Message from Revd Sarah du Boulay
Dear Friends,
As I continue to settle into the vicarage, I am constantly realising that I haven’t yet found certain items from the move. Things which are clearly not everyday, necessary items, but ones which nevertheless are important at a particular time and for a particular job. I wondered whether there is a deep theological application for this, and if there are some aspects of our faith which we need as daily disciplines to feed and nourish us, and others which are more of an occasional act of worship?
Then I decided I was overthinking things and went back to searching for my milk jug.
This week I am at Aldringham, and next at Knodishall in the morning, before leading Evening Prayer at Aldeburgh in the evening. Do let me know what aspects of worship you find most helpful – I’d be very interested.
With continued prayers,
Sarah
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God,
by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified:
hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people,
that in their vocation and ministry
they may serve you in holiness and truth
to the glory of your name;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
First Reading
Genesis 18.1-10a
The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, ‘My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.’ So they said, ‘Do as you have said.’ And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, ‘Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.’ Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate. They said to him, ‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ And he said, ‘There, in the tent.’ Then one said, ‘I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.’ And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him.
Second Reading
Colossians 1.15-28
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel. I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
Gospel Reading
Luke 10.38-end
Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’
Sermon preached by The Revd Johanna Mabey at
Aldringham 3rd July 2022
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer.
When you travel, what sort of packer are you?
I’m a methodical, neat sort of packer – and I start the packing process at least a week before any trip – and I must confess, I find it very hard to travel light.
I lay everything out, and check outfits and shoes co-ordinate and that all items are interchangeable – I have something for every weather eventuality – you never know when it might rain or turn chilly – I pack and un-pack and then re-pack – I decant my favourite shampoo and toiletries into little travel bottles, I make sure I have every possible ointment, sunscreen and medicine that might be required, the whole process takes ages – and when I used to have to do the same for my three children when they were little, I often got to a point when I seriously questioned whether all the effort and stress was actually worth it – far easier to stay home and go nowhere!
But of course, it always was worth it – and we had some very happy family holidays together.
In our Gospel reading today, Jesus wants the seventy to pack nothing…
no money, no bag, no spare sandals – nothing – just what they happen to be wearing.
Jesus says they are to be dependent on the kindness of strangers.
Hmmm – I’d be in trouble – at the very least I’d probably stuff some underwear and toiletries into my pockets and hope He wouldn’t notice!
These followers are sent out as lambs among wolves; they will find out just who their friends are. Their friends are the ones who will welcome them, whether they are known to each other or not.
The disciples are to enter a home and declare peace to those who inhabit it. And even though in ancient Palestine hospitality is highly valued, not everyone will welcome those who bring peace.
There are some homes and some communities in which peace is spurned because it may mean giving up power over others or it may be perceived as weakness.
If the residents are unwilling to hear the words of peace, then the disciples will move on to some other place where peace is welcomed.
Jesus tells the seventy to receive whatever hospitality is offered.
That’s odd – when you think about it.
Because we expect to be told to share hospitality, not to receive it.
How happy are we when someone thanks us for a nice meal or is grateful to have a place to stay?
When the worshiping community extends hospitality to the visitor, the stranger, the person on the margins, the immigrant, the outcast… that community finds itself warmed and renewed by the act of giving.
And yet, receiving is also a gift to oneself and to the giver.
So, there’s a deeper meaning here to Jesus’ words. There’s a vulnerability, and an open-ness to the giving and receiving of hospitality – and that can be uncomfortable.
There’s also quite a contrast between Jesus’ instructions on how to receive hospitality, and his instructions on what to do if you aren’t welcomed.
When receiving hospitality, he seems to be saying accept whatever you’re offered, don’t complain; don’t look for somewhere better to stay.
But if you aren’t welcomed, well, then, make a show of it.
Peace and protest. Jesus instructs his followers to bless the houses they enter, to offer them peace – but if you’re not welcomed, make a show of your protest.
I wonder whether this is a helpful reminder to us as well, especially in our politically and culturally fraught times.
Jesus instructs his disciples to make open and public demonstrations of their rejection, to shake the dust from their sandals as the other gospels describe it.
There may be a time and place for peace but there also seems to be time and place for protest.
But remember, such protest could be directed at us, if we refuse to welcome those who knock on our doors.
Whether there is hospitality or not, Jesus instructs the disciples to proclaim, “The kingdom of God has come near!”
It’s good news… the nearness of God’s reign, signs of which can be seen in the offering and receiving of peace, shalom, and the offering and receiving of hospitality.
But God’s reign is not only blessing, it’s also judgment – and for those who refuse to receive and give peace, those who refuse to give and receive hospitality, the nearness of God’s kingdom may mean an upending of their world.
Ultimately all these instructions seem a very long way from 21st century Britain.
Just as we would never go on a trip without extra clothes, shoes, no money, or other supplies, we are also quite unlikely to knock on a stranger’s door to ask for hospitality or to offer them peace.
And when there’s a knock on our door, and we open it to discover a Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness missionary, we are unlikely to welcome them in!
Still, these instructions challenge us – to reflect on how we follow Jesus and how Jesus is calling us to follow him, to reflect on the welcome we offer and the welcome we receive, to remember that the Kingdom of God is near, a reality that is both promise and judgment, and finally, to remember that among the gifts we receive as followers of Jesus, especially when we obey his teaching, is the great gift of joy.
May God’s joy fill our hearts and open us to the possibilities of welcoming and being welcomed… and to offering and receiving peace.
Amen.
Post Communion
Grant, O Lord, we beseech you,
that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered
by your governance, that your Church may joyfully serve you in all
godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Next Week
Sunday 24th July
Sixth Sunday after Trinity
Somewhere over the rainbow
This week’s photo is from Eloise Mabey. This photo is almost a double rainbow taken after a recent storm across the sea at Aldeburgh. What amazing colours. Thank you, Eloise.
Do share your photos with us of our local area of beauty.
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Church of England and Diocese Online Worship There are many online services you can view from the Church of England and our cathedral. Here are some links below. Church of England website https://www.churchofengland.org/ Church of England Facebook page Church of England YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/ St Edmundsbury Cathedral Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/ |
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Youth Club – We need your help! |
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Weekly Benefice Newsletter If you would like something added to the weekly newsletter that is relevant to the Benefice, please do let Claire know and we will do our best to include it the following week. All requests by 4pm on Thursday please |
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Food Banks at the East of England Co-op |
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Pilgrims Together on Wednesdays on Zoom Pilgrims @ The Meare Thorpeness |
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Alde Sandlings Benefice Fun Days in August |
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Bring and share lunch – 31st July at Aldeburgh |
