Peace Sermon Series - Assurance & Peace

A sermon preached in Blarney Church on the 5th Sunday before Advent

May the words of my mouth and the Meditations of all our hearts be now and always acceptable in thy sight O Lord our stregength and our redeemer. Amen 

When We we talk about peace - I wonder what your mind jumps to: 

Is it - Northern Ireland (the peace process), a war, The absence of violence

Or is it peace and quiet?  A cuppa somewhere 

Or is it more inner peace, serene and all being well ?

The past few weeks I’ve been doing quite a bit of thinking about this and I would love to explore the theme of peace in the run up to Christmas this year. 

I’m exploring it because of the pastoral imperative, the historical reality and the biblical themes in the readings at this time of year. 

I want to begin in the place where we are at the moment - our every day, the inner life - where our peace at first could be knocked - wars and bloodshed our not found there, you’ll not find armies there but what you will do is if it is not kept in check … is quickly discover the amount of discontent can feel hugely problematic and as devastating. 

My role, my job title is strange … I have a few of them which Carrigrohane - Mission Minister, Associate minister, Priest, presbyter but there is one that I have which is very strange … very old and one I have dug into recently - that of curate 

Usually the term is used in this church as a second in command - Curate 

But the root of it is A curate (/ˈkjʊərɪt/ KEWR-it) is a person who is invested with the care or cure (cura) of souls of a parish.

The care of souls … And it’s with this that I would like to explore here before going on in subsequent weeks to unpack some of the other readings - looking at this theme of peace. 

This morning I would love to ask a personal question - It’s one I’ve never heard asked from the front before - probably because it is such a personal question … How is your soul? Or another way to ask that question - how is your relationship with God? … as we begin the run up to advent and Christmas this year … how are you doing in your faith journey? 

Having now been here 7 years this week  and beginning to understand this culture a little bit better I’m very struck by the importance of taking time to ponder on these things. 

The Gospel reading today gives a warning about the inner life and the outward actions being consistent. 

I showed this video:

This is a huge challenge for every single one of us - I think challenged in both ways 

• That actually for some times we’re doing good things but unsure about the inner life stuff 
• We’re in a relationship with God but still being challenged by how that translates to outer life 

It also goes a bit further - in that it speaks about prayer - and how attitudes manifest themsleves in prayer. Jesus here is telling a story - he’s being deliberately provocative for a particular reason 

He is showing 2 particular prayers … 

… The self-righteous & the humility 

The self righteous pharisee - the one who should have it sorted - the one who knows, the religious leader 

The prayer of the tax collector - who knows himself that he does stuff wrong, and casts himself upon God’s mercy 

This morning as we begin to unpack peace - we begin with these two characters in Jesus’ story 

The tax collector - the one who stood at a distance and simply prays for God’s mercy. IN this humility and simplicity there is Grace and relationship. Yes that’s a mystery but it’s also God’s way - it’s not rocket science. 

The Pharisee - He’s got the outward appearance of success - his prayers sound like he’s got it all sorted but actually God’s got things to do in his heart. 

This was a stark story - as many of Jesus’ Parables were 

That challenge of praying simply - God have mercy on me - and going home in right relationship with him! 

And it’s here that peace may be found! The assurance of sins forgiven. The assurance of our identity - as Daughters and Sons of the King. 

I want to start here today as we look at peace through the lectionary readings on the run up to Advent & Christmas with a bit of a challenge - It’s one I’ll remind you of: It’s a challenge I was presented with at a Youth camp many years ago. 

Apologies that it’s a sporting image … I’m using it as the Apostle Paul does in the passage earlier - Finishing the race … the image is of a stadium 

It’s of an olympic stadium - Track and field 

We’re called to be running the race - in Hebrews 

In a Sports stadium - there are all sorts of areas 

There’s the Crowds in their seats, there’s the area outside, there’s the changing rooms 

Where are you right now?… in faith - are you running? If you are how are you doing? Are you stumbling? 

Are you watching others from the stands?, are you in the changing rooms? 

Where would you like to be? What would you like to be doing? 

What needs to change? - what could change in order to compete in the race? 

Coming back full circle - Peace - that sense of being right with God and with each other is somewhat illusive in our world today. There is always something more to get, something more to do.  

However in faith the foundation never changes … Christ as our rock of our identity - are we confident in him as the source of all things ?

Yes we will get things wrong, we wil do and say things but there are a few things which we need to know to give us peace in turbulent times 

1. Mercy, Grace and Peace are available from God 
2. We’re called to be in this race … not watching from the sidelines 
3. Forgiveness (Justification) is available if we ask 

This time of year Blog - useful to know maybe!

Around this time of the year various things come up for renewal in light of originally moving down to Blarney (I'm not on commission with any of these guys here for info!)


I haven't posted these for quite a while but here are a few things I've found out this year

Best Mobile Phone service - 9.99 a month (for life for the first 100,000 customers )with all National calls (Landlines & Mobiles), All Text messages to Irish Mobiles & All you can eat data.

gomo.ie - Uses the eir network and is a subsiduary of Eir ... simple signup ... as long as you have an unlocked phone!


Best Broadband package I've found this year - Pure telecom - Broadband & All inclusive calls 35 Eur Mth for 12 months

Best Environmentally Friendly electric  (100% renewables) - Energia

Best TV Package ... well it isn't a TV package as such ... but using a dish that's already on the roof you can get freesat box and not have to pay any subscription I'm currently using

Humax HDR-1100S Freesat+ HD Box (WiFi & 1TB w/ FreeTime)

God's Call - week 2 - Vocation Sunday

Sermon notes from sermon Preached at Sunday AM and St. Peter's Church Sunday 15th September 2019 - On the theme of Vocations  - Text Jonah 

Below are videos used 

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be now and always acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen 

Today, the parishes of The Church of Ireland are being asked to consider vocations to the ordained ministry - Asking people to consider are they being called to serve God in this particular way - This is not to glorify this one particular way of life - but to present it as an option that some might consider serving God in this way. It’s also an opportunity to get an insight into a way of life which is sometimes misunderstood or even shrouded in mystery. 

I realise that this is not a topic many here are considering but my hope this morning is that we all might learn something of the processes of church  life and also to encourage what God might be doing in the lives of those around us. 

The passage I’ve chosen to speak on today is one which might seem strange - we’re neither living in old testament times, nor is there much risk that those who run from a call from God might get eaten by a big fish! 

What I do want to say today is that: 

God still Calls today - he may be calling people here! Or those known to us 

That call might be scary when we first receive it but it when we do recieve it somehow by the power of the spirit is effective - when we keep close to him 

I also want to keep this in perspective: God's call is to all people - not just ordination! 

The call to a relationship with him (Primary Call) 

His call for those in relationship with him to share his love with other 

Then there is the vocational call - a call to live our lives in response to what we hear from him - that maybe as a shop worker, a teacher, a IT worker, doctor, carer .... or whatever you find yourself doing. Living out faith where you are. 

Today is more a bit of personal testimony than an exposition of the scriptures 

It is fascinating to me that the story of Jonah ends with Jonah wishing he had never come at all

In a commissioning service for one of the mission teams I went out on as a teenager - Bishop Harold Miller spoke about Jonah and he said it can be summarised in 3 points 

I won’t Go 

I will Go 

I wish I hadn’t come at all

For me, my calling to this place - a calling to ordained ministry is one in which I received happily as a teenager, I thought what the heck had I signed up for as a twenty-something yr old and have days where I think - Really God? What is this about - I’m not worthy nor equipped for this - and then time after time he says actually you are - and this is why! - my strength is made perfect in his weakness.

I mention this because my call was fostered by Godly people - speaking into my life - have you considered the Church? - you should consider it!

It also was reinforced by understanding my own gifts and passions 

It was tempered by feelings of I can’t, I really can’t - how would I …?

And then a running away from things during my uni years - maybe I was meant to work in computers and websites - or maybe it was secondary teaching I was meant to do 

With a wee bit of anger thrown in - If you wanted me to do this then why was such and such happening! - . Looking back through those years I can see how they shaped me - how the twists and turns of church processes shaped my life - angered me a bit but also clarified my calling! 

When I look back on my own few years in ministry The call to this way of life is not easy - nor is it overly difficult - when compared to others

Its really hard to describe: 

• Yes its leaving home, its being in and living in community, its sharing the Gospel, its a privilege. I find it very difficult to explain what my role entails 
• It’s up front (something that sometimes is difficult for someone who would rather be sitting down the back). 
• It’s time consuming - we don’t work 9-5,  usually we get a day off a week, we don’t know what the next phone call will bring 
• We’re dealing with all sorts of practicalities, trying to be quiet and contemplative, whilst also trying to reach out and be evangelistic whilst also maintaining our identity 
• In one day We could be drinking tea and coffee in a nursing home, doing a school assembly, attending a diocesan meeting, updating websites and then going to a Bible study and preparing a sermon for Sunday. 

But above all ministry is a privilege - we get to see people as they really are - we get invited into the most intimate of situations - the moments where the closest of people are at their most raw as well as the most public of events. But our presence is always the same - to Bring God’s love, his support and his peace. 

If God is calling you to ordination, if you feel even the slightest of nudges in that direction - set out to discern if its for you - if it is then explore that to the full. It is a long road but certainly an exciting one 

If it’s not - that’s great - there are many many other ways to serve God. 

I’m going to leave it there for now - simply to say - if anyone wants to begin to chat about these issues, to chat to someone about call, to question me even further about things - do get in touch! 

God's Call - It's Your call - Week 1 -

Below is the first in a series of sermons this month looking at God's Call - as part of It's Your call - This sermon was preached in Blarney Church on Sunday 9th September at 11am Holy Communion Service. 

Reading Judges 6:11-18

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be now and always be acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen 

I wonder what comes to your mind when you hear the word - Call - in relation to God? 

Is it something like - ordination, Lay reader or some other post in the church? 

We have somehow clericalised and mystified what should be something that needs to be talked about more openly than it is, we as a church need to be much more open about what God might be saying to people. 

This month the Church of Ireland has launched a new website and resources talking more openly about Call - under the theme of - its your call on the website these words are written …

Vocation isn’t just about being ordained – ordination is not for everyone.Indeed, many of the Church’s ministers are not ordained. 

Youth and children’s ministers, evangelists, readers and many chaplains are generally not ordained, and are collectively known as lay ministers who serve alongside the ordained. 

While the Church is keen to foster vocations to the ordained ministry, there are many ways in which to serve the Church. 

If you are wondering what God wants you to do with your life and are keen to explore further the various stages in discerning your call, you will find it helpful to speak with your Rector or local Diocesan Director of Ordinands. They can encourage you, as you prayerfully discern what area of ministry God is calling you to.

What area of ministry might God be calling you into?

Whoever you are, whatever life stage you are at … there are things for you to do.  He has plans for each one of us … beyond what we think or imagine. 

Having said all of this I want us to look at the passage for this morning - and look at one specific call - the call of Gideon - a man who is scared, questioning and realistic about his weaknesses 

Let’s take these in turn 

Scared - This guy is threshing wheat in a wine press - That fact might be overlooked - I certainly didn’t see too much wrong with it when I first read it but when we dig a bit deeper into the culture and practices of ancient Israel 

Normally, a person would thresh wheat on a wooden threshing floor, using a threshing sledge pulled by oxen. The floor would be in an exposed place, usually the top of the hill, so that the winds would carry away the lighter chaff and leave only the heavier grain. Only the very poor would have so little grain that they would beat it with a stick, and even they wouldn’t do it in a winepress, which was usually sheltered. But these weren’t’ normal times. Gideon was acting as he was, cautiously beating out a few sheaves of wheat in a sheltered winepress under a tree, because he was desperately afraid that the Midianites would confiscate his meager supply. (Hearts of Iron, Feet of Clay, 96) 

He’s in fear of his enemy - fear is an emotion which makes us look inward and causes us to loose confidence and depend on ourselves alone. 

What’s interesting in this passage is that - his visitor - his heavenly visitor says to him “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

He’s not a mighty warrior at this point - he’s a scared guy looking out for his own needs. 

Questioning - Gideon then questions this visitor - 

if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

What Gideon is saying is something which we might say from time to time - We’re abandoned, where is the Lord?, all of these crazy things have happened to us - how can the Lord be with us - is he taking a holiday - Lots and lots of questions.  Yes things need to change - we can’t go on the way we are going - all I can see is destruction, all I can see is desolation - where is God?, the enemy is having a field day with all of this stuff. 

But rather than being absent … actually he is there with his people and is raising up leaders - yes the leader might need to change, yes the people are struggling with the situation they see in front of them - maybe even the leader is quaking in his or her boots but they need to recognise that God is open for a dialogue - are we prepared to dialogue with Him? 

Gideon is scared, he’s questioning and he’s realistic about his weaknesses … or his perception of his weaknesses - yes it may be excuses but it also might be that he needs these things addressed - they are real impediments to him moving forward, to understanding his own identity and the way he views himself and the way others view him. 

These things are really important to Gideon in the wine press - look at what he says … how can I go … my clan is the weakest, and I am the least in my family. 

The Lord promises him I am with you … I’ll sort it out 

Each of Gideon’s issues are addressed 

His fear is met with a fresh call  - mighty warrior 

His questioning is met with an opportunity to change the question - no answers rather a mission - and a further question - Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?

His realism is met with fresh perspective and a promise 

None of us are going to have the same call as Gideon, actually none of us are going to have the same call as each other - we’re unique each and every one of us is unique

But I suspect we all have some level of fear 

We live in an anxious world - we do have fear about things - the future, the present, the past, our health, our family circumstances, our finances … whatever it may be - we’re not threshing in a winepress but we may be keeping our heads down in fear of something - I wonder what that is for you?  What would make you have courage beyond the limit of what you can see at the moment. 

Child of God, Preacher, Woman of God, Man of God, Daughter / Son of the King of Kings, 

Yes there is something in these things - You are more than you think you are. Your identity is more than is on your Public Service Card, driving licence or bank account.

Then there are the questions - those questions we all have - those questions about how God is at work, how he is working those plans out when seemingly they don’t make sense to us as we live through them. Perhaps we might discover some of the answers to them as we live out our call - that’s what we find out - actually the way God works is in partnership with humanity - with individuals who are prepared to place themselves in his hands - Gideon is raised up and we see how he actually fulfilled his calling as a mighty warrior. 

How do you get beyond the questions? - am I not sending you? - listen to the Lord’s question again - am I not sending you? - yes things are tough, yes things are scary - but might not you be the one the Lord is sending to get the work done? 

Whatever age we are, whatever is on our hearts … might not the Lord be sending you right to where we are going 

His realism - he is weak, his people are weak, but he can be used - if God is with him 

How amazing is that - and how amazing are we - you and I we need to begin to think actually God, the God of the universe is with us - we can dream big dreams of how he can use us - he can use every single one of us right here 

Look again at what Gideon is saying - he is using the excuses we all use from time to time - I’m not a leader, I couldn’t be - I’m only a local, I’m only a farmer, my family are not anything

Whilst preparing this sermon I was reminded of something I went to as a teenager - an event where I first received God’s call to ordination - It was a reminder that God has called me into his church - it wasn’t dramatic, but it was definite - I wonder what he could be calling you to do. 

Whatever life stage you are at - there’s more to be done! His perception of himself - was one thing - his reality was something completely different 

If you are fearful today - Know God’s peace as the baseline of your relationship 

If you are Questioning stuff - that’s OK you are in good company but don’t let your questions stop you - he might just ask some questions of his own! 

Don’t let your perception of yourself stop you from hearing the what God thinks of you and what he has in store for you. 

Love Languages

Over the course of the past couple of months I've had various conversations with people in the parish and in other places about relationships - marriage, their kids, their parents and so on and as a result I have been mentioning to them a book which I do recommend for anyone

A couple of years back I did a session on the 5 Love languages for teenagers but they are not just for teenagers ... they are for everyone.

Take a look at the quiz below ... in each of the sections - which do you prefer

Tot up which of the sections have the most ticks ...

Mostly A's - Words of affirmation, B's= Quality Time, C's= Gifts, D's= Works of service, E=Physical touch

This is how you receive love. and maybe how you give it. 

However not everyone is like you! ... and maybe your kid, parent, significant other doesn't speak or appreciate what you are trying to say to them. 

Imagine going to outer Mongolia and speaking english - you might not be understood, despite you best intentions - and thinking that you are speaking plainly. 

Maybe you might need to speak the others language! 

That's what Gary Chapman is getting at in his book - the 5 Love languages. It's been very helpful to many people ... Check out the videos below! 

5th Mark of Mission - Caring for Creation

This talk was prepared for the final of our Summer 2019 evening services in Blarney on Sunday 25th August. 

Readings Psalm 8 

For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David. 

Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth! 

You have set your glory in the heavens. 

Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 

When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 

You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. 

You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet:
all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild, 

the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas. 

Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth! 

Genesis 1: 1 and 28–31 

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

28 God blessed [humankind] and God said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every living thing that moves upon he earth.” 

29 God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground – everything that has breath of life in it – I give every living green plant for food.” And it was so. 

31 God saw all that he had made and it was very good. 

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be now and always acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen 

What an amazing world we live in -  we know that … take a watch … 

But the questions remain as to what we need to do about it what is the best course of action 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unOqVELbTr0

Pope Francis back in May 

Specifically, Pope Francis called on ministers to commit to several specific goals:

- to value what is important, not what is superfluous;

- to correct our national accounts and our business accounts, so as to stop engaging in activities that are destroying our planet;

- to put an end to global dependency on fossil fuels;

- to open a new chapter of clean and safe energy, that utilizes, for example, renewable resources such as wind, sun and water;

 - above all, to act prudently and responsibly in our economies to actually meet human needs, promote human dignity, help the poor and be set free of the idolatry of money that creates so much suffering.

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-05/pope-francis-on-climate-change-time-is-of-the-essence.html

I just wonder if we were to make calls around care of creation what would we try to change 

When it comes to the issues of the day We take the evidence that we’re presented with and try to make the changes - these changes won’t be popular but the creaking we’re hearing at the moment is going to be more pronounced in the years ahead. 

But its going to take wisdom, its going to take creative thought and sensible heads to save us from swinging from one rally cry to another. 

It seems that one day there is calls against beef and then its a band wagon call against fossil fuels. 

We’ve got to remember that there are huge forces at play here but one wonders what might need to be a comprehensive plan that takes the small efforts and envisages how the power of one us able to mount up. 

Within the Church of Ireland we’re not taking these things seriously enough. I’m not taking these things seriously and that needs to change. In a recent article in the church of Ireland Gazette  - Stephen Trew - a Parishioner in Down and Dromore  - provocative questions have been asked - and I pose them in this space because I presume they affect other places and people as well.  

Greta Thunberg has inspired thousands of young people around the world to protest, including in Ireland. In fact, in Dublin the weekly school #ClimateStrike has been happening outside Leinster House for six months. These young people are crying out for people to care, to care for the planet, to care for justice and to care for their future. 

Has the Church of Ireland responded to the #ClimateStrike young people? No. We are failing our children’s future. It’s no wonder that young people feel the Church has little to say to them - they think we do not care. 

LEADERS THAT CARE 

Thankfully, one of the world’s most famous naturalists, Sir David Attenborough, has shown leadership. He must surely be the closest thing that the secular sphere has to a pope. Sir David said about climate change: “If we don’t take action, the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon.” 

Commenting on the fact that 50% of all the world’s wildlife has disappeared in the last 50 years, he said, “I find it hard to exaggerate the peril. This is the new extinction and we are half way through it. We are in terrible, terrible trouble and the longer we wait to do something about it the worse it is going to get.” 

https://www.businessinsider.com/people-killed-half-of-forest-animals-on-earth-since-1970-2019-8?r=US&IR=T

Christian leaders have an ancient message that speaks into today’s politic - we need to turn around, change direction and, as a society, we need to repent. We need a repentance narrative. 

So, what changes should the Church of Ireland make?  Stephen Trew asks in the Article and then sets forth a number of suggestions! 

NET ZERO CHURCH 

The next 10 years are critical for the survival of civilisation. The world needs to reduce its carbon emissions in half over the the next decade if we are to keep global warming below the dangerous threshold of 1.5 degrees heating. The question for all of us is: do we really care for creation, do we care enough to act? 

Our Church can set a leading example, this is what we need to do. 

The Church of Ireland can declare a Climate Emergency and become a Net Zero Church - by setting a target of net zero emissions by 2030. 

This means that over the next decade, we must radically reduce our carbon emissions and invest more in natural carbon capture 

(growing trees and restoring peatland) to catch the carbon that we cannot cut out. We should do the following:

• End investments in fossil fuel companies now and increase investment in clean energy and ecosystem regeneration; 

• Launch a scheme to help insulate and draft-proof clergy homes; 

• Replace the locomotory allowance for petrol and diesel vehicles with an allowance for electric cars, with the aim of clergy and staff having no fossil fuelled vehicles by 2030; 

• Require parishes to report their energy usage to the RCB annually, measure the carbon footprint and invest in ecosystem services to offset the emissions; 

• Promote organic farming on Church of Ireland owned farmland; 

• Promote healthier eating as part of a Christian lifestyle - increase fruit and vegetables and reduce meat consumption; and 

• Continue to engage in the political sphere through citizens’ assemblies and public forums calling for radical change. 

To these things I would add things such as 

• The involvement in the public conversation 
• The speaking out on issues around our communities where there is bad practice 
• Look at the management of Grave yards though environmental eyes 
• Our Use of Plastics 
• Sustainable Living 

Trew makes this point extremely strongly and I would want to stand with him in this - If a proposal is brought to synod next year its one I will be supporting - yes it will be quite problematic - me and my Unleaded car, that enjoys flying to places. 

We stand at a critical point in human history. When a Church understands that mission includes care for creation, then its leaders can speak into the climate and ecological crisis to call for a revolution of repentance and an end to the sacrifice of civilisation. 

When we show we care for creation, then we can connect to a young generation calling for change. But to do this, we need to repent of investing in fossil fuels. And then, let us lead the change that our children are calling for, call a Climate Emergency and commit to become a Net Zero Church. 

Trew suggests a few other things in a recent blog 

• Read about creation care theology - try Bishop Tom Wright's books.
• Sign up to the mailing list of Christian Aid, Tearfund or similar organisations.
• Sign up to EcoCongregations newsletter for news from Ireland.
• Get involved in a campaign - such as ending fossil fuel investments.
• Transform your church - go Fairtrade and Plastic free.
• Reduce your own carbon footprint - use public transport, walk more, drive and fly less.
• Speak to friends and colleagues about the threats to the planet.

In all of this - what are we being called to do?

How do you respond to this call? 

What do we as a parish need to do? 

What do we as a community need to do? 

What do you need to do?

What followed was a lively discussion on the topic 

and a light hearted finish ...