Message from our Curate in Charge,
The Revd James Marston

At this time of year, we remember the coming of Christ among us, the revelation of the incarnate God. And this year, perhaps with a little extra enthusiasm following forced separation and restrictions to our lives, we give thanks. 

Thanks to our loved ones and our families, thanks to our communities for seeing us through, and thanks to God for being with us in our lives in good times and in bad. 

Alongside the watching and waiting of advent, we begin our community celebrations with Carol services – there’s plenty to choose from – with the added bonus of the benefice choir enhancing our worship.

Though we return to mandatory mask wearing in our churches I, and all the clergy of the benefice, are especially looking forward to being among you on as we celebrate God’s presence among us in the bread and wine of communion. 

And one more thing, after Christmas it’s usually a quieter time of year. With this in mind, I will be taking some time off, or at least trying to, and our administrator Claire will be moving house – as a result we’ll take a short break from the newsletter resuming once again in early 2022. 

God be with you this Christmas and always.  

James

Collect
O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger
to prepare your way before you:
grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries
may likewise so prepare and make ready your way
by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world
we may be found an acceptable people in your sight;
for you are alive and reign with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

First Reading
Zephaniah 3.14-end
Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! 
The Lord has taken away the judgements against you,
he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall fear disaster no more. 
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. 
The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival.
I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. 
I will deal with all your oppressors at that time.
And I will save the lame and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.  At that time I will bring you home,
at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes, says the Lord.

Second Reading
Philippians 4.4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.  Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Gospel Reading
Luke 3.7-18
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’ And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’ As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

Sermon by The Reverend Mark Booth
Preached on Sunday 5^th December 2021

During this season of Advent, the church recalls key witnesses to God’s preparation for the incarnation – His divine entrance into our human condition.

On each of these 4 Sundays, we focus (more or less) on one of 4 themes from the Bible which gradually unfold overlapping aspects of the story of our creation, our fall from grace, our wandering in the wilderness and God’s loving, saving response to our human predicament.

In the movements and struggles of Patriarchs and Matriarchs like Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, Joseph and his brothers and eventually Moses, together with their rather dysfunctional family lives; through the problems and plagues they brought upon themselves, and the promises which God nevertheless bestowed upon them, we can see the birth and growth of longing and hope which pushed and pulled God’s people through their history of trouble and torment.

In the words and actions of so many Prophets recorded and treasured in Old Testament Scriptures, we can hear and see God shaping and forming that hope into the expectation of a coming King who would deliver and lead his people into a better life.

In the ministry of John the Baptist, we meet the messenger, the proclaimer, the announcer, the forerunner, the herald of the far greater one than he who was making his way into the lives of the people: a way prepared for him by John, not only through the people’s physical and moral landscape, but also through their hearts and minds to the very centre of their beings.

In blessed Mother Mary we find the one in whom God’s plan is brought to fruition, the young woman through whose initial trouble and fear God’s word brought forth that willing acceptance which helped realise hope for all people, light in our darkness, justice, joy, and peace for all the world, all from a borrowed womb.

So, in our advent candles we can see flickers of hope for all humanity, the word of God speaking through every darkness, prophets contemplating mystery, waiting done with, making-ready underway, favour found in rejoicing.

And in the central, white candle burning bright on Christmas day we will see souls magnifying the Lord, and spirits rejoicing in God our Saviour . . . but that is another sermon, for another day . . . . . .

. . . In my retirement, I preach less often, which can lead to problems for me, if not for you: lack of momentum, trying to cram too much in, and hankering after that other, easier sermon, rather than the one I struggle with.

~ Today, for instance, I was tempted to do a John the Baptist on Waitrose and their Christmas t.v. advert proclaiming, “THE BEST BIT OF CHRISTMAS IS THE FOOD” and, wait for it, “YOU CAN TASTE WHEN IT’S A WAITROSE CHRISTMAS” . . . (Not if you can’t afford it!)

~ Then there was the one about Covid precautions and the doors left open for ventilation purposes, the paradox of freezing to death or falling victim to infection, but also the prospect of God’s Holy Spirit blowing in the wind, opening our eyes to see and ears to hear, hearts to feel and brains to think . . .

~ Then again, I was quite seduced by the fact that there are, of course, several different and sometimes conflicting traditions about colours and meanings of the Advent candles; the orders in which we deal with their themes and the practices surrounding them.

In Methodism, for instance, it is common to sing songs and hymns whose different verses speak to the different candles and their themes, and our reflections on them . . .

~ More important than all those, I suppose, is that tense relationship between the promise of salvation and the warning of judgement . . .

Rest assured, I shall spare you such manifestations of my righteous indignation, liturgical uncertainty, theological confusion and general clever-Dickery . . .

However, I cannot hide my bewilderment at what some of you may have already noticed from our readings, which is that John the Baptist, for whom the Church of England traditionally lights it’s third Advent Candle, nevertheless also gets a look in today, when the second candle is usually lit for the Prophets.

It is as if the Baptist has a dual role to play in the Advent drama:

On the one hand, he is Civil Engineer, road-maker, road-mender, even road-sweeper; creating and keeping a highway or pathway through our wasteland.

He finds the right direction; levels-out the peaks and troughs which make journeys so hard; straightens-out those long and winding roads which sometimes lead us back on ourselves. He deals with all the wearisome changes and chances met on our travels. He opens up new viewpoints and vistas on our Damascus Road experiences. He calms the traffic so that we can hear ourselves think, notice the kindness of strangers and make new friends on our Roads to Emmaus.

On the other hand, he is Broadcaster.

He announces what’s happening; gives details; compares conflicting reports. He warns of spoil, waste and void. He brings good news for many, and bad news for some.

At the same time, he remains Prophet, by whose words and sacramental actions he both challenges and invites people to get themselves ready for God who is coming in Christ.

John as Prophet and Preacher deals in expectation and apprehension.

As Baptiser he deals in preparation and reception, initiation and welcome.

In his various roles, John the Baptist presents challenge to the people of his day, our day, and every day:

? Will we listen and hear ?

? Will we watch and wait ?

? What and whom will we choose ?

? Which voice will we listen to: those loud, hectoring voices peddling fake news and false truth; publishing irrationality, agitation, and futility? Or those still small voices of calm, offering reason, respect, and hope?

? Which way will we follow: the path of peace in Christ? – Or the highway and handcart to hell without him? God’s way of truth and life leading to healing and peace? – Or that desolation row leading to sickness, chaos and disaster?

? Who will we want for our companion, our friend; our guide, our teacher; our comfort, our consolation; our courage and our hope?

? Will we ask about ourselves: ‘what’s occurring’? What’s going to happen? What will become of us? Or will we ask about God: what is God doing? What is God’s word for us? What does God want for us?

May God open our eyes to see and ears to hear.

May God’s Spirit blow open our hearts and minds to feel and think.

May God be a guide to our feet and a lamp to our path.

May God keep us loved and saved on the way of truth and life,

through Jesus Christ our Saviour and our Lord. Amen.

MRB 4 12 2, edited 7 12 21 c. 1160 words

Post Communion
We give you thanks, O Lord, for these heavenly gifts;
kindle in us the fire of your Spirit
that when your Christ comes again
we may shine as lights before his face;
who is alive and reigns now and for ever.

NOTICES

On a very blustery evening on Tuesday the 8th December, we held our Benefice Christingle service, in aid of the Children’s Society.

We would like to thank all of our team, who created a Christingle workshop of making the Christingles ready for the service. We are blessed to have such dedicated helpers in our Benefice.

Here are the photos of the making of the Christingles, and from the service.

Thank you to all that came to join us for this service, and made a donation. We raised in total £324.95 for the Children’s Society.

Message from our Curate in Charge,
The Revd James Marston

With Christmas fast approaching there is much happening in our benefice. Many services and events involve our lively and buoyant children’s ministry under the talented direction of Rev’d Jo. Even I am indulging in craft at the Christmas Messy Church.  

At Aldeburgh the Christingle and Crib services and the traditional services of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are coming up we are carefully managing these events in the light of the pandemic. You’ll need to book in advance if you wish to attend certain services. You will have received attached Christmas dates, and information with today’s email.  

Meanwhile Christmas Carol services are keeping our singers busy under the direction of Mish Kelly who is hoping to enhance worship with a group of voices drawn from across the benefice. 

Let’s enjoy our worship, let’s be as safe as we can be. 

James

Collect
O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power and come among us,
and with great might succour us; that whereas,
through our sins and wickedness
we are grievously hindered
in running the race that is set before us,
your bountiful grace and mercy
may speedily help and deliver us;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honour and glory, now and for ever.

First Reading
Malachi 3.1-4
See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

Second Reading
Philippians 1.3-11
I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Gospel Reading
Luke 3.1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” 

Sermon by The Revd James Marston preached on
Sunday 28^th November 2021

Sermon Luke 21: 25-36

When I first came here, now over two years ago, I was given some advice I’ve never wavered from. Whatever you do don’t upset the flower ladies, or at least try not to.

Yesterday afternoon, by the Moot Hall in Aldeburgh, our community gathered to turn on the Christmas lights in our local town.

The weather wasn’t exactly perfect, but we gathered nonetheless, sang a couple of carols, a very jolly Father Christmas did a countdown, the tree lit up, families cheered, and the bells pealed.

And, despite the weather, there were smiling faces all round, a great and long-established tradition had been upheld.

But of course, it’s all totally wrong. The most inappropriate time of year to be lighting lights and singing carols. Christmas, the moment we celebrate light of Christ coming into the world, is weeks away. I’m not sure when this great and long-established tradition of the great light switch on started- almost certainly within living memory and probably no earlier than the 1980s or 1990s.

Until comparatively recently there were not four weeks, or even longer, of partying and merry making and shopping – instead not so long ago there were 12 days of Christmas following Christmas day. Christmas was the start of celebrations, not the culmination of what is now called the run up.

And I’m afraid to tell you that in the church it still is the other way around. We are seemingly, on this festival, out of kilter with the rest of the world.

Advent is how we, as Anglicans, build up to Christmas;

Advent is a period of watchful, and prayerful anticipation as we wait for anniversary of that day when the light came into the world and the saviour was born among us. So far so good.

But.

The season of advent also looks ahead to Christ’s final advent as judge at the end of time.

Indeed, the Four Last Things – Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell – have been traditional themes for Advent meditation.

The characteristic note of Advent is therefore expectation, rather than penitence. Indeed, the anticipation of Christmas under commercial pressure has also made it harder to sustain the appropriate sense of alert watchfulness, but the fundamental Advent prayer remains ‘Maranatha’ – ‘Our Lord, come’ (1 Corinthians 16.22).

So despite this tension from the outside world, church decorations remain simple and spare. It is because of this we dress the church in purple and I find myself gently negotiating with the flower ladies to quietly stop them glorifying God in the usual way. It’s is not because I personally, or anyone else, doesn’t like the church being decorated in advent, it is because advent demands no other distractions from the contemplation and prayer the season demands.

Advent is not only the beginning of the church year and a season of expectation and preparation, but also a time which looks ahead to Christ’s final advent as judge at the end of time.

The readings and liturgies not only direct us towards Christ’s birth, they also challenge the modern reluctance to confront the theme of divine judgement.

But confront it we must.

Indeed, our gospel reading today forces us to respond with a process of self-examination. A moment of self-refection we might not want to engage in.

“People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory.”

So I ask you today how ready is your conscience? How prepared is your soul? How keen are you to be judged? How alert are you to the coming of the Lord?

Indeed, if we have got Christmas the wrong way round, where in your life are things out of kilter? What other things have we got the wrong way round?

And what are you hiding from the all-seeing God? When have you stood on your pride or selfish desires? When have you failed to turn the other cheek and love your neighbour?

The challenge to all of us this advent is to look within. To assess and analyse our faith, our behaviours, our attitudes, our prejudices – and I’m afraid there’s no hiding the fact we’ve all got them.

So, think about how, why, and when you get it wrong. Think about how let yourself and God down. And ask yourself is your faith genuine or is church just a Sunday morning club?

Prepare your souls for judgement. Pray for your salvation.

Think about how you need the light of Christ in your lives and in your hearts.

God be with you this advent, it is in fact, the most uncomfortable time of year.

Amen.

Post Communion
Father in heaven, who sent your Son to redeem the world
and will send him again to be our judge:
give us grace so to imitate him in the humility and purity of his first coming
that, when he comes again, we may be ready to greet him
with joyful love and firm faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Next week
Sunday 12^th December
Third Sunday of Advent

NOTICES

Message from our Curate in Charge,
The Revd James Marston

As I prepare my final portfolio of work, I find myself reflecting on ministry and my experience here with you over the last two and a bit years. It has been something of a rollercoaster, flood, Covid, Curate-in-Charge. I thought, as I joined the church, I would be in for a life of calm reflection in a large rectory with lovely robes. Indeed, the priest of today is as much an administrator as a man or woman of God. Or at least that’s the danger, as with all of us finding time for calm reflection, prayer and paying attention to our faith can be something of a challenge – but rise to that challenge we, and I, must.

And though it may appear to be somewhat contrived, as I go through this process of theological reflection and essay writing I am struck at how much I feel I have changed, and I am sure I have learnt things since I’ve been alongside and among you over these last two rather strange years. No longer does wearing the clerical collar seem distinctly odd. No longer am I quite so nervous before a big service. No longer am I unsure of where to stand or what’s coming next. I’ve got used to it and, in turn, I suspect you’ve got a little used to me.

Perhaps one of the biggest things I have taken on board is that ministry is a collaborative effort. No one person runs our churches, no one person has control – indeed much of ministry seems to be joining in where the Holy Spirit is leading us rather than trying to direct God or our churches to reflect our own image of ourselves.

As we approach our advent season, I urge you to use this time of anticipation to pause and reflect on your own faith. Join me in this period of reflection and think about God in your own journey of faith over these last two or so years.

God has been and is in all our lives and sometimes, as we deepen our faith, it’s not a bad idea to look back and spot His presence.

James

As we approach a busy time in our church calendar, Aldeburgh churchwarden Ken Smith has asked me to ask the whole benefice for help and support as we approach the season of Christmas with its big services and large public events. If you are able to help Ken and assist him and his team, in a variety of roles, during some of these services do let Ken know, either in church, or email admin@aldeburghparishchurch.org.uk

Collect
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

First Reading
Jeremiah 33.14-16
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfil the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

Second Reading
1 Thessalonians 3.9-end
How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. 

Gospel Reading
Luke 21.25-36
‘There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in a cloud” with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’ Then he told them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. ‘Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.’

Sermon by The Revd James Marston preached on
Sunday 21^st November 2021

Christ the King

May I speak in the name of the Living God.

So far as a journalist and in other spheres of my 46 years I’ve met two duchesses, a duke, two or three belted earls, a couple of countesses, a fistful of lords and ladies, a plethora of knights and even went to school with one or two honourables.

And dare I say it, I’ve certainly come across quite a few “don’t you know who I ams?”

I’ve never met a King –not unless you count an Elvis Presley tribute act, I interviewed in advance of an appearance at the Spa Pavilion in Felixstowe.

Titles, what we call each other, are important. They define our expectations – even as a reverend, which is a style of address rather than an actual title, you’d be surprised if I started swearing or being cruel or even over-sarcastic in your company or from the pulpit.  The titles and styles we use might not be as important as they once were – but even now in 21^st century Britain aristocrats and royalty still hit the headlines if their behaviour contrast with middle-class morality and expectation in some way.  And the vicar running off with the organist is always good copy.

It is true that the celebration of Christ the King is not an ancient feast. Indeed, it’s less than 100 years old with its roots in a papal encyclical dating from 1922. Of course, there is deep theological, biblical, and historical precedent informing this relatively new tradition. Indeed since the early days of the church, the concept and representation of Jesus as royal or imperial has not been uncommon. .

The strange thing is, of course, that Jesus, as we heard in today’s gospel reading, was often at pains to deny, or at least deflect, his royal and kingly credentials.  Jesus, it seems to me, didn’t want to be seen as a king, at least not in the earthly political sense that we understand monarchy.  Indeed, in Mark’s gospel in particular Jesus is cagey when called messiah as, I suspect, he wasn’t keen to be seen as a figurehead for political revolt. He wasn’t that sort of king.

Because Jesus’ kingship rests on the spiritual rather than the temporal so too does the celebration of Christ the King – a reminder not of earthly power so much as the spiritual.  That’s not to say the spiritual and temporal are not linked – indeed in the book of common prayer communion service one of the prayers mentions the queen with the caveat “knowing whose minister she is” and “remembering whose authority she has.”

Even Her Majesty is answerable to a higher power – a powerful statement when the Book of Common Prayer was written. And I have no doubt the Queen takes her spiritual life as seriously as she does her earthly duties. We are lucky to have her, not only as a leader of our nation but also as the supreme governor of our church.

So, what does Christ the King mean to us?

I think the answer to that is fairly simple. It means we allow our hearts and minds to be governed by Christ and not by ourselves or our own selfish desires and agendas.

The festival of Christ the King reminds us to whom our souls belong and how our faith must define our behaviours, our actions, our reactions, our outlook, even our internal processes.

Our faith, with, study and prayer, practice and praise, Eucharist, and fellowship, should define us as the people of God in such a way as to make us stand out on our community and to those around us.

No easy task but one we can attempt again and again, over and over, in our lives to achieve.

My challenge to us this week is not some deep spiritual exercise, nor is it to get too depressed as we all get it wrong, but to add Christ into our daily consciousness just a tiny bit more than we do usually.  To think about our faith as we interact and meet others, to look at someone and think where Jesus might be in their lives. To see the world through the lens of Christ.

The celebration of Christ the King is not only a reminder of the glory of Christ in heaven or the Kingdom of now and not yet towards which we strive, but a practical aide memoire to prompt us to remember whose ministers we are and whose authority we have in every aspect of our lives.

Amen.

Post Communion
O Lord our God, make us watchful and keep us faithful
as we await the coming of your Son our Lord;
that, when he shall appear, he may not find us sleeping in sin
but active in his service and joyful in his praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

NOTICES

Next week
Sunday 5^th December
Second Sunday of Advent

Message from our Curate in Charge,
The Revd James Marston

Though it may be easy to feel a little depleted due to the temporary fall in clergy numbers, I can, nevertheless, detect a notable energy among our churches to get things done and share the love of God in our benefice as we rise to the challenge of vacancy. There is much to look forward to in the weeks ahead.

And as we continue to strike the balance between the strange pause of incumbent vacancy and a desire to get life going again, I recognise there may be some frustrations as well as some joys. Usually, I hope, the joys outweigh the frustrations – at least that’s how it seems to me as I begin to understand something of what priesthood is all about – the people, relationships, and encouraging others in faith.

And though we are in vacancy, I think this Sunday we can come together to mark the celebration of Christ the King – a timely reminder that our parishes and our benefice is not only the church of Christ but also the body of Christ in this place. Indeed, our church is led by God, whether there is an incumbent or not, revealed to us through the risen Christ and subject to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

And as I reflect for a moment, I am struck how our churches are made up of not just our regular worshipping communities but others who come to church, though perhaps less often, who also play their part in prayer and presence. Indeed, I expect we may well see some familiar faces returning to worship once again in the coming weeks.

As we welcome the wider congregation and community to our various services and continue to build up our faith communities, we can use the opportunity of Advent and the beginning of the new church year to remind ourselves and tell others of whom we serve and the king we worship.

With my prayers and thanks,

James

Collect
Eternal Father,
whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven
that he might rule over all things as Lord and King:
keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit
and in the bond of peace,
and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit
one God, now and for ever.

First Reading
Daniel 7.9-14
As I watched, thrones were set in place,
and an Ancient One took his throne; 
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire. 
A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence.
A thousand thousand served him, and ten thousand times
ten thousand stood attending him.
The court sat in judgement, and the books were opened. 
As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being
coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One
and was presented before him. To him was given dominion
and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.

Second Reading
Revelation 1.4b-8
John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 
Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen.
‘I am the Alpha and the Omega’, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. 

Gospel Reading
John 18.33–37
Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?’ Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’

Sermon By The Revd James Marston preached on
Sunday 7^th November 2021

Mark 1: 14-20

May I speak in the name of the living God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

This week I went to a friends’ collation – I thought this was something to do with a selection of cold meats and pickles. So confused as to how my friend could be served up with pickles and maybe some crusty bread, I looked it up in the dictionary – I was right collation is a light informal meal.

It is also, according to this dictionary, the action of collating something and in church speak means the patron, rather than the bishop, presents the incumbent to the living.
Although I’d rather you didn’t question me further on this insight into canon law as I’m still not totally sure.

Anyway, my friend was collated, inducted, and installed with the patron, bishop, and churchwardens in a lengthy ceremony in which she took up the mantle of her ministry.
We had sausage rolls afterwards – so I guess, in the end, it was a collation in both senses of the word.

In our gospel story there is no such ceremony, no prayers and no hymns, no quiche buffet afterwards. Instead Jesus simply says Follow me and these men simply stop what they are doing – put down their fishing nets as it happens – give up work, leave their homes and even their families and do exactly that, follow Jesus into the unknown.

I am sure, over the years, you have heard many sermons about the compelling man that Jesus was, how these simple words of his could excite such devotion and how amazing he must have been. You may too have heard biblical exegesis on what fishers of men means and the construction of first century Galilean fishing nets.

But what strikes me this week is not the powerful charisma of Jesus but the trust these men display – it seems extraordinary. We know the story, but they had no idea where they were going or what was going to happen next.

As I picked out a well-buttered cheese scone at my friend’s collation a lady of Buxhall church, my friend has got the Combs and Finborough benefice near Stowmarket – seven churches and I don’t envy her, said to me I know you your James Marston aren’t you. It seems my face is my ID across the county.

I nodded and exchanged pleasantries, but I was reminded by how, in my days working in the press, I would often be introduced as James the journalist, only to get the retort by the new stranger to whom I was being presented “Oh, a journalist, I better be careful what I say.”

Tempted though I was to reply, “I shouldn’t worry you don’t seem as though you’re going to say anything interesting anyway”, I usually just smiled. But on occasion I would remind people that they wouldn’t know who the prime minister was or what’s happening in any part of the world or our national and regional life, unless a journalist had told them. That usually shut them up and got them thinking.

And, of course, it is true that we trust journalists, arguably we would know nothing of Covid, or Brexit, or any of the issues of the day if we didn’t trust those who were telling us. In fact, it would be difficult to form any world view whatsoever if we weren’t bombarded with news, social media, information, books, and magazines, morning, noon, and night.

But sometimes it is a good idea to switch off the background chatter and try to listen to other voices – Christian experience has shown us that God’s voice in particular comes through in the silence.

This week I have been thinking about trust in God a great deal. What does it mean? How do we do it? How do we work out what God is asking of us or how he is guiding us? And I think for all of us that is something that emerges as we deepen and nourish our relationship with God, though it is not always easy.

Yet we trust almost implicitly ourselves, our own views and experience, supported by the background noise of 21^st century life but do we ever sit and try to listen to God?
I suppose, as Christians, on the whole we do; we pray, we worship, we try to pay attention and see the world through the lens of our faith.

These Galilean fishermen James, John, Simon and Andrew, listened and reacted with such an extraordinary level of trust in a man they’d never met and in the end, they became the first witness to the greatest story ever told – the story we retell each time we celebrate communion or come to church.

The good news that God exists, life is eternal, and our souls are saved.

But it seems to me, that in order to trust in God in our own lives, in order to refocus our lives to the divine and not the earthly, we have to listen to God in the first place; to be aware he might be trying to guide us amid the maelstrom of life, and give ourselves the chance to let it happen.

So, I’m going to present to you an interesting challenge this week – turn off the news, don’t watch it for a few days, don’t tune in to the morning radio or six o’clock bulletin. Cut back if you can on the background chatter of life. Put a bit of silence into your daily routine.

See what happens and see if God might get a word in edgeways.

Creating space for him in our lives, as we approach advent, is no bad thing so I suggest you view this proposed news blackout as a spiritual exercise.

I doubt you’ll miss too much, and I just wonder if turning a listening ear to God might give him a chance to speak to you instead, and all of us the chance to renew our trust in Him.

Amen

Post Communion
Stir up, O Lord,
the wills of your faithful people;
that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works,
may by you be plenteously rewarded;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

NOTICES

Next week
Sunday 28^th November
First Sunday of Advent

Message from our Curate in Charge,
The Revd James Marston

Remembrance Sunday  

A reminder that there will be a Holy Communion using the Book of Common Prayer at Aldeburgh church at 8am. This ensures canon law is satisfied and the benefice has a communion service for those who wish to receive the sacrament.  

Remembrance Sunday services are happening across the benefice with services at Aldeburgh Moot Hall, Aldringham, Knodishall and Friston. All begin by gathering at the respective war memorials – the Alde Sandlings villages all have memorials in the churchyards.  

Lest we forget  

James  

Collect
Heavenly Father,
whose blessed Son was revealed to destroy the works of the devil
and to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life:
grant that we, having this hope,
may purify ourselves even as he is pure;
that when he shall appear in power and great glory
we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom;
where he is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

First Reading
Daniel 12.1-3
At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

Second Reading
Hebrews 10.11-14 [15-18] 19-25
And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, ‘he sat down at the right hand of God’, and since then has been waiting ‘until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.’ For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.[And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds’, he also adds, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.] Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Gospel Reading
Mark 13.1-8
As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’  Then Jesus asked him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’ When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?’ Then Jesus began to say to them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

Post Communion
Gracious Lord,
in this holy sacrament
you give substance to our hope:
bring us at the last
to that fullness of life for which we long;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Sermon By The Revd Johanna Mabey preached on
Sunday 7^th November 2021 – 3^rd Sunday before Advent

Jonah 3:1-5,10 – Hebrews 9:24 to end – Mark 1: 14-20

“May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord our rock and our redeemer”

It’s said that a change is as good as a rest, but we look at all the changes that we’ve been through over the last 18 months or so, and the changes that are still to come to us as a community both locally and globally, and it doesn’t feel very restful, does it?

For some people, the prospect of change is terrifying, while others find it stimulating, but I suppose all of us know – change has to happen!

Whilst none of us want change for change’s sake, we can’t fail to notice that all life involves change – it’s as natural as the God-given rhythm of the seasons.

Jesus promised change to those four disciples who were simply sitting, mending their nets. They probably didn’t set out that morning thinking ‘I need a new job’. But Jesus turned up and simply said ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ And they did – without question, without knowing where they were going, seemingly without even stopping to think about it.

Jesus had launched onto the scene following the arrest of John the Baptist.

He’d come to proclaim that the Kingdom of God was near, and he had a very simple message – ‘Follow me’, and ‘fish for people’. In that message he declared himself a very different style of teacher.

In ancient times it was never the responsibility of a Rabbi to call people to follow – it was the responsibility of any prospective disciples to seek out their chosen Rabbi and ask for permission to follow. In this case, Jesus did the seeking out.

In those days, to follow a Rabbi was to follow a particular set of teachings.

But to follow Jesus was to follow a person, something which we all are still called to do today.

For the four disciples, the call to follow Jesus meant literally walking in his footsteps. They followed him throughout Galilee and Samaria for three years.

They followed Jesus with no idea of where it would lead. They were truly fishermen in the wilderness – but something made them stay with Jesus.

They were called to follow at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and they chose to stay – until it all got too dangerous for them and then, after the events of Good Friday and Easter Day, they went back to what they knew.

In John’s Gospel we’re told that Peter said ‘I am going fishing’. Jesus met them on the shore for breakfast – and Jesus’s last words to Simon Peter were ‘Follow me! At the low points and the high points of our lives, Jesus says ‘Follow me’.

The disciples’ calling, and the calling of every single person here is the same – Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. Follow me and feed my sheep.

As disciples, our first calling is to enter into a relationship with Jesus, a relationship that’s one of complete and utter trust. We follow by developing that relationship through Prayer, Bible Study and fellowship with other followers.

Our calling to a relationship with Jesus is a calling to give him our burdens and worries and to receive from him the gifts he longs to share with us peace, hope, grace, joy, truth, love, strength, wisdom.

As disciples we’re also called to action. We’re called to be people who go out and live as Christ in the world.

We’re called to be people who allow Jesus to speak through us,
offering challenge and rebuke as well as encouragement and love.
We’re called to minister God’s reconciling love to the world…
all the world, not just to people like us.
We’re called to bring God’s word of forgiveness and of hope to all who need it.
Our calling to follow demands total commitment.
That’s not easy, because it’s counter cultural in our instant society.
It’s not easy because it demands something which most of us are not
willing to give. It demands discipline, single-mindedness, and a determination to make Jesus the centre of our lives.

Jesus says ‘Follow me’.

May we all hear those words, follow in His footsteps and never be the same.

Amen.

NOTICES

Message from our Curate in Charge,
The Revd James Marston

From the celebrations of All Saints, we turn our attention to a period of reflection as we mark All Souls this week and Remembrance Sunday later this month. This week, in my message, I include my reflection at this week’s service as we remembered the loved.

Let us pray
Support us, O Lord,
all the day long of this troublesome life,
until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes,
the busy world is hushed,
the fever of life is over
and our work is done.
Then, Lord, in your mercy grant us a safe lodging,
a holy rest, and peace at the last;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

I think this is perhaps one of the greatest of prayers. It is said at one of the most poignant parts of the funeral service – the final prayer said not for the person we have just said goodbye to but for those of us left behind. Written by Cardinal John Henry Newman, I think it distils into a few powerful words the hope found in the Christian faith – the hope of a holy rest and peace at the last with the God of love.

I feel the last two years for many of us has been a time of uncertainty, change and loss. Loss of freedom, loss of confidence, loss of certainties, and loss, for some, of loved ones.

All Souls is as much a time to remember as a moment in which to rest in God’s love. God knows your heart. God does know how you feel. 

And as we lament, reflect, and remember in the stillness of our hearts, I am constantly reminded, how in difficult times, relying on God, turning to the consolation of our faith – however fragile that may sometimes be – and remembering the hope of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the comfort of God’s love for each and every one of us can help and support us all through this troublesome life.

May you find consolation in God’s love, may you find refuge and strength in the light of God’s presence, and may all souls, all our loved ones we remember tonight, rest in peace and rise in glory.

Amen

Candles from the Remembering the Loved service on 2^nd November

Collect
Almighty Father,
whose will is to restore all things
in your beloved Son, the King of all:
govern the hearts and minds of those in authority,
and bring the families of the nations,
divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin,
to be subject to his just and gentle rule;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

First Reading
Jonah 3.1-5, 10
The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, ‘Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.’ So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

Second Reading
Hebrews 9.24-end
For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgement, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Gospel Reading
Mark 1.14-20
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’  As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Sermon by The Revd James Marston
Preached at Aldeburgh on October 27^th, 2021
All Saints’ Day

May I speak in the name of the living God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

As some of you know for my master’s degree in theology I studied Dorothy Day, a woman who, even in her lifetime, was touted as a saint.

Day was the founder of the catholic worker movement, a peace activist, a prisoner of conscience, a devout roman catholic, a journalist, a political and prophetic voice who challenged the church to which she belonged, a woman who fed the poor and housed the homeless, a champion of social justice and an exemplar of radical Christianity.

Dorothy Day lived her life according to the manifesto of the Sermon on the Mount.

She was an extraordinary woman and a hard act to follow, but Dorothy Day was also human, she was awkward, sarcastic, impatient and, as I read her letters and diaries, could be, on occasion, somewhat blunt, kurt and downright rude.

As her progress to sainthood continues, and she is now deemed a servant of God in the Roman Catholic Church, I suspect she would be utterly appalled at being sucked into the powerful patriarchy she challenged and to which she proved such a thorn in the side. She didn’t like the idea of sainthood famously remarking she didn’t wish to be dismissed so easily.

What Dorothy meant was she was no submissive lady of virginal virtue, no mere friend of God, no saccharine drenched devotional Christian. Dorothy Day acted, did, and followed Jesus in a way that upset almost everyone she encountered.

St Lawrence, the patron saint of Knodishall, was a second century roman, a deacon in the church, who defied the emperor and was martyred, roasted alive on a grid iron according to legend. A man whose faith compelled him to speak and act.

St Mary, a popular patron saint of many Suffolk medieval churches, was the overarching witness of the Christian faith, the woman chosen by God to bear his son and witness Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection.

The patron saint of fishmongers as well as Scotland, St Andrew, was a simple fisherman, a brother of St Peter, and one of the first apostles called by Jesus. A martyr whose experience of Jesus and the resurrection compelled him to die on an upside down cross.

And St Peter and St Paul, fathers of the church who witnessed first-hand, and in different ways, the risen Christ. St Paul. The rather laborious theologian and letter writer, St Peter the famous denier of Jesus and yet also a man who helped found his church and went to his death for his Lord.

All these men and women were humans compelled by their faith to be who they were. To do extraordinary things in the name of their faith.

We do not worship the saints. We may ask them to intercede for us, but the communion of saints is not the object of our worship or praise. Instead, they all point us towards God and, I think, learning about them, allowing ourselves to be inspired by them points us towards the holiest part of ourselves, the place in our hearts where we allow God in.

With a patron saint for each church in our benefice we are also reminded of the distinct character and attributes of our worshipping communities.

The passions, traditions, and missions of each of our churches are slightly different. Indeed, I often wonder as I preside at each if they may even reflect in some ways the characters and personalities of the patron saints themselves.

Nuanced though they may be, the differences in each need not and are not diluted nor diffused by Church of England structure or incumbent’s whim. On the contrary I would suggest each and every church in our benefice has much to offer its own parish and community.

Nonetheless, we must not lose sight of that which binds us together, that which brings Dorothy Day, Lawrence the deacon, Mary the virgin, Andrew the fisherman, and Peter and Paul, into communion – the faith we and they share.

And that is a faith that demands not only that we love our neighbour but that we pull on the same rope, pull together, as we are doing, in times of uncertainty or change.

My challenge to you as a benefice, as people of four separate and one combined worshipping community, is to be inspired by your patron saint and the faith they held; to follow his or her example as best you can. To speak out, to care for others, to ask questions, to learn, to retell the story, to be prophetic, to challenge injustice, and to follow Christ in all you do.

It is an old adage but together we are greater than the sum of our parts – Peter, Paul, Lawrence, Andrew, Mary and Dorothy all knew this and that is why we can make the effort to celebrate them, and the churches of which they are patron, and all that our benefice churches are, and can be, and will be, together.

Amen

Post Communion
God of peace,
whose Son Jesus Christ proclaimed the kingdom
and restored the broken to wholeness of life:
look with compassion on the anguish of the world,
and by your healing power
make whole both people and nations;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

NOTICES

Message from our Curate in Charge,
The Revd James Marston

As we come together tomorrow as a benefice and celebrate the lives of the saints, I cannot help but think that even in this time of vacancy and pause the Holy Spirit isn’t idle.

Indeed, at an elders meeting this week – which included elders from across the benefice – I was struck not only by the laughter and fun and energy, but also the wealth of pastoral sensitivity, experience and knowledge we hold in our ministry team and, indeed, in our congregations.

We may be in a time of reflection and “holding the fort” but I am confident, as the time draws near to welcome a new incumbent and new chapter in the life of our churches, we will hand over a benefice keen, willing, and able to minister to the needs of those souls under our care.

These may not have been the easiest couple of years. Covid, uncertainty, change, have all taken their toll, as well as for some, grief at the loss of loved ones. The church marks the remembering of the loved at this time of year with All Souls and I would commend to you this years’ service held on Tuesday night at 6pm at Aldeburgh church.

This is prayerful and reflective service, a moment to remember to be thankful and, I hope, find some peace and comfort along the journey of grief. We not only mark the passing of time but also, as a worshipping community, support those in our parishes who have lost loved ones and those closest to them during difficult times.

All are invited to take part and take the opportunity to still ourselves, light and candle, and remember.

James

Collect
God of holiness,
your glory is proclaimed in every age:
as we rejoice in the faith of your saints,
inspire us to follow their example
with boldness and joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

First Reading
Isaiah 25.6-9
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-matured wines,
of rich food filled with marrow, of well-matured wines strained clear. 
And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death for ever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,
and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.  It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Second Reading
Revelation 21.1-6a
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’ And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.

Gospel Reading
John 11.32-44
When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’ But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’ Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’  So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upwards and said, ‘Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’

Sermon by The Revd James Marston
Preached at Friston 24^th October 2021
Bible Sunday

May I speak in the name of the Living God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

This is my third Bible Sunday sermon in the benefice. – I have to admit I thought about repeating the 2019 version partly because not only was it a corker but also because I thought that by now no one will remember hearing my well-crafted words.

Sometimes writing a sermon is a bit like pouring treacle and I can’t help but admit my views on the bible haven’t changed much in the last two and a bit years – it is still a book of books, the bible still contains history, theology, stories and even poetry, and still gives us an insight into the character of God and the life of Jesus Christ.

The bible is still a series of ancient documents that speak to us today and point us towards the God we worship and whom shapes our faith and our lives.

So, as I was trying to pour this treacle my mind wandered – I found myself looking for inspiration and found myself thumbing through a book given to me this week by a parishioner.

“Records of the Borough of Aldeburgh – The Church” by Arthur T Winn not only lists the vicars of the parish but deals with the church records from roughly the first Elizabeth to the mid-1920s.

I found inside a plethora of intriguing stories-

-The remarriage of John and Agnes Arnold – deemed necessary after John, a fisherman, was captured and imprisoned by “Dunkirkers” –a type of pirate I assume – and found on his release his wife had consoled herself with another partner.

-The proposed marriage of Thomas Jinning and Susan Mitchell which after the banns had been read the “said Thomas forsook Susan and did not marry her”

And the story of a previous curate a Mr Maxtid Violette who in March 1644 found himself in hot water after being found “scandously overseen in drink in Orford, Saxmundham and elsewhere” and despite some musical gifts was taken to performing in various bar parlours songs which were “not always of a sacred character, and nor was his conversation of an improving nature.”

Added to which a lady staying at one of the town’s inns reported a reverend gentleman, whose eyes and ears were polluted by ribald songs and deportment, who visited her at midnight with a jug of beer which he vainly induced her to share.

Making me think it’s worth pointing out to the Alde Sandlings Benefice that although I may like the odd cheese straw and have been known to indulge in the occasional partaking of tobacco, you ought to grateful for what you’ve got.

As well as these intriguing stories there is some mention of bibles not least the expensive cost of binding of a Tudor one, which Mr Winn suggests, would have been sumptuously bound in leather, tooled with gold work, decorated with metal clasps, portcullis and rose and matches one discovered in Friston church just a few years before.

These mentions of the bible and the costs and care taken to ensure they look their best remind us the bible is a constant of the Christian faith.

Two years ago, I preached on what the bible is and last year on how Holy Scripture the bible is the living word of the living God. And that when we read it and think about it we are, in a sense praying, not with our head bowed and eyes shut but with our eyes open and with the intent to learn in order to satisfy the curiosity about God our faith demands.

To read the bible is to think about God and to think about God is prayer.

We use in the Anglican communion, of which this church is part, scripture, tradition, and reason, and probably experience, to reveal the Christian faith. And scripture is thought to play the most important part in this.

So this year I would remind you that how we interpret scripture is often quite fluid. It depends on who we are at any time. How we interpret scripture today will reflect who we are today.

Yet our faith requires of us, as Jesus himself did, to engage with the bible, at a deeper level than just the small snippets and few minutes of explanation we get on a Sunday morning. We are asked to hear, read, inwardly digest, and apply patience and time in order to learn, understand and react and thus the bible as a constant and a source of comfort is also a book of challenge.

Paying attention to the bible and wisdom within, allowing it to inspire our natural curiosity, being patient, asking questions, putting in some effort ourselves, draws is into deeper understanding of the character and mystery of God, and that, as Christians, is how we find out about and deepen our faith and then retell the story of faith to others.

And by deepening our faith and retelling the story outside of the church walls, we are taking part in a process that changes us and transforms our lives, as well as those of others, and brings us, in the end, into closer relationship with each other and the God we worship here today.
Amen

Post Communion
God, the source of all holiness and giver of all good things:
may we who have shared at this table
as strangers and pilgrims here on earth
be welcomed with all your saints 
to the heavenly feast on the day of your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

NOTICES

Message from our Curate in Charge,
The Revd James Marston

Quite a long message this week but please read so you know what’s going on!

Mourners

This week I buried the ashes of a lady called Joan Farrington. Her remains were laid to rest in our churchyard with her parents who died in the 1970s. The service only took a few moments and I’m rather sad to say was attended by just me and the undertaker. We did the service properly, I dressed up in my robes and we said the appropriate prayers and sad though it is, occasionally this happens – a burial of ashes with no mourners. I wondered, if this happens in the future, if any among you might like to spare a few moments and join me and represent our worshipping community at this simple yet important service. If you would be happy to be called upon in these circumstances, please let me know. It only takes a few minutes and I think having an extra person or two would be a kind and respectful thing to do when this happens.

Benefice Service October 31 – All Saints

I draw your attention to the Alde Sandlings Benefice Service on October 31^st at 10.30am at Aldeburgh Church as we mark All Saints Day. The benefice choir, under the guidance of Mish Kelly, has been rehearsing and are planning to use the Alde Sandlings Mass setting and people from across our parishes are taking part in all aspects of the service. I’m looking forward to seeing us come together again as we celebrate our church communities.

I’ll be preaching on the saints of the benefice for which I have just begun research. So far, I have discovered that St Andrew (Aldringham) is also the patron saint of Russia, St Lawrence (Knodishall) is the patron saint of chefs, and the Virgin Mary (Friston) is among the most common parish church dedications in England. And a question I’ve always wondered about, the joint dedication of St Peter and St Paul (Aldeburgh) reflects church tradition that the two saints were martyred on the same day, though maybe not the same year.

Remembrance Day

This year there unfortunately won’t be a civic Remembrance Service in Aldeburgh church. This is because the town council have decided to decline the invitation to come up to church following the Act of Remembrance at the war memorial. I think they wish to follow last year’s precedent of an outdoor ceremony in which people can be spaced apart, in the fresh air and as covid secure as possible.

Obviously, I have to participate in the act of remembrance in the town and can’t be in two places at once, so the town council have invited our congregation to join them and the rest of the community as we remember those fallen in conflict. I would urge you, as a worshipping community, to accept this invitation and join the wider community on this occasion.

Remembrance Sunday is an important part of the civic calendar and an opportunity for God’s people of Aldeburgh church to be seen amongst and join the wider community. The town council has offered to provide some covered seating.

For those who don’t wish to take part in the town ceremonies the church will remain open with some reflective music giving those the opportunity to be still, pray and remember from about 10.45am. Elsewhere in the benefice the Act of Remembrance will be observed from 10.50am at each church followed by a service. Furthermore, in line with Church law, I will be offering a simple said communion service using liturgy according to the Book of Common Prayer at 8am at Aldeburgh church for those that wish to receive the sacrament. 

James

Collect
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be
written for our learning: help us so to hear them,
to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them
that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,
we may embrace and for ever hold fast the hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our 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
Isaiah 55.1-11
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
and you that have no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labour for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.  Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.  See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.  Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 

Second Reading
2 Timothy 3.14-4.5
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

Gospel Reading
John 5.36b-end
But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form, and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent. ‘You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings. But I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?’ 

Sermon by The Revd James Marston
Preached at Knodishall 17^th October 2021
Mark 10.35-41

“For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve”

It’s not easy being a Christian. We work hard to keep our churches open and going – yet few come. We give up our time to fundraise and be part of the community and often it seems no one really cares if we are here or not.

We are taught to turn the other cheek and love our neighbours – even when we don’t want to.

We come to church to worship and to try harder and still we don’t get it right.

And we are often thought of by the outside world in less than favourable terms.

This may sound a bit of a gloomy opener for a Sunday morning sermon.

Instead of my usual light-hearted little story about my motor car or the rectory or some amusing anecdote, I’ve filled you with the depressing notion that faith is no picnic.

I’m afraid that sometimes it isn’t.

And in today’s gospel story we hear something of the cost of discipleship, as James and John demand a reward for following Jesus. The other disciples, we hear, are angry with James and John. As one biblical commentator puts it, “not because their own attitudes were any different but because the two brothers had stolen a march on them.”

Their reward, they are all told, is to suffer as Jesus suffers and if they want a hint of greatness, they have to be a slave to all.

Hardly an uplifting story, is it? Especially as just moments before Jesus has, for the third time in Mark, told them all about his forthcoming death and resurrection and they’ve clearly just ignored all that he’s just said.

Indeed, Jesus highlights the ignorance of these sons of Zebedee: “You do not know what you are asking” he says.

Son no wonder it’s a bit depressing we have ignorant disciples who have not listened and have, as a result, totally missed the point.

But perhaps we can sympathise a little bit. For many of us faith is something that comes to us later in life – it takes a while to recognise the presence of God in our lives, a while to work out that sense of the spiritual so many of us all seem to feel is about the God they talk about in the church we never went into. It takes a while for things to slip into place and even when they do we often hold back something of ourselves – we find it difficult, as do the first disciples, to commit our lives to the divine.

And let’s not forget, we know the end of the story, we know the joy of the resurrection. Easter was yet to come for those men who had given up their lives to follow a man who is banging on again about how he’s going to die.

So as much as today’s gospel reading is a reminder of the cost of discipleship – it is also a reminder of the joy of faith and the journey of faith that we are all on.

So my message today is not to lose heart, not to give up being the people of God, not to stop caring about your church or your community – just because other people might not get it yet and might not want to know. I urge you not to worry too much about how many people even come to church – having a faith is about sharing God’s love but that isn’t always the same as growing congregation numbers and paying into the system.

Just by keeping the faith, putting God in your lives, you are showing others the way as they journey through the spiritual journey we are all on. That means simply letting those know around you that you are lucky enough to know Him in your lives.

My job, as a priest is to encourage you and the communities of our parishes, to follow Jesus. And to execute my duties as a priest I am called, primarily, to pray for people’s souls.

My challenge to you this week is to join me in that task.

To think of those outside our church communities as the Sons of Zebedee and the other disciples who slightly miss the point and don’t know the full story.

To pray, not just in church on a Sunday, but during the week, and in your moments of stillness, for those around you, for those who don’t know Jesus, for those yet to know the joy of faith.

Because from prayer comes everything else and not least the deepening of your own faith and understanding of God.

It is as simple as that and it is how we, as his 21^st century followers, serve the Son of Man who came not to serve but to serve.
Amen.

Post Communion
God of all grace, your Son Jesus Christ fed the hungry
with the bread of his life and the word of his kingdom:
renew your people with your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness sustain us by your true and living bread;
who is alive and reigns, now and for ever.

NOTICES