Old Testament writers to make the enormity of God comprehensible to people.

The new Wisdom Window in the Chapel of St Catharine's College, Cambridge

'O Wisdom, which camest out of the mouth of the most High,

And reachest from one end to another, mightily, and sweetly ordering all things:

Come and teach us the way of prudence.'

The seventh, O Emmanuel, represents a seismic shift in our understanding of God.  Emmanuel means 'God is with us.'  Suddenly in Christ God ceases to be a far off concept.  God has come down to our level.  For the first time, human beings touch God, we hug him and kiss him, share food and drink with him.  

We are so used to the idea of God in human form that we forget how shocking this idea would have been to people.  In Exodus, God warns the Israelites that his presence would kill them outright, and Moses' face shines so that he has to wear a veil just from speaking with God.  Our nativity pictures should not make us go "Aaaah" so much as "Wow!"

A nativity scene from the Epiphany Chapel in Winchester Cathedral.

Notice how serious the angels, Mary and Joseph look.  This isn't

a happy homely scene.  Mary's head is bowed in awe, and the king

on the right looks like his eyes are about to burst from their sockets.

"O Emmanuel, our King and Law-giver, the desire of all nations

and their salvation, come and save us, O Lord, our God."

The last antiphon rams this point home.  "O Virgin of Virgins, how shall this be? for neither before thee was any like thee, nor shall there be after.  Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel ye after me?  The thing which ye behold is a divine mystery."  The mystery of the Incarnation is so mind-boggling that we simply can't process it, and will never understand it.

Hear ye people, even to the ends of the earth!  God is with us! Christ is born!

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, 

reaching from one end to the other, 

mightily and sweetly ordering all things: 

Come and teach us the way of prudence. 

O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel, 

who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush 

and gave him the law on Sinai: 

Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm. 

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples; 

before you kings will shut their mouths, 

to you the nations will make their prayer: 

Come and deliver us, and delay no longer. 

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel; 

you open and no one can shut; 

you shut and no one can open: 

Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house, 

those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

O Morning Star, 

splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness: 

Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. 

O King of the nations, and their desire, 

the cornerstone making both one: 

Come and save the human race, 

which you fashioned from clay. 

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, 

the hope of the nations and their Saviour: 

Come and save us, O Lord our God. 

O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be? 

For neither before thee was any like thee, nor shall there be after. 

Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel ye at me? 

The thing which ye behold is a divine mystery.

Banana and Walnut muffins for "O Wisdom"

 

 

Peace and Goodwill from Hilfield!

JB and the purpose of Advent

We had our community bible study on Thursday night, and although I was one of the people leading it this week, I was also cooking, and so was making a cheese sauce until a minute before we started.  Lesson one: always be prepared spiritually as well as practically for leading worship.  A few minutes of prayer (and possibly Psalm 115 as well) to offer what you are about to do up to God and to ask Him to work through you goes a million miles.

As it was, I didn't really know what to say.  And I am sure that everyone was a little bit narked with me by the end of it.  In any case, I had the real privilege of listening in on what everyone else was thinking.

The passage was Luke 3:7-18.  Fiery stuff, as John the Baptist interacts with a crowd who think that he is the messiah (Jesus has not yet begun his ministry).  The first thing I liked that was said was that we are like the crowd in that we demand immediate solutions from God.  They want something they can do now to gain salvation.  But John cannot satisfy them.  He is only the herald for the one who will bring salvation.  He knows they are not yet ready to hear Jesus' message and so beings to prepare the ground for the Good News which will shortly follow.

An icon of John the Baptist

Christ is in a green mandorla, showing that he is hidden from us as his 

ministry has not yet begun.  John is gesturing towards him, 

trying to get people to prepare themselves for Christ and to actively wait for him.

He warns them not to rest on their laurels.  Just because they are Jewish does not mean they will enter the kingdom of God.  Rather, they must change their attitude to the world and those around them.  Give your excess to those who have nothing; do not justify your behaviour by saying that everyone else behaves like that, but rather be prepared to meet God as an individual, in the terrifying nakedness of one who is truly known by God.

It is a message that requires remarkable courage to hear.  In Advent, Christians are called not to rest on their laurels, not to believe that just because they go to Church once in a while, or even all the time, they are ok with God.  We are called to re-evaluate our relationship with the world, our brothers and sisters, and our Father in heaven.  We are called to be prepared to stand naked before the God who knows us truly.  And we are called to remember that, actually, we are never standing anywhere else.

Treasure in Earthenware Jars

There is a passage in 2 Corinthians which reads:

'We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us.' (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Earthenware Jars in Pompeii

I have recently read a sermon by the RC Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, in which he uses that text to consider what it means to be a priest, and the analogy carries over into any Christian life.

The earthenware jar is something simple, into which something great is poured.  A priest is never the one who truly does work; rather it is God who does it through him or her.  The priest must therefore be humble, giving thanks to God for all that they achieve, and in all things pointing away from themselves to Christ.

The earthenware jar is also fragile.  We put priests on a pedestal so often, expecting them to be able to deal with any situation and also to live perfect lives, to always be firing on all cylinders when we need them.  In Archbishop Vincent's words, 'Ordination does not create supermen.  Our fragility remains.'  All Christians, but priests especially, are called daily to meet new situations, some of which will stretch them to their limit.  This is when we are driven back to God in prayer, when we must allow the master craftsman to reshape us and reform the cracks that the stresses of life have created.

In the end, 'it is always the treaure that matters, not the vessel.'  On Sunday, I heard a sermon from a priest in training at Westcott House, one of the C of E colleges in Cambridge.  All Christians are called to live a life for God, 'to do not what they want to do, but what God wants them to do.'  This is what the priestly vocation embodies so particularly.  A priest is sent out into the relatively unknown, with the one guiding principle of doing God's work.  In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray, 'your will be done.'  Our lives should be the fulfilment of that prayer.  To carry and share the treasure that is so marvellously stored within us.

The font in Salisbury Cathedral

In baptism, God claims us as His own.  We may have already recognised that we have the weakness of an earthenware jar, but the Christian knows that he or she is filled with treasure as well.  The question then is what they will do with it.

"Missioners: priest and people today" by Archbishop Vincent Nichols is published by alive publishing.

Peace and goodwill from Hilfield.

Franciscans all over the place

The 29th November is a strange feast day in the Society of Saint Francis.  It is the feast of All Franciscan Saints, a feast which is unique to SSF, on which we remember especially all those Saints who are forgotten by all but God.

People are often surprised when I say I am volunteering with Franciscans in the Church of England.  A lot of people don't know we are here, and just how many of us there are.  For those within the Society, that can be a bit surprising!

Well, spare a moment and pray for the sometimes forgotten brothers and sisters of all based in...


UK

• Alnmouth, Northumberland
• St Francis House, Birmingham
• St Matthias' Vicarage, London
• The Master's Lodge, Canterbury
• Bentley Vicarage, Doncaster
• St Mary's Convent, Freeland, Oxon
• St Mary-at-the-Cross, Glasshampton
• Friary of St Francis, Hilfield, Dorset
• 25 Karnac Road, Leeds
• St Matthew's House, Leicester
• San Damiano, Metheringham, Lincs
• St Peter's Vicarage, Cowgate, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
• House of the Divine Compassion, Plaistow, London
• St Mary's Vicarage, Plaistow, London
• St Alphege Clergy House, London

 Franciscans out in force at Greenbelt

USA

• Little Portion Friary, Mt Sinai, NY
• San Damiano Friary, San Francisco, CA
• St Francis Frairy, Los Angeles, CA
• St Francis House, San Francisco, CA

Brazil

• Sociedade de Sao Francisco

Australia

• The Frairy, Brisbane, QLD
• The Hermitage of St Bernadine, Stroud, NSW

South Korea

• St Francis Friary, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do
• Gumi, Gyeongbukdo

 The Asian Provincial Chapter meets in Korea

 

The profession of two new sisters in Gumi

Children from Sr Frances' after school club in Gumi on an outing

Sri Lanka

• Devasaranaramaya, Yakalla, NWP

Italy

• Via San Gabriele dell'Addolorate 12, Assisi

Papua New Guinea

• St Mary of the Angels Friary, Haruro
• Geoffrey's Friary, Katerada
• St Francis Friary, Koki, Port Moresby
• Martyrs' House, Popondetta
• Philip Beawa Friary, Ukaka

Sunday Eucharist in Haruro

The guesthouse in Haruro

The Solomon Islands

• St Francis Friary, Auki
• Colin Baura Friary, Busa, Auki
• La Verna Friary, Hautambu
• Little Portion, Hautambu
• Patteson House, Honiara
• San Damiano Frairy, Kira Kira
• St Bonaventure Friary, Kohimarama
• Michael Davis Friary, Honiara
• Holy Martyrs' Friary, Luisalo

For more information about Anglican Franciscans around the world visit
www.anglicanfranciscans.org


Peace and goodwill from Hilfield.

Community Service

Tonight, about an hour ago in fact, we signed our community commitment documents.  Now, that doesn't sound scary, but it means that, as far as the Law is concerned, I am now for seven months a member of a religious community.

Scary.

Before we signed those documents, Br Sam gave a brief talk about what this community was.  He used a saying of Dietrich Bonhoeffer - one of the most famous Christian martyrs of Nazi Germany - which probably warrants a bit of praying and thinking through:

'He who loves the community, kills the community;

He who loves the brothers, makes the community.'

It is so easy for any church community, or really any community, to forget that it does not exist for its own ends.  It exists for the people who are actually the heart and soul of the community.


A priest who has been staying with us for a while now told me his diocesan motto this morning at tea, and I think it hits the nail right on the head:

Changing lives

Changing Churches

for Changing Communities

Community life can be a remarkable thing, because it forces you to wonder what community outside the walls of a building is like, and whether the communities of which you have been a part were really communities at all.

The author of Ephesians 5:21 says, 'Serve one another out of reverence to Christ.'  How many times a day do I truly serve someone?  Have I ever stopped to think whether I have 'served' anyone today?  Tomorrow, I shall endeavour to do so.

The Women Bishops Vote - An Enfuriating Result and a Triumph of Synodal Government

Well, it wasn't the result that the majority of people in England would have wanted.  Let's just get that out of the way.  I banged my head on the desk a few times myself.  But neither is it the end of the world.  By rejecting the draft measure allowing the consecration of women bishops, commentators have said that the CofE has 'detonated its credibility' or 'committed suicide.'

No such thing has happened. 

We have to look at how the vote was actually lost.  It was actually remarkably close. 89% of bishops voted for it. 77% of clergy voted for it. 64% of the laity were for it.  That means that if five more of the laity had voted for the measure, it would have passed.  This vote confirms the view that the majority of the church is for women bishops.  42 of the 44 diocesan (regional) synods also approved women bishops.  This is a good thing. 

Why then do we have a 2/3 majority system in the general synod?  The church takes a wise approach to difficult issues.  For example, the results of controversial votes are given in strict silence, so that there is no ill-advised response that can be snapped up by commentators.  In the same way, change that might be painful must be overwhelmingly supported.  Change that comes with only a bare majority supporting it can damage the church far more than taking a long time to follow the majority view.

Some have directed their anger at the House of Laity.  Why should the laity have any say if they are clearly so out of touch with the public in this case?  Well, assuming that they are out of touch, it is still a very good idea that they have a say.  Usually, we are worried that it is the bishops and clergy who have their heads in the clouds, but on this one rare occasion it was them, and not the laity, who had their finger on the pulse.  The Church of England is rare in acknowledging that God speaks through the apostolic ministry of Bishops and the experience and prayer of priests, but also that God speaks to the lay people who work in the church as well, and that change without them is not actually going to get very far.  Tyranny in the church is just as dangerous as tyranny in government.  Again, that the laity had a voice is utterly a good thing.

Some are saying that the Church of England is damaging itself wasting time when everyone knows there are going to be Women Bishops soon.  There are two problems with this:

1) Our brothers and sisters in Christ who can't in all conscience accept the authority of a female bishop must be catered for.  However 'un-Christian' we may wish to label their attitudes, it is more 'un-Christian' to abuse the confidence they have placed in the Church of England in hoping for a compromise.  It is also an unforgivable waste of human potential and God's action in our Church to simply cut them loose as a quick-fix.  We must bear the cross of the media feeding-frenzy until then.
2) The Synod's vote doesn't just affect the CofE.  As the nominal head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, the CofE must not alienate our brothers and sisters around the globe.  History has taught us that further fractures in the church do not heal.  It is far better that we make this move slowly and wisely so that more conservative anglican provinces can see women bishops working in their church which they know and love, rather than in a church which rejected their views and by which they feel betrayed.  Ultimately the cause of gender equality throughout the Anglican Communion is better served by doing this sensitively and unhurriedly, however painful that may be.

Finally, the fact that most of the angriest comments are coming from people who are not members of Synod is a cause for hope.  Those in Synod have expressed their intention to continue praying the issue through.  As much as the media may try to make us believe otherwise, the spirit of co-operation within the church is not dead.

The next Archbishop (above) is as staunchly pro-women-bishops as is Archbishop Rowan

No-one now doubts that there will soon be women bishops in the CofE

Humble people never achieve anything - St Hugh of Lincoln

Last week we celebrated the feast day of St Hugh of Lincoln.  Born around 1140 in France, he joined the Carthusian Order, an order dedicated to contemplating the Love of God in secluded monastaries, called in English 'Charterhouses.'

 

Hugh in Carthusian habit

He came to England in 1179.  Henry II, as part of his penance for the murder of Thomas a Becket, had founded a Charterhouse at Witham in Somerset, but the new foundation was failing.  Henry, hearing of Hugh's piety, sent an embassy to the Carthusian Order, who reluctantly let Hugh go.

In September 1186, Hugh was consecrated Bishop of Lincoln.  Remarkably, he refused to accept the appointment until he had first asked the people of the city whether they would accept him as their bishop.  In the words of Br Damian, 'Now, that's the stuff that saints are made of.'

Apart from his major reconstruction of Lincoln Cathedral, Hugh was famed for his openness, humility and gentleness.  He delighted in playing with children in the street and loved animals, keeping a tame swan which would become his symbol.  Hugh was almost unique for his day in ensuring that the lepers of Lincoln were well cared for, and also that the city's Jews were saved from persecution.  How many of us would dare stare down an angry mob as the most hated people of the day took refuge in front of the city's Cathedral?

The banner of Hugh in Lincoln Cathedral, showing

his humility and his swan as well as the Cathedral he rebuilt.

The motto of the Carthusian order is "stat crux dum volvitur orbis" (the cross stands firm while the world turns).  Hugh was rare amongst medieval bishops in managing to live this out.  He served under three kings - King Henry II, King Richard I and King John - and was listened to by all of them.  He was so respected that King John was one of his pall-bearers at his funeral, an honour not shown to any other English bishop.

A French Carthusian image of Hugh, showing his humble Carthusian robes underneath those of a Bishop.  Hugh's gaze is set on Christ, represented in the cup of the Eucharist.

Many people think that trying to live out a truly Christian life will make one powerless to influence the world for the better.  How can a humble person change anything?  Hugh shows us the respect that can be gained by someone who honestly bears the marks of Christ in their daily life and honestly bears witness to His love to all they meet.

Lord, grant that we may follow the example of your servant Hugh,
to bear witness to your love in our hearts,
in protecting the hated,
in caring for the helpless,
in cherishing the simple,
and in standing firm in our witness of your love for all,
through Jesus Christ Our Lord.  Amen .

Being one bread one body is a bitch (at first)

I once had a conversation with an ex-benedictine.  No, that isn't the start of a limerick.  I really did.  It was just as I had decided to go to live with the Franciscans and he smiled when I said how much I had enjoyed my trial week.


"Oh it is marvellous when you first enter a religious community... and then reality kicks in."  Those weren't his exact words, but they are a pretty fair paraphrase.  "At first everything is glorious and then the people and the work get to you."

Thomas comprehensively hits the brick wall at high speed

Now, a lot of what I have written thus far has been about how fantastic life here is.  And it is.  But things have been hard as well.  There are times when I have wanted to hit people in the face with a shovel (in fact, Br Damian once offered to let me punch him in lieu of someone else - I declined his kind offer), either because they were not in the same place as me on that day... or because they just pissed me off.


And the work hasn't all been entirely rosy either.  You may have detected the intensity of leaf sweeping in my daily routine over the last month or so.  At times it was an excellent lesson in humility.  I learned to empathise with the Old Testament character Ruth, who out of fidelity to her adopted family follows her mother-in-law into a foreign country where they survive by gleaning left-over corn.  I also learned to empathise and pray for the people all over the world who earn a living by sorting through the things we deem 'rubbish' in the same way that I was picking leaves from the gravel paths.

On the other hand, it forced me to identify with people with awful jobs precisely because my jobs were mostly awful to do.  And quickly the 'romance' and 'thought-provokingness' of the tasks wore off and I found myself getting pretty spectacularly demotivated.

Deal with it the English way: a chat and a cup of Earl Grey

In a religious community, as hopefully with any community, the reality is that people don't want their brothers and sisters in daily life getting miserable or angry with each other.  Urgent action taken on my end: gracious listening and giving came immediately from those I spoke to.


As much as the Church in its many forms often makes me want to weep, I am amazed by how Christ-like the individuals around me so often are.  Three members of the community and one in particular have put up with having their ears bent with my frustration.  And they have listened, thought, and given back to me with love... and a good few hugs.


Because of them I was able to go and resolve my problems with the people concerned.  And I am no longer faced with a bleak work period each day, nor do I want to punch (as many) people in the face as I did.


At communion there is a wonderful moment when everyone says together "Though we are many, we are one body because we all share in one bread."  At Hilfield I have been utterly amazed by how much people are willing to truly live as 'one body,' getting pissed off with each other, being occasionally disappointed and annoyed with life, but sharing and assisting each other through those moments in a way that is quite humbling.

Ending that very serious post on a flippant note: Hilfield in the Snow

Francis was promoted to pope

The sheep didn't seem to mind

 Some of the trees looked scary

Some were stunning

Dawn, a visiting trainee Baptist minister, was loving it

(She managed to get away on her motorbike later that day)

Brs Damian, Andrew and Hugh trying to avoid going arse over apex on the ice in front of St Francis House

Either Br Hugh has insulated our house really well, or the heating just wasn't on again

Be praised, my Lord, by Brother Rake

Well, I've been a little cranky for the last few days, perhaps because my only source of Vitamins recently has been Lemon Curd.  I went to Scotland for a friend's wedding and had an amazing time (even if I do feel my Bridget Jones years have begun) and came back to 'sunny' Dorset where it POURED.  Actually, it alternated between pouring with rain and being vile and grey.


So I wasn't in the mood when the weather finally turned for leaf-sweeping, to be honest.  There is a lot of leaf-sweeping to be done here.

 

 

And so as I went about beating the leaves into submission, I let half of a glorious autumn day go by without appreciating any of it.  But just before midday I started to hum the tune for St Francis' Canticle of the Creatures.  

It is a song about the wonder of all creation reflecting and serving the glory of God.  And as so often happens, my eyes were suddenly opened and I found the scenery so beautiful I just had to get my camera.

Most High, omnipotent, good Lord,

To you be ceaseless praise outpoured,

And blessing without measure;

From you alone all creatures came;

No one is worthy you to name.

My Lord, be praised by Brother Sun,

Who through the skies his course does run,

And shines in brilliant splendour;

With brightness he does fill the day,

And signifies your boundless sway.

My Lord, be praised by Sister Moon,

And all the stars that with her soon

Will point the glitt'ring heavens.

Let wind and air and cloud and calm,

And weathers all, repeat the psalm.

By Sister Water, then be blest

Most humble, useful, precious, chaste.

Be praised by Brother Fire:

Cheerful is he, robust and bright,

And strong to lighten all the night.

 Be praised, my Lord, by Brother Electricity.

The fire has changed - we take it for granted just the same.

By Mother Earth my Lord be praised;

Governed by you, she has upraised

What for our life is needful.

Sustained by you through every hour,

She brings for fruit and herb and flower.

My Lord be praised by those who prove

In free forgivingness their love,

Nor shrink from tribulation.

Happy, who peaceably endure:

With you, Lord, their reward is sure.

By Death, our Sister, praised be,

From whom no one alive can flee.

Woe to the unprepared!

But blest be those who do your will

And follow your commandments still.

The gardens getting a good dose of Sister Death before new life can grow

Most High, omnipotent, good Lord,

To you be ceaseless praise outpoured

And blessing without measure.

Let every creature thankful be

And serve in great humility.

Peace and goodwill from Hilfield.

Surviving a Friary - Top Tips

In order to ensure that your stay with the Franciscans is a pleasant one, please read the following advice:


PART ONE - FOOD

a) If you have never cooked crayfish when they are donated to the friary, follow Kerri's lead, play with them for a while in the sink before boiling them for an unspecified period in cajun spices. Give thanks at Evening Prayer that everyone loved them and no one was ill.

b) Crayfish are a fearsome adversary.  Remain steadfast in faith.  A good flick of the colander also helps.

c) Cheese and broccoli quiche becomes the best thing in the world when you add masses more cheese than usual to it.

d) Cucumber may not be eaten within the friary if it conforms to a normal cucumber shape.

e) St Francis opened the Gospels at random to find out the will of God.  This does not work with Love Hearts.

 PART TWO - TRIPS OUT

a) It is impossible to take pictures of Michael and Lyndon eating packed lunches and keep them as friends when they see the resulting picture.  Also, supervise the making of the sandwiches next time.

 b) Franciscans contemplate the scenery in a pretentious manner wherever they go.

c) The big city is exciting, but far better to go to Sidmouth (c/o Waterloo Station btw).

 d) People in Dorchester are very proud of their murderous past

PART THREE - The Library

a) Never invite Lord Chief Rabbi Sacks around to see what he has been put next to.

PART FOUR - Administration

a) Amazon send you lots of boxes with one object - there will always be a use for these, even if it is making a toy tractor.

PART FIVE - Animals

a) Always engage with the animals on a trip to the donkey sancturary. They will always make your life better, even if you feel like a small child whilst doing so.

b) Br Raymond has the same hairdresser as Albert Einstein.  Please stroke the donkey rather than Br Andrew.

c) Become one with the animals by imitating their relationship with the Earth - also try not to get trodden on.

d) Unlike Br Damian, do not feed your clothing to the animals.  They will not release you.

Peace and goodwill from Hilfield!