.
"For me nature is a mystical healing resource in my life. It is awesome at times. Sunrise or sunset. The tinest ant or the tallest tree invokes wonder and amazement. You can travel afar, from one place to another, and see the majestic mountains, or the green meadows filled with colourful wildflowers; hear the rhythm of the ocean lapping the shore, or experience the vastness and variety of the forests ... or you can simply enjoy nature in the comfort of your own backyard, and watch the puffy white clouds go slowly past against the brilliant blue of a sun-filled sky!" ~ the runningrev!
BACKYARD THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS ON THE TRINITY
In the church calendar the church year begins with Advent, then
Christmas, Epiphany, Lent and Easter. We are just beginning the
Season of Trinity. In the Church, colours express emotions and
ideas that are associated with the seasons of the liturgical year.
Red evokes the color of blood, and therefore is the colour of martyrs
and of Christ's death on the Cross. Red also symbolizes fire,
and therefore is the colour of the Holy Spirit, (Pentecost).
Green is the colour of growth. In the Christian context the colour
green represents bountifulness, hope, and victory of life over death.
Green is associated with the long season of Trinity,
( a season of personal growth, leading to renewal and renewed hope.
How do we be the church in this particular place, at this particular time?
Since the early sixteenth century, the Anglican Church, then known
as the Church of England has been asking herself that question.
How do we be the church in this particular place, at this particular time?
Since the days of Thomas Cranmer, the father of the Book of Common Prayer,
1549 & 1552 editions, that has been the question of the day.
Today, almost 500 years later, 450 years to be exact, that remains the questionfacing not only the Anglican denomination, but all denominations, Roman Catholic, Methodists, Untied, and Baptists.
How do we be the church in this particular place at this particular time?
Today, in the Christian Calender, we celebrate that great mystery
that is simply referred to as the Trinity ... Holy Trinity.
I could use any one of countless Anglicans who have struggled with
how to be the church in a particular place at a particular time.
Thomas Cranmer, (burned at the stake) John Donne, (womanizer and reluctant priest), John & Charles Wesley (18th century leaders feared such enthusiastic preachers of which both brothers were - ending up separated from and disowned by the English Church and thus going around the country side to engage in open-air preaching - taking the Gospel to those outside the Church walls.)
The list goes on ... an interesting story is that about Charles Simeon, stepping into the pulpit of Holy Trinity, Cambridge, for the very first time. Charles had yet to be ordained. He was only 23 years old.
Young Charles had a deep and burning with desire to preach. As the newly 'appointed' vicar,
(appointed by the Bishop at the request of Simeon’s father), and while trying to preach, the equally determined Church Wardens, strongly opposed to the appointment, tried to prevent him.
The battle was on, Wardens locked the pew gates, and eventually they locked the Church doors,
in their vigorous attempts to stop Charles preaching. But Charles Simeon was unstoppable.
What no-one could have imagined, in the year 1783, was that Charles Simeon would occupy the pulpit at Holy Trinity, Cambridge for 54 years and become the most influential preacher in the land,
and singlehandedly define what a sermon was supposed to be. Simeon preached to the heart
as well as to the mind. The mind could think what it wanted, but the heart needed to be changed.
The list goes on, Evelyn Underhill, (Guide in the life of Prayer)
Dorothy Sayers, ( Whimisical Apologist), C.S. Lewis,
( mere Christian), Desmond Tutu ( prophet of forgiveness.)
They all, in their own way, struggled with the burning question of the day:
How do we be the church in this particular place at this particular time?
Dorothy L. Sayers, known as the Whimisical Apologist, had a pig named Frances Bacon,
and she was the author of the popular detective series, "Lord Peter Whimsy".
The royalties quickly streamed in as whimiscal Dorothy Sayers took her place
alongside Agatha Christie as one of Britain's most popular detective writers.
One of Dorothy Sayer’s pet peeves was the dullness of much
of what she saw going on in the church – the long boring sermons,
the listless singing, the obsession with decorum, socials and bazaars
.
In her most profound religious work “The Mind of the Maker” Sayer contends
that the creative process in art works in ways that correspond to the dynamic
relationship among the three persons of the Trinity in Christian theology.
Dorothy Sayers, writing about the Trinity, a perplexing bit
of Christian doctrine suggests a bold analogy:
“A writer has an idea. The writer exerts energy that results in a book – the incarnation of the idea. Then comes the creative power by which the idea, expressed in a book and who, by reading it,
enter into a relationship with the author. IDEA, ENERGY AND CREATIVE POWER though distinguishable from one another, are not three things, but three aspects of a single thing.
The notion then that God is one in three and three in one
is not so foreign to human experience as is sometimes thought.
In many ways a sermon follows along Sayers’ line of thought.
Idea, Energy, Creative Power – God’s Word, Christ’s Ministry,
Holy Spirit’s Empowerment – all calling the preacher and calling
the listener into a closer relationship with God, Christ & Spirit.
I’ve been reflecting on Russian artist Andrei Rublev's icon called
The Hospitality of Abraham and is the most famous of all Russian icons.
It also has become known as the Rublev’s icon of the Holy Trinity.
It depicts the three angels who visited Abraham at the Oak of Mamre,
(Genesis 18:1-8), however the painting is filled with symbolism and is
interpreted as an icon of the Holy Trinity. At the time of Andrie Rublev,
The Holy Trinity was thought to be the embodiment of (1) spiritual unity,
(2) peace, (3) harmony, (4) mutual love, (5) and humility.
At this point in the sermon, I would love to take you through all of the
symbols and meaning found in Rublev’s beautiful icon, a work of art.
That might take me into the area of preaching a long and boring sermon!
What is unique about Rublev’s iconic work is that it works on many levels.
It was first known as The Angels Visitation To Abraham & Sarah.
In later years it was used to depict the Holy Trinity and within these two
layers of thought lies therein the answer to our question of the ages.
How do we be the church in this particular place at this particular time?
First, we need to know the story behind the angels visitation to Abraham.
Three total strangers, who turn out to be messengers of the Lord, angels,
unexpectedly show up and Abraham sets in motion events that will offer
a welcome and hospitality. Water to wash the dust of their feet, and
bread and meat for them to eat. Hospitality is of highest importance.
Hospitality to the stranger is an expectation by Abraham’s God.
These three angels announce to Abraham & Sarah that they are to have
a son. Both of them are well past child-bearing years and Sarah’s
response is to laugh out loud. But everything is possible with God.
As the Church, here in this place, as the Body of Christ,
were are to be in spiritual unity with each other, first and foremost,
and then practice spiritual unity with others, especially strangers.
We are to love God, and love our neighbour.
The Trinity also represented “peace” and Christ is the Prince of Peace.
We are the people who claim to worship the one whose peace surpasses
all human understanding. Into the storms of life, we bring holy peace.
The Trinity also represent “harmony” and it is the Holy Spirit that brings
us into harmony, forming a pleasing and consistent whole. As we use our gifts
of the Holy Spirit, we become like a great orchestra, our worship
and our lives, like expensive perfume, rises, pleasing to God.
The Trinty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is the embodiment of mutual
love. God is love. Jesus calls us to love one another. The fruit of
the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness
and self-control. Against which there is no law.
And lastly, humility. To end this sermon I offer you a thought.
In the book of Hebrews, we are told that we ought to show
hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, we may entertain
angels. Strangers can be messengers from God.
In the name of the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
BACKYARD THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS ON THE TRINITY
In the church calendar the church year begins with Advent, then
Christmas, Epiphany, Lent and Easter. We are just beginning the
Season of Trinity. In the Church, colours express emotions and
ideas that are associated with the seasons of the liturgical year.
Red evokes the color of blood, and therefore is the colour of martyrs
and of Christ's death on the Cross. Red also symbolizes fire,
and therefore is the colour of the Holy Spirit, (Pentecost).
Green is the colour of growth. In the Christian context the colour
green represents bountifulness, hope, and victory of life over death.
Green is associated with the long season of Trinity,
( a season of personal growth, leading to renewal and renewed hope.
How do we be the church in this particular place, at this particular time?
Since the early sixteenth century, the Anglican Church, then known
as the Church of England has been asking herself that question.
How do we be the church in this particular place, at this particular time?
Since the days of Thomas Cranmer, the father of the Book of Common Prayer,
1549 & 1552 editions, that has been the question of the day.
Today, almost 500 years later, 450 years to be exact, that remains the questionfacing not only the Anglican denomination, but all denominations, Roman Catholic, Methodists, Untied, and Baptists.
How do we be the church in this particular place at this particular time?
Today, in the Christian Calender, we celebrate that great mystery
that is simply referred to as the Trinity ... Holy Trinity.
I could use any one of countless Anglicans who have struggled with
how to be the church in a particular place at a particular time.
Thomas Cranmer, (burned at the stake) John Donne, (womanizer and reluctant priest), John & Charles Wesley (18th century leaders feared such enthusiastic preachers of which both brothers were - ending up separated from and disowned by the English Church and thus going around the country side to engage in open-air preaching - taking the Gospel to those outside the Church walls.)
The list goes on ... an interesting story is that about Charles Simeon, stepping into the pulpit of Holy Trinity, Cambridge, for the very first time. Charles had yet to be ordained. He was only 23 years old.
Young Charles had a deep and burning with desire to preach. As the newly 'appointed' vicar,
(appointed by the Bishop at the request of Simeon’s father), and while trying to preach, the equally determined Church Wardens, strongly opposed to the appointment, tried to prevent him.
The battle was on, Wardens locked the pew gates, and eventually they locked the Church doors,
in their vigorous attempts to stop Charles preaching. But Charles Simeon was unstoppable.
What no-one could have imagined, in the year 1783, was that Charles Simeon would occupy the pulpit at Holy Trinity, Cambridge for 54 years and become the most influential preacher in the land,
and singlehandedly define what a sermon was supposed to be. Simeon preached to the heart
as well as to the mind. The mind could think what it wanted, but the heart needed to be changed.
The list goes on, Evelyn Underhill, (Guide in the life of Prayer)
Dorothy Sayers, ( Whimisical Apologist), C.S. Lewis,
( mere Christian), Desmond Tutu ( prophet of forgiveness.)
They all, in their own way, struggled with the burning question of the day:
How do we be the church in this particular place at this particular time?
Dorothy L. Sayers, known as the Whimisical Apologist, had a pig named Frances Bacon,
and she was the author of the popular detective series, "Lord Peter Whimsy".
The royalties quickly streamed in as whimiscal Dorothy Sayers took her place
alongside Agatha Christie as one of Britain's most popular detective writers.
One of Dorothy Sayer’s pet peeves was the dullness of much
of what she saw going on in the church – the long boring sermons,
the listless singing, the obsession with decorum, socials and bazaars
.
In her most profound religious work “The Mind of the Maker” Sayer contends
that the creative process in art works in ways that correspond to the dynamic
relationship among the three persons of the Trinity in Christian theology.
Dorothy Sayers, writing about the Trinity, a perplexing bit
of Christian doctrine suggests a bold analogy:
“A writer has an idea. The writer exerts energy that results in a book – the incarnation of the idea. Then comes the creative power by which the idea, expressed in a book and who, by reading it,
enter into a relationship with the author. IDEA, ENERGY AND CREATIVE POWER though distinguishable from one another, are not three things, but three aspects of a single thing.
The notion then that God is one in three and three in one
is not so foreign to human experience as is sometimes thought.
In many ways a sermon follows along Sayers’ line of thought.
Idea, Energy, Creative Power – God’s Word, Christ’s Ministry,
Holy Spirit’s Empowerment – all calling the preacher and calling
the listener into a closer relationship with God, Christ & Spirit.
I’ve been reflecting on Russian artist Andrei Rublev's icon called
The Hospitality of Abraham and is the most famous of all Russian icons.
It also has become known as the Rublev’s icon of the Holy Trinity.
It depicts the three angels who visited Abraham at the Oak of Mamre,
(Genesis 18:1-8), however the painting is filled with symbolism and is
interpreted as an icon of the Holy Trinity. At the time of Andrie Rublev,
The Holy Trinity was thought to be the embodiment of (1) spiritual unity,
(2) peace, (3) harmony, (4) mutual love, (5) and humility.
At this point in the sermon, I would love to take you through all of the
symbols and meaning found in Rublev’s beautiful icon, a work of art.
That might take me into the area of preaching a long and boring sermon!
What is unique about Rublev’s iconic work is that it works on many levels.
It was first known as The Angels Visitation To Abraham & Sarah.
In later years it was used to depict the Holy Trinity and within these two
layers of thought lies therein the answer to our question of the ages.
How do we be the church in this particular place at this particular time?
First, we need to know the story behind the angels visitation to Abraham.
Three total strangers, who turn out to be messengers of the Lord, angels,
unexpectedly show up and Abraham sets in motion events that will offer
a welcome and hospitality. Water to wash the dust of their feet, and
bread and meat for them to eat. Hospitality is of highest importance.
Hospitality to the stranger is an expectation by Abraham’s God.
These three angels announce to Abraham & Sarah that they are to have
a son. Both of them are well past child-bearing years and Sarah’s
response is to laugh out loud. But everything is possible with God.
As the Church, here in this place, as the Body of Christ,
were are to be in spiritual unity with each other, first and foremost,
and then practice spiritual unity with others, especially strangers.
We are to love God, and love our neighbour.
The Trinity also represented “peace” and Christ is the Prince of Peace.
We are the people who claim to worship the one whose peace surpasses
all human understanding. Into the storms of life, we bring holy peace.
The Trinity also represent “harmony” and it is the Holy Spirit that brings
us into harmony, forming a pleasing and consistent whole. As we use our gifts
of the Holy Spirit, we become like a great orchestra, our worship
and our lives, like expensive perfume, rises, pleasing to God.
The Trinty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is the embodiment of mutual
love. God is love. Jesus calls us to love one another. The fruit of
the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness
and self-control. Against which there is no law.
And lastly, humility. To end this sermon I offer you a thought.
In the book of Hebrews, we are told that we ought to show
hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, we may entertain
angels. Strangers can be messengers from God.
In the name of the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Comments