Christmas Services at Wolverley Church

Sunday 20th December at 6.30pm- Traditional Carols by Candlelight

Christmas Eve at 5.30pm - Crib Service (the wearing of funny hats is encouraged)
Christmas Eve at 11.30pm - Midnight Mass, quiet yet celebratory

Christmas Day at 10am - Carols and Communion - all ages welcome

No service on Sunday 27th December

Epiphany Sunday, 3rd January at 11am Communion for Epiphany

Waiting in Advent

Sometimes I preach from a full text. Sometimes I have notes like this - see below. Here's the bones of my sermon. I'll leave it with you to put the flesh on. Jan - Revd Jan Ashton

The value in Waiting

Advent is a time of waiting. Waiting for Christmas. Waiting for Jesus to come a second time so that God’s kingdom will come and God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Waiting. Are you waiting for anything? Waiting for an appointment. Waiting for a interview. What are you waiting for?

We live in a time of action, in 2015 it is doing which is important. Now is important. Not waiting. Have it now. Do it now. Waiting is rubbish. We see no value at all in waiting.

Because the trouble with waiting is that it is often not in our control. We can’t make the hospital give us an appointment - we can’t make the interview come quicker. When we wait we have given up to some extent our control and we wait in someone else’s time. 

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane waited. He waited to be arrested and once arrested he then had no power of his own. He waited for the next thing to happen.

We only wait if it’s important. Otherwise we wouldn’t bother. We wouldn’t bother waiting when we go to the hospital. We’d walk out.

Waiting is a sign that it is important. And while we wait we often have to think about what’s happening. 

We are waiting for Jesus to come again. His kingdom is here now but it’s not finished. We are waiting for pain and suffering and evil to be got rid of. We wait and in waiting we are saying this is important.

During advent we are encouraged to practise waiting. In prayer to think of waiting for Jesus to come back and make everything right. To finish what he started. And we sit perhaps for 5 minutes and wait and perhaps say thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as in heaven slowly over and over again. Sit and wait.  

Waiting has value. It shows us what is important and worth waiting for and what’s not important and hence not worth waiting for. 

Wait for the Lord whose day is near. Wait for the Lord, keep watch take heart.

Remembrance Sunday Sermon

The Bible Reading is from St Matthew chapter 5

Love for Enemies

43 ‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,[o] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Today we are honouring all those who died fighting for our country. But I also want to honour, as well, those who didn’t fight but who were still affected. Last year I based my talk on the 1st world war. Today I’m talking about the 2nd world war. And in particular what happened to one family. I hope itt will help us think about why we need to honour both the military and civilians involved.

Also I’m basing my talk on what Jesus said about enemies. You’ve heard it already.  ‘But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

In the second world war men who were Christian thought long and hard about this verse. Should they fight or not. After thinking about how to love their enemies, they came to different conclusions. Some decided that Jesus was telling them not to fight but to love your enemies. These men refused to fight and were called conscientious objectors. But today I’m not going to talk about these. 

So let’s introduce the four people. 

Last week I did the funeral Edna Lowe who died aged 97 and has lived in Kidderminster all her life. For the past 5 years since she became frail I’ve taken her Holy Communion and we’ve talked. She told me often about her dead husband Sam. He was a good Christian man - he prayed and read his Bible.

In 1939 Sam thought about this loving your enemies and to pray for those who persecuted and decided that as Germany was invading other countries this was not fair and by stopping Hitler and his government  by going to war and fighting them, he was indeed loving his enemies. You always try to stop people you love doing bad things even when if it means hurting them. Loving people means you want the best for them. Grabbing hard a child who is about to put their finger in an electric socket is loving them. 

Sam decided to join up and he persuaded his two brothers, Sid and Jim, to go with him to the recruiting office to enlist so that he could go and fight against Germany. 

Once he and his brothers had filled in the forms, Sam was invited into another office and his two brothers left where they were. He presumed for some reason Sid and Jim weren’t going to be able to join the army and he could. 

However, it was the other way around. He was told because he was a metal beater he was in a reserved occupation and therefore was needed in this country. He was sent to a factory in Birmingham making spitfire aeroplanes. For the whole war he did just that. He worked nights and travelled from Kidderminster to Birmingham. 

By half way through the 2nd world war Edna and Sam got married at St Mary’s here in Kidderminster. She told me about her early married life.

From Kidderminster at night you could see on the horizon the fires in Birmingham after the bombs had been dropped. And of course the target for the bombs was the factory Sam was working in. There were no phones, no mobiles. Every night Edna waited to hear the knock on the door saying that a bomb had landed Sam’s factory and he was dead. Those were long nights as Edna waited for the knock on the door with the bad news.

At first, Sam envied his two brothers who could fight for Britain. 

Jim joined the army and went to France and was killed on the D-Day landing. He was killed by an explosive device. It was said there wasn’t a mark on him. The air was just sucked out of him and he died. 

Sid was sent to Burma and worked on the Burma Sian railway. At the end of the war he was setting off home on a Japanese Military Transport ship the British were using. However, the ship was still flying the Japanese flag and the Americans bombed the ship killing everyone including Sid Lowe.

If you go to Kidderminster’s war memorial outside St Mary’s church you will see their names. 

Sam came back to work in Kidderminster and lived a long life; he died just before their 60th wedding anniversary. But Sam was scarred by the memory of his two dead brothers and the fact he was still alive and he’d persuaded them to join up. He’d gone as a Christian following his conscience but this wasn’t the outcome he’d expected. 

Edna too never really recovered from Sam’s brother’s deaths. She was still talking about it 69 years later. 

Today let’s honour those who died fighting for our country but let’s also honour those who like Sam and Edna suffered too because of what war did to their family. 

And still today for us Christian Jesus calls us to think through what he meant when we said  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. 

Do I pray for the people who are following the Wahabi sect and calling themselves Isis? How might we love Isis? Should we fight them? If Sam was here he might say yes fighting will stop them. They like the Nazis are caught up in an wrong doctrine and need rescuing from it like the child from the electric socket. Others might say no - by loving our enemies we must try other ways of stopping Isis - through putting pressure on them or through cutting off their funding. 

But we are called to think through Jesus’ words. And think and pray about your response to loving your enemies. 

Gift Day

I’m writing this sitting in church because today is Gift Day. One week a year everyone in Wolverley gets an envelope with an invitation to donate money for the upkeep of our church. Between 1pm until 3pm the good people of Wolverley can come and deliver the envelope to us in person. It’s raining outside and it's a miserable afternoon. I'm here to receive people's donations but so far no-one has come. 

Financing church these days is not easy. The cost of running this church is not yet £600 per week but getting on that way. The congregation give generously. For this I am grateful. I give generously too. If we do want a church here we have to pay our way; we have to pay our share of the cost of having a paid vicar (me) and the cost of keeping up this old building. 

Traditionally, and it is a practice I subscribe to, Christians have given away 10% of their income to help others in need. It's our way of saying we are grateful to God. It's up to people's consciences how much of their giving comes to our church.

Sometimes in the middle of the night when we’ve had a bad month with less money coming in or when thieves came and stole the lead off the roof, I think why are we bothering. Let’s do what the supermarkets do and just have one brand new central church we can all go to. 

But in the morning I think again and know how much our building is appreciated by those who come regularly, or occasionally, or  those who only come once. We appreciate this is our church. We can bury our loved ones here. We can celebrate happy occasions of weddings, blessings, christening in our church.  Here we can be sad and mourn on difficult days. 

There is a sense that this building is holy and different from anywhere else. There is quiet and peace here people tell me. When lives are turned upside down because of a death or sad event, this church is open (yes, you did know our church is open from 8.30am to about 4.30pm?) and available. This building reflects God’s quiet and peace. Especially for those who need this. 

It’s now nearly 2pm and only one person has been. Perhaps the rain has put them off. Perhaps the gift day envelopes will come in other days. 

They will. Us Wolverley-ites do give. There is a sense that we are grateful because we live in such a beautiful place and do have the basics even if some struggle. So we give as a way of saying Thank you Lord for all you give us. We are grateful.

Jan - Vicar

Some Bad News and Some Responses.

During the summer my daughter was diagnosed with cancer and with secondaries throughout her upper body. She’s fit and well so the news came as a shock. I decided to tell people rather than keep it secret. We all go through difficult times and vicars are no exception!

Many people in the congregation have written to me and I’ve been helped and inspired by what they have said. Their faith and positive attitude has encouraged me. So below here are two snippets from many cards and letters.

This is a quotation from St Francis de Sales one of my parishioners used:

“Do not look forward to what might happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will gibe you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations, and say continually: The Lord is my strength and shield; my heart has trusted in Him and I am helped. he is not only with me, but in me and I in Him.”

Another one wrote:

How difficult it is in such circumstances to see any purpose to life and yet you bravely tried this morning to steer our thoughts to try to see that God is with us at these dark times. I am learning to play the cello and one of the pieces I am currently working on is from Mendelsohn’s oratorio ‘Elijah’. It is the piece ‘O Rest in the Lord’. Its words come from Psalm 37 ‘O rest in the Lord, wait patiently for him and he shall give thee thy heart’s desires. Wait patiently for him. O rest in the Lord’. I share these words which encouraged me. 

Who knows how many daughter will fare. But I think my parishioners are right. We are not promised an easy life. But we are promised that God will be with us to inspire, strengthen and give us peace.

Jan

Good News in Wolverley Village

Good News in Wolverley Village

1. St John the Baptist Church

St John's Church is open every day from about 8.30am to 4.30pm (though sometimes later) and we welcome everyone who wants to visit: to look around, pray or sit and think. Every Sunday we meet at 11am (though it's 9.30am on a 5th Sunday). 1st Sunday of each month - Communion, 2nd Sunday - Worship 4 All, families are especially welcome, 3rd Sunday - Communion, 4th Sunday - Morning Prayer and 5th Sunday - Communion.

2. The Queen’s Head Pub

The Queen’s Head is well known for its music events held here as well as its reasonably priced but tasty food and its well kept ale. I love their veggie food. (The following is an odd recommendation but it is my experience as a vicar!)

But also I want to recommend this venue for the reception/wake held after funerals. People often feel chilled and in need of warmth and food after a funeral and the staff here give real hospitality. Firstly, they give you your own room which has reasonable access.  And then when you arrive, there’s always tea, coffee and little chocolates ready and waiting for you as well as the bar open. No hassle, no having to order, it’s made ready.  Then their finger buffet always is fresh, the bread is fresh and the mini-bites are freshly cooked. The people serving are kindly and helpful. For a wake I recommend the Queens Head. 

3. The Old Village Store - Country Tea Room and Grocer

I recommend this for its excellent food. My friend and I recently had lunch there. I had onion soup with a brie and pear sandwich and my friend had a cheese and fig+cinnamon toastie. These were tasty and full of filling. But it was the side salad which particularly impressed me. There was: lettuce, pineapple, melon, orange, peach, thinly sliced radish, finely cut onion and kiwi. Wow! We then had cake: cherry and chocolate cake, tiffin and tea - cakes were delicious. Helpful service and brightly coloured table clothes made it welcoming. Try it.

If it's you, stop it!

Over the past few months, vases of flowers and containers with flowers growing in them have gone missing from Wolverley’s churchyard. At first I thought someone may have moved them or I was hoping strong winds may have blown them elsewhere. But no, they are being taken. Let’s call it what it is - they are being stolen. 

I have full sympathy with those who are cross and upset. There is a feeling that their loved ones’ final resting place is being tampered with.  And that’s horrid. 

What should be do? 

We could decide that the thefts are taking place during the night and hence lock the churchyard. Our gates are high and would keep out all except the most determined. But then there needs to be someone who will lock and unlock the churchyard and this would probably be at the same time the church is locked and unlocked. Therefore, in the evening the churchyard will be closed to all who want to attend a relative’s grave. That’s unfair to those who work during the day. 

Or we could put up CCTV cameras. The recent cameras can even pick up movement in the dark. This is expensive but could be done. But do we want our churchyard recording? 

Or lastly,  we perhaps could remind people this stealing is sinful. Put up a poster similar to the 1st World War ones of a stern Lord Kitchener pointing a finger. Perhaps we could have Jesus pointing a finger saying, ‘My father loves you and wants you to be the best you can be. Don’t disappoint. If it's not yours don't take it..’

I’m sure these are not crimes committed by those desperate for money or those addicted to drugs. This is, I think, a casual ‘I fancy this so I’ll take it’ crime.

Years ago the church was condemned for preaching too much about judgement day. This did give people a skewed view of God. But now, perhaps in our striving to tell the Good News that God loves us and Jesus will plead our case, this has pushed the other truth - that one day we all will stand before our creator and give an account of our lives.

It is sad that these mindless actions are causing others distress.

Let’s pray that the consciences of those committing these thefts will be stirred so they stop. And let's think about ourselves too and the harm we may be causing others. And stop. 

14th June - a day of contrasts + an account of a visit

Hello again to all readers…

Church news first - as you know church is open from about 8.30pm until 4pm and one of our plans during the summer is to make a ‘prayer corner’ where there can some private space for prayer. At the moment this corner of the church is a ‘dumping ground’. We are going to hire a skip and do some sorting out. But what should we do with an old harmonium which doesn’t work? Keep it, knowing it’s taking space and doesn’t work? Or throw it away - but it is a nice piece of furniture? Some decisions need to be made.

On Sunday 14th June at 4.30pm is our afternoon tea and Evensong. It’s a lovely evening. Firstly, we have some people who are excellent cake bakers so the food is yummy! And then secondly, the choir and organist do an quiet beautiful Evensong - you can feel the presence of God. I find it is so peaceful and helps so much to get my mind free to worship God and be thankful for all that I’ve been given. 

In complete contrast the Sunday 14th June at 11am is our Worship 4 All. There’ll be children and noise and craft and stories and singing and a quiz. But again a chance to worship in a more challenging environment. Challenging because of the message and challenging because of the noise!

Mike Webster, who lives in Wolverley, sent me this email about some Americans he showed around Wolverley and around church. I thought others would be interested in reading it so I’ve included it here - 

A recent visitor from America described her visit to Wolverley as "An experience of a lifetime".

Keith Armstrong had grown up in the small town of Machias in the state of Maine. In 1942 he enlisted to serve in the American Army. He found himself serving as a lab technician with the 52nd General Hospital at Wolverley. It was while he was here that he worked alongside the young English girl June Howells (Nee Buckley) in the hospitals laboratory. It was June's name that enabled Keith's daughter Pauline Cates to contact me, Mike Webster, and a arrange her visit to Wolverley. While staying with relations in London she was able make her visit in May this year. She was accompanied by her son Stephen and life long friend Cindy.

Pauline was able to visit the former hospital site at Brown Westhead park. This included the grounds and the area where her father was billeted, and one of the buildings used by the caravan site. A visit into the church was enjoyed by everyone, especially the memorial dedicated to the 52nd General Hospital.

Pauline returned to America having met the lady she only knew from a photograph  and was able to visit Wolverley who her father had spoke so much about before he died in 1985.

Thank you Mike for sharing this.

Jan - Revd Jan Ashton

Ascension and Bluebells

It's Ascension Day on Thursday May 14th and we're having a service at 7.30pm. Do join us. 

Last year I bought helium balloons (biodegradable of course); we went outside to release and watched them as they went higher and higher and then disappear . As we watched we were interrupted by those words ‘Men (and women) of Galilee (Wolverley), why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ This balloon release and Scripture did help me imagine the Ascension and also gave me a sharp reminder of Jesus' return one day. I hope it worked for others too.

Ascension Day is one of my favourite festivals. It might have started because I have a memory as a child it was a holiday from school! But it does provide the evidence Jesus' body went to be with God and is now part of the Trinity. God has first hand evidence of our humanity!

I had a disturbed night’s sleep last night and in my prayers this morning I felt a bit worst for wear but remembered that God understands this - there’s a human body within God which no doubt also had disturbed nights. 

More info about the woods in Wolverley next to our church. The bluebells are nearly at their best! A wonderful carpet of that is-it-blue-is-it-purple haze of flowers. In Lancashire where I’m from, I remember the bluebells came first and then the ramsons flowered second. Yesterday I couldn’t smell the bluebells because the ramsons were also in full flower flooding the area with that garlic-y smell. Boo to ramsons I’d say.

Our church is open every day (all being well). Do visit it and the woods this Spring. 

Jan - Revd Jan Ashton

Hi to all Readers,

Next to Wolverley Church there is a wood which is open to the public and you can walk around and enjoy the woodland. It has a steep path going down to a stream but, of course, then what seems like an even steeper path back up. Today I saw the first few bluebells out. If you're a wild flower fan, you'll also know the beauty of the wood anemones and the more delicate wood sorrel. and there's lots of both. If you visit the church, do have a walk around the woods - it takes about 20 minutes - there's a bench next to the stream - with a good internet signal too!

Our Easter Sunday Service at 11am was full and joyful. The flame I managed to keep alight lit, from the fire on Birchen Coppice just as the sun was rising (the Sonrise service this year started at a very late 6.15am), was used to light our paschal candle and we declared 'Alleluia, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia'. I taught our school children these sentences and realised the 'indeed' is quite arcane but I said it means 'definitely' or 'Jesus is well risen!'

Do you enjoy proper Sung Evensong from the Book of Common Prayer? If so, do come on Sunday May 10th at 6.30pm.

Do you enjoy a more informal all-age service? If so, do come on May 10th at 11am. There's a story on the carpet using Playmobil and craft.

St John's is a lovely place to worship. Try it!

Jan - Revd Jan Ashton