Midweek Letters began as a resource during the Covid19 pandemic, when we were not allowed to hold public worship in the church. Our late Chaplain Fr Ron Corne wrote them, and his letters can be seen at this link: Fr Ron’s Midweek letters Below are letters written more recently by our current Chaplain, Reader, Congregational Worship Leader, locum priests and others.
BELLS:
In our midweek readings we have been reminded of God’s faithfulness, his compassion and his presence alongside us…I´m pleased to be reminded of this because I don’t know about you but I am frequently challenged when I pause and consider all that’s going on in our world…the upheaval, the conflicts, the breakdown of society… Maybe your personal and family circumstances have been difficult of late. Have you found yourself asking; “Does God care? Is He there?”
Not so long ago we celebrated the birth of Jesus, one of whose names is Emmanuel – God with us. The Word (Jesus) dwelt among us in the nitty gritty of life, in the pain, the joys, the struggle and loss which we each experience in life. As we journey though Lent to Holy Week we will be reminded again of Jesus crucified with criminals on either side – Jesus in the middle of injustice, torture and pain. After His resurrection, after the disciples had locked themselves away in fear, we find Jesus among them speaking peace.
God is never far away and the message of today´s readings is that whatever we are in the midst of, God is in our midst.
Each of us has days when it feels as though God is far away, or that He can´t hear us. I was reminded while I was on retreat last week that it is what we do in those situations which matters. When I felt that God had forsaken me, I was challenged to ask whether I had forsaken and forgotten God. In the busyness of life it has become easy to give God the left overs of my time. I was pleased to read in verse 8 of Psalm 145: You are kind and tender hearted to those who don´t deserve it and very patient with people who fail you.
That psalm reminds us to call upon Him. It might be something as simple and short as; Thank you Father for all the daily blessings and provisions you have given us.
Perhaps we could pray the psalm along the lines of: Father open our eyes to the many wondrous works which you have accomplished for all of us. You provide the food we eat and the shelter we inhabit. You provide the air we breathe and you give us life each day.
Goodness is God giving us what we don´t deserve. Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve. Psalm 145 reminds us that God has compassion on all He has made. He upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. He is near to all who call on him in truth.
Because of our identification with Jesus we too are called to live as He wants us to live. We are called to be a sign of his presence. The acronym BELLS *
reminds us of how we could do this:
B – bless someone today through a prayer, a word or a practical act.
E – Eat with someone this week, show hospitality, even with a coffee
L – Listen to the promptings of the Lord
L – Learn from Jesus…and know that you are
S – Sent, anointed to shine for Him right where you are
(*Surprise the World by Robert Frost)
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
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Carnival
This week brings the culmination of the carnival celebrations her in Tenerife. The carnival in Santa Cruz – the capital of the island – said to be the second only to that in Rio de Janeiro. The streets in all the islands towns are filled with people dressed in extravagant costumes mingling with herds of children in assorted animal costumes. All being eyed by bewildered tourists who haven’t been warned what to expect, those who had prior warning are, most probably amongst those dressed in the outlandish costumes, I know I was in my younger years.
Wednesday night here in Puerto de la Cruz is the celebration of ‘the Burial of the Sardine’ where a large effigy of a Sardine is paraded through the streets in the late evening, followed by the priests from the local church and crowds of wailing ‘widows’ (of both sexes) all dressed in funereal black wailing and brandishing huge handkerchiefs. The ‘Sardine’ is paraded to the Port where it is ’launched’ out to sea for the ‘Burial’. The local priest then delivers the last rites and The ‘Sardine’ is set alight this allows the fireworks, contained within the ‘Sardine’ to be ignited and the town lights which, where possible, have been dimmed for the Burial, come back on Carnival ‘Wake’ continues through the night.
Thus illustrating the close links that exist between the local Churches and the public celebrations of a less secular nature.
Carnival here as in many countries, coincides with the beginning of the Christian Season of Lent. The season of denial , the carnival being a time to let off steam and possibly eat and enjoy other excess prior to the season of abstinence that follows.
In All Saints Church we celebrated with the traditional ‘Ashing’ service where the congregation were marked with the sign of the cross on the forehead using ashes made from the burnt and ground remains of the palms from the previous year’s palm crosses of ‘Palm Sunday’.
So now we enter the season of Lent – I wonder what you are have vowed to give up for this season?
Looking forward we have a visit this weekend from our Bishop – The Bishop of the Diocese in Europe, Bishop Robert – on his first visit to our church. On Saturday afternoon he will preside over a Confirmation Service to which all are welcome to attend.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
7th February – Same Word: Different Meanings
I don´t know about you but growing up if I was told my room was messy, or my work was presented in a messy format it certainly wasn´t a positive description of what the adults around me were viewing. The expectation was that something would be done to rectify both. At times our lives can feel messy too – lots of spinning plates and dropping a few in the process. Certainly not the plan and peace and calm we might have hoped for or longed to experience.
So when I told a friend we were introducing Messy Church at All Saints she didn´t view that as something positive….”Messy? Mmmm…Tell me more” was her response.
Messy Church is a way of being church for people of all ages but it´s not as most people understand church. It´s a way of being church for families and others based on creativity, hospitality and celebration. Every element aims to be relevant and accessible to all ages. All Age is shorthand for being church for everyone, welcoming ALL ages, abilities, learning preferences, backgrounds, levels of interest in God and, especially here in Tenerife, language and cultures.
Messy Church has at its heart the creation of a space where all can come together. Children can learn from adults and adults can learn from children. Messy Church is the opportunity to enjoy the life, liveliness, loving care and purpose of God at all stages of life. One traditional model of gathered church is being in groups – adults learn in one way and children and young people in another. Messy Church is the opposite of this.
Messy – people and relationships take precedent over structures and systems, just as in Jesus´ own ministry.
Creativity often involves trying something new and failing and then trying something new in a different light. It might involve making something, destroying something, marvelling at something, learning a new skill or simply playing a game.
Fun, Food, Friendship and Faith. Come and join us at our Messy Church on Saturday 24th February from 3:30-5:30. We will begin in the grounds of the church and in teams we will be building boats out of various bits of junk – the biggest boat which floats the longest in the paddling pool is the winner! Then we will be making Animal crafts and playing games before sharing a picnic together. Following this we will learn a song with instruments about a man called Noah, an Ark and animals. If you have any questions or to tell us you are coming, so we prepare enough picnic, please contact me on 711042849. We had great fun and made lots of mess last time. Come and join us this month!
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
31st January
Candlemas reflection
On Sunday we celebrated Candlemas and as well as a dramatic presentation of the story, we circled the church in light to emphasise that Jesus is the light of the world.
So what’s Candlemas all about then? In a nutshell, Mary and Joseph are going about the everyday business of fulfilling the Jewish law after the birth of their son, and they receive God’s blessing through Simeon and Anna. We’re told that both Simeon and Anna are elderly and that their lives have been faithfully dedicated to God. Over the years, they must have seen thousands of couples bringing their new-borns to the temple for the rituals of circumcision and purification. And yet, despite their advancing years and perhaps failing eyesight, both Simeon and Anna recognise in this particular baby something special, something that they have been waiting for all their lives. They have seen the longed-for Messiah, the deliverer that was promised to the Jewish exiles in Babylon.
I wonder if Simeon was expecting this Messiah to come as a helpless baby, brought in by noticeably poor parents? We know that Mary and Joseph were poor, because they offered ‘a pair of turtledoves or pigeons’ which was what those who couldn’t afford a lamb would bring to the temple when presenting their first-born to the Lord. Simeon might have been expecting the Saviour of Israel to arrive in a more momentous way, perhaps, rather than this very ordinary-looking couple and their new baby, performing an ordinary everyday ritual. It would have been so easy to miss! The point here is that neither Simeon nor Anna did miss this special moment, slipped in amongst the everyday. They waited. Faithfully, devoutly, patiently. And they were rewarded.
We’re not very good at waiting in the present day. We want everything now, we don’t particularly want to wait, technology has speeded everything up and merely fuels our desire for instant gratification. Whilst I was waiting those interminable months for my visa so I could come here, I was forced to slow down, take a step back and simply wait for the bureaucratic process to take its course. I had the luxury of visiting various churches during the wait, and frustrating though it was, I now look back on it as a time of growth. Time to take stock, to reflect, to wait.
And this is one of the key messages of Candlemas – the slow, patient work of God in our lives. It’s counter-intuitive in an age where we’ve learned to want and expect everything immediately. Simeon and Anna had to wait their whole lifetime before they saw salvation with their own eyes; Mary had to wait 30 years before Jesus fulfilled the promises she’d been given about him at his birth – and which are reinforced by this encounter with Simeon and Anna. She must have wondered privately all those years whether any of it was going to come true, but like the two in the temple, our Lady waited patiently and faithfully for the truth to come to pass. Someone asked me recently why we don’t have any accounts of what Jesus was doing for 30 + years. I don’t really know for sure, but I suspect that in the ordinariness and obscurity of his early life, the long, slow purposes of God were quietly unfolding.
For most of us, God doesn’t come calling in our lives in the way that happened to St. Paul on the road to Damascus for example – in a literally blinding flash of light and a voice from the heavens. No, for most of us, God comes in the everyday, the ordinary, the seemingly insignificant. But if we’re attentive, we can see God at work, where others maybe see nothing special. This is the kind of vision which sees potential and possibility, the quiet, persistent work of God among us, in situations which others might overlook.
In everyday life, God has perhaps receded from our awareness and experience; we may assume that God is found only in certain places such as sacred buildings or in holy books; there’s little room for mystery or meaning beyond ourselves as we are in thrall to secularism on the one hand and technology on the other. I believe that the presentation of Jesus in the Temple challenges modern believers to rediscover something of the mystery of life and the transcendence of the everyday, to cultivate the kind of attention and stillness which allows us not to miss or overlook those special moments when they come. Perhaps we need consciously to create opportunities to keep slowing down and finding simple rituals to help us celebrate God in the ordinary: greeting the morning with gratitude, celebrating the goodness of food, family and friendship at meals, recognising mystery in beauty or nature, marking rites of passage, lighting a candle in memory of a person or an event. You may have guessed that I am a big fan of ritual, symbolism and visual aids to worship. Far from being restrictive, I believe that rituals celebrate the goodness and mystery of life; they allow us, like Simeon and Anna, to cultivate a day-to-day connection with the Spirit, so we both see and celebrate the gentle, faithful work of God in our midst.
Mtr Fiona Jack
Chaplain
24th January
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
As this year’s week of prayer for Christian Unity draws to a close I reflect on this glorious unity.
The Church is glorious for many reasons.
One glorious aspect of the Church is the unity found within it. It’s true that there is, at times, much internal disunity, hurt and disorder of every kind. But these are not qualities of the Church. These are the effects of the sins of Her members.
The Church Herself is the communion of the body of Christ. So the more we enter into union with Christ Jesus, the more fully we are a member of this glorious Church. By uniting ourselves to Christ we unite ourselves to the Holy Trinity. And by uniting ourselves to the Holy Trinity, we unite ourselves to St. Peter, all the Apostles and all the saints who are living and in Heaven.
We become mystically united with Christians throughout the world and our prayer and adoration of God becomes one song of praise rising to the glory of Heaven. Also as we unite ourselves, through our unity with Christ, we receive the overabundance of Mercy from God making us one.
Do you see yourself as a member of the one Body of Christ?
Do you understand that you are called to share in the unity that comes from your union with Him?
Loving our Lord Jesus with your whole mind, heart, soul and strength brings about a profound love for others.
If it does not, then it is not authentic love of God.
Reflect upon the effect that your love of God has on your relationship with others. Let your love of God affect you in such a way that you discover an outpouring of love for all people, of every race, especially those within the Church. Then let that love reveal the deep bond of unity that is established as a result.
Unity is glorious.
It is a central blessing flowing from the Church and a sign of the Mercy of God.
A prayer for Christian Unity:-
Lord, help me to always live in union with You and with others. May my love for You overflow into my love for others, especially those who are members of Your Church. I love You, dear Lord, and I trust in You. Amen
Note: There will be a service for Christian Unity held in Iglesia de San Francisco, Puerto de la Cruz at 19:00 on Thursday 25th. January.
All are welcome to attend.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
17th January – Can faith move mountains (and defeat giants)?
Everyone enjoys the story of an underdog, whether it’s the sporting team that comes from nowhere to beat a big -league player, or the school bully who finally gets his much-deserved come-uppance. And this is the story from the Hebrew Bible of David and Goliath. David, an eighth son and an overlooked shepherd boy, decides to take on a man who looks like the “Incredible hulk” and causes whole armies to quake in their boots. According to the story, Goliath stands 9 feet 6 inches tall and is encased in armour, with a sword, a spear and a javelin. David on the other hand is a beardless youth, with a wooden staff, a sling and five smooth stones. It doesn’t seem much of a fair fight. But we hear the outcome of the story in just one verse:
“David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.” What David lacks in stature and armour, he makes up for with an abundance of faith; killing Goliath with a stone is less important than his faith and what he says. Responding to Goliath’s taunts, David says: “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel”.
And here’s the point of the story surely: it’s not merely an archetypal struggle between a bully and an underdog, satisfying though that is. This story embodies the hopes of all people when they are faced with overwhelming evil power that there is a way to overcome that power and win the future. This is especially true for the marginalised of our society, who know that they can’t overcome the Goliaths of oppressive power on their own terms, using their own resourcefulness, but that their only hope lies with a living God.
David is the one who knows that there are resources beyond the technology of kingdoms. His is an alternative to the way of swords and empires, though his way in this story definitely isn’t a pacifist option. That said, his trust is not in the technology of power of force, but in the subversive power of truth. The truth in this story is that God is ultimately in opposition to arrogant and self-serving power and its violence. Trust in God nurtures hope that there is a way into the future when there seems no way, that there may be a chink in the impregnable armour, that a well-aimed stone of opposition can indeed bring down oppressive regimes. Think of the dismantling of the system of apartheid in South Africa which didn’t seem possible even a few short decades ago, or the fall of the Berlin wall.
There are many situations in the world around us over which we seem to have little control. But when we feel helpless, let’s not forget the story of David, who persisted in his faith in God in the face of a giant and won the day.
Mtr Fiona Jack
Chaplain
3rd January 29024 – “New Year 2024”
Last month I cut my finger and found to my annoyance that my phone didn´t recognise my fingerprint. I couldn´t use it for access to various accounts or my Apps. It was both frustrating and surprising to see how many things were impacted. My unique fingerprint enables access to many aspects of my phone and much of today´s living is now stored in my phone!
Looking back over 2023 and forward to 2024 as well as having a finger print that no one else has I can leave an imprint that no one else can. Are you someone who makes New Year resolutions? If so, do you keep them…for a few days, weeks, months or as a new way of living and being? Are they challenging and are they realistic?
I have been reading a reflection “New Year” from an American Lutheran pastor, Nadia Bolz-Weber, and share it here:
“As you enter this new year, as you pack away the Christmas decorations and get out your stretchy pants, as you face the onslaught of false promises offered you through the new disciplines and elimination diets, as you grasp for control of yourself and your life in this chaotic world – May you remember that there is no resolution that, if kept, will make you more worthy of love.
There is no resolution that, if kept, will make life less uncertain and allow you to control your aging parents and your teenage children and the way other people act. So this year (as in every year), may you just skip the part where you resolve to be better, do better and look better this time.
Instead, may you give yourself the gift of really, really low expectations. Not out of resignation, but out of generosity.
May you expect so little of yourself that you can be super proud of the smallest of accomplishments.
May you expect so little of the people in your life that you actually notice and cherish every small, lovely thing about them.
May you expect so little of the service industry that you notice more of what you do get and less of what you don´t and then just tip really well anyhow.
May you expect to get so little out of 2024 that you can celebrate every single thing it offers you, however small.
Because you deserve joy and not disappointment.”
So as we move into 2024 may our imprint be such that we share and experience love and may our uniqueness be something to be celebrated.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
20th December – Christmas Letter
Dear friends,
During Advent, that great time of waiting, hope and expectation, I have been reading Stephen Cottrell (Archbishop of York)’s book ‘Let it slow – an Advent calendar with a difference’. The archbishop points out that whilst Christmas can be one of the most joyful times of the year, it can also be one of the most stressful, laden with expectations and added burdens. And it can be a far from joyful time for some people for all sorts of reasons.
So how can we rediscover the true meaning of Christmas amongst the hype, the competition for the best Christmas ad, the tinsel and glitter and the over-indulgence? Perhaps we can slow down, take some time to pause and catch our breath, find a place of quiet. Get inside the story, go to Bethlehem in your imagination, stand in the corner of the stable and watch as the mystery unfolds. Christ comes to us in the vulnerability of a child, and we can come to him in stillness. We can find him in silence. As we sit down to our festive feast on Christmas day, let us first give thanks for all that we have received, and raise our glass to toast the God of Christmas who visits us now.
I wish you and yours a very happy Christmas and the joy of the Christ child in your hearts and homes.
Every blessing,
Mtr. Fiona
12th December – “Christmas Carols”
At this time of year do you find yourself humming Christmas Carols – perhaps as you are putting up decorations or meandering round the shops looking for those last-minute presents? The word Carol comes from the old French word “Carole” meaning a popular circular dance accompanied by singing. What I hadn´t appreciated was that Carols used to be sung throughout all 4 seasons. May Carols and Harvest Carols were popular but it is only the tradition of singing them at Christmas which continues today.
In 129 a Roman Bishop insisted that a song called Angel´s Hymn should be sung at a Christmas service in Rome. Another famous early Christmas hymn was written in 760 for the Greek Orthodox church and after this many composers across Europe started to write Christmas Carols. Initially they were sung in Latin, which many couldn´t understand, but this changed in 1223 after St Francis of Assisi started his Nativity plays in Italy. People sang songs which told the story during the play and they were normally in a language which the people could understand. The new Carols then spread to France, Spain and Germany and into other European Countries.
Until 1700 only the Psalms were allowed to be sung in Anglican churches. From 1700 and for many years the only Christmas Carol which was allowed to be sung in Anglican churches was “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night” because of its lyrics from the bible. During this time musicians played their local tunes to the words and because of this “While Shepherds Watched” is probably the Carol with the greatest number of different tunes.
Before Carol Singing became popular in churches there were sometimes official carol singers called “Waits”. These were bands of people led by important local leaders who had the only power in the towns and villages to take money from the public – if others did this they were sometimes charged as beggars. They were called Waits because they sang at the beginning of the Christmas celebrations on Christmas Eve which was known as “watchnight” or “waitnight” because of the shepherds who were watching their sheep when the angels appeared to them. Today the tradition of Carol Singing in pubs or in shopping centres continues and is often a way of fundraising for local charities.
The Radio Station Classic FM has a competition each year for its listeners to vote for their favourite Carols. Last year “O Holy Night” took the top slot, with Silent Night and In the Bleak Mid-Winter second and third. I´m always transported back to my school choir rehearsals throughout December when I hear “O Holy Night.” Perhaps that´s something of the joy of Carols. Each year we can sing the words with memories attached. I smile now as we sing a favourite of mine “In the Bleak Mid-Winter” with the sun beating down here in Tenerife! I wonder which is your favourite Carol? If you are reading this on Facebook do comment down below!
On Thursday 14th December at 6:00 pm we will be having a Carol Service – a festival of readings and Carols telling the Christmas story. Schools from the British Community will be participating and there will be Christmas craft activities for younger children. This will be followed by mince pies…Do come and join us in All Saints to sing, to hear again the Christmas story and to meet others over refreshments. All are welcome!
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
29th November – “Mission”
Whilst ‘laid up’ for the past week or so with the dreaded COVID virus I was thinking of the Global Church and its overall mission. Having visited many churches around the world whilst I was working and in my travels of exploration, leisure and relaxation I find there are many ‘flavours’ of Christianity. Some people doctrine one way, and some do it another. We have Methodist, Catholic, Baptist, Holiness, and many others I hear now we even have Non-Denominational. We have these churches who shout, those who don’t Those who clap and those that don’t. All seemingly believe in operating in their own way, but in all these different types of worship, the mission is still the same. It does not matter what church you attend, the majority of the sermons or messages are focused around the same character. Jesus. The preaching may be different, one may find unusual at times, but the mission is still the same.
Well, what is this mission? I hear people ask. This mission is trying to make people aware of the immeasurable amount of joy and comfort you find in serving God. Since I heard my first preacher, as a small child in a Welsh congregational chapel, preach, I have heard many more, but they have all had the same general goal and mission, and that is to save some lost soul. The messages may have been different, but all these preachers are preparing the way for the coming of Christ. So you see no matter what denomination you are, the mission is still the same.
As modern-day Christians our mission is still the same as those old Christians because we still see so much evil in the world around us. Since the beginning of time evil has existed. And just because it is 2023, nothing much seems to have changed, sadly. Which is why as Christians we should be determined to pursue the mission of the Church with determination.
I want to briefly show you exactly how much the mission has remained the same. The Bible (the first chapter of St. John’s Gospel) says that John was sent to pave the way for Jesus. Now John was a strange looking and acting person, not like any other preacher. He wore camel skin and ate locusts and honey – now that’s strange. I feel that our ministry team, here at all Saints, would look odd following this example!
However John did not have a very deep message, and he did not have any training, but what he had was the Holy Spirit. He did not have a very extensive vocabulary, but it was something about how he said what he said, the Holy Spirit would sprinkle the anointing over those words and people would come running to the water saying “Baptize me”. John was sent, the Bible says for a purpose, and John had a mission.
The Bible says that John came to bear witness of the light. His mission was to let the people know that Jesus was coming. The Bible says he came to make people aware of the light, and I want you to know that we as Christians have been sent to tell unbelievers about the light. Because had it not been for somebody showing us the light we still would in the darkness of sin.
Just like John was different from any other preacher or prophets, but his mission was the same as theirs, and that is to offer unbelievers a chance to step into the light. It does not matter who you are, or where you are, if you are a Christian your mission is the same as every other Christian. You may be Rev. Fa. Mtr, Dr. Mr. Mrs. so and so the mission is still the same. We have maybe become too consumed in titles and with the size of our sanctuary, but I tell you that the labels do not measure you are. Too many of us try to be too profound and too prolific of preaching and that’s all-good but we mustn’t lose sight of the mission.
Because the mission is still the same.
All churches need to remember the mission, because I don’t care how big your church is, if you don’t fulfil the mission then you won’t prosper. Because you can be Baptist or Holiness; Catholic or Methodist, but the mission is still the same. Our mission is to fight evil where we see it, and to win at all cost. No matter what trial comes.
All people are welcome join our mission or talk to us in our historic church in Puerto de la Cruz.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
15th November – “The Light of the World”
At All Saints, we have a copy of Holman Hunt’s famous painting, “The Light of the World”, in the sanctuary. This painting has had significance for me since I was a child, as it appears on the inside cover of a Bible given to me at my baptism by my aunt. The first time I saw the original was as a student; it hangs in the chapel at Keble college Oxford and there is a larger version in St. Paul’s cathedral. You can imagine the effect of seeing this painting here at All Saints when I visited Tenerife in January, prior to my appointment! It confirmed the feeling that I had been called to this place, a feeling which has been confirmed during the past two months.
It was first painted in 1854 and is very much a product of the Victorian era; Jesus is depicted as white, with long fair hair, as we see in much European religious art and stained-glass windows. It’s quite a complex painting and rich in symbolism. The inscription, taken from Revelation Chapter 3, verse 20 reads: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. “
This phrase is key to decoding the painting, I believe. The New Testament often tells of Jesus eating with people and many parables and teachings contain references to feasts and celebrations. But there’s a deeper meaning to the metaphor of eating; it is sometimes used to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. For example, in Luke chapter 14, we hear the parable of a great banquet to which people are invited; the guests make excuses and do not turn up, so the host invites the marginalised of society; in our day this would be the homeless, the refugees, the drug addicts. All of these are welcome at the feast. And of course, the other meal alluded to here is that of the Eucharist, where we share bread and wine in remembrance of the Last Supper as we remember Jesus body and blood sacrificed on the cross.
The door is an important symbol in this painting and is thought to represent the door of our lives. Jesus is standing waiting patiently for us to open it up. I don’t know if you have spotted this, but the door has no handle, so the only way for it to be opened is from the inside. This suggests that the person who hears Jesus’ message needs to accept it and admit him. Jesus’ feet are turned sideways from the door, and there’s a hint that he’s been standing there for a long time and is about to go, and that time is running out. In the background, there’s a wood, night is beginning to fall; it’s as though he’s been there all day, just waiting.
In contrast to the dark wood, which perhaps has some frightening undertones, Jesus is carrying a lantern in his hand. All the light in the painting is coming from the lantern, and reminds us of John 8 verse 14 : “I am the Light of the world”. Juxtaposed with the dark wood, this implies that Jesus leads his followers through the dark and difficult times of our lives, providing both hope and guidance.
If you look at the top of the door, you can see that it’s quite overgrown with weeds, some of which are dead. They stop the door from being opened and represent the things which distract us from following Jesus. Similarly, there is rotten fruit on the ground which seems to have been discarded. Like the weeds around the door, this symbolises how some people treat Jesus’ invitation. It’s a symbol of desolation and decay, which accompanies a life lived without the Light of the World.
Why do I like this painting? Well it has a certain nostalgia for me, as I associate it with my childhood; my mother found it very meaningful and it was one of her favourites. Equally importantly, I find Jesus’ facial expression extremely comforting; he wears an expression of great patience, not of anger or fatigue; wherever I stand, his eyes seem to look directly at me. Whether I am wrestling with an issue, seeking inspiration or just wanting a deeper connection in prayer, this image is the one I keep coming back to. It doesn’t seek to brush the difficult aspects of life under the carpet; the dark wood is still there in the background; but it speaks of hope and light, on offer whenever we choose to accept it; and that it’s never too late to join the party.
Mtr Fiona Jack
Chaplain
8th November – Reflection
Here at All Saints Church we are in a reflective mood, starting last Wednesday, 1st. November, we reflected on the life of all the Saints, in whose name the church is dedicated. This was followed, on Sunday, by a very poignant and reflective service, where we celebrated the memory of All Souls. Bringing to mind all those that we have known and loved and who have now passed into God’s loving care. This reflective season continues through to next Sunday – Remembrance Sunday – when we will remember all those who have died in conflicts over the years all around the world.
This series of reflections made me wonder about memories. How many of you have sometimes taken an old album of family photographs to help her try to recall something of her past by re-awakening those memories that had almost, but not quite, been forgotten. Just occasionally, I’m sure, you cringe inwardly when the picture reminded me of some particularly embarrassing event. We need to remember and never forget the past because no matter how embarrassing some of those memories might be, it is part of one’s history, part of your family history and part of your identity, and all of you will, I am sure have good and not so good memories as well.
So it is for nations. On Remembrance Sunday as we gather with our poppies, we look back at some of the most challenging times in our history. We remember two world wars and other conflicts since then, and give especial thanks for all of those who gave their lives so that we could live in peace. Willingly or not, they made the ultimate sacrifice and we do well to continue to give thanks and to honour them. We also give thanks for the armed forces that are too often in action and are too often in danger. They continue to take risks so that others may be free.
As Christians, what is it that we see when we look back? Do we see people loving each other as Jesus loved his disciples?
That’s exactly what we do see in so many selfless acts of bravery and sacrifice, people laying down their lives for others through countless tales told but most untold. However we also see people turning away from the brave and the good and the selfless and choosing instead to hurt others. We have all heard countless stories of the unspeakable evil that mankind can inflict on others.
Tragically, too many evil deeds continue to be inflicted on huge numbers of innocent people today, as we see and hear almost daily in news broadcasts.
However we read in the Gospel of St John Chapter 13 – “ A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another”. Just think about that for a minute – we are called to be friends of Jesus, the Son of Almighty God. But the friendship that Jesus asks is costly; it means loving and caring and being concerned for each other, particular in these dark and difficult days, with our whole being and without limit. Not just when we think about it, as in these days of reflection but all through every day. As Jesus loves and cares for us, so we are to treat those around us in exactly the same way. There’s nothing sentimental about that – but we have to admit that on the whole, we’re not terribly good at it.
We look back at the events of history and remember what has occurred before. We give thanks for those that we have loved, or done great deeds, and gone before and so we should. We recoil at the bad things that have happened. But it isn’t enough for Christians to stop there. We have to look forward to the future and we have to look deep within our own hearts and souls and examine the extent to which we love God, how much we want to do what he wants and how we reflect that in what we do every day. If we really believe that God sent his only son into the world to save us, if we really believe that God’s plan for his people will not be confounded, then we will know that there is hope for the future.
As we continue to remember The Saints, our loved ones also the fallen, we must give thanks for those who have gone before us some of whom gave everything, and to lament the shortcomings of the world and of ourselves but remembering that there is absolutely no despair in Christian living. We look through the lens of love, the love of a saviour who gave himself for us, the love that even now does bear fruit in a world of challenges.
We look forward to a time of peace and love knowing that God is with us on our journey and will strengthen and support us in all that we do.
As we reflect on the past, we can look forward to the future with a few words from the hymn that many of us remember from School assemblies, or church services…
God is working his purpose out as year succeeds to year;
God is working his purpose out and the time is drawing near;
Nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be:
When the earth shall be filled with the Glory of God as the waters cover the sea
Peter Lockyer
Reader
8th November – Reflection
Here at All Saints Church we are in a reflective mood, starting last Wednesday, 1st. November, we reflected on the life of all the Saints, in whose name the church is dedicated. This was followed, on Sunday, by a very poignant and reflective service, where we celebrated the memory of All Souls. Bringing to mind all those that we have known and loved and who have now passed into God’s loving care. This reflective season continues through to next Sunday – Remembrance Sunday – when we will remember all those who have died in conflicts over the years all around the world.
This series of reflections made me wonder about memories. How many of you have sometimes taken an old album of family photographs to help her try to recall something of her past by re-awakening those memories that had almost, but not quite, been forgotten. Just occasionally, I’m sure, you cringe inwardly when the picture reminded me of some particularly embarrassing event. We need to remember and never forget the past because no matter how embarrassing some of those memories might be, it is part of one’s history, part of your family history and part of your identity, and all of you will, I am sure have good and not so good memories as well.
So it is for nations. On Remembrance Sunday as we gather with our poppies, we look back at some of the most challenging times in our history. We remember two world wars and other conflicts since then, and give especial thanks for all of those who gave their lives so that we could live in peace. Willingly or not, they made the ultimate sacrifice and we do well to continue to give thanks and to honour them. We also give thanks for the armed forces that are too often in action and are too often in danger. They continue to take risks so that others may be free.
As Christians, what is it that we see when we look back? Do we see people loving each other as Jesus loved his disciples?
That’s exactly what we do see in so many selfless acts of bravery and sacrifice, people laying down their lives for others through countless tales told but most untold. However we also see people turning away from the brave and the good and the selfless and choosing instead to hurt others. We have all heard countless stories of the unspeakable evil that mankind can inflict on others.
Tragically, too many evil deeds continue to be inflicted on huge numbers of innocent people today, as we see and hear almost daily in news broadcasts.
However we read in the Gospel of St John Chapter 13 – “ A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another”. Just think about that for a minute – we are called to be friends of Jesus, the Son of Almighty God. But the friendship that Jesus asks is costly; it means loving and caring and being concerned for each other, particular in these dark and difficult days, with our whole being and without limit. Not just when we think about it, as in these days of reflection but all through every day. As Jesus loves and cares for us, so we are to treat those around us in exactly the same way. There’s nothing sentimental about that – but we have to admit that on the whole, we’re not terribly good at it.
We look back at the events of history and remember what has occurred before. We give thanks for those that we have loved, or done great deeds, and gone before and so we should. We recoil at the bad things that have happened. But it isn’t enough for Christians to stop there. We have to look forward to the future and we have to look deep within our own hearts and souls and examine the extent to which we love God, how much we want to do what he wants and how we reflect that in what we do every day. If we really believe that God sent his only son into the world to save us, if we really believe that God’s plan for his people will not be confounded, then we will know that there is hope for the future.
As we continue to remember The Saints, our loved ones also the fallen, we must give thanks for those who have gone before us some of whom gave everything, and to lament the shortcomings of the world and of ourselves but remembering that there is absolutely no despair in Christian living. We look through the lens of love, the love of a saviour who gave himself for us, the love that even now does bear fruit in a world of challenges.
We look forward to a time of peace and love knowing that God is with us on our journey and will strengthen and support us in all that we do.
As we reflect on the past, we can look forward to the future with a few words from the hymn that many of us remember from School assemblies, or church services…
God is working his purpose out as year succeeds to year;
God is working his purpose out and the time is drawing near;
Nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be:
When the earth shall be filled with the Glory of God as the waters cover the sea
Peter Lockyer
Reader
1st November – St. Teresa of Avila
As we’re celebrating All Saints Day today, I thought I’d take the opportunity to talk a little about a favourite of mine – St. Teresa of Avila. I studied her works at university along with other great Spanish mystic John of the Cross – and I visited Avila some years ago as part of a road trip with a couple of friends. They’ve rather latched onto her in Avila as part of the tourist trade, even selling St Teresa sweets everywhere – a not very nice confection based on egg yolks – my top tip if you visit Avila is to avoid these!
Born into a wealthy family in 1515 in Avila, she entered the Carmelite Convent in Avila at the age of 20. Never strong physically, her health collapsed and she was an invalid for 3 years, during which time she developed a love for reflective prayer. To cut a long story short, in mid-life she decided to restore the Carmelite order to its original observance of austerity. These reforms required utter withdrawal so that the nuns could meditate on divine law and through a prayerful life of penance, exercise a vocation of reparation for the sins of humankind. She met with a storm of opposition and hostility, but despite this and failing health, went on to found and nurture another 16 convents throughout Spain. To do this, she made exhausting journeys covering hundreds of miles – Spain is a big country – and she died in 1582 as she was returning to Avila from Burgos.
Why is she a favourite? Well, she was a woman ahead of her time. One of her most famous sayings is “just being a woman is enough for my wings to fall off”, suggesting that despite the social conventions of the time that clipped the wings of women, Teresa would not let herself be held back. The world into which she was born was not inclined to the independence of women, rather the opposite. But Teresa was both independent and determined and managed to get what she wanted despite living in an era when the patriarchy made all the decisions. She was an avid reader – again something women weren’t encouraged to do – and felt that a day when she couldn’t read a new book was a day lost. Encouraged by her mother, and behind the back of her strict father, she read books of chivalry as a young girl. When she understood that God was calling her to be a nun, she went against her father’s wishes and entered the convent anyway; and she stood up against the church authorities in founding her new version of the Carmelite order. Remember this was the time of the Spanish Inquisition, when religious tolerance was low. She was in fact examined by the Inquisition, who suspected her of heresy, but they were unable to find anything that contradicted the idea that she was obeying God’s will. As she herself admitted, sometimes she felt like a lion, and at other times like an ant!
As well as standing up to the social and religious conventions of the day, Teresa also had great spiritual insight. She taught her nuns to think and pray on their own, and to concentrate so they could hear the voice of God in what she called the “Interior castle”. She wrote some wonderful prayers, and I’d like to end with this one, which I have in my office. I find it speaks to me down the ages of a deep feeling of reassurance of God’s presence.
Let nothing trouble you
Let nothing frighten you
Everything is fleeting
God alone is unchanging.
Patience will obtain everything.
The one who possesses God
Wants for nothing.
God alone suffices.
Amen.
Mother Fiona Jack
Chaplain
25th October – Neighbours
Seeing 2 pictures on Facebook this week I was reminded of the phrase: A little child shall lead them. One by the Norwegian artist Alex Knudsen is of 2 children sitting on the ground facing each other and holding hands through a barbed wire fence. One is wearing a cap with the Israeli flag on it. The other a pair of striped pyjamas. A second photo shows two children, Israeli and Palestinian, walking with an arm round the other´s shoulder through the narrow streets of their home town. Both depict children who love, play with, talk to and accept the other for who they are, without focussing on or necessarily even being aware of any differences.
Human flourishing requires that we establish, mend and maintain relationships with other people. Jesus exemplified and taught that those loving relationships ought to cross culture´s artificial boundaries of politics, ethnicity, nationality, gender and socioeconomic status. Think of the child who is told by people they trust that people of another race, religion, culture, sexual orientation or class are “dirty and dangerous”. You can immediately see the self-reinforcing cycle. Those people are dangerous or dirty so I will distrust and avoid them, which means I will never have sustained and respectful interactive contact with them – which means I will never discover that they are actually wonderful people.
Throughout the Gospels we see that Jesus doesn´t dominate the other, avoid the other, colonise the other, demonise the other or marginalise the other. Instead he joins the other in solidarity, protects the other, eats with the other, listens to the other, serves the other and even lays down his life for the other.
On 28th October from 10:30-19:00 in Plaza de Charco in Puerto de la Cruz there is a celebration of Día Vecinal – Neighbourhood Day. Along with our neighbours in the town , we as a church community will share something of who and how we are within the neighbourhood of Puerto de la Cruz. Do come and see!
The command to love one´s neighbour comes originally from Leviticus 19:18 which says: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord”. In the time of Jesus he told those listening the parable of the Good Samaritan when asked the question “Who is my neighbour?” His story points out that by loving others we genuinely seek what is best for them, attending to their needs as we are able. As Mother Teresa said, “The task is not to do big things but to do small things with great love”.
This week as we pray for peace for the people of Palestine and Israel, Russia and Ukraine we pray too that we will see each other the way that God sees us, instead of through our biases. We pray to be good neighbours. In the focus of war, terror and hatred we pray to the God of justice, mercy and peace.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
18th October – Israel and Gaza
As we’ve watched with horror over the last few days the events unfolding in Israel and Gaza, I couldn’t help recalling a business trip I made to Tel Aviv in early 2000. Not knowing if or when I might ever find myself there again, I decided to take the opportunity for a whistle- stop tour of Jerusalem. I’m glad I did, as since those days of peace and hope, it has been a difficult and dangerous place to visit, and especially now of course.
What struck me most was the sense of place: how the three great Abrahamic faiths, Judaism, Islam and Christianity exist cheek by jowl in that ancient and holy city, which is sacred to all of us. I visited the Wailing Wall, King David’s tomb, the Holy Sepulchre church, the Garden of Gethsemane, walked the Via Dolorosa and wandered through the mainly Muslim souks smelling of exotic spices and selling all manner of trinkets. All seemed calm and as it should be.
The politics of the region are complicated and I don’t propose to rehearse the minutiae of them here. And closer to home, we think of the conflict in Ukraine which still rages. As Christians, we are taught that we have a prima facie duty not to kill or injure others. There is a concept of a ‘just war’ in Christian moral thinking (based on St Thomas Aquinas) which tells us that war can be justified if it is waged to resist aggression, protect the innocent or uphold the rights of an oppressed group. Not everyone would agree with this thinking, however, and many Christians would consider themselves to be pacifists and totally opposed to war in any shape or form.
Wherever you place yourself, the situation remains a grave one and there are no easy solutions. As individuals, we don’t have a direct influence on world politics, but what we can do is pray: for the protection of the innocent, especially children and civilians, for a cessation of hostilities, and for tolerance in our own small sphere of influence. We are somewhat sheltered from it here in Tenerife, but Jews and Muslims in the UK are feeling the pressure of the heightened emotions around religious differences right now.
Here’s a prayer of St. Francis of Assisi: could I suggest you pray it each day?
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Amen.
Mtr. Fiona Jack, Chaplain
11th October – Black History Month
October is Black History Month and an opportunity to reflect on what more needs to be done to tackle racial inequality.
In April 2021 an Anti-Racism report, “From Lament to Action”, was published. As the title of the report suggests it is not necessary only to lament past cruelties against people of colour, such as their trade and trafficking; decisive action is also needed to dismantle existing structures of white privilege and power.
Black History Month is a particularly apt occasion to ponder the image-bearing humanity of Stephen Lawrence, George Floyd and many others and consider how best to work towards achieving a racially just society.
Not being racist is desirable but this alone will not do. To fight for racial justice is actively to oppose and disrupt the prevailing racist ideologies and the status quo of racial discrimination. Practical action is needed for reparation, reconciliation and justice. Cultural and habitual change is not easy to bring about; to fight against racial stereotypes is a daunting task. How do we consciously make space for minority ethnic groups in all our structures?
If racial inequality is to be made a thing of the past then it´s about changing hearts – our own and those of our communities. One way of doing this is to imagine ourselves in the place of people of other racial origins. Such empathy for other people´s situations has the potential to transform people´s thinking and enable each one to realise we are brothers and sisters in the “wider” families of the church and the world.
Education, in-depth and robust, can also aid changes. The perpetrator and the victim do not view the phenomenon of racism through the same prism. Sharing space and opportunities are key. What is required is a deeper understanding of human relations.
In making racial justice a priority, in deconstructing the past construction of racially unjust structures and in believing in the principle that everyone is made in the image of God we build a transformative society.
In the Diocese in Europe the journey towards racial justice has begun. The Racial Justice Conference in Freiburg, Germany from 9-11th November will enable delegates to grieve the past, challenge the present and envision the future.
In the Book of Revelation we read that people of all nations and tribes will be living together – with no more tears – for eternity.
The object of Black History Month is to realise that despite different genealogies and descendants we all share a common humanity. To realise this reality would be to glimpse that vision in Revelation.
Let us each continue to work to be part of the solution towards an end to marginalisation, economic enfranchisement, racial justice, youth empowerment and gender equality. This week may our belief in the inclusivity of all God´s people guide us as we pray, sow seeds of faith and wait in hope for a new, plentiful harvest – one that affirms the beautiful diversity of God´s creation.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
4th October – St Francis of Assisi
Last week the Green Church 2024 Awards were launched in recognition of the urgent environmental crisis and the efforts being made by organisations and communities, churches and schools to care for creation. Two such awards are the Land And Nature Award for projects creating space for wildlife and to encourage biodiversity and the Green Health Award for projects making an active connection between faith, nature and mental health.
Charlie Chaplin once said that the 6 best doctors in the world are: 1. Sunshine, 2. Rest, 3. Exercise, 4. Diet, 5. Self-esteem and 6. Friends. He reflected that if you see the moon you will see the beauty of God. If you see the sun you will see the power of God. If you look in the mirror you will see God´s best creation.
These awards and statements echo the vision and values of St Francis of Assisi whose feast day is celebrated this week, on 4th October.
Francis lived and believed these 5 values: 1. Service to the poor and marginalised, 2. Affirmation of the unique worth of each person, 3. Appreciation for beauty, 4. Reverence for all creation and 4. Faith in a personal and provident God.
This sonnet by Malcolm Guite reflects the way Francis responded to Christ´s call and challenges us to do the same.
“Francis, rebuild my church which, as you see is falling into ruin. From the cross your saviour spoke to you and speaks to us again through you. Undoing set you free, loosened the traps of trappings, cast away the trammelling of all that costly cloth we wind our saviour in. At break of day He set aside His graveclothes. Your new birth came like a daybreak too, naked and true to poverty and to the gospel call. You woke to Christ and Christ awoke in you and set to work through all your love and skill to make our ruin good, to bless and heal, To wake the Christ in us and make us whole.”
We pray for the chaplaincy in South Tenerife, The Anglican Church of St Francis, that on the feast of their patron saint they may be blessed and be a blessing to each other and those they serve. May we all reflect the values by which Francis lived as we pray the prayer attributed to him:
God make me an instrument of your peace; Where there is hatred let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is darkness, light and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Creator, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive, It is in pardoning that we are pardoned and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
27th September – Season of Creation
We are now 4 weeks into the Season of Creation, which began on 1st September and concludes on 4th October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi who is known as the patron saint of ecology. Each year during this time of ecumenical solidarity the Christian family unites for this worldwide celebration of prayer and action.
Does anyone remember being told as a child: You made this mess. You tidy it up? I am reminded of that when thinking of our responsibility to the environment. We contribute to the problem. We contribute to the solution. There has never been a time in the history of human existence when we have so gravely threatened not only our own existence but that of the rest of the living world. But it´s not too late to act if we do it now and if we do it together.
The Season of Creation is a vital and necessary reminder that God´s saving, healing justice -seeking love extends to every part of creation. We live in turbulent and troubling times as we continue to struggle for world peace and the reconciliation and unity of all creation. We are surrounded by war, violence, climate challenges and unjust systems that continue to dehumanise and oppress people around the globe.
This year the theme for the season is “Let justice and peace flow” with the symbol of a mighty river. Like tributaries joining forces to become a mighty river, the ecumenical family comes together on a path to care for our common home through justice and peace. So how can we here at All Saints join the river of justice and peace? Rev Fiona challenged us this past Sunday to consider what fruitfulness means to each one. We are not asked to be other than who we are but we are expected to produce the fruit that comes naturally to us. She asked us where we collude with systems and to consider what justice and fairness looks like to each of us.
Being called to join the river of justice and peace could mean speaking out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity. We might need to consider how we change our attitudes and actions. Righteousness asks that we live in peace, not conflict, with our neighbours and building right relationships with all of creation. Peace (shalom) involves not only the absence of conflict but positive, lifegiving relationships with God, ourselves, our human neighbours and all of creation.
The prophet Isaiah proclaims in chapter 43 verse 19 “Listen carefully. I am about to do a new thing, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” The world we have known is changing rapidly. Industrialisation, colonisation and the extraction and consumption of resources have created great wealth unequally distributed. We are challenged to create hope out of despair. Rather than praying the familiar words of the prayer Our Father this week you might like to pray this version by Jim Cotter adapted in the New Zealand Prayer Book:
Eternal Spirit, Earth-Maker, Pain-Bearer, Life-Giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echoes through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your communion of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In the temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever, Amen
Caring for creation is not a distraction from sharing the gospel but is an integral part of our Christian mission. The way in which we treat the environment impacts the lives of people. Loving our neighbour means taking care of our neighbourhood too. This coming week let´s be challenged to tune into the principles of attitude, action and advocacy.
Judith Rigby
Congregational worship Leader
20th September
I wonder how many of us watch a film to the end of the story and then turn the TV off or turn our attention to getting our things together to leave the cinema? This past week I started watching a film, only to doze off and wake up just as the credits began to roll. They continued for minutes afterwards…all the many hidden people who played a part in the making of the film. From the catering to the make up to the grip-(whatever they do!), to the camera crews, location team etc etc the list seemed endless.
All of them had played a part, significant or otherwise but nevertheless a necessary part in the making of the film. It reminded me of those many people who play a part in our lives and our stories. Some of them are well known and remembered while others might have had a small but important part to play at the time. Try telling the actors and actresses that there is no catering van on set and they will soon realise the importance of those making their meals. Months later they might not remember the people by name or even their face but at the time they were important to enable the end product.
Tomorrow 20th September 2023 we look forward to welcoming Mtr Fiona Jack as our new chaplain. She joins a list of those who have been in leadership in All Saints since the ground for the church was broken on 7th May 1890, the church building was completed on June 14th, 1891, and the church consecrated in 1893. Since then there have been many whose names could have been listed in “the credits” of church worship and church family.
When we open our bibles there are many named there who are more well known than others. Moses and the parting of the red sea, Joseph and his technicolour coat, Daniel in the lions´ den might be known about from the Old Testament. But there are others who are barely mentioned. If you read Judges you will find in chapter 4 a man by the name of Lappidoth. He is barely given a mention. He could be called today “the stay-at-home husband” of Deborah. Deborah is one of the most influential women of the bible. As a prophet, Judge Deborah was said to hear God´s voice and share God´s Word with others. As a priestess she led worship and preached. She is known for her wisdom and courage and is the only woman of the Old Testament who is known for her own faith and action, rather than because of her relationship to her husband.
Deborah and her story can teach us so much. Susan J Nelson describes 3 lessons that stand out.
1. Be Obedient. If God is telling you to do something or go somewhere, despite your fears, listen to His call. He has plans that we can not begin to understand but hearts and lives may be changed by our obedience.
2. Be Courageous. The old saying “God doesn´t call the qualified, He qualifies the called” applies here. Doing something out of your comfort zone to glorify Him can be terrifying, but faith was never promised to be easy. Be Bold and Be Courageous for His glory.
3. Stand True. Never waiver in your faith. We may not always know what the road ahead will look like, but we only need to remember that God will faithfully guide us and lead the way.
So today as we pray for Mtr Fiona we pray that she will be a Deborah, obedient and courageous. May we as a church community encourage and welcome her, praying for God´s guidance, protection and strength in the coming weeks. Together we are part of the unfolding story of All Saints in September 2023.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
13th September 2023
As we hear reports of an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale shaking the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, leaving at least 2,500 dead and 3,000 injured, and of rescue teams that continue to search for people under the rubble, I am left thinking of all the natural disasters that have been reported on in the past few months. Rains, floods, droughts, wild fires and now this disaster that was experienced in our neighbouring chaplaincy.
Our hearts hurt for those who have lost loved ones in such natural disasters, and our thoughts and prayers go out to all affected by new disasters that seem to come at an increasing pace.
We must also hold in our prayers all those in the Emergency services that are struggling in save lives as a result of all these ‘natural’ disasters many of which may be caused by man’s intervention in the natural world which is causing climate change.
I am left pondering…
Where is God?
When disasters like these happen, many wonder how a loving God can just stand by and watch thousands of lives be ripped apart physically, spiritually and emotionally.
That is a fair question, especially to individuals and countries directly affected by such tragedies.
Many never can find the answer. Some just accept the reality of the losses and cling to the belief that everything happens for a reason. Some others end up rejecting the existence of a God because, they reason, if this were God’s world, He would never allow such suffering.
And, incredibly, that is the answer. There is suffering because this is not God’s world…
The Bible clearly shows that, beginning with our first parents, mankind as a whole has not wanted God to be involved in their lives. The majority of human beings simply want to live how they want to live and to do what they want to do. They don’t want God involved in “their world.” God has simply obliged.
When God created Adam and Eve, He placed them in the beautiful Garden of Eden—an environment controlled and maintained by God
There would be no natural disasters there. It was a perfect environment in which to live. To enjoy this ideal environment, God simply required that they follow His instructions for how to live. But God also gave them free will. He warned that if they rejected His instructions, suffering and death would result
Yet, because of Satan the devil’s influence, our first parents chose to reject God’s instruction and believe Satan’s lie. The result was that Adam and Eve were removed from that perfect world. (As we can read in the book of Genesis Chapters 2 &3).
They were now on their own, apart from God. Humans in general have continued to push God out of their lives ever since and have remained under Satan’s influence. Natural disasters and other tragedies are, in my opinion, part of the result of a world that has rejected God.
Many years ago God promised the ancient Israelites protection from natural disasters if they would follow Him . God can and has mercifully intervened to protect His faithful people. God does care.
God Himself says, “For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies. … Therefore turn and live” (Ezekiel 18:32).
Yes, God wants all of mankind, in the whole world, to turn to Him and receive His blessings. (2 Peter 3).
Peter Lockyer
Reader
6th September – Waiting . . . . .
Here in The Canary Islands our congregation both in All Saints Church in Puerto de la Cruz and our sister congregation on the Island of La Palma have been waiting and praying, since the death of the prior incumbent, for a new Chaplain to be appointed and to arrive to complete and lead our ministry team.
Our waiting time is nearly over and we expect Revd. Fiona to be with us towards the end of this month.
This led me to think more about waiting…
This thinking then pointed me to read again the First Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles where the waiting of the apostles is documented. No one likes to wait. However, we wait in traffic, in holding patterns on aircraft, in grocery stores, for the doctor, for a spouse, for a baby, for retirement, for sermons to end, or for Jesus to return.
Waiting is not just something we have to do while we get what we want. Waiting is the process of becoming what God wants us to be. What God does in us while we wait is as important as what it is we are waiting for. Waiting, biblical waiting, is not a passive waiting around for something to happen that will allow us to escape our troubles. Waiting does not mean doing nothing; It’s not a way to evade unpleasant reality.
Those who wait often are those who work, because they know their work is not in vain. The farmer can wait all summer for his harvest because he has done his work of sowing the seed and watering the plants. Those who wait on God can go about their assigned tasks, confident that God will provide the meaning and conclusions to their lives and the harvest to their toil. Waiting is the confident, disciplined, expectant, active, and sometimes painful clinging to God. It knows that we will reap a reward.
When Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem, he was telling them that that this was a means of experiencing his peace, his prosperity, and his power. In waiting they would catch the wind of God’s Spirit. In waiting they would see God move.
Waiting on the Lord may be one of the most difficult aspects of the Christian life. When Jesus promised that he would return, he instructed his followers to wait. That is easier said than done. So what do we do in the meantime? What do we do while we wait? I leave those questions for you to ponder and answer for yourself.
I was drawn into the story of some unseen growth: The Chinese bamboo tree is one of the most remarkable plants on earth. Once the gardener plants the seed, he will see nothing but a single shoot coming out of the bulb – for five full years! That tiny shoot, however, must have daily food and water. During all the time the gardener is caring for the plant, the exterior shoot will grow less than an inch. At the end of five years, however, the Chinese bamboo will perform an incredible feat. It will grow an amazing ninety feet tall in only ninety days! Now ask yourself this: When did the tree actually grow? During the first five years, or during those last ninety days?
The answer lies in the unseen part of the tree, the underground root system. During the first five years, the fibrous root structure spreads deep and wide in the earth, preparing to support the incredible heights the tree will eventually reach.
We can only hope that our patient waiting and praying here in Tenerife has laid the underlying structure that will lead to similar spectacular growth in our congregations with the arrival of our new Chaplain.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
30th August – Fires and Pilot Account
At the start of the fires 14 days ago we posted a prayer on Facebook. It has been, I believe the term is “engaged with,” just over 5000 times. God our helper and defender has been the prayer, along with gratitude, for those putting themselves at risk to save people and property.
In the beginning of Chapter 12 of the letter which Paul wrote to the people in Rome, The Message paraphrases it as:
“So here´s what I want you to do. God helping you: Take your every-day, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going to work and walking around life – and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
The fire has raged for 2 weeks. 20 seaplanes and helicopters have used millions of litres of water inside a perimeter of 90 kms to extinguish 15,000 hectares…for those challenged on measurements – a hectare is the size of just over 2 English football fields.
Let´s rethink that scripture from the perspective of a seaplane pilot: Take your every-day, ordinary life and place it before God as an offering…
Here´s one account:
It was the fifth day after the fire had broken out. The flames had spread over the mountain, consuming the beautiful flora and fauna that I had come to love. From my plane I could see the rage of the fire in all its splendour. Smoke was rising like a snake in the air, making me cough, even at this altitude. Radio communications were a constant buzz of voices and commands. Every pilot, every firefighter on the ground, every volunteer was giving their all. And I at the command of my aircraft, loaded with thousands of litres of water and retardants, plunged into the swamp of smoke and flames again and again.
The water deposits on the fires were remarkably accurate but my visibility was minimal. Every pass I made had to be perfect. Not only for the fact that every drop counts in this battle, but for the inherent risk in flying so low and in such adverse conditions. I remember a particular pass where I almost felt outdone. A sudden change of wind caused the flames to rise abruptly, and for a moment, within the cabin I felt the heat on my face, a heat that screamed at me “It was too close”. But I managed to ascend, with my heart beating a thousand beats an hour, knowing it was a very close escape.
At the end of the day we landed – exhausted, engines still buzzing in our ears. Down on the ground the smell of smoke and ash permeated everything. The faces of my peers showed fatigue and desperation, but also determination. A determination I would share. That night as I tried to reconcile sleep in a makeshift bed in the hangar, I thought about all that had been lost alongside all that was still to be saved. The Tenerife fire´s one of the hardest I´ve faced in my career, not only for its magnitude and complexity but also because of what the island means to me and to so many others.
Eventually, and it will take days, we will get it completely under control. And although the landscape will be marked by the tragedy it will also be a testament to the resilience, courage and solidarity of the community. Inclusive Tenerife teaches me that even in the darkest moments there is a light of hope that never goes out. And that light is ourselves, fighting together against all the odds.
A powerful account of generous service…
That final phrase “fighting together against all the odds” is Romans chapter 12 v 5 in action: We are all vitally joined to one another, with each contributing to the others. God´s marvellous grace imparts to each one of us varying gifts.
We are not all called to be seaplane pilots fighting the fire…how grateful we are that some are. However we are each called to use our gifts and live verses 9-12.
Be enthusiastic to serve the Lord…. In what way can I accomplish that service this week?
Radiate with the glow of the Holy Spirit…those of us living here have seen more than a glow from the fire…and let Him fill you with excitement as you serve him. Let this hope burst forth within you. That doesn´t speak to me of service carried out unwillingly or grudgingly…we all know what a difference a smile makes as we meet and come alongside others.
The final line of our Romans´ reading reminds me of the pilot´s last words: Don´t give up in a time of trouble…and for those of us who believe in the transforming power of Jesus in our lives, we know too there is more…and our reading concludes with that “more” … Don´t give up in a time of trial but commune with God at all times.
So this week, how will you be transformed and serve and pray?
I caught the conversation of a family behind me in the Lidl queue the other day. It went something along the lines of:
Mum: where’s the sun gone? Dad: I think it´s going to rain. Mum: No it never rains in August. Dad: Well those clouds look like rain to me. Child: Look it´s raining on the windows. Me: I think you´re right- we´ve been praying for rain to extinguish the fires. Mum: I see. So God still works miracles today then??? Cos I´ve never known it to rain here in August. Me: I believe in a God of miracles and I believe in thanking Him for answering prayer too. At which point the little girl of about 7 or 8 started singing the song, “If I were a butterfly I´d thank you God for giving me wings…she said they sing it at school and it has lots of thankyou God in it!
I walked out in the rain singing!
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
15th August – Technology
Technology – for better or for worse? It´s been a question I´ve pondered over the past week. The experience of the elderly couple who were charged 110 euros by Ryanair for printing two boarding cards because it is now company policy to check in on line and print your boarding passes prior to arriving at the airport made me think for worse. Finding myself without my phone for 24 hours this past week I realised how much it holds; numbers, emails, banking and other Apps. The one I had while mine was being repaired did what “old phones” did – it sent and received calls. I was lost without my smart phone. The small business owner I used for fixing my phone was telling of the charges he has to pay the bank each time a card is used. A cashless society is extra cost for him. I was conscious of the number of self-checkout tills in Al Campo now – fewer staff employed while we self-scan our purchases.
It reminded me of the story of the elderly gentleman whose daughter was encouraging her father to activate internet banking. He wanted to know why he would do such a thing – “less time in the queue at the bank, in fact no need of a journey on the bus to the bank at all and you can even do your shopping on line,” was her reply. He thought for a moment and replied: “If I do that I won´t need to step out of the house.” She readily agreed. His reply made her stop and think. “When I leave home I meet friends and chat to staff who know me. When I go out the day passes more quickly…I have more than enough time. I don´t need speed of access. I need people. Would I have the “human touch” if everything was online? Why would I want everything delivered to me, so that the only interaction I have is with a computer or a phone.” His final comment: “I like to know the person I am dealing with. It creates bonds and relationships and keeps me active. Does Amazon deliver this as well?”
Technology might be enabling for some of us but it isn´t necessarily lifegiving. I´m grateful that today I have spoken to family in Sweden and England. I´ve received messages from friends as far away as Australia, Namibia and closer to home in other parts of Europe. These have enabled me to connect with people. While technology has made it easier to connect with others, access information and indeed improve medical care, it has also led to job loss, cyber bullying and technology addiction.
Technology does influence and change us. We have all benefitted from technology in one form or another. However let´s be aware that what´s efficient and enabling for one might be depressing and disenabling for another. Let´s pray this week that we can use the technology available to us to help us love our neighbour and develop connectivity and communication with others. As we pray we deepen and develop a relationship with God. The lyrics of a song I learnt as a child come to mind: “Prayer is like a telephone for us to talk to Jesus. Prayer is like a telephone for us to talk to God. Prayer is like a telephone for us to talk to Jesus. Pick it up and use it every day. We can shout out loud. We can whisper softly. We can make no noise at all but He´ll always hear our call”. This is one telephone that doesn´t come with Apps but which is lifegiving and can change us.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
9th August – Transfiguration
Last Sunday the church celebrated ‘The feast of the Transfiguration’
Most of us, I suspect, at some point each day, look in a mirror. We check our hair, our face, our teeth, our clothes. Mirrors show us what we look like. While it might be important to know what we look like, it’s more important to know who we are. That’s what this holy Feast of the Transfiguration is about.
Mirrors show external appearances. The Transfiguration of Christ shows us who we are. It reveals our origin, our purpose, and the end to which we must aim.
The Transfiguration shows the total beauty within creation and humanity. This means that the Transfiguration is not just an event in history, a happening that begins and ends. Rather it is a condition or a way of being. The Transfiguration reveals a reality of the present. The transfiguration is already within us and the world. The glorified and transfigured Christ is the prototype of our own creation.
Those are pretty bold statements when you consider events of the present time. Recently in a Sikh temple seven people were killed and others wounded – the school shootings in the USA. Let us not forget also the events occurring in Eastern Europe today and the cloud that overshadowed and the light that incinerated Hiroshima in this month in 1945. At times it seems our lives and the world is more disfigured than transfigured. These events, and others like them, do not, however, undo or negate the glory of God that fills this world and human life. Instead they show that far too often we are a people “weighed down with sleep.”
Peter, John, and James were also weighed down with sleep. Jesus took them with him and went up on the mountain to pray. We read in the Gospel that while Jesus was praying “the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.” Moses and Elijah were also there talking with Jesus.
The three disciples struggled between sleep and wakefulness. “Since they had stayed awake” they saw Jesus’ glory. He revealed himself to Peter, John, and James and in so doing showed them the deepest reality of who they are.
The spiritual journey is always a battle between falling asleep and staying awake, between absence and presence, between darkness and light. Sleepiness is not simply a physical condition; it is a spiritual issue and condition. Spiritual sleep is a form of blindness. It blinds us to the beauty and holiness of the world, other people, and ourselves. Blindness to God’s presence in and the goodness of creation is what allows us to do violence to one another and ourselves.
The three apostles, Peter, John, and James, experienced the transfiguration of Christ because they stayed awake despite the weight of sleep. They saw for the first time that which has always been. They saw the light of divinity fully manifest in a human being, something a mirror can never reveal.
Peter misunderstood, however. “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Humanity can never build a dwelling place for God. It is, rather, God who makes humanity the dwelling place of divinity. This is most profoundly revealed in the Transfiguration of Jesus.
The whole of creation participates in the glory of God. Humanity alone, however, is called to the Mount of Transfiguration. It is there that Christ reveals who we are and who, by grace, we are to become.
The Feast of the Transfiguration invites us to wipe the sleep from our eyes, behold what we are, and become what we see.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
2nd August 2023 – “Treasure”
Last Sunday we read the parable (Story with a meaning) of a man who found treasure in a field and sold everything to buy the field so the treasure belonged to him. The children decorated treasure chests and filled them with stick on jewels. One of the children visiting commented that he wished they were real because that would be the best thing of his holiday!
At the end of the day while praying with my visitors we were talking about what they wanted to be thankful for that day. Almost immediately the 5-year-old said: We have lots of things to say thank you for but Jesus is the best treasure in my treasure box.
The next day the 12-year-old was telling me about phones and the latest and all that it does. I shared the story of the Sengalese footballer named Sadio Mane. Some of his fans were amazed when they saw him carrying a cracked iPhone 11 and wondered why he didn´t have the latest and best – after all he earns more than ten million US dollars annually. His response was along the lines of: Why would I want ten Ferraris, 20 diamond watches and 2 jet planes? I starved. I worked in the fields, played barefoot and didn´t go to school. Now I can help people. I prefer to build schools and give poor people food or clothing. I have built schools and a stadium, provide clothes, shoes and food for people in extreme poverty. In addition I give 70 euros per month to all people from a very poor Sengalese region in order to contribute to their family economy. I do not need to display luxury cars, luxury homes, trips and even planes. I prefer that my people receive some of what life has given me.
Lots to ponder in this example of selfless giving.
Here is an example of someone living the words in Matthew´s Gospel chapter 6:19-21: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Let´s pray this week that we can be grateful for what we have and use it for the good of others.
Judith Rigby
Congregational worship Leader
26th July 2023 – “Waiting. . . . . ”
Here at All Saints Church in Puerto de la Cruz we are waiting, in eager anticipation, for our chosen Chaplain to leap over the final hurdle in the bureaucratic steeplechase and enter the final straight of the paper chase gold cup. Waiting for the time when we will be able to join in joyful communion together.
This led me to think – What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word, “Wait”?
Trying to get into a popular restaurant on a Friday night?
Stuck in a traffic jam?
Important examination results, perhaps?
When we think of waiting, we often think of passivity. Waiting is practically synonymous with doing nothing besides just sitting there fidgeting with our phones or staring at the ceiling, listening to the clock’s second hand ticking.
Recently, most of the world was paralysed as we all remained hunkered down in our homes waiting for COVID to loosen its grip. Thus, waiting is a very relevant topic.
When the Bible speaks of waiting, it’s an entirely different thing than what we do after we take a number for the blood-test at the Health Centre. Biblical waiting is not a passive activity, but is demonstrated by active dependence upon and obedience to God. Thus, waiting upon God is a spiritual discipline that we should seek to practise in our lives. Here are a few ways we can practise biblical waiting.
ACKNOWLEDGING GOD’S SOVEREIGN CONTROL OF ALL THINGS
In order to get good at waiting, we first need to acknowledge that God is sovereign and nothing we are presently experiencing is outside of his eternal decree and direct oversight. Here’s what the wise king says:
“Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.” Ecclesiastes Ch 7 v13–14
COMING TO TERMS WITH OUR DEPENDENCE UPON GOD
Connected to the doctrine of God’s sovereignty is the co-reality of our complete dependence upon him for all things. It’s natural for us all to want to be individualists. We want the freedom and independence to do whatever we want to do, when, where, and how we want to do it. But the truth is, we are all dependent upon God for even our next heartbeat. As we read of the patience of Job or as the Apostle Paul expressed in Romans 11:36, from God are all things.
Surely our response to this reality should be to turn to the Lord in faith and wait upon him. We are needy creatures. We should not try to fix things on our own, but come to terms with our dependence upon our good and sovereign God Lord and trust him to help us. As we read in Proverbs Ch3 v5: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
BEING PATIENT AND QUIET
Even though we may live out that human spirit of busy industriousness, it is good for us to stop, sit still for a moment, and be quiet. This is a part of God-glorifying waiting.
“It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations Ch3 v26
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” Psalm 62 v5
When we are still and silent we can best listen for God to speak to us through his Word. What is the Lord teaching us through this? Patience, perhaps? What is he teaching you?
CONCLUSION
While the world these past few months, has seen many trials and tribulation we ought to also consider what positive lessons we are to learn from God through these difficult times. One lesson we all can benefit from is a better understanding of what it means to wait upon the Lord. He is sovereign over all things, and we depend on him for our very next breath. So let us express our dependence by waiting patiently, avoiding worry, and living obediently, while seeking him in prayer, expecting him to save as we anticipate our Chaplain’s making to the Winning Post of the paper chase Gold Cup.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
18th July 2023
The Japanese art of mending ceramics with gold is an old tradition called kintsugi, pronounced kint-soo-gi. It dates back to the 15th century and consists of highlighting the cracks and breaks in ceramics. With lacquer and gold the object´s scars come to life. The results are stunning, leaving a gold seam where the cracks were. It represents the idea that beauty can be found in imperfection. Rather than hiding flaws it accentuates them, celebrating the history and resilience of the broken object.
It can be considered as a metaphor for our human brokenness and the potential for our mending in Christ. In Psalm 34 verse 18 we read: “The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” There are times in our lives we come to Christ in fragments. He lovingly puts us back together. Very quickly it´s easy to see that being damaged alone is not a sign of failure or defeat. Rather it can be a sign of change, progress and improvement.
Throughout life we all experience difficulties and traumatic events. Applying kintsugi to our lives means being bold, rather than hiding the cracks and imperfections. The philosophy behind it teaches us how to embrace life´s fragility and find the beauty in it. It´s a reminder that we can always find a way to move forward and when we think we are broken we can pick up the pieces, put them back together and learn to embrace the cracks…in the hands of a “potter”.
Looking at our world and the news stories we can´t but be aware of the many who are experiencing difficulties and life´s fragility. Let´s pray this week that God can mend those who are broken and crushed with all the skills of a kintsugi artist. If you´ve never seen the ceramics I´d encourage you to check the beautiful pottery photos on the internet. The broken pottery is repaired with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver or platinum. Golden joinery…what a way to consider the healing that we are offered by Jesus the healer. The art is stronger, more beautiful. Each break is unique. Sometimes in the process of repairing things that have broken, we actually create something more beautiful, unique and resilient.
“You Lord are our Father. We are the clay. You are the potter. We are all the work of your hand.”
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
12th July 2023-
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10 (ESV)
Spring is a time to start fresh—to wash windows, sweep the doorstep and sort through your wardrobe.
Maybe a bit late for spring, but our deeply loved All Saints Church, which has served the Anglican community here in Puerto de la Cruz since 1890, has just had an unexpected clear out. A few weeks ago signs of woodworm infection was found in some a few locations. A visit by experts suggested that the whole building needed to be treated, all non-wooden items having to be removed before the treatment could begin. A small team of dedicated members of the congregation have now removed all these items, they also found some things that nobody knew anything about!
So now all services will be held in the parsonage or its grounds until the works are completed.
This clear out made me think that sometimes our spiritual lives need a deep cleaning, too.
As we refresh our space, as we are refreshing our Church, we shouldn’t neglect the space inside—your very soul, the core of who you are. Here are three questions to ask yourself as you take a spiritual inventory.
What Needs to Go?
Let’s be honest, some things should go straight to the bin. We’re talking broken, falling apart, cobweb-covered odds and ends we probably never should have owned in the first place.
Think of a tucked away box that hasn’t been opened in ages. That’s what our sins can be like. We harbour all this guilt and shame over past mistakes and hide them away in the untouched corners of our hearts, never to see the light of day.
What if we unpacked all that baggage and laid it before God? What if we actively turned away from our sins (that’s called repentance), and said, “Here you go, God. All the broken pieces of my life are yours now.”
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” —1 John 1:9
God is ready to give you a new start. Take the first step by seeking His forgiveness and asking for His direction as you move forward in your newfound freedom.
What Can You Give Away?
It can be daunting, but also gratifying, to pare down your possessions. So often, we hold onto things we haven’t used in years because maybe we’ll need them one day. Or we feel an attachment to something and can’t bear to release it to the donation pile.
But those things have a tendency to bog us down and clutter our lives. In the end, it feels good to let them go.
So what part of your faith life can you give to others?
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” —Matthew 5:14-16
As followers of Jesus Christ, we aren’t supposed to keep Him all to ourselves. He commands us to share His Good News with others.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to let go of everything. Perhaps the pillows just need to be fluffed, the shelves dusted or the universal “junk drawer” reorganised.
Our spiritual lives can usually use some tidying up, too. Think of all the letters the Apostle Paul wrote to churches about keeping the faith. It takes work, he told them—constant energy to get along, set a good example and generally be faithful to Christ.
Whether your faith life needs a fresh coat of paint or total renovation of the heart, there’s no better time to jump in than now. Start with one thing at a time—maybe it’s alone time with God, spending time in the Bible or treating others as He would.
Wherever you begin, remember you’re not spring cleaning alone. God Himself can help you cut through the spiritual clutter in each area of your life.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
5th July 2023 – Diversity & Inclusion
In nature a flock will attack any bird that is more colourful than others because being different is seen as a threat. On Canarian TV at the moment there is an advert reminding young people not to focus on the images portrayed on social media and reminding them that there’s nothing wrong with them being who they are.
Our abilities are not hindered because of our differences. Our talents aren’t any less because we are unique. Our worth isn’t defined by our diversity. It’s not our differences that divide us. It’s our inability to recognise, accept, embrace and celebrate those differences.
Diversity and inclusion are two inter-connected concepts but they are far from inter-changeable. Diversity is about representation or the makeup of a group. Inclusion is about how well the contributions, presence and perspectives of different groups of people are valued and integrated into an environment. The 3Cs of being Curious, Courageous and Committed provide the toolset necessary for creating a culture of belonging and expanding diversity within our community.
Our hope is that the alignment of the church´s attitudes, beliefs and behaviours with Jesus´ vision, mission and practices will bear fruit. Equality from a biblical perspective means recognising that all humans are created alike, in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-28). In Psalm 8 we read that all have equal dignity in the eyes of God. All people deserve respect and are equally loved by God (John 3:16). As Christians we are called to love our neighbour as ourselves (Mark 12:31). A fundamental feature of being part of the church, the Body of Christ on earth, is unity in diversity.
Our Diocese in Europe is running an international Racial Justice Conference from 8th-11th November 2023 as part of our continuing movement and campaign to ensure greater belonging and healing. The conference will give the opportunity to analyse afresh racism and the colonial heritage, to address the reality of racial injustice, visible and invisible, that still prevails in the life of the church, to formulate practical ways of overcoming racism and to be advocates for those racially minoritised in church and society. If you are interested in attending please let me know.
At All Saints we aim to empower people across the church to celebrate the diversity of all and to strengthen our culture of welcome, so that everyone can feel safe, valued and included in the life of our church. Please come and test out our welcome!
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
29th June 2023 – St John/San Juan
Last Friday night was one of great celebration at the beach here in Puerto de la Cruz, with huge bonfires and fireworks to commemorate ‘Noche San Juan’ – Saint John’s Eve. Starting at sunset on 23 June, the evenings celebration entails the lighting of huge bonfires on the beach, which the younger, and maybe not so young, show their bravery by jumping over these burning piles. The main celebration culminates with a massive firework display, before the revelry begins. I have found that the Canarian peoples are very good at turning any celebration into a Fiesta.
St. John the Baptist was, according to the Gospel of St. Luke Ch1, born six months before Jesus; therefore, the feast of John the Baptist was fixed on 24 June, six months before Christmas according to the old Roman calculation
The Feast of Saint John closely coincides with the June solstice, also referred to as Midsummer in the Northern Hemisphere. The Christian holy day is fixed at 24 June; but in most countries festivities are mostly held the night before, on Saint John’s Eve. This holiday is celebrated in many places throughout the Christian world. However the celebrations in most locations revolve around fire.
So what do we know about St. John The Baptist?
Scripture records that Mary was told by the angel Gabriel that her cousin Elizabeth was also with child. We know that Mary set out in haste to visit Elizabeth – a long and tedious journey in those days – and remained with her for a period of time during her pregnancy.
John, son of Elizabeth and Zacharias, was a child of God’s promise. His father Zacharias, a Hebrew priest, was struck dumb by the angel Gabriel when he would not believe the angel’s news that his wife Elizabeth (an older woman) would conceive a child. John was probably born at Ain-Karim, a small town southwest of Jerusalem. Zacharias received his voice back when, on the day of John’s circumcision and naming, he wrote down that the child’s name would be John.
Though cousins, John and Jesus did not live near one another and it is not known whether they met during childhood. After his birth, Scripture is silent about John until it records his appearance in the Judean desert where he lived as a hermit until about A.D. 27. When he was thirty, he began to preach on the banks of the Jordan against the evils of the times. Whilst preaching he attracted large crowds while he preached a baptism of repentance “for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand”. The presence of John and his disciples was not felt until about one year before the beginning of the ministry of Jesus. When Jesus came to him, John recognized Him as the Messiah and baptized Him, saying, “It is I who need baptism from You”. John inspired many of his followers to follow Christ when he designated Him “the Lamb of God” among them Andrew and John, who came to know Christ through John’s preaching.
When Jesus left to preach in Galilee, John continued preaching in the Jordan valley. Fearful of his great power with the people, Herod had him arrested and imprisoned, for John had denounced Herod’s adulterous and incestuous marriage with Herodias, wife of Herod’s half brother. John was beheaded at the request of Salome, daughter of Herodias, who asked for his head at the instigation of her mother.
The commemoration of John’s death is celebrated by the universal Church on August 29.
St. John is presented in the New Testament as the last of the Old Testament prophets. He is known as the Baptist, the Precursor, the Forerunner of Christ, because of his role in preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah. Other than that of the Lord Jesus and His Mother Mary, John is the only saint whose birthday is celebrated within the church’s liturgical year – June 24. He is also remembered on the Feast of His Martyrdom / Beheading, August 29.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
7th June 2023
Last Sunday in All Saints Church we celebrated The Holy Trinity.
When we’re talking about the Trinity, we have to be careful with definition. Honestly, we could spend an entire book just on this. I’m not going to do that, but I want to try to give you in just a few sentences what I think will be a somewhat clearer definition of what we mean when we talk about the Trinity.
When we’re talking about the Trinity, we mean that there is one God, who exists as three co-equal and co-eternal Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. They are one in being, united in essence, power, purpose, and glory, yet they are distinct in personality and function. If you can imagine a family with three children each are a distinct person but as a whole they comprise one family.
I think sometimes people think that the doctrine of the Trinity is contradictory. How can God be both one and three? But it’s not contradictory. We’re not violating any laws of logic here, because God is not one in three in the same sense, in the same ways. He is one in being; there is one essence that is God.
Yet they relate to us — the Father, Son, and Spirit relate to us in distinct ways. They are distinct in personality and in function; that is, they do different things. The Father doesn’t do what the Son does; the Son does things that are unique to him only, not what the Father does or what the Spirit does; and so on.
Now, that’s the doctrine of the Trinity in a nutshell. Much more could be said, but I think that’s enough for this message, and is probably familiar territory for many of our readers.
For those that want to explore this message further I urge you to read 2 Corinthians especially chapter 13 v14 (commonly known as ‘The Grace’) there you will find 3 key words – love, grace, and fellowship.
There we find the outline. I want us to see and hold dear in this life:-
1. The Love of the Trinity Is the Fountain of All Love and Grace
2. The Grace of the Trinity Is the Foundation of the Gospel of Our Salvation
3. Our Fellowship with the Trinity Is the Key to Living the Christian Life
Peter Lockyer
Reader
31st May 2023
On Facebook this week I was struck by a photo of a piece of fruit in front of a mirror. Looking in the mirror I saw a shiny, rosy apple but what the mirror didn’t show was the side facing away from it – a bruised, partly eaten and discoloured apple. The “perfection” was an illusion.
Watching a programme from The Chelsea Flower Show there was great encouragement for “wilding up” rather than for neatly tended “perfect” gardens. Poppies, daisies and other beautiful wild flowers were echoed along the route I took home on Pentecost Sunday. In church we had been encouraged to wear something red and the array of poppies reminded me of the sea of red across the church, to remind us of the tongues of fire which settled on the apostles on the day of Pentecost.
Thinking of “wilding”, where a gentle breeze blows seeds along roadsides and across fields I´m reminded that this is what the Holy Spirit will do for us, enabling us to plant seeds within our communities. In John´s Gospel Chapter 20 verses 19-23 Jesus encourages his disciples to receive the Holy Spirit. After this they spread the seeds of Christianity in the world.
A child was asked what she had done in school that day. “We learnt how to make babies,” was her reply. More than a little surprised and trying to keep her cool her grandmother responded, “That’s interesting. How do you make babies”? “It´s simple,” replied the girl. “You just change the “Y” to “I” and add “es”. At Pentecost God´s power was communicated in everyone´s own language. The Good News of Jesus came to all who were there in a way they could understand and from people with whom they would not otherwise have communicated. God´s love is for everyone, everywhere.
On Pentecost Sunday we prayed that the Spirit of peace would reconcile the peoples and nations of the world bringing an end to war, hatred and discrimination. This week may we continue in prayer for all those parts of our world needing the fruit of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We don´t need to be perfect, just willing to welcome, empower and forgive, as God´s love does for each of us.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
10th May 2023
Last Saturday saw the greatest show in London in the past 7 decades. I remember in June of 1952, when I was some 6 years old, I watched our late Queen Elizabeth being crowned, watching on a brand new state of the art television set in glorious Black and White on a 10” screen. I still remember seeing all the members of the armed forces in their uniforms and the peers in there robes and coronets. However I remember little of the ceremony itself, the anointing, crowning etc.
This time I managed to get a front row seat to watch the event, on my 40” inch colour television, However on this occasion I managed to follow the complete service in the Abbey and was moved by the ritual, pomp and circumstance of the occasion. The first moment that stood out for me, as a Welshman, was the Procession of faith leaders that was led by the Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Bangor, The most Reverend Andrew John, in addition the procession of the King and Queen was lead by the Cross of Wales.
The first words spoken by a very confident Child of his Majesty’s Chapel Royal, Samuel Strachan, welcoming King Charles to the Abbey “Your Majesty, as children of the kingdom of God we welcome you in the name of the King of Kings”.
This statement had me almost in tears as it summed up, in my opinion, the whole ongoing continuity from generation to generation, both of the monarchy and the church.
King Charles’s response:
“In His name and after His example I come not to be served but to serve”
I feel this sums up the role of the monarch in a modern Britain. Following the example of Our Lord Jesus Christ during his time of ministry on earth who served both His Father and the people He ministered to and led.
The inclusive adaptation of the order of service to include all four nations of the United Kingdom, and many faiths other than that of The Established Anglican Church added much depth to the service and possibly made people who feel ‘outsiders’ due to race, colour, gender, belief or others on the margins of society get a sense of inclusiveness.
The second moment of emotion for me was when a neighbour of my late parents, Bryn Terfel sang a beautiful arrangement of ‘Kyrie Eleison’ in Welsh. I believe a first occasion for the Welsh language to be used in a British coronation service.
After the service the newly crowned monarch issued a message which I feel deserves wide distribution.
“We now rededicate our lives to serving the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and Commonwealth.
As the Coronation weekend draws to a close, my wife and I just wanted to share our most sincere and heartfelt thanks to all those who have helped to make this such a special occasion.
We pay particular tribute to the countless people who have given their time and dedication to ensuring that the celebrations in London, Windsor and further afield were as happy, safe and enjoyable as possible.
To those who joined in the celebrations – whether at home, at street parties and lunches, or by volunteering in communities – we thank you, each and every one.
To know that we have your support and encouragement, and to witness your kindness expressed in so many different ways, has been the greatest possible Coronation gift, as we now rededicate our lives to serving the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and Commonwealth.
Charles R”
Peter Lockyer
Reader
26th April 2023
This last weekend has, for me, been one of remembrance and memorial. Last week a dear friend of our church and Congregational Worship Leader of our congregation in La Palma, Allan Chopping, passed into God’s keeping. A Memorial service was held in the beautiful little church set in an idyllic location in the El Paso area of the Island.
Our assistant priest The Revd Rachel Ganney led the memorial service assisted by Revd Judy Horrocks from our sister congregation on Furteventura. The ministry team from All Saints and one of our Church Wardens were also there to pay the respects of the congregation in All Saints.
The small church of St. Martín de Porres was beautifully decorated with local flowers and was filled to overflowing by people of many nationalities who wished to support the family of Alan.
On return to Tenerife Sunday brought another memorial service, this time to remember the lives lost in the DanAir Flight 1008 which crashed, near the town of La Esperanza on 25th. April 1980. This service was also led by The Revd Rachael Ganney, and held in the Rose Garden created to perpetuate the memory of the lives lost. This Service was attended by the congregation which included members of the Town Council of Puerto de la Cruz.
I have been often asked why we hold these memorial services. It’s because we believe that life is more than this flimsy skin and bones. We hold them because we believe that love extends beyond this physical being. We want to reconstruct, to re-member those who are no longer with us in their bodies. At these memorial services we are present with each other, hopefully we can find that inner strength which comes when we share something deep and meaningful and tender with others who are going through similar pain.
In case you didn’t already know it, the emotions that come when somebody you love dies are not always recognizable as grief. Sometimes you feel disbelief. You may find yourself still looking for your loved one …and sometimes even “see” him or her in a crowd, or hear that wonderful voice, as we will do when remembering Alan. Sometimes you feel irritated or depressed or guilty. Sometimes, you feel numb, or even like you might be going crazy. Sometimes you may even feel hatred, betrayal, or a sense of abandonment.
Grief is like a tidal wave that picks you up and tosses you around and bumps you into unidentifiable surfaces, and then casts you out onto an unfamiliar beach, devastated. And just when you think you might be recovering, the wave sweeps over you again.
Sometimes you think that no one in the whole world, the whole world, could ever have felt this kind of agony. And yet we’re all here, together, because we have all loved and lost and are suffering from it. And that means we’re NOT alone. So whatever you’re feeling right now, just accept it and allow it to be.
Many of us have been through a lot. Love is all around us, in the disguise of all these feelings. All of these feelings you may be having since your loved one or dear friend died are because you LOVE so deeply.
Everyday let us recognize that we don’t hurt alone. We can allow ourselves time to share memories and tears with others who also know love and how it hurts. Also we can cling to the assurance that as we remember our loved ones by stating again how THEY lived and changed our lives JUST BY BEING, death will not have the final word.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
19th April 2023
Driving home today I was very conscious of the enormous piles of earth as the road works continue for the new tunnel to connect Santiago del Teide with El Tanque. The island’s ring road will be completed once this tunnel is opened. The Erjos double tunnel is the largest currently being built in Spain and when complete will be 5.1 km long. It is expected that the tunnel which was originally due to be completed this November will be completed in March 2025 – a change in the plans and the pandemic having lengthened its completion date. Anyone visiting the area will notice a difference to the road lay out and the bridge supports being constructed. However even more is going on under the surface, with an average of 8 metres a day being drilled and the expectation that the North and South will meet before the summer. Growth and change, both visible and invisible from our standpoint.
This Sunday in All Saints we marked another change – that of our new server, 12-year-old Vlad, being trained by Maggie. It´s hard to believe that it is only a year since Vlad and his family left their home in Ukraine to make Tenerife their temporary home. His younger brother spoke no English and neither boy spoke Spanish. So many changes and growth in language skills (and height)! Some changes are visible and others are hidden. As we plan for the Annual Meeting of our Chaplaincy we will see some changes here as we move forward – both in the appointment of our chaplain and some new council members. Our hope is that Revd Fiona will arrive sooner rather than later . . . Visa paperwork takes so much longer than pre-Brexit.
Our Sunday Gospel reading told of Jesus appearing to Thomas, and how Thomas needed to have a personal encounter for himself rather than taking the word of his fellow disciples. Jesus invited Thomas, as He does us, to grow in his faith journey. We too are encouraged to ask questions, to be wise and discerning. Let us take our inspiration from Thomas – he wanted the truth for himself, not someone else´s truth. Let us continue to grow and change for the better. Thomas´ doubt led to questions and questioning led him on a journey. May we each continue to grow and change, both visibly and within ourselves.
Judith Rigby
Congregational worship Leader
12th April 2023
EASTER WEEK
We have entered Easter Week with the events of Holy Week now behind us.
The events of Holy Week (Semana Santa) have been celebrated in the Canary Islands since medieval times. The largest island of Tenerife, our home, is no exception, and its historical cities see countless religious ceremonies and street processions throughout the week leading to Easter. The celebration starts on Palm Sunday and continues to Easter Day. During the solemn season, most Roman Catholic congregations have at least one daily procession with a church service. But, the most remarkable day is Good Friday commemorating the death and burial of Jesus Christ.
The most memorable of these processions involve members of different religious brotherhoods. The iconic “penitents” wearing long cloaks with pointed hoods that totally cover their faces and revealing only their eyes. Other participants of solemn parades are “Nazarenos” who typically walk barefoot and carry shackles or large wooden crosses. Also, it’s common to parade huge floats with heavy religious statues through the streets, carried by dozens of people. The parades make painfully slow progress, traditionally accompanied with sombre religious music with the slow beats of drums and often a brass band.
The very special occasion not to miss in La Laguna is its Good Friday evening procession — ‘Procesion del Silencio’ or the Silent Procession. The town goes completely quiet, street lights shut down, and the town is illuminated solely by candles. The pious brotherhood parade departs at around 9:30 pm from the Iglesia de la Concepción. A slow pace set by the ominous drumbeat creates a moving and a bit unnerving atmosphere. I have attended on previous occasions and which I will never forget the emotions it produced.
Easter Sunday brings the joy of Resurrection and, well, lots of food. Lent is over, so families celebrate with local delicacies like sancocho (salted fish served with potatoes), rancho canario (a Canarian answer to Irish Stew) gofio (traditional local grain substitute) and mojo (a signature Canarian sauce).
In All Saints our commemorations of the events were much less flamboyant, however we observed very moving services on Maundy Thursday (remembering the Last Supper) and Good Friday with our own procession around the Church acknowledging the ‘Stations of the Cross’. Then on Easter Sunday the mood changed to one of celebration, with a joyful service commemorating Our Lord’s Resurrection. This was followed by a lunch for the congregation. A very happy gathering, despite the fact that we were also saying farewell to Father Richard Frost our locum Chaplain and his wife Jill.
We also continue to pray, and we hope all readers of this midweek message will also pray with us, for a new Chaplain to be sent to our Chaplaincy.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
4th April 2023
EASTER JOY AND BLESSING
I can recall as a child the wonderful moment on Easter Sunday when the chocolate eggs were handed around. Some big some full of other goodies but what mouth watering joy it was as the creamy substance rolled down my chin. If I am honest I didn’t have a clue about the Christian symbolism the eggs represented. No doubt today my own grandchildren would feel the same. The idea of New life and New birth, Jesus’s emergence from the tomb and Resurrection would be a far cry from that yummy “heavenly moment”.
Easter is the defining heavenly time in the Christian calendar which has resonated down the centuries with life changing consequences. Whatever you believe or not, one thing is certain something happened on that first Easter morn which has stood the test of time. As the noon day sun reaches its highest point in the heavens so Easter is the zenith of the Christian Faith. The Bible teaches ‘Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow’. The ‘Emmanuel’ ( God with us ) of the nativity becomes a living, life changing reality for all who put their faith and trust in the one true and living God. In a world which is ever changing spiritual awakening and renewed hope lie at the very heart of the Easter message. A reminder above all the Love of God is a constant as the ebb and flow of the ocean.
It is this constant that gets us through life. If we are honest, in a world which is ever changing, life for us all can be up one minute and down the next with all its complexities.
God through His love assures us even at the toughest of times you do pull through, you do get passed them through the power of the Holy Spirit that lives in you.
The Bible often coins the phrase ‘And it came to pass’. . . something foretold was going to happen. Jesus foretold his own passing and that He would rise again to new life. The book of Revelation(21) foretells God’s continuing promise to the world in the aftermath of the Resurrection – ‘I am making everything new. These words are trustworthy and true’.
And so it will come to pass in our lives as God works His purposes out for good, His words are trustworthy and true. As God through His infinite love is in control of every aspect of this world. The Resurrection of Christ is a poignant reminder of passing from death to New life. In essence we live to die, Jesus dies to live and never to die again. Through faith we are immersed in His Risen life as he is immersed in ours. I pray the Easter joy, the sense of New life and renewed hope will fall on you afresh as you put your faith and trust in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ.
Revd Richard Frost – Locum Chaplain
8th February 2023
Revd Richard Cattley
1st February 2023
We are now almost at the end of the spring Romerías, and I have been asked by several visitors what these Fiestas are and their history. I have discovered that these events which occur at several villages around the Island, notable in Arona, Tigaiga and Buenavista, venerate the memory of Saint Antonio Abad who is known as the patron saint of many groups including amputees, gravediggers and epileptics. But, he is probably most famous as the patron saint of animals, domestic or otherwise. Thus the Romerías also include a livestock fair. They occur in the spring and are calling blessings on the animals, and the land for the coming productive season.
In the English tradition Saint Antonio Abad is generally known as Anthony the Great, who was born in Egypt in about 12th January 251 and died 17th January 356 at the grand old age of 105.
He lived the life of an hermit and is thought to be the first Monk. Anthony was not the first ascetic or hermit, but he may properly be called the “Father of Monasticism” in Christianity, as he organized his disciples into a community and later, following the spread of Athanasius’s hagiography, was the inspiration for similar communities throughout Egypt and elsewhere. Macarius the Great was a disciple of Anthony. Visitors travelled great distances to see the celebrated holy man. Anthony is said to have spoken to those of a spiritual disposition, leaving the task of addressing the more worldly visitors to Macarius. Macarius later founded a monastic community in the Scetic desert.
The fame of Anthony spread and reached Emperor Constantine, who wrote to him requesting his prayers. The brethren were pleased with the Emperor’s letter, but Anthony was not overawed and wrote back exhorting the Emperor and his sons not to esteem this world but remember the next.
In 338, he left the desert temporarily to visit Alexandria to help refute the teachings of Arius. He then returned to his life as an hermit.
After his death Anthony was interred, according to his instructions, in a grave next to his cell.
Back to Tenerife and the Romerías. These follow a similar pattern wherever they are celebrated. Starting with a Mass in the Parish Church, followed by a procession bearing an image of the Saint through the streets to the village square where all the local animals, oxen, sheep, goats and other farm livestock, also a whole collection of domestic animals of all shapes and sizes are amassed, and, amid the noise, smells, and confusion, the Priest blesses all the animals.
Then the local produce is presented to the assembled crowd and the party begins. The Canary Islanders are very good at turning Religious events into Fiestas. So amid the cacophony of noise, aromas etc. from all the animals and the colourful and intricate local costumes of the islanders, with the aid of the local band(s) of musicians the dancing and partying continues into the late evening.
Long live the traditions of the Island with the joy that the Christian fellowship brings. As we leave the season on Romerías we move forward into the Carnival season, with its associated Fiestas and maybe excess, leading up to the period of fasting in Lent.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
25th January 2023
A queue of cars along the road from early morning; people unloading and setting up their pitch area; cases, boxes, railings, racks and tables laden; a long queue shuffling forward to be one of the first through the gates to bag a bargain, a gift or just for a mooch among the fruit and veg, books, bric a brac, clothing, jewellery, pies, crafts or paintings… This is a picture of the popular monthly All Saints Car Boot sale.
Walking through the church and parsonage grounds it´s often struck me how one person´s trash really is another person´s treasure. Looking at the various stalls you see the hard work behind the crafts, the talents behind the home-grown fruit and veg, the paintings and the pies, the growth of babies into children and children into youth as toys and games that are no longer played with are looking for a new home and clothing looking for a new wardrobe, to enable space in its original.
So many reasons for being there from raising funds for a charity, making money to pay the bills, finding an outlet for a talent, a place to meet up with friends, to spot a bargain or just the smell of the homecooked burgers with onions made by the church team! So many reasons and so many opportunities. So many assets and so many treasures. Our next Car Boot Sale is from 10:00 on February 4th. Do come and see for yourself!
The extremes of weather in different parts of the world this last month have brought into focus stories of those who have lost all their belongings and their homes in floods or fires as well as those who have had to flee leaving all behind to escape war torn countries. In those situations treasures and “stuff” lose their value as assets. What would you grab or save in one of those challenging situations? Would it be photos or letters or something small that could be carried on your person? What would you put into one small rucksack? It´s challenging isn´t it when so many of us have so much?
Perhaps we can all learn from a young girl who was comforting her parents at the scene of the third flood after Christmas in less than a year. “Don´t worry we still have each other. It´s love and being with each other that is the most important thing in our family. I don´t need my presents. I just need you.”
Despite all our “stuff” our most valuable assets are a heart full of love, an ear ready to listen and a hand willing to help one another. Sharing those assets enable each of us to recognise our worth and to grow as individuals and as a community. This coming week let us be grateful for not just what but who we have in our life and let´s seek to be an asset in someone else´s.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
18th January 2023
PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
January 2023
I guess we all know how much easier it is to sit comfortably in our own tradition, and remain untroubled by those who see their faith expressed in a different way. It is alluring to want to live and worship only with those who are like-minded. And I am not confusing Unity with Uniformity.
But the question still nags. Do we prefer staying safe and secure with what we know, rather than reach out to try and understand the unsure road of the prophet Isaiah, who would create a new heaven and a new earth, and let the former things pass away?
I am fervently in favour of unity and pray for it – but it’s difficult to imagine something I’ve never experienced. And maybe that’s because I simply don’t know what I’m missing.
For me, it’s best summed up in the story of an oriental king visiting England for the first time for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The Queen came to the subject of non-Christian religions, and she said: ‘I have never been able to comprehend how anyone could worship the sun.’ The king, wistfully thinking of the warmth of his homeland replied: ‘Quite so, madam. But if you had ever actually seen the sun, you might think differently.’
My prayer is that the Lord will open our eyes to the full splendour of his grace, that we may respond to him more readily; that we might begin to want the gifts he has to give and discover the will to desire what is better than what we have now.
With my blessing,
Fr Peter Cavanagh
Locum Priest
11th January 2023
The good old Book of Common Prayer still has much to commend it. Not the least of its virtues is an additional title to the festival we celebrate this week – the Epiphany, or, “The manifestation of Christ to the gentiles.” That’s an alternative title that can help us open-up what Epiphany really means.
Unless we’re Jewish the word ‘gentile’ doesn’t mean much to us. But just change the word “gentile” to “outsider” – because that’s what other races were as far as Jews were concerned – and change ‘manifestation’ to ‘revealed’ and Epiphany comes alive: “the revealing of Christ to the outsiders”. At the heart of this Feast lies the simple assertion that, in Jesus Christ, there are no outsiders.
So who are the outsiders for us? Maybe they are asylum seekers: maybe the hooligans or social security abusers. Maybe your outsiders are young people or old people or, people whose lives are lived differently from ours. We’ve all got those we think of as outsiders and we need to remember that it was for people like this, and as varied as this, that God was willing to reveal himself in human form, and it was for people like this that Jesus was willing to die.
So we’ve got to be careful about the Epiphany. The stable was certainly nothing at all like the Renaissance or Baroque masterpieces we see on our Christmas cards: it was, as the carol says, ‘rude and bare’, a cold, inhospitable cave with animal muck on the floor. The revelation of Christ to the outsiders is more likely to involve similar dinginess – that of a prison cell or a bomb site where drug addicts degrade themselves or down and outs neglect themselves. Thank God there are some followers of the Gospel in those place as well, for God is not only to be found and worshipped inside churches. Epiphany is about God coming to meet us AND the outsiders, where we all are: it’s about God revealing himself in Jesus in a way we can begin to grasp how much he loves us.
So we can’t feel superior to those we call “outsiders”. Epiphanytide reminds us that our concern must be for those who are different for whatever reason. If we’re ever to do something about that it can be costly and painful. But then, God’s salvation may be free, but it’s not light and easy, but won through sorrow. Thanks be to God for his loving-kindness.
With my blessing this holy season
Fr Peter Cavanagh
Locum Priest
4th January 2023
Writing this at the start of 2023 I’m reminded of the poem written in 1908 by Minnie Louise Haskins and quoted by King George VI in his 1939 wartime Christmas broadcast.
“I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown, and he replied: Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way. So I went forth and finding the hand of God trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of the day in the East.”
The popular name given to this poem is “The Gate of the Year”. Yet the title given to it by the poet was “God Knows”. So much has gone on in our world in 2022 and stepping into 2023 we can hold fast to the God who knows us as individuals and within community.
“Go out into the darkness” reminded me of a trip to Cueva del Viento, underground lava tubes near Icod, where when the guide told us to switch off our headlights, we were in total darkness. The desire for light before we set off walking again was self-evident. We needed to be able to see where we were going. Wouldn’t it be foolish to step out into the unknown? We would likely injure ourselves or another.
As we step into 2023 with all the unknowns ahead of us both personally, communally and internationally this poem reminds me that in placing our trust and ourselves into the hand of God we can be secure in the knowledge that He holds us and walks alongside. Listening to a reflection from Christina, one of the church wardens in Kyiv, I was struck by how she spoke of the miracles of God in the midst of the challenges of life in a war zone. It would have been so easy to focus on the lack of water, electricity and the cold and fear amidst the sirens and the ruins and devastation. Instead she spoke of the tiny miracles and the God who was with them in the midst of it all.
The phrase “so I went forth” reminded me that there needs to be movement. In taking the first step the “I” found God´s hand. The person travelled into the unknown, into the darkness and yet was not alone. As we look back over last year I´m sure that each of us is in a different place from the start of 2022. We´ve experienced many things that might not have been on our annual “to do” list. Each is like a jigsaw piece, part of a whole, of the unknown puzzle called life. As we move into 2023 let´s cling to the light, to a God who tells us “I am the Light of the World” and pray asking for His wisdom and guidance in the dark spaces in our world and our personal situations.
“And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of the day in the East” …there is always daybreak and though we might not always see the sun, it rises each day. Light does conquer darkness. You´ve only got to strike a match in any dark space to recognise that. As we move into 2023 we pray for our brothers and sisters in those places of darkness and despair for miracles of light and love to encompass them.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
28th December 2022
The feast of Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, was celebrated in All Saints Church, Puerto de la Cruz with services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. As we now progress through the traditional 12 Days of Christmas to the 6th of January when tradition has it that the three wise men, (Also known as the 3 Kings) brought gifts to the infant Jesus. In the present day adults and children alike have or are preparing to receive and give gifts. Children, specifically, wait for Santa Claus or the 3 Kings or St. Nicholas with baited breath. What is the origin of these gift bringers, and how did they become the jolly givers of gifts to the world?
The legend of Santa Claus can be traced as far back as the 4th Century, in Turkey, to a very real man named St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas was the Bishop of Smyrna, which was a Greek community in the 300s. During his appointment as bishop, St. Nicholas was aware of a minor noble in failing health with three young daughters. Because he could not afford the dowry for his daughters, he was going to sell them into a life of prostitution. This is not the happy origin story most people expect, but it does finish with a happy ending. In the dead of night, St. Nicholas is said to have gifted the noble three bags of gold, enough to act as dowry so the three ladies could properly be married off and live happily.
This story lays down the first legend for St. Nicholas the gift giver. The image of St. Nicholas bringing gifts to only the daughters could give power to the tradition of Santa bringing gifts to only children. The road to the European tradition of Santa Claus is long, and much like the gift giver’s origin story, not what everyone expects. On 6th December in the Netherlands, St. Nicholas, or Sinterklaas, still rides into town on a white horse, dressed in his red bishop’s robes and preceded by “Black Peter,” a Satanic figure in an outlandish costume who beats the bad children with a stick while rewarding the good children with candy and gifts.
The red bishop’s robes have been considerably shortened down to the red coat Santa wears in the current visualization. Figures such as “Black Peter” appear in many cultures with legends like Krampus of Germany, a devilish figure that treats bad children in a similar fashion to Black Peter. Perhaps the split of duties between Santa Claus, Black Peter, and Krampus is where the famous Naughty and Nice list comes from?
British do their gift exchanging on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, but in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Spain and some other European countries, presents are still opened on 5th December, which is St. Nicholas’s Eve, or 6th December, St. Nicholas’s Day. Santa Claus is believed to be an international figure due to the believe that he goes from the North Pole and gives gifts the world over, but to many nations and cultures, he is still the old St. Nicholas. Door to door carolling can be traced back to ancient Greece, as well.
St. Nicholas as Santa Claus has been established, but how does St. Nicholas fit into Christmas? The gifts of the Wise Men to the baby Christ is a very easy and simple tie to St. Nicholas, though St. Nicholas’s gifts were not to the King of Man, but to save three young women from the profession of Mary Magdalene, one of Christ’s closest followers. Also note the connection of three Wise Men and St. Nicholas saving the fate of three women in the Christmas narrative.
In the mid 19th Century, Christmas began to acquire its associations with an increasingly secularized holiday of gift-giving and good cheer, a view that was popularized in works such as Clement Clarke Moore’s 1823 poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” and Charles Dickens’s 1843 story A Christmas Carol. The current concept Santa Claus was first made popular in New York in the 19th century and highly marketed on the internet and by Coca-Cola in the 20th.
In the Christmas Season it’s fun to look back at the old stories and traditions of one of the world’s most celebrated holidays. Because Christmas is celebrated by so many in so many different ways, let us all come together at this season of the year and celebrate the gifts and people we are so fortunate to have this hopefully happy season, always remembering, and praying for, those who are unable to celebrate with us.
When I first came to Tenerife children were encouraged to write to the 3 Kings with their desires for gifts for delivery on 5th January. However with the influence of Hollywood and the internet, Santa Claus also became a person with whom to correspond, and now I hear of many youngsters ‘hedging their bets’ and writing 2 letters every year!
Peter Lockyer
Reader
20th December 2022
How would you sum up how the last few weeks have been for you?
For me I´d describe it as a “time for making room” …for a tree, for decorations, for a travel cot and a highchair, for a camp bed in an already overcrowded office, for food and drink for 5 rather than just 1, for suitcases and all that´s contained within them. As a result the shredder has had the cobwebs dusted off it, the charity shop has received a large black sack and the apartment has been spring cleaned throughout. Nothing like having 5 visitors arriving for their holidays! Making room has involved cleaning, clearing, sorting and decision making.
Joining in the Carol Service in La Palma involved another sort of making room. The beautiful church up in the forest was bursting at the seams. We squashed up and moved along benches until there was standing room only. Last Sunday during our 11:00 service our children´s table filled up and we needed a second. In these occasions the making room was more than just giving space. It involved welcoming with a smile, generosity and selflessness.
We read in the story of Jesus’ birth that there was no room for Mary and Joseph at the inn when they arrived in Bethlehem – unless you are the 5-year-old innkeeper who has been standing there throughout his first Christmas play, with nothing to say but just to shake his head when asked a question. Not to be outdone by others with more lines he looks up, catches his teacher´s eye and says very confidently in response to Joseph´s request for a room at the inn: “Yes of course, come in. We have plenty of rooms here. Take your pick!” Maybe that young boy can be an example for each of us in that he wanted to make room for this family who had travelled far. Since February we have heard of so many who have made room for others in their homes. If you would like to pray specifically for the situation in Ukraine please join us on the Diocese in Europe´s YouTube page at 17:30 BST on Wednesday 21st. We will be hearing from and praying with the Archbishop of Canterbury who has recently visited Kyiv with Bishop Robert.
At this time of year, amidst all the holiday festivities may we each find time and room for Jesus, the reason for the season. Here in Tenerife depending on where you come from, Christmas is celebrated on 6th, 24th or 25th December or 6th January. Let´s pray that this year as well as making room for family and friends we will make room for Jesus in our hearts and lives. You will be very welcome to join us in All Saints on 24th and 25th December at 11:00 for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. Plenty of room for all!
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
14th December 2022
At this time of year, the run up to Christmas, and seeing so many images of snow in the UK I’m reminded of the story of the farmer whose wife had left him at home while she went to the church Carol Service. Just after she had left flurries of snow began to fall. While the farmer was working he heard a loud thump, followed by a series of further thumps on the patio doors.
He went outside to see what was happening and in the middle of his field stood a flock of migrating geese. With the snowstorm they had become disorientated and were now stranded on the farm, unable to see their way through the snow.
The farmer considered that the best way to help them was to give them shelter in his barn. He opened the door and moved away hoping they would find their way inside but the geese didn’t appear to understand. So he attempted to shoo them inside but they ran in different directions. Reflecting on the situation he decided to lay a trail of bread to the barn door but they didn’t follow it. Nothing he did to offer the warmth and shelter of the barn made any difference.
Frustrated, he pondered: “Why don´t they follow me into this barn? This is where they need to be in order to survive.” Instinctively he realised that they would never follow a person. “If only I could become like one of them then I could explain to them about what the barn can offer and lead them to safety in the storm.”
As he pondered on this he realised that this was precisely why God became one of us that first Christmas. God became small to come down to our level. He came to us in the mess of this world, in the mess of our own lives to lead us to safety, to lead us to himself.
He finally understood why his wife had gone to the Carol Service. In the busyness of the coming weeks let´s pause to think about this, because if it´s true it´s not just “a nice story” but the greatest miracle of all. Come and join us at our Carol Service on Thursday 15th at 6:00 in All Saints Church, Taoro Park, Puerto de la Cruz. You will be very welcome.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
7th December 2022
A few evenings ago I was sitting quietly reading a book when the peace of the neighbourhood was shattered by a loud crashing sound. I looked out to the street to see what was causing this peace shattering noise, only to find it was being caused by a couple of young lads with a collection of tin cans threaded onto wires which they were dragging along the road.
It then clicked – it was the eve of St. Andrew’s Day. Now St. Andrew is the Patron saint of the Island of Tenerife, amongst other places including Ukraine, Russia and Scotland.
On every eve of St. Andrew’s day in Puerto de la Cruz the celebration known as “Los Cacharros” (roughly meaning “the clutter”) involves tying cans and tins to a piece of metal wire and dragging them along the streets. Young people and tourists gather in the Town Square – Plaza del Charco – to throw piles of clutter and any old objects that hit the ground with a clatter which can be heard all around the streets. The adults also meet in the square where the “Castañada” or chestnut fest is held, during which you can taste some of the Island’s typical products: chestnuts, wreckfish, sardines, gofio bread, sweet potatoes and new wine.
Whilst in the neighbouring town of Icod de los Vinos the traditional ceremony takes place when young and not-so-young adrenaline-seekers clamber onto wooden boards and slide down the steep street of Calle del Plano. Adding to the whooshing and crashing of the boards is the sweet smell of young wine. Under the moonlight, grape harvesters pop open their wines from the latest vintage in a ritual that also takes place in many other towns and villages. The Tenerife answer to ‘Beaujolais Nouveau’? maybe…
Back to the clattering tin cans of Puerto de la Cruz and the ‘clutter’. I’m sure that many of us have a lot of ‘clutter’ in our lives. In many households there is a table that is the place that many things accumulate. It becomes the easiest place to put stuff. Toys, Mail, Homework, Cups, More Cups. The tabletop makes it simpler to just move things around rather than to put them away! So after a while it accumulates a collection of unrelated objects into one centralised location, which is called clutter.
This can be a lot like one’s life. We are forever piling one thing after another onto the table of our life. There are always more things we should be concerned about, and give attention to, and make room for – Somehow…
Before long one’s life is full of clutter, This is the way it remains until God’s elbow grease intervenes, mighty to sweep and clears the table.
Which He will do for us – 2 Corinthians 5 v6-10.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
30th November 2022
Happy New Year! This past Sunday marked the beginning of the Church’s year. The First Sunday of Advent is the start of the season of expectation and preparation as the church prepares to remember and celebrate the birth of Christ. In this Advent season we are on a journey, both looking back and looking forward to Christ’s coming again. What God has done is the reason we can have faith in what He will do. Our world faces much uncertainty at this time and there are many who are struggling financially or as a result of natural and man-made disasters. If we took a map of the world it is likely we could find somewhere in most countries where life is challenging. At this time of year we are faced with adverts for so many items that we “need” for a happy Christmas.
I’m reminded of the story of Elijah and the widow in 1 Kings chapter 17 verses 7-16. Elijah had travelled to Zarephath because his source of water from the brook had dried up. He had faith to believe that God would continue to take care of him, as He had in the past. Obeying God he walked about 100 miles believing that God would provide for him. As soon as he arrived in Zarephath he saw a woman gathering sticks. He asked for water to drink, and he also asked for bread. Her response was interesting: As the Lord your God lives I do not have bread, but I do have a handful of flour and a little oil in a jar. Did she recognise that here was a man of God?
The widow was instructed by Elijah to make a small loaf of bread to give to him and then another for herself and her son. She was assured that in doing so she would see the provision of God. She obeyed and baked the bread using all that she had. What should have been empty jars of flour and oil didn’t run out. This continued and she had enough for each day to make the bread. God provided for Elijah and the widow. It wasn’t plentiful but it was enough. It took care of today. It was a daily exercise of faith for him and for her. The widow gave away what she had with generosity. In obedience she used all the flour and oil each day and yet there was always sufficient for the coming day.
May this Advent season be a time for each of us to give generously and to wait expectantly knowing that as God was for Elijah and the widow so He is our provider. God promises enough for the day to each of one of us and to our community of All Saints. The Christmas adverts might tell us that we are looking for abundance, even super abundance. Enough is what we are promised in scripture. Enough is all we need. We continue to rely on the faithfulness of God, trusting that He will provide sufficient for each day.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
23rd November 2022
I have just been told by the Diocesan Office in London that I am due to renew my Safeguarding Training to work with vulnerable adults and children. It’s easy to be sniffy about being required to do regular training. As I will be 75 next year I’m probably categorised as a vulnerable adult myself! So now I have booked myself on to a two day Zoom course in January.
The recently released figures of child abuse perpetrated in our churches and by clergy of all denominations are horrendous……we’re talking in thousands not hundreds….and something has to be done and fast. For too long the powers that be have been more concerned with maintaining the reputation of the church than caring for the victims themselves. To coin a phrase “dead cats have been thrown over walls” and the word “coverup” has been the currency of those who should know better.
Last Sunday, 20th November, was Safeguarding Sunday, and churches all around the world were encouraged to acknowledge it in some form or other. But why should we care, after all we are a happy bunch of people, nothing bad could happen here! Think back to the “Good Old Days” everyone harks on about, they weren’t so good for all were they? We now know awful things happened to vulnerable children and adults in many places and were hidden and covered up. The institution was more important than the individuals harmed, sometimes for ever.
Safeguarding in relation to the church is all about making our churches safe places for all to attend. As a church we care for one another and the wider community and it is up to all of us to play our part in ensuring that all are safe.
We all understand the need for children to be protected from all types of harm, predators, groomers, cruelty or misinformation, the list is endless. But who is a vulnerable adult? There are times in our lives when we are all vulnerable to being taken advantage of: financially, physically, mentally or through on-line scammers. Just think about it.
So what are we doing centrally in the Church of England, the Diocese in Europe and in this chaplaincy on Tenerife? We are promoting a safer church, the “Church of England’s Safeguarding Policy”. Practically that means all church leaders and people engaged in various roles within the church have to undergo safeguarding training. This ensures that we are aware of safeguarding issues and how to deal with them. Some of those in main leadership roles also have to obtain Police clearance. However safeguarding is everyone´s responsibility. We have policies and training but the key thing is to put those into action. The noticeboard at the back of church displays the parish safeguarding agreement and we ensure safeguarding is on every council agenda.
If you have any concerns or worries relating to safeguarding, speak to Judith or any council member. Never let it be said, we didn’t care or couldn’t be bothered to help those in need.
Fr Robert Ellis
Locum Priest
16th November 2022
This past week I had time “to kill” at the airport and thought I would use it to revise little Spanish words that I often forgot when I first started lessons. Top of the list given by my Spanish teacher was “y” meaning “and”. I didn´t get much further as the British Legion had a stall nearby and I found myself reflecting on Remembrance Sunday…with more “ands”. A time to remember the service AND the sacrifice of all those who defended our freedom AND protected our way of life. Last Sunday we came together to remember AND pray for all those who gave their lives AND those impacted by war, both in the past AND today.
I wonder which “ANDS” come to mind for you this week? At our Chaplaincy Council meeting on Monday we found ourselves facing both the financial challenges that come with the responsibility of our buildings AND the desire to develop and build community.
Rainbows are the result of sunshine AND rain. Without action our spirituality can become lifeless and bear no fruit. Without contemplation our doing can come from a “me” perspective. Each of us has a part to play in our chaplaincy´s mission and outreach – a whole community with action AND contemplation at the centre. As we pray in the coming weeks for the interview process for our new chaplain let´s remember God´s promise of rescue to His people: I will make an unbreakable covenant with you AND give you steadfast love. They will be my people AND I will be their God.
Listening to reports from COP 27 another AND from Egypt´s President struck me: “I deeply believe that COP27 is an opportunity to showcase unity against an existential threat that we can only overcome through concerted action AND effective implementation.”
The world has come a long way in the fight against climate change AND its negative impacts on our planet. We are now better able to understand the science behind climate change, better assess its impacts AND better develop tools to address its causes AND consequences. The hope from this gathering is that a collective approach to tackling the challenge of climate change is resilient, committed, effective AND delivering. May we each play our part so that food and water security will be a reality for all AND that countries and communities in climate vulnerable situations will have their basic needs met and homes protected.
In life it seems there are often both challenges AND opportunities. Let´s take time to notice the “ANDs” that we are presented with this week and pray that we will be blessed with both freedom AND light to lift AND carry us through the challenges we are faced with, knowing that, in His Word, God has promised to be with us always.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
1st November 2022
So much of life seems to be in a state of flux at the moment. In the UK, recent political events have been breath-taking in their suddenness. Only 44 days after taking office, Prime Minister Liz Truss, concluded she couldn’t deliver her programme of reform and resigned. By the time you read this reflection, the UK is likely to have its third Prime Minister this year. Such instability has serious knock-on effects for our friends and families at home as they face increased costs of borrowing and purchasing. As it happens, I think I am the third locum to serve this chaplaincy since Fr Ron`s sad death earlier this year. Others are likely to follow, before, we pray, a new permanent chaplain is appointed to lead you in your mission and witness. Meanwhile, so much of the responsibility for leadership and organisation falls on the excellent team of workers here at All Saints, notably our two Wardens, Wendy and Dawn. We owe them a great debt for all that is done – often behind the scenes.
The theme of change and momentum is also found in the Lectionary. Most of my Sundays here have been ‘Sundays after Trinity’ – 19 of them in total this year. However, last Sunday, October 30th – which we kept as the Patronal Festival of All Saints – was also the first Sunday of the Kingdom Season (or Fourth Sunday before Advent). Suddenly, we become aware that the Church Year is coming to an end. With Advent we begin a new one (Year A, with the focus returning to St Matthew`s Gospel) and Christmas comes ever closer.
Since I arrived, towards the end of August, apart from when I’ve been leading worship, I’ve been in summer shorts almost every day. What a change awaits me back in Wales. Yet even in Tenerife, I’ve noticed a less intense heat and the welcome cooler breezes of Autumn. In our own lives, too, change and upheaval leave their mark. Some of us will have lost loved ones this year, or experienced a loss of mobility or independence. Others might find the process of ageing a challenge, irritated at not being able to do all that was possible previously. I know the feeling! The Archbishop of Canterbury gave a lecture during a visit to the diocese of Sodor and Man in 2000, in which he referred to that line from the hymn, ‘Change and decay in all around I see’ (1). Perhaps thats how it seems to many people.
I suspect that it was a sense of things being in a state of flux that also accounted for the sense of loss that followed the late Queen`s death. She represented, for many people, values of continuity and constancy. It was my privilege during that time to be part of the various services at All Saints, and in south Tenerife, when the Queen`s memory was honoured. But the Church, too, represents these values. For other religious traditions, Friday is the holy day of prayer. Yet others mark the seventh day of the week as a Sabbath of rest. But for us, Sunday, since Biblical times, is the day when we remember Jesus’ resurrection, and claim the new life that he promises, now and forever. Year by year, we continue to follow the same seasons and festivals. Prayers we learned in childhood remain vibrant and lively. People who were formative in our spiritual growth or who influenced us for good are remembered, the Scriptures are read and shared, and the Eucharist celebrated regularly. These are the tools of the Faith that help keep us rooted in the Lord. In that context, let me note my thanks to all who read the Lessons on Sundays and Wednesdays, who prepare intercessions, who meet and greet at the church door, who oversee the music, who safeguard and provide a ministry to children, who so faithfully prepare our service leaflets, and those who ensure that all that is said is clearly audible. I think All Saints is also the only church in which I’ve served that has its own bar! As a venue for socialising and welcoming, and as a place where outdoor events can be hosted, it’s an asset many other chaplaincies would love to have. For all who contribute to the life of the church here in All Saints only thanks are due.
Since I took up my duties towards the end of August it`s been a joy to share in the life of the community here. The monthly Car Boot Sale, the English Library, the Spanish learners’ class held there on Saturdays, ESTA, the local choir led by our Director of Music, Rayco, the inter-group quizzes – these are some of the things, apart from church work, that have kept me busy since I arrived. Actually, my first days didn’t get off to a very good start: I was fined by the local police for a traffic infringement. But the natural beauty of the island and the warm welcome I received from the faithful and others, soon made me feel I was among friends.
We have a word in Welsh, which is said to be untranslatable. ‘Hiraeth’ refers to the tugging on the heart that follows a prolonged absence. It can be a longing for place or for people, and it involves a sort of yearning for what has been. I`m sure, after a few months I will experience ‘hiraeth’ for Tenerife and for All Saints. But life’s rich experiences don’t allow for us to be too reflective or nostalgic. Instead, those words from from the Psalms encourage us to be thankful for every blessing shared, and to be joyful in the here and now: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” May God bless you all and keep you strong in the Faith. To quote yet another recent Prime Minister as he ended his time in office, “Hasta luego……”
Revd Hywel Davies
Locum priest August-October
(1) “Change and decay in all around I see”;: Challenges facing the Church in the New Millennium
(anglicannews.org)
26 October 2022
With all the challenges going on around the globe I´m reminded of the story of the making of stone soup.
Some travellers came to a village, carrying nothing more than an empty cooking pot. Upon their arrival, the villagers were unwilling to share any of their food stores with the hungry travellers. The travellers went to a stream and filled the pot with water, dropped a large stone in it, and placed it over a fire.
One of the villagers became curious and asked what they were doing. The travellers answered that they were making “stone soup”, tasting wonderful, although it still needed a little bit of garnish to improve the flavour, which they were missing. One villager did not mind parting with a few carrots to help them out, so they were added to the soup.
Another villager walked by, enquiring about the pot, and the travellers again mentioned their stone soup, which hadn´t yet reached its full potential. The villager handed them a little bit of seasoning to help them out.
More and more villagers walked by each adding another ingredient. Finally, a delicious and nourishing pot of soup was enjoyed by all.
In situations requiring endurance what a difference it makes to have those around offering words of support, confidence and hope and not just offering words but showing the same by their actions.
This past Sunday was Bible Sunday and the Bible isn´t just a book to read and leave on our shelves. The things written within it give us strength to endure, encourage us to keep going and offer promises we can hold onto in the tough times. In Mark´s Gospel we are encouraged to love God and love our neighbours as ourselves. In our Community of All Saints we do this amongst other things, by praying for and welcoming our Ukranian brothers and sisters and by feeding the hungry and supporting those in need through our partnership with Cruz Roja.
Many people are going through difficult situations, some very visible but others hidden and managed on their own. By encouraging those we meet each day we can help them. Encouragement is something we can all do for others – maybe a phone call, time to chat, offering practical help or simply a smile.
This week let´s be encouragers and enablers, being part of the making of “Stone Soup” in our communities.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
19 October 2022
I was out shopping the a few days ago and saw that notices had started to appear indicating that several shops were offering to reserve presents for The Christmas Season. I thought this is a bit early – there’s still about 10 weeks to go.
Then looking at the Lectionary (a Church issued guide to readings for the year) I noticed that the Psalm listed for this Wednesday, in Mid October, is Number 98. Now Psalm 98 is one of my favourites as it is uplifting and full of Joy. So maybe the Church too is ‘jumping on the band wagon’ 10 weeks early.
Psalm 98 is long loved by the church; In fact this Psalm is one of those appointed for Christmas Day in all 3 of the lectionary cycles – in fact, in my opinion, it is also a perfect Psalm for the Easter Season as it looks back at the salvation won by Christ’s climatic victory over the enemies who ruin God’s good world, and looks ahead to the end of the war when just peace will descend on the whole world.
With all that is happening in the world today, wars, hunger, famine, climate change, etc., how are we to have joy? When we consider our own personal struggles in life, how can we find joy and hope? I find that turning to the Psalmists of ancient time can often offer an insight.
The psalms are always a great place to turn to find strength and words of hope during difficult times. Many of the psalms were written during personal distresses experienced by God’s people. Some of the psalms were written after the nation of Judah was invaded, captured, and carried away into captivity at the hands of foreigners. The psalms became God’s book of hope to his people.
The Great Christmas Carol “Joy to the World” was published in 1719 and is Isaac Watts’ Christian Interpretation of Psalm 98. It is alleged that it is the most sung carol worldwide, and this reflects verse 4 of the Psalm “Make a joyful noise, sing praises, break forth into joyful song”. I can only hope that if all peoples break out into joyful Song it will help to bring peace to the World.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
13th October
This week we have celebrated yet another bank holiday in Tenerife – one of the 14 that we have each year. We have 10 National Bank Holidays and then another 2 Regional days and then a further 2 Local Municipal days. On 12th we celebrated, along with the whole of Spain, Dia de la Hispanidad. This National Day of Spain commemorates the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus on October 12th 1492.
Whilst for many this was a day off work it somehow didn’t seem to have the same element of “Fiesta” which the local and regional days have.
I spent this afternoon in Adeje and the whole town is decked out in flags and bunting. The stage is set for the dancers, musicians and the local folklore groups. The sides of the street are filled with food stalls and the people are enjoying each other’s company. Santa Ursula´s Church is central to the fiesta, with services, processions and sharing farm produce “harvest festival” style.
On Sunday following the church service the Romería will take place – Oxen drawn carts decorated with Canarian colours of white, yellow and blue travel through the town and each shares food and drink with those standing on the side watching the procession. It´s accompanied by music, dancing and smiles of inclusion and welcome. The whole family participates in the celebration.
Welcome, participation, joy and energy are all part of fiestas.
This reminds me of a story in chapter 15 of Luke´s Gospel known as The Prodigal Son. The story begins with a young man asking for his inheritance and then having been given it by his father he leaves to party with his friends. When he has spent everything he falls on hard times and finds himself in a pigsty – feeding the pigs. He realises that his father´s hired servants have more than he does and so he turns and heads for home. While he is still a long way off his father sees him and runs towards him with arms outstretched to welcome him home. He starts to tell his father he is sorry about squandering his money but the father calls for a celebration and kills the fatted calf, celebrating that his son who was lost is found. That is all that is important. He was welcomed home.
In this story there are 3 places – the pigsty, the palace and the road in between. We might each find ourselves in one or other of these at different times. As I reflect on each I think of the pigsty…a place of darkness, captivity, muck and mess: The palace…a place of feeling treated as royalty, feasting, free and without burdens: The road in between…like this young man there are times when I´ve felt rebellious, repentant or just rambled aimlessly.
What I do know is that there is always a welcome from a God who, like the father in the story, looks out and meets each one with open arms. His love is for each one who acknowledges Him. This week may we each find that welcome, love and joy, knowing that wherever we are, pigsty, palace or on the road in between, we have a God who loves and welcomes us with outstretched arms.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
5th October
This week in All Saints we are celebrating Harvest. Several schools join with us in collecting non-perishable foods for Cruz Roja to distribute to local families in need.
So why do we celebrate harvest? A simple answer is that it’s an opportunity to thank God for all He has blessed us with. The Psalm for Harvest Festival Sunday is Psalm 100 and it’s both a summons to praise and a reason to praise. Make a joyful noise: Worship: Come into God’s presence…. The noise is one of triumph, confidence and joy.
Before I lived in Tenerife I lived in the Kent countryside – with many orchards, even grapevines and it wasn’t unusual to hear the combine harvesters extremely late into the night – even into the early hours of the morning, with their bright lights shining across the fields of wheat and barley at harvest time. The triumph and joy of the workers when the fields were harvested and the grains were stored before the rains came was evident…along with the exhaustion of their demanding work.
On reading Psalm 100 I was struck by 2 elements that are part of any harvester’s way of life – Complete dependence and complete trust.
One of the laws of harvesting is that you will get what you plant – if you plant fruit bushes you will not get a harvest of vine ripened tomatoes. So the seeds, the weather and the people involved all play a part in that dependence and trust.
Another law of the harvest is that you reap more than you sow – you sow one seed of corn and from that you will grow a cornstalk, provided the seed is good, cultivated and watered. But you don’t plant today and reap tomorrow…there’s a season of planting and a season for growing and a season for harvesting.
Many times in the Kent orchards there was fruit left rotting, having fallen to the ground due to a shortage of pickers and the unpicked cabbages shrivelled due to the excessive heat – There’s a certain unmistakable smell from rotting cabbages and cauliflowers! But this excess is in sharp contrast this week to the distressing stories from Somalia where, along with civil war there is famine. Innocent children are without medical aid. Families are leaving their children on the roadside, unable to bury them following their death. We can’t but be touched when we look into the eyes of a child crying because of the death of his sibling due to malnutrition. The media have told such poignant stories, of life in an area without a harvest. Families who are leaving in search for land to grow crops, to feed themselves and their cattle are dependent on agencies from the worldwide community to meet their basic needs of food and water.
The way our food is grown presents significant future challenges and opportunities, both to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and the potential to store carbon within the soil. We are mindful that meeting these challenges will require changes that we all have to make, in the food that we eat and in the way we pay for public goods that land use provides. As we look to the future let us pray this week that those in leadership will help us all to discern and address the twin challenges of climate change and ecological ill health that is impacting our world.
As we open our cupboards, shop in our supermarkets and turn on our taps let us be grateful for the food that is harvested for us to enjoy and be mindful of those whose harvest has failed and the aid agencies coming alongside them.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
28th September
Our regular readers will have noticed that regrettably there was no weekly message last week. This was after the sad news of the death of the Governor of the Church of England Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. At that time all our efforts were directed into preparing and arranging a suitable memorial service in All Saints Church.
The memorial service was held on Wednesday 21st. and was attended by the British Vice Consul in Tenerife – who read the lesson. A delegation from the Town Council here in Puerto de la Cruz, also leaders of other organisations and charitable institutions. In addition members of other Churches in the area, including Spanish, German, Scandinavian, and also persons of other faiths and none. All of whom wanted to pay their respects and give thanks for the 70 year reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
As part of this service it was decided to ask all participants to say The Lord’s Prayer in their own language. I believe the languages that were heard included; English, Spanish, German, Welsh, Ukrainian and I am sure others that I did not hear or were not reported. The sound that I could hear, however, reminded me of the passages in the Bible where one can read of people ‘speaking in tongues’:
Isaiah Ch 28 v 11 For by people of strange lips and with a foreign tongue the LORD will speak to this people.
Acts Ch2 v 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.
1 Corinthians Ch 14 – which I leave for you to read for yourselves and contemplate.
I definitely heard the speaking of many tongues, in that prayer, all extolling God, and felt a great uplifting at that time.
I can only hope that the Memorial Service remains in the minds of those attending for many years.
Also, I pray that the Soul of our late Queen Elizabeth will Rest in Peace & Rise in Glory.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
14th September
I’m so sad today.
For the first time, I woke up, in the morning, a few days ago and The Queen was no longer with us.
To be honest, I still can’t quite believe it. She leaves behind an incredible legacy of service and duty, working right up to the end.
What an amazing example she set.
Thank you and Rest In Peace Ma’am.
In response to the sad news we have endeavoured to keep All Saints Church open for a few hours every day for people to visit and pray or to sign or book of condolence. I was heartened however whilst ‘Church Sitting’ during this time by the number of non British people who came and passed on their condolences and thanks for a life, of duty and service, that was an example to leaders of all nations.
I offer some prayers that you may find useful at this sad time:-
Almighty God,
Our Queen is dead, Her long life is over – but You live forever!
Our Queen is dead, Her long reign is over – but You reign forever!
Our Queen is dead, Her loving service is over – but Your love lives forever! Amen.
Almighty God, whose Son, Jesus Christ, was crowned not with gold but with thorns, and whose blood was shed to give life to the world – crown us with Your love. That we may serve one another with humility and joy and Your Kingdom come with peace on earth, through the same Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit ever One God, now and for evermore – Amen.
Merciful Father and Lord of all life, we praise you that we are made in your image and reflect your truth and light. We thank you for the life of our late Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth, for the love she received from you and showed among us. Above all, we rejoice at your gracious promise to all your servants, living and departed, that we shall rise again at the coming of Christ. And we ask that in due time we may share with your servant Elizabeth that clearer vision promised to us in the same Christ our Lord; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen
May our late Queen Rest in Peace – and Rise in Glory!
God Save the King.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
7th September
The market place was a focal point for ancient society. Much like today’s shopping Centres, people not only shopped in them, but also socialized there. That’s why they were so popular.
In Jesus’ day, every village in Palestine had a marketplace, which was usually located in an open area or where streets crossed, or near the Temple. The market had many stalls or booths, where foods or spices could be measured and sold. A visitor would find things like wheat or barley, bread, fish, olives, and figs.
The market was filled with sights and sounds and smells. Sellers would often shout at buyers to try to get them to look at their food or other items. Animals like sheep, goats, or birds that were being sold also made lots of noise. The smell of animals, cooking food, and spices filled the air.
As Jesus’ story about the man who went to the market to hire workers for his vineyard shows (Matt 20.1-16), the market was also a place where people might meet to talk or just to spend some time. Others went there because they knew that landowners often came to the market looking for workers.
I was reminded of this last Saturday when All Saints held the first ‘Car Boot Sale’ of the season, normally held on the first Saturday of the month opening at 10:00 in the morning.
As I walked round the stalls, hearing the bartering for the goods on offer, and the smells wafting from the stalls selling food and drinks, and seeing all the people attending interacting (without the need for mobile telephones), buying, selling, eating and drinking. I was heartened to see the joy and pleasure in the faces of those there.
Then I entered the Church, what a contrast – PEACE – and just the gentle sound of background choral music. There I saw a few people taking a few moments away to offer a prayer to our Lord, and take a break from the hustle and bustle going on in the adjacent car park and gardens.
I remember the prayer offered by St. Teresa of Avila:-
May today there be peace within.
May you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance.
It is there for each and every one of you.
Amen.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
31st August
Have locum, will travel.
One of the unexpected benefits of retirement since 2010, has been the opportunity to serve as locum chaplain in different parts of the Diocese in Europe. In effect, for me, that has meant Spain and PortugaI, and the Spanish ‘costas’ in particular. At the beginning of 2019 I began a period as locum chaplain in Majorca; but as my time there was drawing to a close, the anxiety associated with Covid-19 steadily became more pressing. Three years followed when, like many other people, I obediently stayed put at home. But the taste for travel and adventure – as well as a sense of fulfillment in exercising a pastoral and teaching ministry – remained strong. So, when the chance came to serve as locum chaplain here in Tenerife North, I jumped at it.
Not everybody understands this impulse. One clergy colleague said to me that he thought I was mad uprooting myself for months from a retired life of leisure. Others in my home parish expressed concern that I might be lonely or isolated. “Do you know anybody there?” they asked with concern. “Why?” was someone else`s question. “It can’t be a career move, surely: not at your age!” At least that made me smile.
The truth is that it’s good to be reminded of the diversity of experience that ministry offers. In one sense, of course, peoples’ hopes and fears, their needs and expectations, are the same wherever they are. But the ex-pat community, perhaps, offers an even wider range of human experience and endeavour. Not everybody, after all, has the ingenuity and resilience it takes to begin a new life overseas, to put down new roots, to anticipate new horizons. Ex-pats are a special breed, and I look forward to learning more and more about them.
I should also say that I take to heart what the author of the Letter to the Hebrews says about the character of the Christian community. ‘Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers’, he writes (Hebrews 13:2). Its said that the Queen is the only person who, when she travels abroad, is not required to have a UK passport. All the rest of us, especially since Brexit and Covid, are faced with an array of regulations and restrictions as we travel overseas. When I flew from Bristol to Tenerife in August 2022, not only did I have my Covid status registered on my smart phone, but I had paper copies too – just in case. Similarly, like most travellers, I make sure I have a photograph of my passport details and boarding pass – just in case.
By contrast when Christian people move from one community of believers to another, as St. Paul did on his missionary journeys – and many others since – we are never total strangers. So many shared assumptions and expectations serve as a passport to a common life in Christ. ‘Let nobody be a stranger here’ is a good mission statement for any church.
Another piece of Scripture that came to mind as I settled into chaplaincy responsibilities was Paul`s First Letter to the Corinthians. In his Letter, Paul is at pains to stress how Christian communities are at their best when members pull together. ‘For we are God`s servants, working together’, he writes (1. Cor. 3:9). It`s often said that society at large has become increasingly atomised in recent years – that individualism has become the default position for most of us. That may be so elsewhere; but it can never be the order of the day in the Church. As members of the Body of Christ, by baptism, we all have a role to play as labourers in the vineyard of the Lord.
It is heartening to see such values being put into effect here in Puerto de la Cruz. The chaplaincy is very fortunate to have such a willing body of workers, all of whom give so generously of their time and talent for the common good. I look forward to spending the next 10 weeks or so with you, doing what I can as locum chaplain to share the Good News of God’s Kingdom. May we minister to each other, and so become channels of his grace.
Revd Hywel Davies
Locum Chaplain
23rd August
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … And the Word became flesh and lived among us.
As we prepare to return to the UK, I read that for the first time ever English Literature has slipped out of the ‘top ten’ of favourite subjects studied at A Level. It has got me thinking about words, how they are used, not least in church.
When I was at school, the first team had an annual fixture against John Motson’s Commentators XI. It was a personal highlight and one year I scored an absolute screamer. As the saying goes, the older a man gets, the faster he ran in his youth! Back in the Eighties, Motty was the BBC’s number one man with a mike – in those days it was always a man – but his pre-eminent status didn’t preclude the occasional endearing gaffe. ‘For those of you watching in black and white, Spurs are in the all-yellow strip’. That was one of Motty’s.
Each year after the game, which Motty and his motley crew of co-commentators and ex-pros always won, he would lead an assembly. Invariably, the message was a self-deprecating one … about the perils of working with words. A broadcaster puts his job on the line every time he opens his mouth or types out text. And, of course, it is no less true of each and every one of us that the words we choose to use – in casual conversation and serious debate – are powerful. They can bring hope or indefinite damage.
A career in sports commentary would have been fun; instead, I became a lawyer. Lawyers also work with words. They are forever trying to find words that fit … words that explain precisely what is allowed, and what isn’t. In legal documents, words are of necessity trapped in tortious sub-clauses. They are given a lengthy sentence.
Now as a priest, precision remains important to me. But I hope the language I employ is more elegant. And doesn’t constrain. I hope above all that the church sets words as free as the words themselves can set us free. But that only happens when words are treated with reverence … and that, I fear, happens all too rarely.
As Mark Oakley and Malcolm Guite amongst others have noted, this is not an easy time for words. Fake news and propaganda are just the tip of the iceberg. Consumerism and marketing make language seductive rather than truthful, as they lure us towards our wallets. Technology, for all its brilliance, now gives us too many words; we trip over them as they come at us from every direction, and the danger is that our care for words decreases as the words themselves proliferate. Like the sixth former who bumped into someone she had known at a previous school. He had asked her out; she couldn’t go, but was baffled by the subsequent frostiness of his friends. Puzzled, she checked her phone, and found to her horror that the message that she had thought explained that she had no free evenings until the end of term had fallen victim to the perils of predictive text: she had actually said that she wasn’t free … until the end of time!
Oakley wishes politicians would take more care with words, identifying ‘political leaders , who, in many parts of the world, now campaign in graffiti and govern in tweets. With their continual and careless talk of ‘individuals’ rather than ‘people’, of ‘losers’, ‘swarms’ and ‘sad’ failures, it all makes for a world where we see ourselves as competitors rather than communities. It leads to a world where, as has been observed, if you are not at the table you are probably on the menu’.
That’s certainly how my daughter felt after one bruising day at school not long ago. She came home complaining of not being quick enough at comebacks and put-downs. As I listened, I remembered the one and only time I had got the better of the class bully. ‘Hey, Harbridge,’ he had said. ‘Look out the window. There’s a naked man.’ Without even glancing up from my book, I calmly replied ‘Well, trust you to see him first’. Bully never bothered me again.
But was mine an enlightened response? I hardly think so. Tit for tat never is.
Words become flesh, so let’s treat them with reverence. As Oakley notes in his refreshing ‘The Splash of Words’, all life – even language – is sacramental. In church, ‘the placing of our spaces, the metaphors, rhythms, cadences and chosen vocabulary is as vital as the placing of bread and wine on the table and the pouring of water into the font’. Amen to that.
Revd Philip Harbridge
Senior School Chaplain, Millfield
Priest Vicar of Wells Cathedral
All Saints Locum, July-August 2022
8th August
Last week as I was writing the intercessions for our service on Sunday I was reminded of a reflection by Mother Teresa: “I used to pray that God would feed the hungry, or do this or that, but now I pray that He will guide me to do whatever I am supposed to do, what I can do. I used to pray for answers, but now I´m praying for strength. I used to believe that prayer changes things but now I know that prayer changes us and we change things.”
Looking at or listening to the News we are faced with so many situations – war, flooding, drought, hunger, oppression, terrorism, medical ethics, shootings, knife crime, debt and the cost of living to name but a few – which are impacting so many across our world. It could be overwhelming reading of the issues that are faced by so many. Equally it could be that we hear or read and then move on to the next story because it doesn´t affect us. When the media outlets move on so does our concern. There is always news and it´s almost always outside of ourselves. We have the opportunity to sleep without the fear of bomb or bullet. We can worship in church without the threat of reprisals towards ourselves and our families. We are not living on an island that is now feet under water and uninhabitable. We have a choice of places to shop, with food on the shelves. We might be immigrants here in Tenerife but we are not refugees.
Some things we cannot change but there are other things that through our choices can make an impact for others in our global village. Climate change has brought sharply into focus our responsibility to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, that the life of the earth will be sustained and renewed for generations to come. So with Mother Teresa´s emphasis on our being the agents for change what could we personally do about it? Maybe less meat, maybe off setting our carbon emissions when we fly, maybe researching ways to do something and understanding how our small change can impact the bigger picture. Small changes to our home, transport, energy provider and diet can contribute in a big way to the fight against climate change. As 1 Peter 4:7-8 says, “Be intentional, purposeful and self-controlled so that you can be given to prayer. Above all constantly echo God´s intense love for one another…” Let´s pray that using our voice and using our choice we will each have an impact on our world. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
2nd August
Traditionalists in a Church…
I was reading about Pope Francis’s recent trip to Canada and came across a remark that he made about tradition….
which set me thinking about tradition in our lives and in the Church.
Family traditions in general don’t go back more than 3 generations – that is as far as the current generation can recall. Think of what is known as the “Traditional Christmas” maybe taken from the book by Charles Dickens. We have evolved from that time with motor vehicles replacing coach and horses, and electric lights replacing candles the internet replacing post-horses etc..
Coming up to date football was traditionally considered a “Mans” Game. This has evolved to the extent that the wonderful English Ladies have now won the European Cup.
In the Church many of our readers will have been brought up using the Book of Common Prayer of 1662 which had evolved from a book of the same name dated in the mid 1500’s and which is still approved for current use. However it too has evolved to become currently the 2 volume set of ‘Services and Prayers for the Church of England’. This is the source on which our service booklets are based.
So ‘Traditions’ do evolve with time. Within the church whilst all accept the teachings of Jesus there are many different ways of expressing worship, Evangelical, Low Church, High Church etc. all different traditions. Whilst here in All Saints we are looking for a new incumbent Chaplain, our succession of locum Priests give us the opportunity to hear and savour some views from different “Traditions” to that to which our congregation are accustomed. This can only help us understand and broaden our faith.
Now what was Pope Francis’s remark that brought about my train of thought this week?
“Many people who call themselves traditionalists, they are not, they just go backwards. That is a sin.
Tradition is the living faith of the dead; indeed their attitude is the dead faith of the living. It is important to understand the role of tradition – a musician used to say the tradition is the guarantee of the future. It is not a piece that belongs in a museum.”
Let us ensure that ours is a living Faith not a dead Tradition.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
27th July
As I write this the wildfires continue to burn on the slopes of Teide, impacting 5 regions of our island. As we have been faced with the Calima heat and temperatures well in the 30s I have followed with awe the stories of the many volunteer firefighters from our own and other neighbouring islands, dressed in heavy protective clothing and working in the skies and on the ground alongside the raging fires. Trusting and listening to each other they are working together to protect the homes of the 600 plus who were evacuated and to stabilise, control and extinguish 27km perimeter rings of fire.
I am also reminded that today the bishops from around the Anglican Communion gather for the 15th Lambeth Conference in Canterbury. The theme is God’s Church for God’s World – walking, listening and witnessing together. The fruit of their prayer, bible study, worship, fellowship and listening together will shape the life of the Anglican Communion for the next decade. Their biblical focus is the Book of 1 Peter. 1 Peter reflects the challenges that Peter´s communities were facing; belonging, alienation, persecution, slavery and exile. Each time we pray the Our Father we pray: “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done”. 1 Peter raises an inspiring vision of God´s Kingdom. Have a read and you will see Peter encouraging his listeners to witness in their lives to Christ´s hope and holiness.
One theme of the conference is Our Environment and Sustainable Development. Coming from many different corners of the globe those present will be able to speak to varying global crises, their impact on the most vulnerable and the Gospel call to serve the world in need. Listening will be imperative.
Deep listening is an act of surrender. We risk being changed by what we hear. As we listen to the stories from our own and other parts of the world impacted by global warming and climate change we can ask ourselves what is at stake for the other person? Telling of our wildfires we know the impact of them on our island. The primary goal of listening is to deepen our own understanding. The hope is that in listening well we are changed by what we hear and new horizons will be opened up for each listener.
Our Diocese in Europe encourages each of our chaplaincies to become places where we strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth. We have 5 Ts to remind us: Transform, Treasure, Tend, Teach and Tell. As we look into the sky or watch TV and social media we see the flames, the smoke and the devastation caused by the fires. We acknowledge the strength of those working to extinguish them and pray with gratitude for their work and their selfless dedication. Journeying together we pray that we will respond to our 21st century world, changed by science and technology and impacted by the crises of injustice, war and poverty.
In the life of All Saints we pray this week: “May Your Kingdom come. Your Will be done. May we take seriously our responsibility to care for creation and sustain our earth. We pray for safety for all working on our behalf to protect our island home. Amen”.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
20th July
This week we welcomed the Revd Philip Harbridge, the Senior Chaplain of Millfield School, accompanied by his wife and daughters, to our congregation. Father Philip will be our Locum Priest for the next 6 weeks.
As we hear reports of heat waves and wild fires in the Iberian Peninsula and Northern Europe, here in Tenerife, whilst in the East and South of the Island hot and humid conditions have been experienced, in the Orotava Valley we are thankful for our own “micro climate”. The Sea breeze generated by the Northeast trade winds, allied with the high ground around our volcano “El Tiede”, can create an adiabatic process which often, in the heat of the day, fills the valley with a layer of cloud. This shelters us from the worst of the midday sun. The local term for this uniform layer of cloud is “La panza de burro” (The Donkey’s Belly). Its interesting to note that similar effects can on occasion be found the Valleys of Wales where the local term “bol buwch” (Cow’s Belly) is used. One wonders if there is a link going back in time!
We must be thankful for these natural effects that make our life here more pleasant.
Whilst being thankful for the shade offered by these clouds we are reminded of the words from St Mathew 24 verse 30:
“Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with great power and glory“.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
12th July
Last week I found myself counting with a three-year-old who is learning to count in Spanish – he was enthusiastically counting the goals he had scored against me at table football! Subsequently I’ve been aware of friends counting their steps, a child excitedly counting out her piggy bank to see how much money she has for her holiday and an advert telling me that I don´t need to count calories or points to lose weight.
Counting is part of life and after our service on Sunday at All Saints I was aware of counting blessings too. There was a sense of “wow” as we stepped into the church to be met by a stunning array of colour from orchids and other flowers and plants which decorated every part of the church. What a blessing of generosity alongside gratitude for my sight and sense of smell.
Celebrating Sea Sunday we counted the blessings of service and protection by the many who serve around our shores and further afield on the sea.
After we had received communion Revd Richard offered each one the opportunity of anointing with oil. This was both powerful and profound. The words prayed over us were for each one specifically. The prayer I received reminded me that I matter to God. He values me.
Perhaps you’ve heard the story of the man who gave his daughter his old jeep as a present on her graduation. He told her that before she took possession of it she needed to take it to the used car garage to see how much she´d be offered if she sold it immediately. She returned and told him it was worth about one thousand pounds because it was pretty worn out. Next he told her to take it to the pawn shop and ask the same question. They offered her a hundred pounds. Finally he sent her to the Jeep Club where she was greeted enthusiastically with, “I will offer you a hundred thousand pounds because it´s an iconic jeep and sought by many collectors.” He told his daughter to remember the lesson that the right place values you the right way and that if you´re not valued you’re just in the wrong place. Those who know your value appreciate you.
Each of us counts. We matter – to God, to others and hopefully to ourselves. I read this week that stillness isn’t about focussing on nothingness but about creating a clearing and opening up an emotionally clutter free space and allowing ourselves to feel and think and dream and question. Like our gifts and talents, meaning is unique to each of us. What counts to us varies but we always count to and can count on God. As the final line in Matthew´s Gospel reminds us: Jesus came to them and said…Know that I am with you always…and in another translation: Never forget that I am with you every day. Counting on God to be alongside us this week may we reflect on and count our blessings and enable others to know of their value and sense of worth, praying for our world desperately in need of the unity, peace and healing which we shared around the table of the Eucharist.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
6th July
In the past few days we have been able to celebrate 3 Baptisms at All Saints – a set of 1 month old Twins, and also, last Sunday, during our Holy Eucharist service, a 90 year old lady. Baptism marks the beginning of a journey with God. This journey continues for the rest of our lives. It’s the first step in response to God’s love.
It was a joyful celebration on Sunday with the children of the Sunday school making a display of the elements of Baptism and also they presented a handmade gift to the newly-baptised lady. A truly wonderful celebration of God’s blessing that we all receive.
Next Sunday we say goodbye, (or should it be ‘hasta luego’ ) to Father Richard, who has been our locum priest for the past 6 weeks. He and his wife Jill have brought great joy to our Chaplaincy and we all wish them well as they return to the United Kingdom. Their stay with us here in Tenerife has brought an air of freshness and joy to our services, and we feel blessed that they have been sent to us at a time when the Chaplaincy was in gloom after the death of Father Ron.
With these events I am minded of the words of the Psalmist:-
“Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvellous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God” (Psalm 98:1-3).
Peter Lockyer
Reader
28th June
I am fortunate to live overlooking the coast, on the Southwest of Tenerife, which means that at this time of year the sun sets directly in front of me into the sea. As Spring turns to Summer the sunsets become more spectacular. The colours of yellow, orange and pink light up the vista and the sun´s rays spread out across the sky. Each sunset is unique and my favourite place to watch the dwindling light and changing sky is from my hammock. I´ve noticed that cloudy skies earlier on can sometimes be the precursor to a stunning sunset.
As the sun sets here it begins to rise over our friends in the Western hemisphere…and as it sets there it returns to rise over us the following day. We wait in the dark for the light to break forth and there are days when the clouds hide it totally. Hammock reflection has made me wonder about the “clouds” that colour and cover my personal sky, that prevent the sunlight shining through?
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross writes: People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out but when the darkness sets in, their beauty is revealed only if there is light within.
There´s no perfect life, no perfect job, no perfect childhood, no perfect marriage and no perfect set of people who will always do what we expect them to do. What we do have is a perfect God who is able to lead us through this imperfect life with unfailing strength, incomparable wisdom and infinite love. Talking about what gets in the way can be a way of enabling us to live and love with our whole hearts.
Now I´m pretty sure that we all know what healthy eating constitutes and we have access to a wealth of information around the topic so why is it that some of us struggle to eat healthily? Perhaps it´s because we don´t talk about the things that get in the way of doing what we know is best for us, our families and our communities.
Naming and having honest conversations about our “clouds” can enable us to develop resilience, courage, compassion and connection. We live in a world where expectations can tell us that being imperfect means being inadequate. Secrecy, silence and judgement can prevent us from developing resilience. We are encouraged in scripture to love each other as we love ourselves. Some of us are not so good at loving ourselves, naming our “clouds” and talking about them, owning and telling our story. Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we are supposed to be and embracing who we are. Choosing authenticity means cultivating the courage to be imperfect, to set boundaries and to allow ourselves to be vulnerable. It encourages us to exercise the compassion that comes from knowing that we are all made of strength and struggle and nurturing the connection and sense of belonging that can only happen when we believe that we are enough in the eyes of the God who loves us unconditionally.
Belonging to a community of faith, as we do at All Saints, enables us to connect and share ourselves and our stories. As we look at the sun´s rising and setting we are reminded of the faithfulness of God who is above, beneath and beside us. We experience a Creator God who lit the world and breathed life into each one of us. We are enabled to know more of the Son who saved the world and stretches out His hand to each one of us and we experience the Spirit of God who encompasses each one of us in our world. This coming week may we see the sunset as an opportunity to reset knowing that the sunrise brings the promise of a new dawn. Our horizons may change but the sun, the Son does not.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship leader
21st June
This week sees the summer solstice which is the first day of astronomical summer and the longest day of the year for people in the Northern Hemisphere. In ancient times, solstices and equinoxes were important in helping people to maintain calendars and grow crops. The solstice itself has remained a special moment of the annual cycle of the year since Neolithic times and over the centuries has been marked by festivals and celebrations.
In Anglesey, (The Island from where my ancestors come) lie prehistoric sites such as at Bryn Celli Ddu. This open burial chamber dated to around 2000BC, is so perfectly aligned that for only 20 minutes each year, a beam of sunlight aligns exactly with the opening to the chamber.
With the coming of Christianity, people were encouraged to give up their old traditions, by their incorporation into new Christian practices. For example, the summer solstice became known as the feast of St. John, the Baptist.
Here in the North of Tenerife every year on the “octava” (eighth day) of Corpus Christi – i.e. the following Thursday after the date of the religious feast – the northern Tenerife town of La Orotava celebrates its Día de las Alfombras (Carpet Day), when, since 1846, carpets of sand and flowers have been made in the streets as a traditional part of the celebrations.
La Orotava families, many still with the same surnames since the 15th Century conquest of Tenerife, start making the flower carpets from the early hours of “carpet day.” The central sand carpet – created entirely using sand and soil from Teide National Park – created each year in the square in front of the town hall. (It made the Guinness World Record for Largest Sand Painting; the 859.42 square meter “alfombra” or carpet of sand created in June 2007.)
In the early evening the procession walks all over these ephemeral carpets and destroys them, so the “window of opportunity” to see them is very short. Don’t miss them, because as works of art, they are breath-taking.
Peter Lockyer
Reader
15th June
As a child I remember being read the book, “Pollyanna” about a girl who, following her father´s death, is sent to live with her aunt who undertakes the responsibility out of a sense of duty rather than pleasure. Pollyanna affects everyone who meets her with her exuberance and positivity and she spreads joy and love wherever she goes. Nothing deters her excessive cheerfulness and optimism.
This week in the UK is National Loneliness Awareness week with the emphasis being on the Power of One. The campaign encourages each to explore the difference that one person can make to someone experiencing feelings of loneliness. During the pandemic we heard many reports of those who felt lonely due to the isolation imposed by the various governments around the world. In this post pandemic time many have made significant lifestyle changes in the light of their experiences during lockdown. Others however do not have the option, dare I say luxury, to make changes. The characteristics of Pollyanna are a challenge for many in our world. Yet as individuals the power of our one can make a difference to many living in loneliness.
If you are reading this that means you have the access to either a computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone. You have electricity and connection to the internet. You are more fortunate than over a billion people across the world who are unable to read.
Several times recently I´ve caught myself bemoaning a situation. My car wing mirror needs replacing…but I have a car. The water filter has broken…but I have access to clean water on tap. The power is off…but I have access to electricity and had been informed it would be switched off briefly. The price of my shopping has increased. Within a week I noticed the Pineapple juice jumped from 69c to 1.15 – yet I have a choice in our supermarkets and the ability to buy without needing to make a choice between food or bills. Starvation is the daily situation for millions. The lens through which I choose to see my world can be one of gratitude as I recognise the riches that I have in comparison with so many.
The Passion translation of St Paul´s letter to the Philippians 4:4 reads “Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let your joy overflow!” Paul continues in this letter to encourage his listeners to be saturated in prayer throughout the day and to tell God every detail of their life.
This week let us pray in gratitude for the riches that we enjoy and pray for the ability to reflect joy. Facebook reminded me recently that; “Today you could be standing next to someone who is trying their best not to fall apart. So whatever you do today do it with kindness in your heart.” In this way the power of one can become the power of many to influence and affect change within family and community.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
8th June
After four days of watching a weekend of pageant, pomp, celebration and thanks, the one word that sticks in my mind is DUTY. Some seventy years ago I was a young boy who joined a wolf cub pack, there we had to make a promise to do our duty to God and the Queen, to keep the laws of the wolf cub pack and to do a good turn to someone every day. I have tried to achieve this every day since then, despite having got a little bit too old to be a member of the cub pack or even the boy scouts!
Watching the trooping of the colour, I was conscious that all those on parade had also taken an oath to do their duty to The Queen and country. All serving members of the armed forces also respect and have a duty to honour the regimental colour which, after being blessed, was then presented to the regiment by Her Majesty.
At the Service of thanksgiving, in St Paul’s Cathedral, the Archbishop of Canterbury also was doing his duty, after being tested positive for COVID, by self isolating. The Archbishop of York doing his duty, presiding over the service and giving a very heart-warming address of thanks for Her Majesty’s seventy year reign, recognising that she has always done her duty, to God and the country, as promised in Her coronation vows,, and also pointing out that Christ had also done his duty, as required by God the Father, by dying for Man’s sins.
Here at All Saints, we joined in the celebrations by having a ‘Street Party’ the congregation also doing our duty celebrating Her Majesty’s long reign.
I feel that the whole platinum jubilee can best be summarised by Paddington Bear’s closing remark at the ‘tea party’
“Happy Jubilee Ma’am, and thank you – for everything”.
Peter Lockyer
Reader – All Saints Puerto de la Cruz
1st June
I wonder how many different flags you´ve been aware of this week?
With our celebrations locally for Dia de Canarias (30th May) the food, culture, music and sports have for the most part taken place under and around the Canarian flag. This flag is formed of 3 identical vertical stripes of the following colours, starting on the pole, white, blue and yellow.
Many over the past months have placed Ukrainian flags in their windows as a symbol of solidarity with the Ukrainian community. The two bands of azure and golden yellow represent grain under a blue sky. How poignant that the exportation of grain to Russia is contributing to an impending global food crisis.
With the celebrations for Queen Elizabeth´s Platinum Jubilee the Union Jack and associated bunting is seen to be flying in many places up and down the UK and across the Commonwealth, and indeed in All Saints in preparation for our own celebration on Saturday.
A single piece of fabric can be interpreted in a multitude of ways. Depending on where they fly flags can represent freedom or control, danger or safety. Originally flags were used mainly in warfare and to some extent they have remained symbols of leadership – as a way of identifying friend or foe. Local flags help to foster a sense of identity and create a symbol which members of a community relate to. The Canarian colours of white, blue and yellow have been festooned around many parts of the island this weekend. Children and adults alike have proudly celebrated the day to mark the anniversary of the first session of the parliament of the Canary Islands held on 30th May 1983.
Flags are used to share the past, present and future vision of a community. Whether it be a simple Church Parade of uniformed organisations or the impressive Trooping of the Colour this ceremony reflects how the flag is held in high esteem as part of the history, the sacrifices made by the people and for the qualities for which the community and its people stand.
Words that come to mind when reflecting on the flag and its symbolism are service, duty, looking forward with faith and hope, solid, enduring, courage and strength…not because of the flag itself necessarily but because of the people who it represents and who serve under it.
There was a worship song some years ago that started: The Lord is mine and I am His. His banner over me is love. It contained several scriptural truths: He brought me to His banqueting table. He lifted me up into heavenly places. He is the vine and we are the branches. Jesus is the rock of my salvation. There´s one way to peace through the power of the cross. Each verse concluded with the words; His banner over me is love.
This coming week may we each know the hand of God´s love on our lives. May we reflect that same love within our families and communities. As a church family we pray with gratitude for all who serve their country and community – remembering all standing for truth and justice in places of war and remembering particularly the 70 years of service given by Queen Elizabeth. I conclude with her words as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England:
We are all visitors to this time. We are all visitors to this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe. Our purpose here is to learn. Our purpose here is to grow. Our purpose here is to love and then we return home.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
25th May
This week here in All Saints we celebrated a Service of Thanksgiving for Revd Ron. Amongst other things it was a time of remembering and sharing the memories.
Memory is the process of taking in information from the world around us, processing it, storing it and later recalling that information, sometimes many years later. Memories help shape the way we live and experience certain things that occur in our lives.
Remembering the past, living in the present and looking to the future are all important, however remembering the past can affect how we live in the present and the future. The good and the bad of our experiences will both determine the acts of our futures. Ultimately reflection can empower us to determine what´s important to us and one simple way to start reflecting is through memory keeping.
Facebook reminded me of a memory this morning from 7 years ago. Sifting through photos and videos on my phone, calendars and journals is a way to piece together not just a narrative – not just the story of what happened but, like historians we can decipher which significant moments mattered in our lives.
The concept of remembering recurs prominently in the bible, especially in the Old Testament. God remembers his covenant with his people whereupon God´s people are encouraged to remember Him. There are many times stones are placed as a marker or piled together to stand out in a place. Climbing various Welsh mountains in my youth there were frequent cairns contributed to by those who had completed the task and left the stone as a lasting memory.
The most enduring memorial in the bible is one that can´t endure: the loaf and the cup at the Last Supper – and Jesus´ words, “Do this in remembrance of me.” What lasts is the meaning. The body and blood are seen and shown and shared in the memorial of that meal in the upper room. It vanishes through being consumed but it endures in not just the memory but the behaviour, the actions of those who by eating and drinking together come to see how they now form themselves into one body.
This week perhaps we can take time to name and contemplate what has shaped us in the past. We will each have formative moments that have shaped our life. Memories are reflections of the heart we happen to gaze on once in a while. The choices we make reflect the memories we create. As Christians we try to become more like Christ. As we pursue this transformation let us consider the invitation God gives to each one of us to be led and guided to a deeper awareness of His love and care for each of us. Calling on God to remember his people or an individual is the essence of prayer. The repentant thief alongside Jesus on the cross called out: Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom. We pray for all who have asked us to remember them in prayer this week.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
17th May
Yesterday I found a map and a torch in my car door and I realised that both reminded me of my journeying over the past few weeks. My map gets much less use now thanks to the Sat Nav but it is handy to show visitors where we are in relation to other parts of the island and to view the contours and communities in Tenerife. Both the Sat Nav and the Map have their place and I realise I am helped by visual descriptions – turn left at the red house on the corner or right at the petrol station beyond the bridge. Solely sticking to the signposts, road numbers and street names doesn’t give me the confidence that I will reach my destination. Trusting my Sat Nav totally means I rely on my phone battery not to let me down. The more I use it the less reliable it is. There´s a place for each at different times and in different places.
These last few weeks journeying has been from place to place in England but as well as the physical journey there has been a spiritual and healing journey at a retreat centre. My map has been my bible and the Sat Nav has been the opportunity to join with other Christians and with direction from team members. The journey has been about spending time with God who is both my destination and my origin. The familiar question asked by children as they are travelling, “Are we there yet?” was one I asked several times. Over time I realised that peace was not the absence of something but the presence of someone.
The torch I found in my car reminded me of the analogy I used when looking back and describing my time at Crowhurst. When a torch grows dim or stops working you don´t throw it away. You change or recharge the batteries. Some torches need AA: Attentive listening and Affection. Some need AAA: Attentive listening, Affection and Acceptance. Some use C: Courage and others require D: Direction. If after all these have been tried and there´s still a lack of light then there are those who simply sit alongside and share their light and The Light – Jesus, until the terminals are ready for the right batteries to be inserted and the torch can shine and shed its light once again, to illuminate other dark spaces and to light the way ahead. As Spurgeon said: To trust God in the light is nothing but to trust Him in the dark, that is faith.
We each have our own faith journey to take and we can’t walk anyone else’s. This week let’s pray that we will find the tools required for the journey that we are taking and know more of God who is with us, alongside and within us as we do so.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
4th May
Over the past months while out and about and passing children in their pushchairs or out for a meal at a restaurant something has struck me forcibly. Many children were sitting with a phone or tablet in their hand, and in fact one buggy had a clip with the phone mounted on it in front of the toddler. The children weren’t engaging with what or who was around them. Their heads were down and they were engrossed in whatever was on the screen in front of them. The thing that seemed sad was that in most cases the adult(s) with the child(ren) were also on their phones or speaking into the air, using airpods or similar. In a restaurant one family group of 2 children and 2 adults all sat looking at their screens and there wasn’t a word spoken between them from ordering their meal until it arrived – and then there were strong words exchanged between child and adult about putting the device on pause to eat the food while it was hot.
I contrast this with a family sitting across from me on a train recently. The children were excited about going to visit their grandparents. There was conversation between them and Mum had them looking for various objects out of the window to see who could gain the most points…can you look for…and they were given several things to look out for between this and the next station: a field with animals in? Can you count them? Are there more than 10? The list of things to find on their train hunt was interesting and kept them engaged and chatting together. Then out came a drink and a bag of fruit pieces with paper plates and the challenge to make something recognisable. There was a face, and a lighthouse and a pattern! The children were then given paper to write or draw something and then fold it over and pass it on – after it had done the rounds several times Mum then told them a story following those prompts. I´m sure I wasn´t the only one enjoying the adventures of the dog who had long floppy ears! When the time came to get off the train the children were eagerly looking out for Grandad who would be on the platform to help with the luggage and they rushed into his arms for a hug. Not one phone or screen between them for the duration of the journey and time for conversation, fun and listening well.
The contrast between this poverty of attention and the gift of being fully present was marked. I was reminded of a phrase I heard once: We are not machines that need to be fixed. We are humans who need connection.
Sometimes we accept this deficit of attention as part of life but we can feel a little less validated, a little less valued and a little less loved. Time and complete attention are precious gifts to give. One vicar in a parish many years ago had the gift of making you feel as if you were the only person he had to listen to and he was totally focussed on what you were saying when you were with him – no checking watch or phone for messages or rushing to fit you in to a full schedule. It might have been full but you were never made to feel anything other than you were the person to whom his complete attention was being given for the time you were with him.
Self-giving listening creates a safe place for vulnerability and trust. It allows pain and confusion to be articulated. This characteristic is one which God shares with each one of us. He is wholly present, utterly available and listening attentively. We have a God who suffers with – who meets us in our disappointments and joins us in our mourning for his world and people. In the Book of Job chapter 12 verse 10 we read: “In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind”. As we are conscious of our world and all its pain let us pray this week that we can allow the true nature of God to shape our pain and not let pain shape our image of God.
Exodus 3:7-9 tells us that God sees our misery, hears our cries, knows our sufferings, comes down to deliver and brings us into a new place. We know He suffered for us at Calvary and because of this he suffers with us today in our darkest hours. Desmond Tutu said: Hope is being able to see there is light despite the darkness.
We pray this week for our brothers and sisters in all parts of the world at war, for light in their darkness and hope in their uncertainty and we give thanks for all who offer aid and are present with and alongside them in the struggle.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
26th April
This past week I found myself noticing a scar which I have on my left hand and being reminded of how I received it – and the fact that because of my obstinate nature I carry it with me today. I´m not left with any pain or wound just the visible reminder of an experience of many years ago. We each carry scars, some more visible than others. But the thing about physical scars is that, while at one time they were wounds, they are now healed. They point us to a memory or an event but they are a healing of that same event.
On Sunday our Gospel reading was the story of the disciples together in a locked room following Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus came among them and offered them the gift of peace – “Peace be with you”. Thomas however wasn’t with them and despite their proclamations he announced that he wouldn’t believe Jesus was alive unless or until he could have proof – and that proof was to see the wounds that Jesus bore. A week later they were together again and Jesus appeared to them. He said to Thomas, “Look at the nail marks in my hands. Touch the sword wound in my side. Stop doubting and believe”. Thomas didn´t need to look or to touch. His doubts had gone. On hearing Thomas´ declaration of Jesus as his Lord and God Jesus responded: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” …that´s us! In all our wounds and scars of life Jesus offers us an eternal hope.
This midweek letter will be uploaded on Tuesday, the day before Revd Ron’s funeral when we will be coming together to share fond memories of Ron and give thanks to God for his life, but we don’t just have our memories of Ron we also have hope – the Christian Hope that death is not the final word – that although there is parting, there is also re-uniting; although there is death – there is also resurrection. At the Bible study which followed the midweek service the morning after hearing the news of Ron´s death I found myself staring at the chair where he usually sat and reflecting that Ron had left a large Ron shaped hole. It felt quite wound like.
Despite that, we know that Ron had a firm faith in the resurrection to eternal life. Ron preached on this very gospel to the Tenerife Virtual Church 2 years ago. He told us that the Early Church rather than kneeling were required to stand and look up, because Easter was such a glorious time. He likened it to the sense of Heaven and said, “When we get there as you go to kneel as you would naturally do before the throne of Christ, He will be lifting you up under the arms and looking you in the eye and saying Welcome brother / sister”.
He and those we know and love who have gone before us have experienced a total healing of all wounds and scars. As an Easter people we experience new life and hope and we pray today for Ron´s family and friends that, over time, rather than wounds scars will form and memories will be a source of comfort.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
19th April
What are your memories of Easter, I wonder? Hiding Easter Eggs for the children to find after church on Easter Sunday I was reminded that as a child in those days many patients brought their GP, my Dad, an Easter present – and knowing that he had 4 children we were inundated with chocolate eggs. They were lined up and as the oldest I got to choose first so my sister as the youngest inevitably got the smallest eggs. We experienced the same choosing but our memories are different and unique to each.
With Siri on my phone it was very easy to establish that Easter Sunday in 1980 was on 6th April. So it is likely that the chocolate had been eaten and the Easter holiday had been and gone by 25th April. Life was back to the normality of the ordinary. Except for many people their world would never be normal or ordinary again. Dan Air Boeing 727-46 G-BDAN, rather than landing at Tenerife North Airport, crashed into the high ground and forest in La Esperanza. This resulted in the death of all 146 on board, 8 crew members and 138 passengers. In All Saints we have a memorial rose garden and this coming Sunday 24th April after our 11:00 service we will be remembering all those who lost their lives and those who live with the impact of that memory.
Each family and friend will have their own jigsaw pieces of that disaster and its memory. The same could be said for the disciples and the women on Easter Sunday. They had pieces of a story and an experience – finding the tomb empty, running to tell the others, not believing the news, walking along the Emmaus Road and not initially recognising Jesus. Each had their own experience of the risen Jesus and the circumstances surrounding his resurrection and their part within it. They had been through the horror of Good Friday and the grief, loss and disappointments of Holy Saturday. Their Messiah had died and their hope had died too. It took time to experience the resurrection of Easter and that the cry of Jesus on the cross, “It is Finished” didn´t mean the end as they understood it. Jesus had defeated death. On the cross he spoke to the repentant thief alongside Him, “This day you will be with me in paradise”. Paradise – what´s your image? For me it certainly isn´t that death has the last word. The tomb of the Risen Jesus on Easter Sunday morning was filled with hope and freedom.
As we remember and pray for those impacted by the disaster and all who are grieving across our world today we pray the prayer from the Celtic Prayer Book:
Into my grieving weave the strength of the Father.
Into my grieving weave the compassion of the Son.
Into my grieving weave the comfort of the Spirit.
Into my grieving I receive the presence of the three in one.
Into my anger I weave the patience of the Father.
Into my numbness I weave the healing of the Son.
Into my confusion I weave the wisdom of the Spirit
And we shall grieve together, one in community with the three in one. Amen
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
13th April
Earlier this week I heard of a friend who has decided to take up running. To ensure this isn´t a whim and that she doesn´t give up she has signed on to take part in a half marathon in a couple of months’ time.
As I was reflecting on our conversation I was conscious that no amount of inspiring books or motivational YouTube videos will make someone a runner. You just begin to run, just the tiniest distance initially and gradually building up. The only way for a non-runner to become a runner is to run. It clearly takes time to prepare for and time to recover from the end goal of the half marathon but each day is part of the preparations.
Our Christian journey through Lent has been an opportunity to walk more closely with Jesus. Perhaps we have been on a journey of taking on something new, learning and growing with Jesus, sharing hopes and dreams, setbacks and mistakes. This week we reach Holy Week. It´s often known as Passiontide. The Greek root for the English word Passion, which we often associate with romantic or sexual love, derives from Pashko which means “To Suffer”. Passion is not just about what/who you love but it is what/who you are willing to endure and suffer for. The Greek term Persona is translated Stage Mask. Suffering forces us to choose whether we want to lose the “persona”, unmask ourselves and embrace the true person. Putting the two together if we truly want to find ourselves in the midst of our losses we must be prepared to risk the uncertainty of vulnerability. In the Holy Week journey of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Jesus walks this path of total selfless giving and vulnerability. We know the end of the story. There is Resurrection.
Resurrection reminds us that light shines in the darkness, not outside it or into it from outside but within it. In the darkness of war zones, whether literally or our personal “war zone” of isolation, fear or loss, we who have seen suffering, pain and love will also be able to share in His resurrection.
How do we tell counterfeit money from real? By learning what real money looks like! Similarly with artists, we study their work, their ways and their style. This helps us recognise the counterfeit and the fake. So this week may we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and know the truth of his suffering and death, his love for each one of us and the freedom we can enjoy in his resurrection life.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
6th April
On Tuesday March 22nd we in All Saints learnt of the unexpected and untimely death of Revd Ron, known simply to many as Ron. There have been many and varied emotions expressed since then. Conversations have included shock; sadness; no time to say goodbye; it doesn’t seem real; we didn´t know how ill he was; what happens now; it hits in waves. I’m sure these are only the tip of an iceberg.
Earlier I was watching 2 children playing with a ball in the swimming pool. After throwing and catching they started to push it down and then let it burst through the surface of the water. It went where it did. The further down they pushed it, the higher, more forcefully and more randomly it emerged. The way the ball behaved reminded me of grief. It pops out in unexpected places and the more we push it down the more likely it is to emerge randomly.
I am holding onto Psalm 31:7, “For you have seen my troubles and you care about the anguish of my soul”. Loss is woven into the fabric of life. The valley of the shadow of death and the way of suffering, grief and loss is a terrain which Ron walked and which we are now travelling. We read in scripture that Jesus promised life to the full. I´ve thought of that as a life of joy and miracles but this week I´ve been reminded that the life of Christ was marked by suffering as well as joy. The story of Holy Week which we remember from this coming Palm Sunday is one of disappointment, struggle and pain. Love and loss, presence and absence, suffering and resurrection aren´t sets of opposites. Rather they ebb and flow together in our life. In describing the loss of a friend C. S. Lewis writes: “Her absence is like the sky, spread over everything”. We will each have our own memories of Ron and a grief journey to walk, both individually and as a church family. We will move through it at different paces. At our car boot sale on Saturday one of our young members spoke to me: “Do you know that Ron has died?” “Yes I do and I am very sad” was my reply. He continued; “But I love Ron. He can´t die. He was my friend”.
May the words of Julian of Norwich encourage us in the coming weeks: “From Him we come. In Him we are enfolded. To Him we return”.
There will be an opportunity for us to remember and celebrate Revd Ron and his contribution to life in All Saints in the coming weeks. Meanwhile we pray for his family and each other.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
30th March
This past few weeks I´ve found myself in various “waiting” situations – waiting for flights, trains, news and results. Many of these “waitings” have meant “watching” too – a watching with, a watching for or just simply being and observing the world around me.
Sometimes it´s easy to wait and watch. At other times the watching and waiting has stirred many emotions. Sometimes words have got in the way and what was important was just the being there, waiting in the stillness, alongside. At other times, as when I was sitting at a train station, I was aware of the birdsong, the people around me and the sound and smell of freshly mown grass (I was in England and not Tenerife)! I was both a part of and apart from life going on around me.
In Matthew´s Gospel in the Garden of Gethsemane while praying to His Father Jesus asked his friends to stay, to keep watch and to pray. They simply had to wait and watch, yet they fell asleep. Each time he returned and asked them to watch and pray. Each time they fell asleep and He was left to carry His present anguish alone.
We have seen many pictures of the Ukrainian people waiting in underground shelters, waiting for an end to the horrors of war and watching the devastation occurring around them. The world watches from a distance but with the instancy of the media we are part of the horror. Many have been moved to action and across the world many have committed to pray, that the present won´t be the ultimate reality, that there will be an end to the horror of war, with healing and peace overcoming the pain and darkness experienced by so many.
In the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus prayed to His Father, after asking his friends to wait, watch and pray, despite the darkness, pain and suffering it wasn´t the ultimate end.
Our feelings and circumstances can appear despairing and yet within them Jesus comes alongside us. He has known the pain of suffering and despair. He told his disciples: Wait to receive the Holy Spirit. He will give strength and power.
Have you ever climbed up a tower? The landscape is seen from a different perspective than from the ground view. It enables us to see further and to see beyond the immediate. Today we pray for strength and power for all those who are in the darkness of waiting and watching, for a different viewpoint and a sense of light in their darkness.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
23rd March
This past year we seem to have become very used to having covid rules and regulations and their being changed depending on the situation locally. I’ve found it interesting how they have varied from country to country. My sister in Sweden has had very little disruption by any rules. Here in Tenerife the rules have depended on our “level”.
Are you naturally a stickler for following rules or do you tend to sail as close to the edge as you can get away with? Do rules give security or are they a frustration? One year for Lent I decided I would stick to the speed limit (shameful, yes I know) rather than regularly exceeding it.
Our upbringing can affect how we view rules too. “Do to others as you would like them to do to you” was a rule that was emphasised when I was at primary school. It encompassed love, peace, compassion, kindness, gentleness and inclusivity – encouraging us to include everyone in our games.
It´s interesting how some rules stick. We still today must keep our liquids to under 100ml when flying with hand luggage.
Perhaps you have your own rules for life. The Diocese in Europe encourages us each to have a Rule of Life. It includes 4 aspects.
The first is Knowing God: To commit ourselves to regular participation in an act of worship.
The second is Growing in Christ: To commit ourselves to regular prayer and intentional study of our faith and where possible to seek guidance from another to resource us as we seek to journey with Christ.
The third is Building Community: To offer time, treasure and talents to work constructively with our fellow Christians in building community within the church and in the places where we live.
The fourth is Living beyond ourselves: To seek purposefully to find a specific way or ways to relate our faith to the wider world in which we have been placed by God our Creator.
As Lent is a time when we can each focus on our journey of knowing Jesus and growing closer to Him I hope that using a Rule of Life could be one way to do this.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader
16th March
For the past 2 days Tenerife has been hit by Storm Celia. We’ve seen videos of trees being uprooted, patios covered in palm leaves and husks which have been torn down by the wind, waves crashing high over harbour walls, lashing rain making tiles lethal to walk on and sand being whirled along beaches stinging anything in its path.
It’s one thing to sit inside and watch it happening from the warmth and safety behind the patio doors – though I have to admit to wondering whether the doors would be blown in as the sunbed was thrown from one side of the terrace to the other! It´s quite another to be outside in the midst of it. I live overlooking the harbour and from it there are frequent boat trips to see the whales and dolphins. There were no sailings over the past few days as the waves crashed onto the rocks and the turquoise swirling foam poured over the walls.
I didn´t venture very far during the height of it but last night I sat on the outdoor settee under the shelter of the roof, watching the palms bend with the wind and observing the changing colours of the sky. In one direction it was jet black and you could see the rain falling further out over the sea and La Gomera. In the other direction there were whisps of white cloud and pockets of blue sky. Suddenly the black clouds parted and a ball of brilliant sunlight shone through so brightly. I had to squint as it shone directly onto me. Despite what I could see the sun was still there, hidden, and it would be setting as it always did, whether it was visible or not.
Storms are part of life. They were certainly part of Jesus´ disciples´ life. On the lake as the disciples were tossed about in a boat fearing for their safety, Jesus slept. When I saw the water yesterday I asked myself how anyone would be able to sleep through a boat being tossed up and down in the storm. As a child I remember having a bible storybook and seeing a picture of a wooden craft with slender mast, sails and Jesus asleep in the stern on a pillow as the boat rode the crest of the swirling lake water. The disciples looked petrified as they clung onto the sides.
Haven´t we all been there, facing whichever storm we find ourselves in the midst of? Our media is full of the most unspeakable and unthinkable storms which the people of Ukraine are enduring. That storm is known to all and thankfully many are coming to their aid and standing shoulder to shoulder in support. However perhaps you are facing your own storm – known to a few or just yourself.
Let´s return to that boat on the lake in Galilee. Jesus was woken by the disciples. He spoke to the storm: Peace. Be Still. He told his fellow sailors: Do not be afraid.
He tells us the same.
In this coming week let us cling to the anchor in our storms, Jesus. In the final verse of Matthew´s Gospel we read: Know that I am with you always…Jesus is our companion in the storms as well as in the calm. Let us pray for all who are storm tossed and for those who are clinging to their boat in the hope that Jesus will speak words of peace to them, that they will know his presence alongside them and see the sunlight behind the darkness of their clouds.
Judith Rigby
Congregational Worship Leader