Hillside Parishes Magazine

July 2004 - Knowing the Word of the Lord

Further to last month’s article, the Church of England has an ongoing need to spread the Word of God if it is to grow and to have meaning in people’s lives. It is not good enough to have Jesus Christ known as someone “who went about doing good”. This is as quoted by both his near contemporary the historian Josephus and Luke in the beginning of Acts as a general entrée about Jesus. So it is hardly surprising that Christianity is usurped or hijacked by humanism. That is an easy option without having to make the effort of studying and taking on board the Word of God as embodied in Jesus. 

When the literary skills of this country were low the understanding and knowledge of the bible was high. Everybody knew the Bible stories by heart, Bible phrases and expressions were part of everyday language, the churches had walls and windows depicting Bible stories and characters. Added to that there was one common liturgy in the Prayer Book and one English version of the Bible eventually, though derived from different translations over some two centuries: Wycliffe, Tynedale and Coverdale mainly. The great bible was 1539, and it was chained to church lecterns!

Nowadays we boast a babble of translations that would confuse the Tower of Babel. No one seems to read them and there is no longer a common consensus of the basics. Scholarship may have teased out more meaning and made commentaries more gripping, but the Word of God has ceased to be a common backbone. Even a preacher offers, in the end, his own version and understanding – but at least some will hear it!

It is a slow process producing sculpture that is an illustration or comment about a Bible character or story. I hope to spend the summer doing more to illustrate something of our worship and bible study. Currently Elijah is at the top of the list. This is really a distraction, to rework the male figure as a study before returning to the theme of the Stations of the Cross. On this, I am about half-way. Then there is the self-expression of Felix, always a delight and entertaining – and containing something of “suffering little children to come unto me”.

We all need to do more to encourage a wider knowledge of the Word of God. Parables, stories, sayings from Proverbs, and more besides, all combine to illustrate life, language and our leanings. (There is always a teaching element and often a moral contained therein.) At home and at school, at bedtime, in the car and in the church as well are many opportunities to expand and challenge our repertoire. Do please rise to the occasion. The more we spread the Word of God, the more it will influence lives.

Also, we need to make more room for Prayer. Having been brought up on Compline (not my favourite service) as a suitable closing for P.C.C.s, I encounter a certain opposition to its length. Even though I have shortened it to its better highlights, and focused on the familiar that we can all share. Like all liturgy we need to use it to be familiar with it and more used to it. Certainly P.C.C.s need to pray together and even take time out for a day or half-day away. So I have come up with a Celtic style closing blessing to summarise our work and encourage our endeavours:

"May the creativity of the Father draw us into his planning and vision to build his Kingdom:

May the sacrifice of the Son cut off from us all that hinders the building of the Kingdom:

May the energy of the Spirit flow through us to motivate us and help us recognise and construct what is positive in the Kingdom.

May the peace of god the Father go with you and remain with you through the charity of the Son, and the spirit of forgiveness release you, and the Blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit keep you and sustain you.”

Every Blessing and a greater awareness of the Word of God be with you …

The magazine of the parishes of Boltby, Borrowby, Cowesby, Felixkirk, Kepwick, Kirby Knowle, Knayton, Leake & "The Siltons". Also circulated in Upsall, Thirlby & Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe.
The Vicar in charge is Rev.Toddy Hoare,
The Vicarage, Moor Road, Knayton, THIRSK, YO7 4AZ Tel: 01845 537277
Contributions always welcome, deadline 2nd Monday in the month
Editor Curtiss Cottage, South Kilvington, Thirsk 01845 522739