Welcome to May

Where did it all begin: this searching, this believing in something other? This believing in something beyond ourselves, something larger and stronger and deeper than humanity, took hold of earliest peoples, who first worshipped what they could see; things which existed before and after the lifespan of mortals, so were thought to be inhabited by spirits, which could not be seen.


Not only inanimate objects such as trees, rocks, mountains were worshipped but in many cultures, ancestors were worshipped too. They had been, so maybe they still are I imagine our own ancestors thought. So perhaps, early on in our development there was a concept of another realm beyond this.


Many religions, or belief systems, were embraced by our brothers and sisters in ages past. A great many deities were regional or even domestic and there was huge diversity across national borders. Several different gods, or objects of worship were identified as being worthy of devotion and took the form of created objects in precious metals and gems, the richness of their parts showing the extent of esteem in which these deities were held. I’ll admit that although I don’t carry gold and gems with me on my travels, to aid my worship, I do carry a small wooden cross which I often hold in prayer. We are all different and for some, a jewelled set of prayer beads or a rosary serve the same purpose.


What stands out for us as we look at differing forms of religion is that most were polytheistic, from Paganism practised is what became Britain to household gods of Roman times. Many ancient religious beliefs continue to be held today.


As to the emergence of monotheism: dates in the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament are the subject of debate but Jews, Christians and followers of Islam share the belief that God, one God, made himself or herself, known to those who would follow. Many ancient religions from earlier times still have their adherents across the world. In our own Christian faith, some of the religious celebrations central to our practice have overlaid long forgotten pagan festivals. Think of our Easter, known by ancestors long ago as Eostre, a celebration of spring. I like to think of our faith having grown to embrace ancient beliefs rather than totally contradict them. We believe God is and always has been, so must have been part of the whole history of humanity. In the gospel of St Matthew we read that Jesus said: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.” Of course this refers to the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament but many pre Christian religions may find echoes of their own beliefs in the teachings of Jesus. Even Wicca a contemporary pagan religion whose practices are totally at odds with our Christian faith, seeks to honour the life-giving and life-sustaining powers of Nature through ritual worship and a commitment to living in balance with the Earth. There are so many connections between people of faith.


Our turning point came with the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just days ago I was sitting with an elderly Muslim widow and she gave me a precious Koran to hold. It had belonged to her grandmother and was richly bound and illuminated. As she touched it with reverence and love, she told me how she had learned about Jesus and his mother Mary from this sacred text. It was slightly shocking that she knew more of our faith than I did of hers. We had little language to share but we’re able to say “One God” and “One peace” Our realities and hopes and prayers were united in that moment and it felt that more should and could unite us than divide us. She was as sure of her faith as I am of mine yet there was respect and acceptance of difference. It is a moment I shall never forget. The only other English she had was to wish us a Happy Easter. Where there is understanding, there is hope and our shared hope is for peace.


The elderly lady (who was probably younger than I am) is a family matriarch of a large, loving family whose religious faith differs from one member to another. It must be so in families across the world. She would influence without directing, share without imposing. Every group or family needs people to lead and take responsibility. So does every church family. It’s like a baton being handed from generation to generation .


Right now I’m thinking about such people in our own church family in Sharow. About twenty years ago, when I started my training as a Reader, now more commonly known as a Licensed Lay Minister, the then priest in charge said I should give up being a church warden. I’d been in post for five years of the allotted six, having been guided in the first three years by one Peter Triffitt. So,who would take over? We say the Lord will provide and lo and behold, the Lord provided Rosemary. She hasn’t been in post continuously since then but it might feel that way to her.


Nobody could have known then what a huge influence she would become in the post and in everyone who came her way. We know now what a huge part Rosemary has played in the life of St John’s, far beyond those early days when she and I were Sunday school leaders with our own children from 1983!


I run out of words of praise and thanks for all Rosemary has done because there are so many things at St. John’s when she has been involved. It’s not just that she makes events happen but happen so smoothly. Thank you Rosemary but did you have to make it so hard for anyone to step into your shoes??!! She may have taken breaks from the church warden role but seemed to keep coming back - some people will never learn. However, the time has come for her to pass on the baton to someone else or several people. Rosemary you have our thanks and love for all you have done and been in our church family.


Another hugely important role which didn’t exist 42 years ago when Simon and I first came to St Johns is that of Safeguarding Officer. Every organisation has had to take greater care to protect its members, especially young, old and vulnerable and overseeing this essential work requires vigilance and empathy. As we all know, this now complex job has been handled over recent years by Nicky Howgate, also a long standing worshipper with us all. She has encouraged and occasionally cajoled members of the PCC to complete safeguarding training and has been a huge support to incumbent priests. All done with remarkable good nature. She too is standing down from the Church Council and leaves us as a much better informed, aware and qualified group than we were years ago. Thank you Nicky for always being there as wise counsel, for turning up for absolutely every event possible and for your legendary patience with us all. I’m so pleased you will continue to be a friendly, welcoming presence at services, concerts and the like. Nicky too goes back to times when we brought our children to Sunday school and then SCHADY (Sharow Copt Hewick and district youth) all of whom are parents themselves now.


Similar groups and roles exist in other churches of widely differing traditions and in mosques, temples and synagogues across the land and around the world. Most people want to live in peace, see future generations thrive and support and protect our hard won freedoms. We do well to look to the commandments God gave to early followers who, like many families went their different ways. Those commandments continue to be building blocks of many faiths and instruct us to love our God and our neighbours. Those neighbours don’t just live next door but share this world and in standing up for them we ensure that in return they will stand up for us because that’s what families do. Remember that old joke” it’s a great day for the race” “race, what race.” “Why, the human race of course” like the faiths we follow in our different ways, if surviving is to turn into thriving, we, Gods children must care for one another and together protect this wonderful world we have been given to share, inhabit and pass on in good order.




-Kindly penned by our marvellous LLM Ruth Grenfell