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Mtr Fiona’s December 2025 Newsletter

The Ninth Sunday after Trinity:  Matthew 14:31-21

I often hear people say, and have thought it myself sometimes too, that life as a Christian would be much easier if the Bible was a clearly formatted, bullet-pointed instruction manual. Like the booklet that comes when you buy IKEA furniture. It tells you that, when you find these two pieces of wood, you should join them together with this bracket. And you follow the clear, simple steps until you’ve constructed a wardrobe, job done. It would be amazing if we could live life like that. When I have to make a difficult decision, perhaps whether to take a job or not, to marry a particular person or not, whether to travel across the world to do a placement in Tenerife or not, it would be fantastic if I have a clear answer from a bullet pointed list of moral guidance. Whenever I need to make a tricky choice, I can look down my bullet-pointed Bible, find the section on how to put up with someone that is annoying me very much and there find the perfect phrase to respond with.

This would be a very useful kind of Bible. But also incredibly unhelpful, because the choices that come up in life are far more complex than how to put together an Ikea wardrobe with pre-cut sections. The bible is a bit more like signing up for a woodworking course. By the end of it, you will have a wardrobe but not just a pre-cut Ikea one. You will have a training and moral framework that will allow your skills to flourish, you will have a wardrobe that is bespoke to you, creating something completely new and beautiful. A much richer piece than an Ikea wardrobe.

The story we have in the Gospel of Matthew this morning is a bit like this woodworking class. We are invited into a scene of crowds gathered around Christ, the crowds have been following him around but haven’t planned ahead and have got tired and hungry with nothing to eat. Jesus, instead of delivering the step-by-step Ikea wardrobe instructions, says to his disciples ‘You give them something to eat’. Jesus is saying ‘Let me teach you how to do the miracles that I do, how to live life in my different way, it’s your turn to give it a go now. You find a way to provide something to eat for all these people.’ This is the way that Jesus taught his disciples, and teaches us now, how to live. It is by watching what he does and then being invited to join in. We often feel completely unqualified or not fully prepared, but that’s what an apprenticeship is. Jesus knows us and knows when we are ready to take on greater challenges. So, I wonder this morning if we might see what Jesus may be teaching us today through this story in Galilee.

The story of the Feeding of the 5,000 takes place in the middle of Jesus’ public ministry, he is moving around towns and villages proclaiming the Kingdom of God. He both describes the Kingdom of God, we heard last week about the tares and the wheat, and shows what the Kingdom of God is, through miracles of healing and feeding people. Whilst he is teaching all these things, he hears that his cousin and close friend John the Baptist has been executed by the Roman Authorities. Upon hearing this, he withdraws to a ‘deserted place by himself’. Not only is he mourning the death of his dear cousin and forerunner but is reminded of his own journey to the cross. Reminded of the formidable Roman opposition against him and his powerlessness in the face of them. John’s brutal death by Roman authorities even points to Jesus’ future suffering on the cross.

However, he is not given space by himself because the ‘crowd of followers’ keep on his heels even to this deserted place. It would have been reasonable, given the circumstances, to not have the energy to entertain a crowd when he was grieving. But, instead of ignoring them, brushing them off, or getting frustrated, Jesus is moved by ‘compassion’. He continues to heal the sick and feed the hungry, continuing to teach his disciples and urging them to get involved. Jesus tells the disciples ‘you give them something to eat; they are the ones who distribute the bread that Jesus has blessed and broken. Jesus wants the disciples to see the wonder on peoples faces as they receive divine compassion, to understand the reason behind the miracles, to grasp what the Kingdom of God is.

Christ also wants the disciples to see what it means to be confident in the face of circumstances out of our control. Jesus is not silenced or hidden in the face of Roman opposition. He does not make decisions out of fear, but instead pours out rich compassion. He stands up to the unjust powers in his society, teaching those around him to have confidence in God’s power and presence with them. Jesus reassures the disciples that he is there and can be relied on. He calls them to have confident faith in the face of pain.

The evils of this world might have had the first word, but Christ has the last. The things that have ripped joy away from us, that have felt entirely wrong and unfair, the illnesses, emotional breakdown, and cruel words may have affected us first. But Christ’s redemption lasts longer.

A confident Christian faith is one that, when faced with circumstances in life or people around us that make us feel small, is moved with compassion. Instead of being overwhelmed when faced with situations way out of our control, Jesus teaches his disciples to be guided by the nature of an ultimately victorious and all-seeing God.

Often, a confident Christian faith does not mean walking headfirst into danger, rejection, or pain; instead, it is often enough just to stand. To stand on the faith that has been shaping you for perhaps a very long time. To know that God has put you in a particular situation, your life has led you alongside particular neighbours, friends, or others ‘for such a time as this’. We sometimes feel that we’re not the right person, we can’t really do anything to improve the lives of those around us, we can’t change their circumstances. However, when we stand with those around us, we proclaim Christ’s victory. We say that the horrors of this world might have the first word, but Christ has the last. Instead of shrinking away, we can seek to feel God’s compassion for those around us and be guided by his Spirit to stay standing.

When the Roman authorities brutally kill his dear friend, Jesus is not silenced and does not shrink away. He has the lasting impact. There have been far more conversations had, talks given, and books written about Jesus than about the Roman authorities of the first century. The things that feel insurmountable to us now, the things that seem like they have the biggest influence on our lives at the moment, are nothing in comparison to the power, influence, and restoration of Jesus Christ.

I love that this story is set in the deserted place, set away from the town and villages, a place where Jesus thought he’d be alone. There is nothing on the trees or in the ground that can be eaten for lunch. It is an isolated wilderness; there is not much life there. Yet Jesus teaches us that we must have confidence in the wilderness. Into the most isolated places, God provides more than enough. In the most lifeless, hopeless situations, God miraculously provides bread, just as he did for Moses in the desert centuries before and just as he promises to provide for us each day. When we think we are out on our own, in a difficult and isolated place, God is always moved with compassion and promises to provide us with enough for each day. We can be confident that God is looking out for us, both when life feels full of joy and full of grief and isolation.

And why does God provide? Jesus has already told us, he is ‘moved with compassion’ for us. Christ’s actions were driven by rich love and longing for our flourishing. When faced with John the Baptist’s death, Jesus stands up to Herod’s banquet of collusion and murder by offering his own banquet. Jesus’ banquet is full of those that do not have anything to eat, those who have come as they are and offered what they have, those who are not perfect and who will go on to betray him. The seats are not grand chairs and long tables, but the dusty ground of the wilderness. Jesus’ banquet in an isolated place is far greater than any royal dinner hosted in a palace; the guests are not invited because of their great achievements, but because God is compassionate to every person. All they must do is RSVP ‘yes’ to the invitation.

For those of us who have said ‘yes’ to God’s invitation to this heavenly banquet, let our lives be characterised by the compassion that we have received. In this story, before any miracle has taken place, Jesus acknowledges God’s power and then the bread is broken and shared and broken and shared. People pass the compassionate provision that they have received on to each other, and the disciples get the privilege of seeing God’s loving action in the world around them. We are invited to do the same. When God shows us compassion, it is our reponsiblity to be compassionate to those around us; as we receive bread, we must pass it to those around us. And we are also invited to see God’s action as it moves through the lives of those around us. When we focus on those around us, not solely on what we need, we are re-oriented to see God’s kingdom.

So this week, I hope that we might notice the things that God is trying to teach us, the power of having lives formed uniquely like we’re doing an apprenticeship rather than unpacking Ikea furniture. That we might have confidence in our faith, knowing that we have a seat at the heavenly banquet, and showing compassion to those around us.

Hannah Parfitt – Ordinand

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Please click this link to read previous sermons: https://allsaintstenerife.org/all-saints-midweek-letters/

IMPORTANT NOTICE/ AVISO IMPORTANTE/ WICHTIGER HINWIES

All enquiries regarding the Boot Sale should be made either by WhatsApp on 615 222 311 or by email on bootsale@allsaintstenerife.org
Thank you

Todas las consultas sobre la Boot Sale deben hacerse por WhatsApp al 615 222 311 o por correo electronico a bootsale@allsaintstenerife.org
Gracias

Alle Anfragen dezuglich der Boot Sale entweder per WhatsApp unter 615 222 311 oder per E-Mail an bootsale@allsaintstenerife.org gestelt werden
Danke

Dear Friends,

With the awful news of the volcanic eruption on La Palma, please can I ask for your prayers for all on the island and everyone who is being affected by this disaster. Many will know that our Chaplaincy has strong links with La Palma and that I take a service there once a month. Please remember Alan and the congregation, praying for their safety and for everyone on the Island.

With Blessings
Fr Ron Corne.

This year’s Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal raised €491.17. Due to the pandemic only 10 poppy tins were distributed which included 2 used by All Saints.

Many thanks to both campuses of the British School of Tenerife, Los Realejos and La Luz, who between them raised over 50% of the total. Breakdown as follows:
British School of Tenerife – Los Realejos campus €57.68
British School of Tenerife – La Luz campus. €198.49
All Saints Church raised €138.12

On top of the above monies will be added the proceeds of the collection from Remembrance Sunday, totaling €233.70, making a grand total of €724.87. Thanks to ALL who contributed!

Wendy Sanderson
Churchwarden

On 6th August, the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, Fr Ron Corne was licensed as Chaplain of All Saints, North Tenerife.  The Celebrant and Preacher was the Venerable David Waller, Archdeacon of Gibraltar.

Click here to see a photo album of the occasion

Thanks to our Assistant Priest, the Revd Rachel Ganney, and Paul Ganney for their work in recording the service.  Also, thanks to all those who made the occasion so special with arrangements in the church, and for the lunch afterwards.

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THIS COMING SUNDAY, we will remember the 138 passengers and 8 crew members who lost their lives in the Dan Air 1008 accident from Manchester to Los Rodeos (TFN) on the afternoon of April 25, 1980. The plane fell about 20 kilometers from the Los Rodeos airport, crashed against the El Diablillo mountain in the municipality of El Rosario. At All Saints’ we have a rose garden to commemorate each victim. We will never forget the families of the victims and the 146 men, women and children who lost their lives on that tragic day.

The anniversary of the disaster is marked each year at the Sunday service nearest to the date as the congregation gather in the garden to remember those who died that day.  This would have been this coming Sunday, however our Chaplain will remember the victims in his reflections.  Fr Ron has written a reflection about the Rose Garden which you can read here.

As well as our memorial garden here at All Saints’, there is a memorial in the Southern Cemetery, Manchester commemorating the victims of the disaster, whose names are inscribed on a series of slate tablets within a small grassed enclosure.

ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH holds a number of social activities throughout the year. To keep up to date with all that’s going on at the church please bookmark this page and pay us a regular visit.

Each month between October and May, the church hosts a quiz for teams of six from the various British groups active in and around Puerto de la Cruz.

Among those taking part on a regular basis are: The Church, The English Library, the British Games Club, ESTA (the amateur dramatics group). and the Friends of Tenerife. Each of the competing teams takes a turns at compiling the questions.

The quizzes are open to everyone but only the regular teams are able to compete for the monthly trophy.

They start at 6pm, with the aim of finishing around 8.30pm.

Admission is €2 per head and a full bar service is available. Monies raised go to a charity chosen by the group who organised the quiz. Players generally take along their own food for the evening, to consume during the interval.

Quiz Dates for 2024/2025, with the organising group in brackets: