In her Christmas Message, The Rt Reverend Cherry Vann, Bishop of Monmouth comments that “One of the most remarkable facts about the Christmas story is that the whole event is so small and hidden and seemingly irrelevant. God came to us in the smallest of ways.” She reminds us that, it is in “our smallness, our hiddenness and our apparent irrelevance that God comes; and not just to us, but through us to the whole world. It’s in the small acts of kindness and compassion, the hidden gestures of generosity and selflessness, the seemingly irrelevant lives of goodness and faithfulness,… Read more »
I think you have a genuine point, but as Christians we also have to say what is right and wrong. It’s perhaps the most difficult balance to find. It’s one I personally need to work on, and I thank you for your comment. Something I need to pray about.
I hear your point, David, but I disagree. I don’t think David H has missed the point at all. Much depends on perspective. Some may be content to stay with ‘gentle Jesus meek and mild’, and if that brings them comfort should they be hurting or an ideal against which they wish to measure their behaviour and find a restored gentleness and grace in their actions, then I see nothing wrong in it at all. Others may look to the redemptive power of radical living inherent in the small and concealed actually being the greatest gift that brings freedom to… Read more »
I am not hitting anyone David. I was asking Lambeth Palace to listen to those “gentle and generous words” not to score a point but as a plea for it to change course. I and many others feel utter despair at the state of my church and the last straw from my point of view was the appointment of a former head of MI5 to chair the committee to appoint the next Archbishop. There is nothing “gentle and generous” about our security services and the appointment gives completely the wrong message. The very best way of achieving a “gentle and… Read more »
The more you tell me of +Cherry Vann, the more impressed I am. What we think of as small or insignificant might be big and important to our Lord God, and vice versa.
As I think you imply, but don’t explicitly say, if various bishops and archbishops truly understood they wouldn’t be so slow to step back: they are clinging to something which doesn’t really matter.
Perhaps a small act of compassion and kindness would be to send greetings to Lambeth Palace, and pray God’s blessing on ++Justin and all who work there. And to send generosity and goodness to victims of abuse and suffering.
And the same point can be made about the events of what we call Holy Week. It was a minor irritation to Pilate, a sideshow, in which Jesus was marginalised and eliminated. Yet in the marginal figure on the cross we claim that God’s presence is most sharply and fully revealed. And according to the biblical record only the disciples saw the risen Lord . Very small scale and apparently away from the mainstream.
Susannah
12 hours ago
Cherry Vann’s Christmas Message is precious – “one of the most remarkable facts about the Christmas story is that the whole event is so small and hidden” – and thank you, David, for flagging it up. It’s also apposite for me. I have decided to cease posting on Thinking Anglicans and other Christian pages because it’s no longer congruent with the call I feel to the hidden life and also, I realise it is damaging me psychologically. I am Carmelite in spirituality, and for 14 years now I have felt called to be hidden in prayer with my God. I… Read more »
So long Susannah, and thank you for your thoughtful contributions to what in some ways might almost be seen as a convent in itself. Your openmindedness has made it less of a closed community however. Blessings on all your journeys
Thank you,
I took have been wondering about reducing my time here – although not completely eliminating, and recommitting to Franciscan ways not Camelite.
I confess I don’t think I know as much about the Camelite order so I have now looked them up.
I pray you (and all who feel similarly called) will continue to feel blessed in your relationship with Jesus as you see him “with the lonely and forgotten, the sick and the dying, the lost and the misfits.” – a very humble yet noble calling.
Dear Susannah, Can I add my own best wishes and thanks as you move on from Thinking Anglicans and back into a quieter more reflective life. Edward Said talked about the Palestinian people being denied permission to narrate their own history and experience. I think the same thing can be said about LGBTQ people in the church. So often we LGBTQ people find that our version of our own history and experience is denied or ignored, and an alternative version is imposed by by straight people – even well meaning straight people. And so your ability to challenge that and… Read more »
In her Christmas Message, The Rt Reverend Cherry Vann, Bishop of Monmouth comments that “One of the most remarkable facts about the Christmas story is that the whole event is so small and hidden and seemingly irrelevant. God came to us in the smallest of ways.” She reminds us that, it is in “our smallness, our hiddenness and our apparent irrelevance that God comes; and not just to us, but through us to the whole world. It’s in the small acts of kindness and compassion, the hidden gestures of generosity and selflessness, the seemingly irrelevant lives of goodness and faithfulness,… Read more »
Doesn’t it rather miss the point to use these gentle and generous words to hit someone else with?
Isn’t your rebuke doing the same?
I think you have a genuine point, but as Christians we also have to say what is right and wrong. It’s perhaps the most difficult balance to find. It’s one I personally need to work on, and I thank you for your comment. Something I need to pray about.
I hear your point, David, but I disagree. I don’t think David H has missed the point at all. Much depends on perspective. Some may be content to stay with ‘gentle Jesus meek and mild’, and if that brings them comfort should they be hurting or an ideal against which they wish to measure their behaviour and find a restored gentleness and grace in their actions, then I see nothing wrong in it at all. Others may look to the redemptive power of radical living inherent in the small and concealed actually being the greatest gift that brings freedom to… Read more »
I am not hitting anyone David. I was asking Lambeth Palace to listen to those “gentle and generous words” not to score a point but as a plea for it to change course. I and many others feel utter despair at the state of my church and the last straw from my point of view was the appointment of a former head of MI5 to chair the committee to appoint the next Archbishop. There is nothing “gentle and generous” about our security services and the appointment gives completely the wrong message. The very best way of achieving a “gentle and… Read more »
The more you tell me of +Cherry Vann, the more impressed I am. What we think of as small or insignificant might be big and important to our Lord God, and vice versa.
As I think you imply, but don’t explicitly say, if various bishops and archbishops truly understood they wouldn’t be so slow to step back: they are clinging to something which doesn’t really matter.
Perhaps a small act of compassion and kindness would be to send greetings to Lambeth Palace, and pray God’s blessing on ++Justin and all who work there. And to send generosity and goodness to victims of abuse and suffering.
And the same point can be made about the events of what we call Holy Week. It was a minor irritation to Pilate, a sideshow, in which Jesus was marginalised and eliminated. Yet in the marginal figure on the cross we claim that God’s presence is most sharply and fully revealed. And according to the biblical record only the disciples saw the risen Lord . Very small scale and apparently away from the mainstream.
Cherry Vann’s Christmas Message is precious – “one of the most remarkable facts about the Christmas story is that the whole event is so small and hidden” – and thank you, David, for flagging it up. It’s also apposite for me. I have decided to cease posting on Thinking Anglicans and other Christian pages because it’s no longer congruent with the call I feel to the hidden life and also, I realise it is damaging me psychologically. I am Carmelite in spirituality, and for 14 years now I have felt called to be hidden in prayer with my God. I… Read more »
So long Susannah, and thank you for your thoughtful contributions to what in some ways might almost be seen as a convent in itself. Your openmindedness has made it less of a closed community however. Blessings on all your journeys
Susannah, thank you for all you’ve contributed here over the years.Have a happy Christmas, and blessings on your new start in January.
Susannah, thank you for all your postings. Peace be with you and I wish you well for your journey ahead.
Bless you, Susannah, and thank you for all that has been.
Susannah, thank you for sharing of yourself on this site. I have valued your contributions. Go in peace.
Thank you,
I took have been wondering about reducing my time here – although not completely eliminating, and recommitting to Franciscan ways not Camelite.
I confess I don’t think I know as much about the Camelite order so I have now looked them up.
I pray you (and all who feel similarly called) will continue to feel blessed in your relationship with Jesus as you see him “with the lonely and forgotten, the sick and the dying, the lost and the misfits.” – a very humble yet noble calling.
God is Love, Amen.
Dear Susannah, Can I add my own best wishes and thanks as you move on from Thinking Anglicans and back into a quieter more reflective life. Edward Said talked about the Palestinian people being denied permission to narrate their own history and experience. I think the same thing can be said about LGBTQ people in the church. So often we LGBTQ people find that our version of our own history and experience is denied or ignored, and an alternative version is imposed by by straight people – even well meaning straight people. And so your ability to challenge that and… Read more »