Hillside Parish Magazine Extracts
September 2005

September 2005

Do you ever protest?!! Maybe you do, but do not realise that as a church attender you are making a protest. Might you go further and make some kind of stand at other times? And, oh, yes, about what might you be protesting? Those who make use of the Sabbath are in fact protesting against the servitude of work and the worship of money. The Romans, after all, did have a ten-day week (early decimalisation?). The Sabbath in Hebrew means "a day to catch one's breath". It is a day of restoration, of breathing more easily without having to labour (though lawn mowing may tire some even if regarded as recreational).

If we turn to Genesis, God did not get out of bed on the 7th Day: He rested. He had seen that his handiwork on the other six days was good. That was more of a sense of looking forward, not back, because that work had been good. Creation was on course. Ahead there were timings for promises to be made and fulfilled: a focal point in time with Jesus Christ being human and the Holy Spirit being breathed out. There is a certain deeper significance in "catching one's breath" if Holy Spirit is to be breathed out later.

It is worth noting that while God took his ease he did not worship (himself) and so set no precedent for Sunday worship. This was a church response, perfectly valid, but one that one needs to understand and agree with if it is to have any efficacy for God and also for oneself. After all, Jesus said, in reply to the Pharisees: "The Sabbath was made for man not man for the sabbath". Mark 2,v.27. It was no use imposing more burdens and work upon the hard-working man. If man was to worship it needed to be of his own free will to make it of more value and significance to God. Furthermore Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath as Son of Man, Mark 2,v.28, which raises the stakes for the Christian over use of the Sabbath.

So worship should be refreshing and look forward. Rather than wringing our hands over the past week we should be preparing oneself for the week ahead, so that what we undertake is conducive to building up the Kingdom of God and continues Christ's saving work amongst others of a new generation.

The same is true of Harvest Thanksgiving. It is not old hat but a suitable occasion, based on a natural cycle, to give Thanks to God for all He provides and for this creation. In turn that should spark other occasions for worship to reflect Thanksgiving. So if you're feeling low and empty, use the Sabbath to give Thanks and build yourself up for the week ahead! Once again: Come ye Thankful People, Come!

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK RESULT

We now have a breakdown of the amounts given in the Hillside parishes towards the final Thirsk district Christian Aid Week total of £7,147. People in Borrowby gave £294, Felixkirk £58, Knayton £110, The Siltons £138, Sutton under Whitestonecliffe £214, Thirlby £429 and Upsall £30. Gift Aided donations will add a significant figure to these figures.
Thank you! Paul Rathbone, Thirsk Christian Aid Group