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Today’s Readings: Acts 15:1-2,22-29; Revelation 21:10-14,22-23; John 14:23-29.
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Let us pray.
God, our redeemer,
you have delivered us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your Son:
grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life,
so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.
Amen.
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A Reflection from Barbara Ross
We are an Easter people. We rejoice in the victory of Jesus over death, and in his promise of eternal life in his presence, sharing in his glory.
This is portrayed vividly in the imagery of the New Jerusalem in the book of Revelation. Its light is the glory of God. There is no night. The water of life flows through the city. The Tree of Life provides healing leaves. The servants of God worship him; they see his face, and they reign for ever and ever. Eternally in his presence and sharing in his glory.
This vision gladdens us as we continue to celebrate the Easter Season, both in our worship and prayer, and in meeting family and friends, enjoying their company and meals together. We look forward to outings in the warm weather: country walks and events in town. We are joyful, and at ease.
But perhaps - not. Our rejoicing may have shadows cast over it by our circumstances.
We may be afflicted in some way. How do we then maintain our Easter Joy? We hold on to our faith in the Resurrection and glorification of Jesus, and in his promise at the Last Supper that he goes to prepare a place for us in the Father’s house (John 14: 2), but what about now?
In that same Discourse, Jesus promises the disciples that he will send the Spirit to them and tells them they will know: ‘I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.’ (John 14: 20).
And Jesus abides with us now; he is glad with us in our joy and he is with us in our times of affliction, to console us. As his life among us shows.
Perhaps we are in grief; we mourn the death of someone we love. Shortly before entering Jerusalem to face his Passion, Jesus goes to Bethany, where his friend Lazarus is lying in his tomb. Jesus weeps with Mary and Martha as they mourned the death of Lazarus. Jesus weeps with us too. His compassion for us brings us comfort.
And, in times of trial, we recall the Passion of Jesus. The Passion is not only a series of events that happened in time and space, celebrated in Holy Week. The Passion of Jesus is for all time, for every day.
Perhaps we suffer from some physical condition which limits us. Think of the physical suffering that Jesus endured during his Passion; he is with us in our pain, to comfort us and give us courage, hope and patience.
Perhaps we are isolated because of circumstances, or because we have been rejected, slighted or misjudged. Jesus grieved over his rejection by Jerusalem; he was subject to the mockery of religious leaders, soldiers and the crowd. And he was falsely condemned to death. There is no state of humiliation or loneliness where Jesus is not present, to bring us relief.
Think of his abandonment, at his arrest, by the men disciples, his close friends. Are we grieved because of a damaged or broken relationship? Jesus is with us in our sorrow and bewilderment. And his Spirit of Truth is working for renewal, even though we cannot see this at the moment.
Easter joy is not only a sure hope in life eternal in fellowship with God, in the glory of God, wonderful and awesome though that hope is. Easter joy is not only knowing that Jesus is the Way to eternal life, gladdening and real though that knowledge is. Easter joy is certainly rejoicing that Jesus is for us, but also rejoicing that Jesus is with us.
This is a point that Sam Wells emphasizes in much or his writing. For the ‘being with’ of Jesus means we are in relationship with him, now in the present. He is intimately here, now in the present. He is in us, abides in us, as he promised.
Faith in his abiding presence brings a ray of light to pierce any shadows that oppress us. Faith in his abiding presence enables us, whatever our circumstance, to remain an Easter people.
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Organ Voluntary
An unexpected voluntary!:
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Today’s hymn
Jerusalem the golden:
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Music from Matthew
At the offertory today Sophie will sing the alto aria from J.S. Bach’s substantial cantata no.75; it was the first piece he wrote in his new post as Kapellmeister at the Thomaskirche, Leipzig, and first performed there in 1723.
‘Jesus macht mich geistlich reich’ by J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Jesus makes me spiritually rich. If I can embrace his spirit, I will long for nothing more; for my life will grow with it. Jesus makes me spiritually rich.
The Netherlands Bach Society, Damien Guillon (alto), Sigiswald Kuijken (conductor)
https://youtu.be/CVigm_9XHj0?t=1259
During communion, another alto aria, composed in 1725 later in Bach’s tenure at the Thomaskirche, forms part of his cantata for Reformation Day (although the texts are not related to any particular Sunday). In the recording that follows here, a boy alto from the Thomanerchor Leipzig sings this aria, just as boys would have sung the soprano and alto solos when J.S. Bach was in charge.
God is our sun and shield! Therefore our grateful spirit praises the kindness with which he cares for his little flock. For he wants to continue to protect us although our enemies sharpen their arrows
and a blasphemous dog now barks.
‘Gott ist unser Sonn’ und Schild’ from Cantata no.79
Thomanerchor Leipzig, Georg Christoph Biller (director)
https://youtu.be/gUtyci2F2tg?t=300
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A Reflection on Barbara’s Reflection
Barbara begins her Reflection today with the words, ‘We are an Easter people.’ This immediately reminded me of my Deacons’ Retreat, nearly 28 years ago which was led by the wise old Fr. Patrick Tuft. One of the things which he said which stayed with me was, ‘We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song!’
Reading Barbara’s Reflection, I looked up the phrase and found this interesting little article:
Who really said, “we are an Easter people, Alleluia is our song”? (aleteia.org)
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The Power of Daily Prayer
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Some of you may be aware that the Dean of Canterbury, the Very Revd. Dr. Robert Willis, who retired at the beginning of this week, became something of an internet celebrity during the days of the pandemic. Here, he reflects on the experience of saying Morning Prayer on-line during this period, in the context of a broader reflection on the place of daily prayer in our times:
Daily Prayer: An ancient tradition for modern times - YouTube
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The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
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As many of you will know the official celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will take place between Thursday 2nd June and Sunday 5th June 2022.
Here at St. Anne’s, there will be a peal of bells on Saturday 4th, and on Sunday 5th a Festive Eucharist at 11am, followed by the ‘Big Lunch.’
The ‘Big Lunch’ will be celebrated all over the country and we shall have a Jubilee Shared Lunch, hopefully outside the church. Bring some ‘Jubilee’ food to share and invite your families, friends and neighbours. Don’t let people be alone this Jubilee weekend. I especially want you to invite those who might be.
Platinum Jubilee Pudding:
You may have seen that there has been a Jubilee Pudding Competition (now closed to entries) organised by Fortnum and Mason. There will be a special programme on the BBC in the next couple of weeks to reveal the winner. But what would your entry have been and what will you bring to the ‘Big Lunch?’ (I have only just had an idea, so will have to see if it works!)
A Jubilee Recipe:
Here’s a relatively simple recipe, from Nadiya Hussain, for aubergine with a ‘Coronation Chicken’ inspired dressing:
Nadiya_recipe (platinumjubilee.gov.uk)
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I woke up very early one morning this week and this verse came to mind as I listened to the dawn chorus. The verse itself, in isolation, is rich for meditation but so is the whole psalm. You might like to read it sometime this week?
I also reflected, in recent days, and as we have done before, on how ‘my world’ has got smaller. I mostly remain in the parish, walk to Archway or South End Green or Camden. I could count on one hand the number of times I have been into town in the last two years, and I have been to Switzerland twice in the same period. ‘I should do something about this,’ I said to myself and then immediately thought of Julian of Norwich who saw the whole of creation in a hazelnut in the palm of her hand! Perhaps, I should not do anything about it but watch ‘like a sparrow on a rooftop.’
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Stanley Tucci, Julia Childs, Ina Garten and Shakshuka
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I think that I have previously commended ‘Stanley Tucci – Searching for Italy,’ on the BBC a few weeks ago. He has also made a few gently amusing and mildly sardonic videos from home. In this one he cooks ‘Eggs in purgatory’ which is clearly an Italian version of the north African breakfast dish of Shakshuka, although he omits two essential, to my mind, ingredients, chilli and red peppers. So he here is, followed by a traditional version of Shakshuka, with some discussion of variations:
Stanley Tucci Cooks: Eggs in Purgatory - YouTube
Shakshuka | Basics with Babish - YouTube
I hadn’t realised that this year is the centenary of the birth of Julia Childs (remember Meryl Streep in the film ‘Julie and Julia,’ directed by Norah Ephron? Also, starring Stanley Tucci as the husband of Julia Childs). I came across this charming conversation between Tucci and Ina Garten, ‘The Barefoot Contessa,’ and America’s answer to Delia Smith, talking about Julia Childs, the film and their shared love of food:
The Julia Jubilee: Ina Garten and Stanley Tucci In Conversation - YouTube
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