From the Registers

Wedding
6th April. Felixkirk. Laurie Scatchard and Sylvia Williams, both of Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe - attended by a throng of grandchildren!
Funerals:
25th March. Leake St Mary. Ruth Oldfield (formerly Hardie), 89, who had lived in Borrowby before her first husband died.
8th April Leake St Mary. Catherine Mackie, sister of late Chris Kidson.

May 2002 - Contemporary Events
"O Lord in thy light may we see light"

PORTIA: Then must the Jew be merciful.
SHYLOCK: On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.
PORTIA: The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless'd;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above his sceptred sway,
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself,
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That in the course of justice none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy,
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. Merchant of Venice Act 4, Scene 1.

Shakespeare's dialogue would read as true today as then, if you consider the situation today in the Holy Land. Portia in disguise defends her new husband's great friend, and her theology would read akin to Paul's about justice, mercy and salvation. Shylock wanted his 1lb.of flesh and would yield to no mercy. Having been defeated in court his adversaries showed him no mercy nor the example of mercy they craved of him at the start. In Israel we have the mailed fist hammering the stone-throwers with all the indignance the Americans showed after September 11th, yet forgetting that both States were spawned on the back of Terrorism in efforts to break free and establish their own identity and independence. However, the hypocrisy of Israel forgets that they now mete out what they experienced in the past, which equates with ethnic cleansing. Even when I did a study tour in the '80s Apartheid was being levelled at Israel about their treatment of the Palestinians and their incursions into Palestinian territory to expand their own settlements.

Now they have gone a notch or two tighter. America appears to turn a blind eye to the truth, perhaps for two reasons: one is that the U.S. gives so much aid to Israel that it almost makes her the 54th State: two is that America is very remote from the area and has a history of not seeing further than her own horizons - this also includes something of the need to court the Jewish vote back home. When I heard a Rabbi preach at the York Minster legal service many years ago, there was a lot of Old Testament. Much was made about mercy, more still about righteousness and justice, especially in the wake of the Holocaust at Clifford's Fort in medieval times. No mention of forgiveness. That is New Testament material, the legacy of the Cross and Resurrection. God did not return to smite men but to encourage them. We live the same denial now, as Israel carries on regardless of U.S presidents, because they are not hit where it hurts, in the pocket, by stopping Aid.

 America has had little dealing with the Arab mind over the years and the Arabs are one nation that has not been subject to the U.K. either - though we have worked closely with them since oil was discovered! God was merciful in the O.T., slow to anger. Yes, Israel has a right to defend against terrorism, though her provocation of a people with no weapons has driven them to desperate measures that the Muslim world needs to be clearer to condemn as not a valid teaching in the KORAN. Politics do not encourage justice and certainly make no room for forgiveness. Salvation isn't won by the sword either, but our prayers are for mercy, for harmony, for peace, for shalom ................. 

So back to Portia. Faith is the key. For Easter, people's faith begets salvation. Post Easter, do we accept and understand God's purposes through the Cross any better? Are we strong enough to pray for others? Those who live by the sword will die by the sword. It is difficult to pray for people with closed minds, as Northern Ireland has shown. We are challenged, but we must PERSEVERE. 
At the bottom line, we pray mercy will season justice for all who comfort others and cannot settle their differences nor reconcile their purposes, For us, the Kingdom of God transcends the realities .... may Ascension raise you to higher places,

TH

KEEPING FAITH IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

This is a series of events designed to encourage rural partnerships in the North East. Originally planned for the Spring of 2001, the events were to mark 10 years since the Archbishops’ Commission on Rural Areas Report. The events were postponed for one year .........

Wednesday 1st May Ushaw College, Durham, 5.30 for 6.00 to 8.00 p.m.

‘What can we do about tackling Rural Social Exclusion?’

Wednesday 20th May Hexham Agricultural Mart, 5.30 for 6.00 to 8.00

‘Whither Agriculture and the Rural Economy?’

Wednesday 5th June Kirkby-in-Cleveland Church Hall, 5.30 to 8.00

‘What kind of landscape and rural environment do we want?’ Event jointly chaired by the Archbishop of York and the Abbot of Ampleforth.

Saturday 15th June at King James I Community College, Bishop Auckland

A special event titled ‘A Rural Revelation’, 10 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. with a short service of commitment to rural renewal at 12.15 p.m.

There is no charge for these events, which are open to all.

The Bishop of Whitby

POEMS AT THE PALACE

“HUMANITY AND GOD: Male and female perspectives on the divine”
(Personal Journeys into Spirituality through the eyes of the poets)
Guest Chairman: Nigel Forde

THURSDAY 25th APRIL THURSDAY 9th MAY
THURSDAY 2nd MAY THURSDAY 16th MAY
7.30 p.m. at BISHOPTHORPE PALACE

£16 ALL-SESSION TICKET  £4-50 SINGLE SESSION  includes wine

Tickets and further information from:
The Reverend F.A.R.MINAY, Tel. 01904 - 744213

 

 

The magazine of the parishes of Boltby, Borrowby, Cowesby, Felixkirk, Kepwick, Kirby Knowle, Knayton, Leake and "The Siltons". Also circulated in Upsall C.P., Thirlby C.P. and Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe. The Vicar in charge is Rev.Toddy Hoare, at The Vicarage, Moor Road, Knayton, THIRSK, YO7 4AZ Telephone: 01845 537277.