{"id":8168,"date":"2021-05-16T15:02:58","date_gmt":"2021-05-16T15:02:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk\/web\/?page_id=8168"},"modified":"2021-05-21T19:59:59","modified_gmt":"2021-05-21T19:59:59","slug":"sermon-16th-may-2021","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk\/web\/information\/sermons\/sermon-16th-may-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Sermon – 16th May 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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

Seventh Sunday of Easter – Sunday after Ascension<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Sunday 16th May 2021<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although we have been able to resume public worship not everyone is able to attend so this service was streamed live on YouTube and is still available now. The service can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Easter 7 – Sunday after Ascension
\nActs 1.15-17,21-end
\nJohn 17.6-19<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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

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

We are at one of the hinge points of the Christian year. Thinking back still to the events of Easter; Christ\u2019s willingness to go to the cross; his death and the utter devastation felt by his disciples; the confusion and mystery of finding the empty tomb followed by the wonder and ecstasy of realising that he is still alive, still with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last Thursday saw the end of the great forty days since Easter as we celebrated the Feast of the Ascension. The time when Jesus finally said goodbye to his earthly life and in some way to his followers, while also promising them a sense of his eternal presence and to await the coming of God\u2019s Spirit for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So here we are \u2013 stuck in the middle \u2013 filled with wonder and expectation of all that has happened, but also looking forward in anticipation of all that is to come. Daring to believe that something even more wonderful is in wait. And meanwhile we are at the hinge, the turning point; like children waiting for the delight of Christmas morning but knowing that we must be patient; must give God the time necessary to complete our preparation to receive the gift in store…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile \u2013 back in Jerusalem, thoughts turn to practical matters…. with the defection and subsequent suicide of Judas, the 12 disciples are diminished. Peter, beginning to take the lead and feeling the weight of his new responsibility no doubt, decides to hold an election for Judas\u2019 successor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is always the way \u2013 when one leader disappears \u2013 life still goes on and sufficient volunteers must be found if the community is to thrive and continue. You have been going through much the same process over the past few weeks as you have come up with new ways to organise the PCC and to allocate roles and tasks within it…. And there will be much more to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And at the end of our APCM a few weeks ago, we were left with several \u2018gaps\u2019 on the PCC… vacancies for which there were no volunteers. Now I know only too well all the reasons for thinking \u2018No, that is not for me!\u2019 Somewhere there may be a church where people fight for places on the PCC, but I admit I have not encountered one yet! But it is a very real way of serving and loving your neighbour and I am concerned about the burden of responsibility that is falling on relatively few shoulders. So please, everyone here and at home, search your hearts and think whether or not there might be something that you could contribute to the future of this worshipping community. I doubt that Matthias was overjoyed to be told that the lot had fallen on him \u2013 and we don\u2019t hear much more about him after this event \u2013 so maybe his place among the disciples was to help others achieve their vision and aims, rather than strike out with his own, but he was there and he joined them. Could some of you not offer yourselves to be co-opted to fill the five vacancies on our PCC? Please speak to Dorothy or Clive if you might!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Towards the end of his earthly life, Jesus was also aware of the burden that he was leaving to his closest followers. As I prepare \u2013 not thankfully for my crucifixion, but for retirement and moving away, there is still much to be done so that ministry continues in this place \u2013 whether or not there is a Vicar in post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And I take my lead from Jesus\u2019 example of praying that God will guide and protect and bless all of those \u2013 but especially the Churchwardens, our Readers emeritus and in training, and all the Church officers, so that they may not feel over burdened, but may have the joy of God made complete in themselves.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But whatever plans and preparations we might make, it will still depend on the Holy Spirit turning up when required, for this place to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But we have one big advantage over those first disciples. We know that the Holy Spirit does<\/strong> turn up \u2013 often in ways and at times we least expect. And when the Spirit does arrive, we can expect to be unsettled, even disturbed, as well as comforted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are at a hinge point in the history of this church and community. Will you remain ever facing backwards? Mourning the past and regretting all that you have lost? Or will you face bravely forwards, not too sure what the future holds but trusting that God will only bring you gifts that enhance and improve your relationship with him? Come Holy Spirit, and kindle in us the fire of God\u2019s love.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sermons index Seventh Sunday of Easter – Sunday after Ascension Sunday 16th May 2021 Although we have been able to resume public worship not everyone is able to attend so this service was streamed live on YouTube and is still available now. The service can be found here. Easter 7 – Sunday after Ascension Acts … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Sermon – 16th May 2021”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":270,"menu_order":189,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8168","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8168","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8168"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8168\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8185,"href":"https:\/\/www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8168\/revisions\/8185"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/270"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}