Watch out for emails like this one from me or anyone who is likely to be on the diocesan, or other public data base. Note that although this says it comes from me- the address is definitely not mine.... the link it leads to probably will attempt to load something suspicious onto your device, or computer. This type of scam is called clone phishing. I first came across it last year with fake emails from my Rector. Now my name has been used.It is different to hacking, where the criminal guesses your password and takes over your real account. This is a safeguarding issue for all the folks in our churches who use email and might inadvertently click on a link sent in an email of this sort and find their computers, bank accounts and email accounts compromised. Please be vigilant and pass on the warning. It could be your name that is used.... or you may be the person duped into clicking that link!
113 CV Thought for the Day – St. Philip and St. James and Easter III by DidymusNo Evensong: ReadingsIsaiah ch.40, vv27-endActs ch.9, vv1-22John ch.12, vv20-26 As Easter floats away into the recent past, having remembered St. Mark, we now remember both St. Philip and St. James. Remembering people from the past, be they described as saints or not, is important. They gave their lives both spiritually and often literally for the faith of Jesus Christ, a faith which we carry forward in our lives. Or should.The risk is that it encourages the church to live in the past – which much of it does (about 200 years at least – Ed) – but we must always look forward, as I am sure they would have us do. The celebration of the two saints is transferred to tomorrow.As there are at least six known Jameses in the Bible, we need to know which we are remembering. James is an Anglicisation of Jacob, the Hebrew name meaning “heel-catcher”. This strange name was given to Jacob, as he was born after his brother Esau, “on his heels” as one might say. The most eminent James was the son of Zebedee, James the Great, brother of St. John the Apostle, remembered on July 25th (Wait awhile, St. Kew! – Ed).James the Younger, (or more unkindly, “the Lesser”, probably due to his height) was a Disciple, spoken of as the son of Alphaeus. Carefully avoiding the complex world of genealogy, the Disciple Matthew was known as Levi and described as the son of Alphaeus, which suggests that they were related in some way, perhaps cousins or even brothers This James was also linked with the rather anonymous Disciple Thaddeus, possibly from the same family group. Little is known about James’ life and work. Clopas, who was one of the men on the road to Emmaus, had a son who was called James, and Jesus had a half-brother named James, but there is no evidence to connect either with this James, the Younger.St. Philip was a Disciple that we know a little more about. He was originally a disciple of John the Baptist, and left to follow Jesus. It is likely that Philip was the unnamed companion to Andrew, who left John the Baptist at his bidding, and followed Jesus. Later he introduced Jesus to his friend, the acerbic Nathaniel, whose initial scepticism turned to enthusiasm on hearing Jesus’ words. Philip was the Disciple who was given the staggering task of feeding the 5,000, and could not. Imagine his perplexity on hearing Jesus say, in effect, “All right. Tell the people to sit down.” Imagine also his wonder at seeing the miracle unfold before his eyes. Later, in his ch.12 John records Philip being approached by some Greeks who wished to see Jesus. It is a curious three verses, and no conversation is recorded: instead Jesus appears to be reflecting on the coming of his Passion. Philip again appears in the very important Ch.14, when Jesus talks about the…
Dietrich Bonhoeffer on StupidityA warning and an encouragement for 21st-century Christians?FROM: Martin Adams (Reader in St Illogan Parish)I recently came across the following article by Dietrich Bonhoeffer; andimmediately was struck that the points he was making in the closingyears and months of World War II are scarcely less relevant for Christianstoday. Anyone who goes to the trouble of reading this might wish toread Bonhoeffer’s words before mine. The article is below, at the end.Many of the tensions wracking the Church of Jesus Christ today — notjust the Church of England, but most institutional churches in the Westand in the English-speaking world — have arisen through attempts,especially over the last 50 years or so, to accommodate the Church’smission to the precepts of identity politics. It is inevitable, and evennecessary, that a church in a particular time and place will reflect thecultural and other characteristics of that society; and that point is amajor preoccupation of a classic of late 20th-century Christian thought,The Gospel in a Pluralist Society (SPCK, 1989), by Lesslie Newbigin (1909–1998). Among the the central ideas that Newbiggin tackles head-on arethe necessity for a Christian to: 1) exercise discernment about the culturein which he or she is living; 2) be willing to let go of cherished culturaland other presuppositions, ideas and practices that are not central to theGospel; 3) prioritise the core teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christwhile seeking, as much as possible, to find an accommodation that willenable the believer to work effectively in that society as a disciple ofJesus Christ, especially in the Church’s main purpose in the world —mission.Here, I do not wish to attack identity politics beyond mentioning onemost-fundamental point. A central tenet of Judeo-Christian teaching forthe last 2000 and more years has been that we are all made in the imageof God, are therefore all equal in that most-basic sense, and that equalitybefore God should be the basis of our behaviour one to another. On that2idea, universally declared throughout scripture, have rested most of theChurch’s words and actions that have sought to tackle injustices of allkinds. Those actions have sometimes been too slow, sometimeschristians have perpetuated injustices; but that equality before Godstands as a fundamental aspect of His love for the whole world. (John3:16, for example)Identity politics does the opposite. It identifies injustices or other thingsthat might need to be remedied or ameliorated; but it does so byconcentrating on what divides us — black or white, slave or free, maleor female, rich or poor, etc. — and it understands these differences byclaiming to identify those who have power and those who do not. Itplaces the remedies in the hands of people, not in the hands of God. Itsideologies have an inexorable tendency to seep into all areas of life,affecting education (and not just higher education, where so much of itwas born and is nourished), government policies and the generalinstitutions of state and society. Unfortunately, the church (not just theChurch of England) is far from immune to such infection; and becauseof that it often fails…
Dear All There are regular bits and pieces put up in the news section of the website, (link at the bottom of the page) such as Peter's weekly thoughts of Didymus. I am not sending out emails for every post. Pleasebook Saturday 14th of May 9am to 1pm for Reader Day om Zoom..... we will use the Ministers in conversation link to keep it simple! (ask for a link) Speakers this year include Bishop Emma - who is Bishop to the Archbishops of York and Canterbury) more about here here: Revamped Bishop at Lambeth role boosts links between Archbishops of Canterbury and York (anglicannews.org) I will be chairing the very short AGM. Question: do we need an AGM after this year? Suggestions for answers please..... The conversation group, which always welcomes new contributors meets again on Monday morning on ZOOM...... it would be lovely to meet in person but as we stretch fromPenzance to Callington..... online is rather more convenient. Prayers: Please keep the candidates for selection for next year's training programme in your prayers before their selection day at Epiphany House on June 30th. Also in your prayers, a number of Readers who are in tricky situations in their ministerial areas - please pray for them for wisdom and guidance.112 CV EASTER II 240422[26034] Peter Coster's thoughts for Easter 2
As I have explained before, Easter, like the Nativity, is when every priest seeks an altar and a pulpit, for these are the major events in the Christian faith for everyone. With larger congregations Licensed Lay Ministers (formerly Readers) become servers and chalice bearers. I remember one occasion at Easter when the church was crowded, we had two patens (bread) and two chalices. A conversation in the vestry established the version of the stately gavotte that the two pairs would do to avoid unseemly collisions, omissions or horror of horrors a spillage of wine. One of the first communicants was a man with a baby and toddler. I turned to the priest, questioningly, as giving a blessing was a priestly privilege. He whispered “Then bless them, Peter”. So I did, as a prayer, since in my book only one being gives blessings and we know who. The number of children was amazing, most rather stunned at learning that Jesus was their friend who was always with them. It made Easter for me, an experience that remains with me.Peter's Easter thoughtsRead the whole illustrated text by clicking the title above!
110 CV Thought for the Day – the Sunday Before Easter “Palm Sunday” by DidymusEvensong Readings:Isaiah Ch.5, vv1-7Gospel: Luke Ch.20, vv9-19This weekend’s readings have a similar theme, the use of a parable to illustrate and condemn those who stood against God. It is powerful stuff, indeed Isaiah’s seven verses are one of the jewels of this great book. The poetic comparison of beauty and then barbarity give it greater force. Of course it was easy to ignore Isaiah, as many did, but later Israel and then Judah felt the weight of Assyria and Babylon’s anger.The Gospel follows the same prophetic theme. In my view it would be better to read from verse one, to understand the challenge of the Authorities, and the response. Jesus was much cleverer than his critics, as they discovered when he planted them neatly on the horns of a dilemma. He drove his point home in the parable of the vineyard, reading the minds of his opponents and their intentions.Our thoughts are no doubt on Palm Sunday, with lengthy dramatized readings, by reluctant friends conscripted by the clergy to simulate the events of the Passion. The proximity of the readings and the Passion with the events in Ukraine are painful, bringing the reality of human barbarity with TV and newspapers each day. Jesus being challenged by the PhariseesAmen
Mr Dog’s Year It was a year on and Mr Dog had been assimilated into what had become a dogless household. The pale grey carpets were ingrained with mud and dog hair in the favourite resting places, biscuit crumbs were casually strewn for that barefoot experience and the walls up to waist height showed just how effective a wet dog-shake could be.‘Where’s-Lez’ and the Boss had always had dogs until the eighteen month hiatus before Mr Dog found them and what he considered to be a welcoming household even if there was a demand for change in a number of his habits!Among the new commandments and laws there were a series of ‘shalts’ and ‘shall-nots’:Thou shalt not lunge at or chase vehicles of any sort, no matter how noisy or irritating or inviting they may be.Thou shall sit or lie at the side of the track for cyclists, runners and horses or, so that small children can pass unthreatened, on pavements.Thou shalt sit when on a lead to let other dogs past especially when they are looking nervous or aggressive.Thou shalt not, under any circumstances, jump up to meet people, especially the very old and the very young.Thou shalt not pull so hard on the lead that it all but dismembers the limbs of thy owner.Mr Dog had taken several months to learn the basics and to walk off the anxieties of city life that had shaped his first nine months of life. These days people complimented him on his behaviour while he sat down or lay at the side of the path or calmly wagged in greeting. Often it would be a shouted ‘thank you’ or ‘lovely dog’ from a passing runner or rider.Life had become somehow, simpler. Food, he had learned, was always available so he could snack through the day and that if he could avoid eating then treats would be added to the bowl of Royal Canin dried food which h made for quite a banquet when owners were in bed.His favourite treat included the breadcrumbs and flecks of cheese from the chopping board following the making of cheese sandwiches which provided a mining experience to find the morsels. Best of all, were roast chicken Sundays, when the treats would include some crispy chicken skin and the left-over gravy.Lunch was a strange affair for Mr Dog when there was a different treat, a venison stick or a chicken flavoured chew while they sat in the conservatory and Dog attentions were not allowed. He would be summoned by the singing of “something for the dog…..” to the tune of “Fly Me to the Moon” often chorused in harmony.Mornings began for Mr Dog just before first light when the sounds of the waking garden filtered through the bedroom window where his own bed was positioned in the bay. He had freedom of the house at night so nocturnal ramblings to sleep on the chairs in the front room or his bed in the music room or to peer into…