From the Registers

Baptism Sunday 4th January. Leake St.Mary. Sophie Alexandra Holt, infant daughter of Andy and Angela Holt of Knayton. Rev.Liz Hoare officiated.

What is so off-putting about organised religion for so many people? The cult of the self has taken over. This means that some find solace, relief, benefit and outlet in spiritual direction, and for others a retreat into mysticism in the hope of some inner expression. But probably for most of us it is just getting on with the self and becoming more insular and remote from the purpose of religion in the first place. Religion is not an escape. One of the first points to establish for anyone testing a vocation to the priesthood or to monastic orders is that it is not an escape route from life. Rather, our religion is an attempt to engage with the world, even if it means not being of the world. As Jesus pointed out to those who follow Him, there would be conflict, even amongst our nearest and dearest.

If we find God and develop a relationship with God, most of which is best explained and opened up by Jesus Christ, we are not alone in the world nor dead and buried afterwards. As a result any suffering we encounter and endure, whilst processed within, is shared and therefore channelled out of ourselves. Unfortunately many modern therapies like psychotherapy only succeed in turning the sufferer inwards towards the self, often under the guise of trying to put a finger on the right button. Again, many people here shun organised religion in favour of paying another professional for results - when they already have an available professional near to their doorstep, free of charge. Building up the broken-hearted is about re-integrating the person with society and therefore daily life - for life goes on …………. 

The problem is the self. Where sin takes hold is because the self is dominant, uppermost and in the way of any spiritual dialogue. Therefore in a society where "I want" is our first thought, religion is pushed to the back seat. However, "I want" therefore "I am" does not work. We need something beyond ourselves to channel, and comfort if necessary, our self into better energy. In isolation the self can do little and is precious little use to anybody else. To be fully human is to relate to other people in the past, the present and the future. We can learn by looking back, especially from the Bible, about mankind's walk with God. We need to look to the future too, not only to leave the world - God's Creation - in a better state but also to incorporate an ongoing spiritual foundation and live the example and purpose that Jesus set. As Paul said on the Areopagus: "It is God who directs the lives of his creatures ….." (Job 12 v.10). "In him we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17 v.28). There must be more dimension to each one of us than just a little self, otherwise Jesus would not claim to be "the resurrection and the life" (John 11 v.25). In this age we need to reach out, we need other people and they need us. In the church we go some way to sharing each other's needs, but also we try and fathom out more about life and therefore about ourselves. If we are that pre-occupied with our self, then Church should be a very interesting and illuminating trip!

TH

(Come to think of it - during "my time at Camberley" (some years ago now!) - I remember a young lady talking to me: "My husband just slumps in front of the TV - I could shake him - he does not know what he is missing at church!" Any comment? Ed.)

CALLING ALL DRIVERS Don't wait, as I did, to have an accident before contacting the Institute of Advanced Motorists and take their test. Everyone can benefit, from older people, who may have taken their test many years ago and may have acquired bad habits, to younger people. There are special deals for Under 25s. There are also many good deals on Insurances, discounts on AA membership and savings on Airport Parking etc. Good drivers can benefit. You might even learn something!

The Skill for Life Scheme, costing £85, includes associate membership, the essential handbook "Pass your Advanced Driving Test", the test fee and, if you pass, Full Membership of the IAM (refunded in the unlikely event of failure). You are allocated an Observer who will accompany you on as many drives as needed. The average is Six - I needed at least Ten! Many Observers are serving or retired Police who give their time free.

Statistics have shown that IAM members are 50-75% less likely to be involved in an accident. The Northallerton group meet once a month at Leeming, with interesting talks and demonstrations. Please contact the Secretary, Tom Vickers, on 01748 823288 (home) or 01609 789360 (work) - or ring me, Judy Dinwiddie, at 01845 537340. Above all, be safer - and enjoy your driving!

"So what a contrast (to my previous parish in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire) that I should now be chaplain to the Bluebell Railway with its steam engines that are not allowed to go more than 25 m.p.h.

Perhaps there's a moral here that has something to do with hares and tortoises. The important thing about any transport system is not so much the speed at which you travel, but whether or not you arrive at the destination for which you set out. This is what our spiritual journey is all about. It is a journey that we all have to take at different speeds, and in different ways, but our final destination is to arrive in safety in the heavenly places where God calls us to be with him forever."

Revd Timothy Rawdon-Mogg, St Giles' Church, Horsted Keynes, Sussex. (from Bluebell News, Winter 2003) PS This has nothing to do with the "somewhere in Sussex" quote in the January HPM. However, it was perhaps appropriate that the chaplain's first task, at the Bluebell Railway, was to bless a Great Western engine! Ed.