4 June 2020
There is an interesting definition used for the days following the end of the Easter to Pentecost season in the Church year. They are called “Ordinary Time”. It made me smile on Monday when I read in the lectionary – the daily list of bible readings – “Ordinary Time resumes today”.
We may feel that our times are still “out of the ordinary” with continuing Coronavirus Restrictions, deep unrest resurfacing here and elsewhere in the world over the ways people of different skin colour or ethnic origin are treated, even the way a Spring heat wave has turned into a Summer cold draught. People talk about “returning to normal” with a sense of nostalgia, and in some cases a determination to make it happen. Unusual days indeed.
So, what do “ordinary” and “normal” mean when it comes to living out our lives? For me, the words convey the sense of regularity and rhythm, and about finding a good anchor for the soul. About what might be described as being “steady” without the unhelpful implication of being “boring”.
What are our life-patterns like and where do they come from? Do they bring a sense of wellbeing or do they tip us over towards instability or even chaos? I was deeply helped as a young and inexperienced Christian by the impressive lives of people I respected for their following of Christ. One of them pointed me in the direction of a book called “The Celebration of Discipline” by an author called Richard J. Foster, and despite it having such an unlikely title, it is still in print more than 40 years later (and available on Amazon and at all good bookshops as they say). Foster outlines 12 disciplines, some of which will be familiar and a few may seem rather strange. Meditation, prayer, fasting and study are the first four and these are what he calls the Inward Disciplines. Then simplicity, solitude, submission and service follow as the Outward Disciplines. Finally, there are the Corporate Disciplines, confession, worship, guidance and celebration.
The outcome of living our lives with these disciplines in place can be a greater steadiness and sense of peace even where the world around us is still in such an unsteady, out of the ordinary, place. And we are reminded that these disciplines or self-controls are not to make us feel self-satisfied; they are a way for us to be more available to others and helpful to those around us.
I hope we can find help with some of this through our current Minster offerings which include Val Fotherby’s bible series on Themes in the Book of Acts, our regular weekly service of worship, our Sunday evening “Conversations” and the special on-line gathering on Friday mornings for parents and children in “Little Fishes”. We still have our Prayer Diary for June available on the website plus all the hymns and songs that we have been offering in our worship over these lockdown weeks. And there is plenty more beside, including our Family Resources from Mandy Richardson and information about the phone line initiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury which brings us daily worship even where we don’t have a computer.
One highlight on this coming Sunday at 9am on the Church of England Website will be Archbishop Sentamu’s last public service before he retires (www.churchofengland.org/Churchonline). As a thanksgiving for his ministry we have sent a contribution to his leaving gift from the Minster and the following brief tribute, made up of themes and stories contributed by Minster Lifeline readers.
Hull Minster owes a debt of great gratitude to Archbishop Sentamu, the man full of surprises. No-one expected his speech at the launch dinner for the Development Project to end with the promise to make Holy Trinity into Hull Minster. He has kept on surprising us in small and big ways, spotting the shy Confirmation candidate, jostled out from the photo at the end, and establishing her in pride of place alongside him; appearing out of a swimming pool very early in his time here and recognised by one of our older members, also there for a dip, by his unique smile; inspiring our volunteers as a living example of what happens if we become wholly receiving of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Archbishop, you have walked and talked with us, challenged us and motivated us, helping us follow the true Light. God bless and keep you and know our gratitude for you and Margaret as he, the Light of the World, leads you onwards.
The whole Minster team send their greetings to all of our readers, whether on line or through the posted copy of Lifeline which goes out to an increasing number of those we discover don’t have access to the internet. Don’t forget to let us know if anyone would like a posted copy – contact details at the end of the edition.
In these “ordinary days”, warmest good wishes in the name of the Extraordinary Jesus Christ.
Frank White
Interim Minister.
June Prayer Diary
Daily prayer points throughout the month of June can be found here.
The Readings for this Trinity Sunday are:
Isaiah 40 verses 12 – 17 and 27 to the end
And the Prayer for the Week from the Additional Collects:
Holy God,
faithful and unchanging:
enlarge our minds with the knowledge of your truth,
and draw us more deeply into the mystery of your love,
that we may truly worship you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. AMEN.
