Author: stmelangell_l5nfea

“The greatest among you must become like the youngest and the leader like one who serves.” Jesus in today’s Gospel, Luke 22:24-30.
“I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service…. But I shall not have the strength to carry out this resolution alone unless you join in it with me as I now invite you to do…. God help me to make good my vow and God bless all of you who are willing to share in it.” Princess Elizabeth on her 21st birthday, 21st April 1947.
Today marks the actual Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II who ascended the throne on safari in Kenya whilst undertaking a tour for her father King George VI, who was too unwell to fly. The former Princess was one of the last people to know of her accession due to the difficulties with communications in those days; the news was announced at 10.45am and broadcast at 11.15am where it was heard in his Kenyan hotel by her private secretary Martin Charteris. He in turn telephoned Prince Philip’s private secretary Mike Parker who told the Prince and he then broke the news to his wife at 11.45am London time. Many millions knew of her father’s death before the new Queen but those three people were crucial to informing her and then supporting her in all that lay ahead. Perhaps we have also experienced the support of particular individuals at a time of crisis?
As is her custom, the Queen is spending the anniversary quietly at Sandringham where her father died at the early age of 56. This year will be her first as a widow since the recent death of Prince Philip and, with such a turbulent time for the Royal Family in recent years and the consequences of the pandemic, the Queen has much to ponder as she reflects on her historic reign at this poignant time. Whatever their view of the monarchy or the rest of the Royal Family, many people would agree that the Queen has faithfully carried out the vow she made on her 21st birthday. There will be much for which to be thankful during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations later this year as the longest reign in history is marked with the steadfast Queen even keeping the same hairstyle throughout!
As a schoolchild, I recall waiting for the Queen to drive past when she came  to Nottingham – the sun glinting on the highly polished Daimler and her smile as she drove past and waved made it a sparkling occasion for all of us. By contrast, I also recall our later family visit to Sandringham when my father covertly took cuttings from the fuschias in the grounds. As a keen gardener, he felt sure that Her Majesty would be only too pleased for him to take the cuttings whereas Mum was certain that the corgis would be set upon us! Those cuttings thrived and were later planted on either side of the front gate of our home, growing into sizeable bushes of which Dad was proud.
In becoming the longest reigning monarch at 95 and being Supreme Governor of the Church of England, the Queen’s faith continues to underpin her service and has been expressed down the years in her Christmas broadcasts and speeches. Her reign began in bereavement and, as a leader who serves, the Queen’s words often reflect those of Jesus: “We remember that God sent his only Son “to serve, not to be served”. It is my prayer….that his example will continue to bring people together to give the best of themselves in the service of others.” Christmas broadcast, 2012.
In her Platinum Jubilee statement, the Queen not only reflected on her reign but also looked to the future in making known her wish for the Duchess of Cornwall to become Queen Consort in due course. The monarch also stated that, “I look forward to continuing to serve you with all my heart.” Queen Elizabeth II has made good her vow in which she invited us to share. Are we making good our part in also serving others?
With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Guardian.

Many people think that the twelve days of Christmas end with Twelfth Night and the feast of Epiphany on 6th January, which marks the visit of the Magi who were worshippers of Mazda, the god of light in their Zoroastrian faith. Their arrival is a reminder that the Light is for all people and not just the Jews but the stories of the birth of Jesus actually continue until Candlemas on 2nd February. This is also called the Presentation of Christ in the Temple when Mary and Joseph took the infant to the Temple and the old man Simeon recognised him as “A Light to lighten the Gentiles.” It later became the custom for churches to light a candle to represent this Light and for candles to be blessed at this time. As Candlemas is half way between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, it was also associated with the appearance of nature’s candles, the snowdrops, and weather forecasting:If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, winter will have a second flightIf Candlemas Day be dull with rain, winter will not come again.
Nowadays, many people have forgotten the link with the blessing of candles but the lighting of them still represents the warmth and comfort they bring as well as better vision in the dark. There is still much to be gloomy about as the pandemic continues but the good news that Omicron is milder than was initially thought is bringing the hope that Covid may be becoming an epidemic and something to learn to live with. As the Welsh restrictions begin to ease and the daylight increases, may the signs of spring and new life help to lighten the load being carried by so many for so long as we discern the way ahead!
February’s services will be held on the following dates:

Sundays 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th:Service of reflection at 3pm.

Thursdays 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th:Holy Eucharist at noon.

All services at St Melangell’s will be held according to the current guidance of the Welsh Government with the Church in Wales and masks, social distancing and hand sanitiser will still be used as a precaution. For further details, please ring 01691 860408, check the website stmelangell.org or contact admin@stmelangell.org
With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Guardian.

Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Epiphany and Candlemas.

“My eyes have seen your salvation… a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Simeon in today’s Gospel, Luke 2:22-40, NRSV.
If Candlemas day be fair and bright, winter will have a second flight.If Candlemas day be dull with rain, winter will not come again.” Weather saying. 
Today is a turning point, being the last Sunday of Epiphany this year and focussing on the reading for Candlemas as thoughts and preparations begin to turn towards Lent. So much is it a turning point, being also half way between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, that Candlemas also became associated with the appearance of nature’s candles, the snowdrops, and weather forecasting, as well as the blessing of candles in church.  Candlemas is the time when the infant Jesus was presented in the Temple and when his mother came to be cleansed after childbirth, as was the custom. In offering a sacrifice of two turtle doves or pigeons, it’s clear that Joseph and Mary could not afford the lamb offered by wealthier worshippers and that they are an ordinary rather than privileged couple. However, the extraordinary happens when the old man Simeon sees Jesus, recognises him to be the one he has waited for, and declares him to a Light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of Israel. 
Simeon takes the child in his arms as he prays what is now known as the Nunc Dimittis and the old man knows that his life’s work is now accomplished and that he will soon die. However, he also tells the parents that the child is destined to cause many to fall and rise, that he will be opposed and that Mary will experience the pain of this like a sword in her heart. Luke tells us that a prophetess name Anna was also present and that she also spoke about the child but her words are not recorded. Mary and Joseph are amazed at what was said about the child – what did they make of all this at the time and afterwards?

Both Simeon and Anna are elderly and have been faithfully in the Temple for many years as they pray, watch and wait for God’s purposes to be fulfilled. The shepherds and Magi of the Christmas stories have left and Simeon and Anna have missed the glory that accompanied them – and yet they still wait patiently. Did news of the strange happenings reach them? How did they know that, amongst the many babies being brought to the Temple, this is the one they are longing to see? In contrast to young Mary, the worker shepherds and the stargazing Travellers from the East, these two old people remind us that the elderly are also part of God’s purposes and that age can bring wisdom and insight. Their faithfulness and quiet perseverance is rewarded when they remain in the Temple – and their hope is fulfilled in it. Jesus has been brought to the Temple to be customarily consecrated as a first born male – and Simeon and Anna are themselves blessed when they glimpse the Light that enlightens them too.

Simeon and Anna find God within the walls of a place of faith when so many often don’t. At a time when the Church is sometimes not what people long for it to be, and when it can be subject to so much criticism, perhaps we need to follow the patience and perseverance of Simeon and Anna in watching and waiting to glimpse the Light through faithfully serving where we are. From their encounter developed the later custom of blessing candles in the bringing of light to those in darkness and nature’s candles, the snowdrops, are also called Candlemas bells as the first indications of bringing the good news that the light of Spring and new life is on its way. God’s purposes involve all ages, all stages of life and all situations – may we, like Simeon and Anna, wait patiently and hopefully as we not only seek the Light but reflect it too and find ourselves blessed in being part of God’s purposes when we do.
With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Guardian.

Reflection for the Third Sunday of Epiphany 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to tell the poor the good news. “ From the Gospel for today, Luke 4:14-21.
“If I die, I die but I won’t be controlled.” The words of Meat Loaf, who has allegedly died of Covid, having refused the vaccine. 
Today marks the Third Sunday of Epiphany, the season which ends the twelve days of Christmas and reveals the glory of God in human form in the world. It begins in a manger, outside the town and amidst animals, with the good news being told to poor shepherds. The visit of the Magi, who were Zoroastrians and Gentiles – people of a different faith – reveals that the Christ-child is not for the Jews alone. The voice heard at the baptism of Jesus reveals him to be God’s beloved Son, in whom he is well pleased, and the turning of water into wine at a wedding in Cana is a further sign of God present amongst humanity.
The Gospel today has a revelation from Jesus himself. He has returned from the wilderness and has already begun to travel around and teach in the synagogues, now appearing in the synagogue in Nazareth, where he was brought up and nurtured in the faith. He is handed the scroll of Isaiah, from which the words, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to tell the poor the good news,” then receive a different resonance as Jesus reads what has been called the manifesto for his ministry. The passage refers to the Messiah and Jesus tells his hearers that the scripture has been fulfilled that day – a revelation of his own choice and timing. This later leads to them trying to throw him off a cliff, so incensed are they to hear what this local lad is claiming. As one of the recent temptations he had faced was about him allowing angels to catch him if this happened, this is an early test of Jesus’ resolve and the way he sees himself and his ministry. 
Jesus’ manifesto is also the blueprint for those who follow in his footsteps and one of the temptations for his followers today is to assume that our own priorities and preferences are God’s, too, and that those who disagree with us are wrong rather than different. It has been said that many Christians are willing to serve God – but in an advisory capacity!  In this incidence, Jesus is not so much being controlled by the word of God as discerning who and what he is about if he is truly to be his Father’s Son.
By contrast, it seems that Meat Loaf’s father was a violent alcoholic who could not cope after the early death of his wife and whose actions caused his son to distance himself from him. His father’s influence apparently affected Meat Loaf throughout his life and it seems that his desire not to be controlled may have actually contributed to his death – though he survived longer than others who followed the same rock and roll lifestyle! Perhaps the pandemic and Meat’s death amongst so many may enable us to realise that we are not as in control of our destiny and circumstances as we sometimes think – or that we’re looking in the wrong places to find what we seek in life.
Jesus’ reading in the Temple takes place in Galilee, well away from the religious centre of Jerusalem, as does most of his ministry – his death, resurrection and ascension will also take place outside the city. To glimpse God in our world today, we will also find the light in unexpected places and discern how to reflect the light as its growing reality dawns upon us. In this week of prayer for Christian Unity – taking place in the midst of the separation and the loss of control that some perceive is being created by the pandemic – that can mean a change of approach and vision as well as intent:
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.” Antoine de St. Exupery.J

Every blessing/Pob Bendith

Christine

Dear all,

This week we are posting Bishop Gregory’s pastoral letter in place of our usual reflection. It is available in English and in Welsh through the links below.

https://dioceseofstasaph.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/220113-Switching-on-the-lights.pdf
https://dioceseofstasaph.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/220113-Tanior-Golau-cym.pdf

With our prayers,

Christine

Reflection for What-if-ity and Epiphanytide

”The people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah…… When Jesus also had been baptised and was praying, the heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him.” From Luke 3:15-17, 21,22.
What if Mary or Joseph had said no, the shepherds had stayed put, the wise men had not gone back by a different route and the soldiers had found the child in the manger? From The What-if-ity, Christian Aid.
The what-ifs of the Nativity stories are many, as are the connections between those mentioned in the accounts in Luke’s Gospel. Zeccariah and Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s parents, understandably struggle to accept what is being asked of them in their old age while Joseph and Mary also have much to contend with. Elizabeth and Mary are cousins and so John and Jesus are also related. Those resonances appear at the later baptism of Jesus whilst the feast of the Epiphany also celebrates the wider links of God’s purposes. The revelation of the Christ child to the Gentiles, and not only the Jews, was shown by the Magi from the East bringing symbolic gifts to the baby – but what if they hadn’t noticed the star or been willing to set out on their journey following it, without knowing where it would lead them? 
I set out on a long journey recently and noticed that the car was not pulling well up hill but it wasn’t until I couldn’t stop at the lights that I realised there was a problem. It was booked it in for a check but, although I’d had confirmation of that, the garage couldn’t fit it in. I was told to bring it back next day so, trusting their judgement, I did. When I returned, the work still could not be done quickly so I found another garage to look at it and was shocked when they confirmed that a part had failed and that the brakes were in a dangerous condition. I had been in greater danger than I had realised it and was so grateful that the repairs could also be done that day. Later, the what-ifs came to mind – what if there had been other traffic at the lights when I couldn’t stop quickly? What if the brakes had got to the point of complete failure? What if the second garage had also said no? 
It’s so easy to make assumptions about the situations we are in and the journeys we undertake. When John the Baptist came out of his journey into the wilderness, the effect it had on him made the crowd think he could be the Messiah. He wasn’t, and said so – but what if that had been a temptation for him that he couldn’t resist? The crowds were expectant and questioning – perhaps we should be too, as the challenges of the year ahead begin to unfold. As he was baptised by his relative, Luke tells us that Jesus was praying, that the Holy Spirit came to him and the words from heaven revealed him as God’s beloved son, with whom he was well pleased. In the light of Omicron and the what-ifs of life we all face in varying ways, what is being revealed to us, what might we need to question and what encouraging words do we hear as we travel on our way?
With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Guardian.