not so silent

In my 16th year of being Team Vicar of my parish Pype Hayes. I have reflecting a lot of what that means. A few years ago a coworker asked me if I was still in this parish I said yep. His reply was "the diocese will have on your file no vision and no imagination"! My response if I remember correctly was something like "I prefer to call it commitment".  I have just read 'Trees which are repeatedly transplanted do not grow roots', St Gregory of Sinai. I wonder what my roots look like? Perhaps the reason to be in a parish or community is to grow roots, spiritual roots. And that others may watch and be part of that process of growth. 

Our Father   This year during lent we are looking at The Lords Prayer. Beginning with Our Father. I was reminded he is Our Father not mine or even my own congregations Father but Our. The picture of Earth from the Hubble Telescope challenged my very personal or local view of Our Father. It seems for to long I have claimed him for myself and my congregation. The picture of earth reminded me well crashed in on my very narrow view of my father. The picture and the opening words Our Father forced me to contemplate the reality that people from all continents across all languages will today cry out Our Father and with that my family and Our Father seems much larger and more encompassing. 

Where is our wisdom? It was after reading Matthew 11  Jesus is quoted “you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to the little children”. Looking at wisdom and children drew me to a place to reflect on, where is our wisdom?  Often I hear people saying we do not have respect for members of our community anymore; police, vicar’s! doctors, teachers etc. But where are the people we invest out trust in because they have wisdom? The wise people we lent our saving to gamble them into financial tricks nobody could explain then made the saving disappeared and then after a roll on the drum we were left with less than nothing. The trick, savings grew, shrank, disappeared and a debt appeared it grew negatively. Wisdom?  The wise politicians here in the UK worked hard at making an agreement between the north and south parts of the Uk . Hours poured over devolution powers, cross boarder voting, and the examination of historical documents. We heard from po...

Today 15 years ago Bishop John Austin of Aston presid ed over my first service here at  St. Mary's Church, Pype  Hayes​. We, Erin and  Meself  had no  great  plans but  believed God had directed or whis per ed  to others to guide us here. Daniel and Ruth our children came willingly ,  well Ruth almost willingly , we sent them to the local schools. At 10 years old  Ruth went to the  school  down the road on the estate   at  that time was in special measures. Daniel 13 years old went to the local Roman Catholic school. During the last 15 years we have never doubted that we are in the right placed but there have been some very dark and painful times and possibly as many joyful life giving times. Although  im  not sure of the balance. When I meet strangers they ask how long have I been here and I tell them, they look surprised or a well disguised disappointment. There response at times prods me to ask “ have I s...

This weekend has been a time of many celebrations in the Anglican Church it has been a time for candidate s  for the ordained ministry to make some sort of commitment before  B ishop and God that is life lasting. I went through the same journey a number of years ago from deacon to priest sliding nervously but passionately into parish ministry, my commitment was also followed by a family party to celebrate!  This Sunday morning I preached on 2 Samuel 1:17 end. I thoroughly enjoyed the preparation, it is King David’s lament for Saul and Jonathan and their death on the battle field. This section of the Old Testament recognises the cosmic shift from God and people to God, King, the Kings Kingdom and Gods people. I think this  new favoured one of God, David, genuinely laments for Saul and Jonathan’s death. David in his lament models to his people the passing of something and someone  in death knowing  new possibilities to come. So I wonder on the Sunday when peo...

It was just a shopping trip Returning from a normal shopping trip with my daughter; the car radio plays quietly while we are planning the rest of the afternoon and possible evening .  The dual carriageway is reduced to one through a series of cones. Therefore our slow pace gives us time to see the person on the bridge ahead which we are about to pass under. My first thought is to hope they do not throw anything onto the car, it’s that sort of area (self-preservation being my first instinct). The figure on the bridge moves to the metal fencing and she climbs over. A shock fills our car I ask Ruth to stop the car holding up the traffic behind us. We rush out.  Ruth on the phone, me towards what I now know is a teenage girl. I try to engage her in conversation.  I keep telling her my name and asking hers, she does not give it. The desperate dialogue is one way. In the background I can hear Ruth telling the police where we are. Above me the girl is so close to the edge ...

Tokens of Trust by Rowan Williams I have been deeply jolted to the importance of the role of trust in my life and the cost when trust has been missing. Many years ago I spent a long time at the top of a cliff roped and secured being encouraged to abseil over the edge to the bottom a number of feet below. No matter how much my highly competent friend encouraged me to trust him and the equipment, I could not. During the same period of my life it was my job to service the fire service turntable ladders, which meant climbing 100 feet to the top of them. This I did many times never without a sense of anticipation, trusting the mechanics and workmanship that had been carried out. But it is with people where trust is cashed out or held back, reaping rewards or crippling relationships. I think the book has jolted me to understand my role as a professional truster  As a stipended priest I am called to model to, and with, my community my profession of trust. As I reflect upo...