January 2010
MASTER'S LETTER - The Journey
Life is often seen as a journey, as we plod on not knowing the future. Coming to Christmas–tide reminds us of this. Mary and Joseph travelled on their journey to Bethlehem, and the three Wise Men traveled to see the young child.
The New Testament tells us nothing about the Wise Men – who they were, where they had come from, or how far they traveled. All we know is that they followed a star looking for a king. But it cannot have been easy, and they must have frequently felt the need for God's help and guidance. We all have our own life-journeys, and with all the bad news the Wise Men can remind us of three things.
First, try not to begin the year's journey with a spirit of despondency, fearing the worst. Instead, whatever happens let us place our trust in God, as the Wise Men did.
Second, draw upon God for the reserves that we need during our journey. For there may well be times of trouble, sorrow or danger, just as there were for the Wise Men.
Third, just as the Wise Men needed courage to persevere until they found the king and offered their gifts to him, so let us ask God for courage as we offer him a faithful heart and a life well lived.
Happy New Year! Michael
February 2010
MASTER'S LETTER
Previously I have been asked to write a little to explain my role as the Archdeacon of Winchester. Recently my role as Master of St Cross has been reviewed by the Trustees, so I thought that it may be of interest to you to write a little on that too.
The Diocese remains committed to the spiritual and pastoral role of the Master of St Cross, and delights in the history and tradition of the Hospital. But it recognizes that the role has changed recently due to two things. First, combining the role with that of Archdeacon of Winchester limits the time available for the Hospital. Secondly a change to the Charitable Scheme, by the Trustees, confirms the Master as just one voice amongst fifteen regarding the Governance of the Hospital.
Several aspects of the perceived role of the Master involve that of Governance, which now no longer applies to that role any more than to other Trustees. Therefore, a revised Role Description needed to reflect that change.
The role of the Master reflects that of a parish priest in the pastoral and spiritual oversight of the Brothers, as well as sharing in aspects of Governance with other Trustees. In this he should:
1) Read prayers every morning or cause the same to be read
2) Hold the service of Gowning of new Brothers; and approve the Order of Service of Gowning
3) Offer recommendation to the Board of Trustees of a nominee for the post of Chaplain, and supervise his/her role.
4) Receive and act upon requests from the Brothers to absent themselves from Matins or to be excused from wearing their gown and hat.
5) Review a Brother's position should the number of absences from the Hospital exceed twenty eight days in any one year.
6) Attend the Quarterly Trustee and Welfare meetings.
7) Attend the bi-monthly Brothers' Forum
8) Interview prospective new Brothers with another Trustee, and recommend their admission (or non-admission) to the Trustees.
The Master can delegate tasks (especially the following), to the Chaplain as it is appropriate:
9) Visit the Brothers, and be available to help and support them where necessary, and bring to the attention of the Clerk to the Trustees any concern regarding a Brother's well-being.
10) Provide, or cause to be provided, quarterly updates to the Board of Trustees on the welfare of the Brothers.
Despite reviewing the role, and recognizing the changes, the role of the Master is still both rich and enjoyable, and I find it something that I enjoy doing. It isn't clearly defined in terms of hours or days, but is often interwoven into the other roles that I hold. I can have a parish or a diocesan meeting in my study at St Cross, as well as acting as Master with my concern for the Hospital. When I go into the diocese I very often wear the Master's cross which reminds me and others that I have another role too.
Michael
March 2010
MASTER'S LETTER – Waiting
It is often 'waiting' that is the hardest thing to do. We need to be encouraged to explore our attitude towards waiting for God to act or waiting upon him, in his presence, just to be transformed by him, prepared for whatever the future may hold.
Jesus had to wait for his public ministry to begin - he spent time in the wilderness soaking up the isolation and the painful temptations put before him, and yet overcame that period of time stronger and then, filled with the Holy Spirit, was able to begin his public
preaching, teaching and healing ministry.
The origin of the season of Lent, as you may well recall, is not just reminiscent of Jesus' time in the wilderness, which is an important and secondary theme for the season, in which Christians undertake rigorous soul searching in the lead up to the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus - but Lent was first undertaken by baptismal candidates. It was seen as the final preparation before initiation into the Church in the Easter liturgy, and also those at that time who had been excommunicated by their sin were re-admitted after a period of penance.
As we approach Holy Week and Easter we have another chance to explore that time of waiting as we lead into the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus. On the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week we have a Compline service and address. On Maundy Thursday there is the Holy Eucharist which then leads into our vigil. On Good Friday there is the Liturgy & Meditation (12- 3pm) service with Ann Lewin leading the Meditations; and on Easter Day we celebrate that Christ is Risen!
So why not during this Lenten time reflect upon how we might use our time more effectively for the Lord, as we continue to learn what it means to wait on God and find our strength in Him.
"I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of
the living. Wait
for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take
courage; wait for the LORD!"
Psalm 27:13-14
Michael
April 2010
MASTER'S LETTER - Incognito
The late Duke of Windsor, as Prince of Wales, was staying anonymously with friends in Nottinghamshire, and on looking around the stables with other guests was paid no particular attention because of the secrecy. After chatting to him for some time, one of the grooms said, 'Excuse me, Sir, but you are very much like the Prince of Wales.' `I know', the prince replied, 'I have often been taken for him.'
The prince was incognito, just like Jesus in many of the Easter stories. Jesus stands by the lakeside as seven of the disciples see him from their boat, after a fruitless night of fishing, yet he is not recognised. He joins two of his followers on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus, but he is not recognised until later on. In the Easter garden Mary Magdalene thinks that Jesus is the gardener. Jesus joins the disciples in the upper room in Jerusalem, but is only recognised when he shows his wounds. His appearances are simple and without great display. He looks like a gardener, a traveller, a man cooking breakfast and so on.
The disciples were not expecting to see him alive anyway, and Easter Day was like the morning after a storm — things happened quietly. But when he was seen, Jesus was the same but somehow a little different. He carried the wounds of the cross, his voice was the same, he acted in the same way but the disciples failed to recognise him. I guess that our heavenly life will be like that - there will be continuity, we will know each other, but it will be different.
The disciples expected something totally different if Jesus were to come alive again — wonders and breath-taking miracles — certainly not ordinary things. Perhaps you are like that as well, expecting God to touch you, if at all, in a holy place like a Cathedral, a shrine, a church, with a holy person present. But God often stirs people in ordinary places and while doing ordinary things, just as he did the disciples. God is concerned for us as we are and wants to come to us without the fanfares and trumpets, just like the Prince of Wales in the story, after all that is what happened at Christmas!
Once the disciples realised this they began to change, the world was seen through different eyes and it took on a different meaning. Jesus was bringing about a lightness and newness to the everyday and ordinary things. For God comes to us as we are, where we are — but life is never quite the same again!
Have a Happy Easter!
Michael
May 2010
MASTER'S LETTER
Thank you to so many people who helped prepare for Holy Week and Easter, so that it was a very special time for St Cross. Many thanks to Bishop John Baker for his three wonderful talks on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings of Holy Week before Compline; to Ann Lewin who led our two-hour devotion on Good Friday; and to those who played particular roles – as always gratefully too many to mention. Thank you also for the unexpected Easter offering gift which took me by surprise.
A week after Easter we held our APCM. Again, a thank you to all who prepared for that by writing articles, preparing the accounts, and printing the booklet and papers. At the meeting we re-elected Cheryl Irons as Churchwarden, elected Murray Dixon as her co-warden and said goodbye and a huge thank you to John Fairbrother who stood down as Churchwarden. Grateful thanks was expressed to Colin Showell, our Treasurer, and a welcome to Mary Hunt who has agreed to take over from Colin. We also start a new PCC with its first full meeting in May.
On Saturday 8 May at 5.3Opm, there will be a sung Evensong service, led by the Keble Choir (with me supporting), which will be in thanksgiving for their 25 years as a choir. Do come along and enjoy this special service.
During Lent I led five consecutive Monday evening sessions for the Emmaus Course and adult Confirmation course, and we often had about twenty people present, which was very encouraging. I am holding a further two sessions for the six adult Confirmation candidates in April and May, and others are welcome to join us if they wish, so do come along. The first of these sessions is 26 April (on the Holy Communion) and the second is on 1O May (on the Sacraments of the Church). Both are at 7.3Opm in Flat 25 at St Cross.
The Confirmation candidates are to be Confirmed by Bishop John Dennis at St Cross on Saturday 15 May at 6.30pm, so please do come along and give them your full support and encouragement for this major step in their Christian journey. Please also pray for the candidates as they prepare for this service – Beth Houghton,
Margaret Bryan, Angela Ayres, Victoria Younger, John Fitzgerald and Mike Wetherell.
Michael
June 2010
MASTER'S LETTER
Ever thankful
I was always brought up to write thank you letters to people who had been so kind as to give me a present – be it birthday, Christmas or another occasion. It's one of the first things that I hear children being taught - to say thank you.
As we journey through life, I wonder what we will be saying thank you for. No matter what happens, I like to walk through it with the attitude that God loves to bless us and surprise us. We do not yet know the new things God is going to teach us and what experiences we may have of him that enrich our lives and our relationships with others.
God has blessed us as a parish with so many committed and gifted people. We have all been given gifts from God to be used for seeing His Kingdom break into our lives and our world more and more visibly as the months go by. This may be in active service in and through church worship and activities, or it may be hidden ministry that no one sees but God. Whatever it is, it is invaluable to God and to his Church.
We thank God that He never leaves us or abandons us, or without our 'daily bread'. Let our prayer be this month that God would be building a confident church here in St Cross, so that we can see our self-worth in God's eyes and encourage others to do the same.
As we look ahead let us not forget to be thankful. Let us have an excitement about the church's future that adds meaning to God's greatest gift of Jesus. The thing with God is that nothing ever runs out. So when we are given presents there may come a time when it runs out, doesn't work anymore, or is simply not of any use. Whereas with the spiritual gifts God gives you and me, they never run dry and there is always more where they came from.
May we be ever thankful!
Michael
July 2010
MASTER'S LETTER
A very important part of the life of a diocese is the time when men and women are ordained as deacon or priest. Usually this now takes place at the end of June or the beginning of July; this year it is July. Ordination takes place after a long period of discernment and training, involving many people and much time. But it is a time of great celebration and rejoicing as people begin this special ministry, under God and for the Church. As the Archdeacon I am expected to be at the services in the Cathedral, and also to present the candidates to the Bishop. Please remember those who are to be ordained in your prayers, as they begin their ministries.
In July there is also the General Synod of the Church of England which will meet at York University. This is the last session of the present Synod, as it comes to the end of its five-year period. The main and public debate will be about the consecration of women to the episcopate (women bishops), and could well move the Church of England into a new direction. I shall be part of that Synod, after which my term of office comes to an end. But the Bishop has asked me to stand for election again for the next five years, since only one Archdeacon in a diocese can be elected, and the Venerable Adrian Harbidge is not standing again. Again, please remember the Synod in prayer over this significant session.
July traditionally begins the holiday season for many, and can be a time of great refreshment and relaxation, which is so important in busy lives. I hope that it is a happy time for the many from St Faith parish that are planning to go away or indeed stay at home. Let's hope that we get some good weather, wherever we are!
With every blessing for a good summer.
Michael