{"id":3347,"date":"2019-09-29T20:14:00","date_gmt":"2019-09-29T20:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk\/web\/?page_id=3347"},"modified":"2019-09-29T20:14:00","modified_gmt":"2019-09-29T20:14:00","slug":"sermon-29th-september-2019","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk\/web\/information\/sermons\/sermon-29th-september-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Sermon – 29th September 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sermons index<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

St Michael and All Angels \u2013 evening<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Sunday 29th September 2019 <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

St Michael and All Angels \u2013 evening
\nGenesis 28. 10-17
\nJohn 1. 47 \u2013 end<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Revd Preb Maureen Hobbs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"Maureen<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\nMichelmas \u2013 its a word often\nused to describe this time of year \u2013 We speak of the Michelmas term\nin schools and colleges and in the Law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nWe used to see lots of\nMichelmas Daisies \u2013 although they seem to have fallen out of favour\nsomewhat among our gardeners? I remember harvest festivals when\nmichelmas daisies in profusion of purple, lavender, mauve and white\nseemed to be everywhere!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nAll named of course in honour\nof St Michael the archangel \u2013 who\u2019s festival it is today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nWhat do you make of angels and\narchangels? Angels seem to have become much more popular and spoken\nof in recent years. Many people seem to find it easier to believe in\nangels than in God himself \u2013 which is a bit ironic, since angels\nonly derive their being from God, being made entirely of the spirit!\nThey feature in story and song and film. Not to mention church\narchitecture of course. We have a fair few dotted around this place \u2013\nstanding guard at the altar for example. My first University \u2013 that\nof Surrey at Guildford, was built close to Guildford Cathedral \u2013\nand if you have ever visited that building \u2013( not as elegant as\nLichfield perhaps and a bit brutal to some eyes, but a fine example\nof modernist architecture), you will find that a large golden angel\nadorns the top of the tower there. I\u2019m afraid we students usually\ncalled it the Fairy on the hill!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nIf I asked you to describe an\nangel, I am sure most of you would think of the traditional Christmas\nimage \u2013 dressed in white, blond hair, blue eyes and of course the\nlarge white wings! And we like to think of them as gentle, comforting\npresences, reminding us of the love of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nBut this is quite a modern\nimage. Angels in medieval art are often portrayed as larger than\nlife, fierce and fiery beings \u2013 frequently equipped with a sword \u2013\nat least the archangels are. They are usually dressed in bright\ncolours and even their wings are highly coloured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nAnd Archangels \u2013 like\nMichael \u2013 are essentially military beings. Captains, or Generals of\nGod\u2019s armies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nTrue, they often bring a\nmessage from God \u2013 the word for Angel in Hebrew, Malach, also means\nmessenger \u2013 but that message is often far from comforting. In fact\nto encounter an angel and to hear the message he brings (and in the\nBible they are all \u2018he\u2019 by the way!) usually means that your life\nis about to be turned upside down! Think of Gabriel and Mary and\nJoseph \u2013 and Zechariah come to that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Christian tradition, there are only really four Archangels that are widely recognised \u2013 Michael<\/strong>, (his name means, He who is like God, a figure embodying strength, courage, and protection \u2013 I wonder if that\u2019s why M&S chose his name as their brand?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nGabriel<\/strong>\n\u2013 Strength or voice of God \u2013 particularly used to bring messages\nto humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nRaphael<\/strong>\n\u2013 God heals \u2013 special to the medical profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nUriel<\/strong>\n\u2013 light of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nBut there are lots more named\nin Jewish and Islamic literature – at least 15 in total and angels\nas beings seem to pre-date all of the three great monotheistic\nreligions. They don\u2019t really get mentioned \u2013 or at least named –\nmuch before the great Exile of the Jews to Babylon \u2013 which happened\naround 560BC and it seems likely that they were something that was\nimported from Persian Zoroastrianism \u2013 which is older than Judaism\nand was probably the faith of the three wise men of our nativity\nstory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nAngels fascinate us. They\ninhabit the heavenly realms, yet are also channels of God\u2019s will\nand a way for God to interact with human beings. Angels inspire us\nwith heavenly worship \u2013 just listen to the words of our Eucharistic\nPrayer in a few minutes \u2013 and earthly service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nToday we are more likely to\nencounter Street Angels \u2013 those volunteers who help provide\nchaplaincy and welfare services to people making the most of the\nlate-night clubbing scene in our towns and cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nJesus uses language of angels\nin his parables and in his depiction of God\u2019s Kingdom. Such words\nstimulated the imagination of his hearers; and perhaps they also\nrestore our vision, when we long for peace, good news and healing;\nwhen we long to know and express God\u2019s presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nIn our Gospel today, we hear\nhow Nathaniel is drawn towards Jesus as we might be to a visiting\ncelebrity. But rather than have his human prejudices confirmed, he\nrecognises God with us. He is somewhat shocked at how much Jesus\nseems to know about him, but he is invited and he responds, moving\nfrom scepticism to a declaration of faith.\nRabbi, you are the Son of God.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nBut that is just a beginning.\nTo follow Jesus is to embrace the connection between God and\ncreation; to seek to make that real for others, day by day. We are to\nwitness to Jesus, God with us; the one who brings healing, peace and\ngrace to our humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nToday, angels remind us of our\nreliance on God\u2019s grace; that God is our source of strength,\nespecially when we are faced with difficult decisions or people. They\nremind us of our calling to proclaim the love of God, to seek his\npeace and healing through prayer. So as our worship this evening\nends, may our service to the world begin! Thanks be to God.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

St Michael and All Angels \u2013 evening Sunday 29th September 2019 St Michael and All Angels \u2013 evening Genesis 28. 10-17 John 1. 47 \u2013 end Revd Preb Maureen Hobbs Michelmas \u2013 its a word often used to describe this time of year \u2013 We speak of the Michelmas term in schools and colleges and … <\/p>\n

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