Wentworth Church

Dear Friends,

This month we begin the long Trinity season in church. The colour of the altar frontal doesn’t change. The Sundays only have the boring name of ‘after Trinity’. And there is nothing really to look forward to until Harvest.

The beginning of this time is, however, immensely challenging. Some of the best minds of the early church, their academics and bishops, spent centuries – quite literally – discussing just what was meant by talking about God as Father, as Jesus, and as the Spirit. It is, of course, quite illogical to say we believe in a single deity and then to introduce a threesome. And these experts found it to be exactly the same. And after all that cogitation, and a good deal of quite bitter argument, all they could come up with was the formula ‘Three Persons in one God’.

How about comparing it to a coalition government? In the UK we find that concept strange and unexpected. It doesn’t fit our experience of government. However much this is so, however, that’s what we’ve got. The LibDem and Tory government is real and it works. Belief in the Holy Trinity shares some of the same contrasts. It doesn’t make immediate sense, it appears strange, but it works.

I know very well that someone with a proper theological education would shout me down when I say this. But, at its most basic, what we are saying is that people – especially those, like the disciples of Jesus in the bible – have experienced God in all these ways. And most believers today have as well. God – whom we call the Father – can seem very far away and far above. He is somewhat distant. But God is brought down to human level, made understandable and attractive, by Jesus. His words and actions make clear he was divine, yet he is human too. And, if we feel God’s presence with us when we pray, for example, or when we receive strength to move forward as Christians, that is real too; and this is the Holy Spirit at work in us.

You may see that I have mentioned two confirmation services in the list of events. On June 6^th at Wombwell two young people, Jemma from Main Street and Tim from Harley, are to be confirmed together with a group of adults. One of the latter, Samantha, is away then and so will be confirmed at Wickersley on June 14^th instead. Confirmation is an act of commitment to God and to the church and is a serious step to take. It would be nice if a good number from our two churches were able to be there to support the candidates.

I want now to talk about a major change to how the parish church is run. When we come to church it all seems to run on oiled wheels – well, sort of! And a lot of what makes that happen is behind the scenes. Much of this has been down to Roy Parkin, our verger for many years past. Always friendly, always reliable, always welcoming – and with a naughty sense of humour second only to Jim’s! We have missed him whilst he has been ill and I’m sure I’m not the only one to regret that he couldn’t return to work. And I hope he will still be able to get to church sometimes.

I had expected some difficulty in finding a replacement, but Christine Hayes, our catering supremo, has offered to be the verger. She also plans to take over the church cleaning when the contract with the present cleaners expires. I am sure we all welcome her in this new role and I hope that everyone will support and help her as she gets used to it.

The organ has now, at long last, been finished and is fully restored to working order. I know our organist, Richard Taylor, is delighted and I’m sure everyone will be pleased to have a ‘proper’ organ once again. We should congratulate Richard on how well he has provided music for all occasions on the substitute instruments. And I, for one, hope that we shall still hear the piano which is, for some things, the better accompaniment.

The register this month records the death of Esther Platts in her 90s. She has been a member of the 8.15 congregation as long as I and more or less anyone can remember. She has sat in the same pew for over four decades and has been absolutely reliable in her attendance. She really has been an exemplar of what Christian devotion is all about.

Don’t forget to come and have a look at what is on show for the Art Festival on 30th/31^st May. And come and have tea as well. The team have put in a lot of hard work and deserve our support. And invite your friends!

Richard

2 Responses to “Vicars Letter”