detail of the East Window in the Church of St Eadmer, Admarsh-in-Bleasdale, North Lancashire
In my study I have a wonderful framed photograph of part of the East Window in Bleasdale Church, Lancashire, where I had the honour of being Vicar. It is a magnificent image of Christ the King, seated on a throne, holding the Orb and raising his hand in blessing.
The photo Including the full triptych of accompanying angels was given to me as part of my leaving present mainly because I had often told the people there that when I left I would be taking the window with me. One of the churchwardens worried that I might carry out my threat, so he took magnificent photographs and had them framed!
I had gazed on it for ten years and it still revealed new things to me. It speaks of Christ’s Majesty and Glory and of His Victory over Death. His hand in blessing is extended to the whole world which is depicted as a rainbow flowing from the throne. Above the crowned head are the letters IHS – a Greek symbol for the Holy Name of Jesus – and at his feet there is an open bible with the letters Alpha and Omega – the beginning and the end of the Greek Alphabet, which is from the end of the Book of Revelation – I am the Alpha and Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
The whole thing is rather splendid and in keeping with today’s Festival of Christ the King. Traditionally this is kept on the last Sunday of the Church Year to sum up all that has gone before as we have been led by the Church to contemplate the life of Christ – the saving events of His birth, his life and teaching, his death and resurrection; His ascension and the giving of the Spirit at Pentecost and the way in which Christ has been lived out and witnessed to in the early Church. This Church year which has taught us so much about the things of God ends with Christ’s enthronement as Lord and King when everything is gathered up by our Risen, Ascended, Glorified Christ to the throne of heaven. Because it has been a difficult period in which to conduct our worship, our journey with Jesus Christ has been particularly and essentially significant and a reminder that we are constantly held in the Love of God, a love which is eternal.
For me the figure of Christ the King in Bleasdale Church sums all that up so I just wanted to share it with you.
A reflection by my friend Gill Henwood inspired by the area around her home in the Lake District. The reflection is illustrated by a poem she has written which is quoted here in sections.The photos are by Gill.
All around us the heavens have given us dark blue grey clouds bringing rain, hail and mists. The natural world is entering the winter, ripping leaves from the golden, bronze trees. Creation is showering a bumper harvest of acorns in Crag Wood, the mossy carpet peppered with plump seeds. All life is sensing shorter days, darkness growing. Sunlight spotlights the bracken fells. Mists scatter sun into rainbows. In a hailstorm high up on the fells, a poet* reflects:
How fleeting is a rainbow fractured hues wavelengths dazzling sunlight breaks through rain. Cloud edges scatter laser white arcing colours ‘compass all life beneath.
Long ago, in a time of devastation, the sign of the rainbow was God’s promise to Noah and his family that the world would be renewed. The rainbow brought hope in the darkness of the storm. Courage to endure, perseverance to wait, solace to trust. The gift of the rainbow came in the darkest storm. Yet, the poet reflects:
How fleeting is a hailstorm stinging ice needles freezing crystals melt dis/appear. Cloud mists soften warm renew dancing waters re/fresh all life beneath
The story of the flood, of Noah’s family and the animals shut up in the ark, is so long ago. Yet now a new storm rages around us in the coronavirus pandemic, rumbling around the whole world. We are within another hailstorm, seeking shelter from the stinging ice; seeking protection from disease, from isolation, from hardship.
We too long for hope, for renewal, for the world to find a safe future. People around our world long to ‘come out of the great ordeal’ – this crisis we encounter in our lives, as described in the book of Revelation 7:9-17. The hailstorm is sharp, acute, real, sending us fleeing into shelter. We are in the midst of another month’s lockdown under the storm of the pandemic. Yet the psalms tell us storms will pass. The scriptures give us psalms of lament from those in times of trouble long ago, such as Psalm 34.
‘I sought the Lord and he answered me/ and delivered me out of all my terror… I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me/ and saved me from all my troubles’ (v 4,6).
In this time, we can turn to the Bible and re-read the story of Noah. We can pray the psalms of lament and sing in our hearts the psalms of thanksgiving for God’s promise of hope and renewal. Jesus and his disciples knew these scriptures, heard and prayed and sang them in their times of crisis.
Jesus gives us the sign of the rainbow as he teaches the crowds about God’s blessing. He is up the mountain, atop a fell, with his followers and the curious crowd about him. As the rainbow gives us hope in the storm , when light breaks through and kisses the rains into glorious colours, Jesus gives us hope in God’s promise of blessing.
All who are suffering and struggling are called into God’s shelter, the safety of heavenly love and care. Jesus’s good news brings God’s care for all his children into our crisis too. When we turn to him, we hear God’s promise of comfort, of provision for our needs, of mercy, peace and justice. When we turn to Jesus we see him living God’s way through the crises of our lives, even through suffering and death, as he endures. Jesus trusts God the Father, the creator, source of life and love, to deliver him from evil. He gives his followers the prayer we call ‘the Lord’s Prayer’ – we too pray, ‘deliver us from evil’, deliver us from the crises of our lives, from this crisis.
‘I sought the Lord and he answered me/ and delivered me out of all my terror… I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me/ and saved me from all my troubles’ (v 4,6).
As we share holy communion , we join Noah and his family who trusted God, who received the sign of the rainbow, the gift of God’s promise to save us. We join the psalmist and all who have lamented in poem and song. In the quiet of our hearts we sing hymns of hope in God our creator, in thanksgiving for Jesus our saviour, in trust that God’s Holy Spirit is with us now. We join the saints throughout time, praying, ‘thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.’
Let us trust in God today, during lockdown and beyond. Let us turn to the story of Noah, to the psalms, to the gospels of Jesus’ good news of God’s love and protection. Let us find God’s shelter in our hearts as well as in our daily lives, and support one another as God guides and prompts us day by day. Let us be open to God’s Holy Spirit, inspiring us and empowering us to endure.
Once more from the felltop a sudden rainbow dazzled, and the poet reflected.
How fleeting is God’s Presence glimpsed sensed here surging power jolts wakes calls. Cloud hides glory
God’s revealed rainbow Spirit, blessing all life beneath.
We may only sense God’s presence as fleeting, but the rainbow /and the gospel Jesus brings us / are signs that God is always with us, Emmanuel, dwelling among us, the Spirit hovering to bless us. In this time, let us turn anew to find solace in the scriptures. As we, our nation and our world lament, let us turn anew to God for comfort, for shelter, for hope, / for Jesus saves us in our crisis/ as we answer his call and turn to God’s love. As we, day by day, seek God’s love, may the Holy Spirit warm our hearts and give us inner calm, to endure, to give hope to others around us, and to aid any who we encounter who are in need. God is present with us, throughout time, every moment. May we turn anew to him in our hearts today.
Another picture reflection from my friend Joyce Smith.
“This little cygnet is trying to use his voice on behalf of others!
This year is the 40th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Oscar Romero, beatified in 2015. In 2018 Pope Francis declared him a saint.
As Archbishop of San Salvador he spoke up for the ordinary people who were living in increasing poverty whilst the ruling elite gained more and more political and economic power. There was civil unrest which led to the military murdering many to such a degree that Oscar Romero appealed to them to stop killing their own people. “No soldieris obliged to obeyan order which goes against the law of God,” he said. . “I beseech you. I beg you. I command you! In the name of God: ‘Cease the repression!” He had become the voice of the voiceless and, as such was a target for Assassination.
At 6.30pm, on Monday 24 March 1980, he was celebrating Mass in the chapel of the Divine Providence hospital. A car pulled up outside, and a single gunman fired a single shot from the doorway straight into Oscar Romero’s heart. Moments earlier, the Archbishop had been speaking about how “those who surrender to the service of the poor through love of Christ, will live like the grain of wheat that dies…”. He knew it was likely and had warned, I must tell you, as a Christian, I do not believe in death without resurrection. If I am killed, I shall arise in the Salvadoran people.
A statue to this modern martyr, by the sculptor John Roberts, was unveiled in Westminster Abbey in July 1998. At the ceremony of canonization, Pope Francis wore the blood-stained belt that Oscar Romero was wearing when he was shot.
I’ve been very busy lately catching up on my sleep. Though I no longer go ‘clubbing’ as they’ve all closed down because of Covid, I still patrol the steets most evenings. I am a member of Neighbourhood Catwatch though our main watching is of dogs and foxes. It can be very dangerous work.
When I am not out on the streets, I have been turning my attention to Christmas. I have made a very long list of things that I find essential at this time of year. The important things, I’ve found, is to make as big a list as possible knowing that the Servants who look after me are usually prudent (their word) or mean (my word).
I find that they are wise to the fact that items put at the top of the list are not as important or as expensive as those at the bottom of the list. In the past they have worked downwards from the top and they never reach the things I really want. So, this year, I have placed my ‘desirable’ items right in the middle! Clever ploy, I think.
But you mustn’t believe that all I think about is myself.
I have been searching for the ‘purrfect’ gift to give to my servants. Surfing on Amazon I found just the thing! So, I’m sharing it with you so that you can leave the details lying around for your cat to see. I believe there are similar items for dogs, rabbits and parrots but you can imagine that I am less interested in them.
So here it is, the purrfect gift for our slaves to purchase as a reminder of the their need to keep quiet during these cold months.
I look foward to speaking with you again once I have caught up on my sleep.
Mr G's Ponderings 