There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, 

a leader of the Jews. 

He came to Jesus by night and said to him, 

“Rabbi, 

we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; 

for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” 

Jesus answered him, 

“Very truly, I tell you, 

no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

Nicodemus said to him, 

“How can anyone be born after having grown old? 

Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 

Jesus answered, 

“Very truly, I tell you, 

no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 

What is born of the flesh is flesh, 

and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Do not be astonished that I said to you, 

‘You must be born from above.’

The wind blows where it chooses, 

and you hear the sound of it, 

but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. 

So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 

Nicodemus said to him,

“How can these things be?” 

Jesus answered him, 

"Are you a teacher of Israel, 

and yet you do not understand these things?

“Very truly, I tell you, 

we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; 

yet you do not receive our testimony. 

If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, 

how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 

No one has ascended into heaven 

except the one who descended from heaven, 

the Son of Man.

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, 

so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 

that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world 

that he gave his only Son, 

so that everyone who believes in him may not perish 

but may have eternal life.

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world 

to condemn the world, 

but in order that the world might be saved through him."

When the day of Pentecost had come, 

they were all together in one place. 

And suddenly from heaven there came a sound 

like the rush of a violent wind, 

and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 

Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, 

and a tongue rested on each of them. 

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit 

and began to speak in other languages, 

as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven 

living in Jerusalem. 

And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, 

because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 

Amazed and astonished, they asked, 

“Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 

And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 

Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, 

Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 

Phrygia and Pamphylia, 

Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, 

and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 

Cretans and Arabs—

in our own languages we hear them speaking 

about God’s deeds of power.” 

All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, 

“What does this mean?” 

But others sneered and said, 

“They are filled with new wine.”

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice 

and addressed them, 

“Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, 

let this be known to you, 

and listen to what I say. 

Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, 

for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 

No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

    and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

    and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

    in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

        and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above

    and signs on the earth below,

        blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness    and the moon to blood,

        before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord 

shall be saved.’

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

Jesus spoke to his disciples:

“When the Advocate comes, 

whom I will send to you from the Father, 

the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father,

he will testify on my behalf. 

You also are to testify 

because you have been with me from the beginning.

Pentecost today – a major festival, and many may feel it good and right that we have a Eucharist this morning, when often we don’t.

In the reading from Acts, we find that the disciples - we’re not sure exactly which disciples - are meeting together, still nervous following Jesus’ execution, but happy he is risen. Jesus had died and risen at Passover time. We are now at Pentecost, seven weeks after. The disciples are doing what Jesus told them to do, and prayerfully waiting together in Jerusalem for the next stage of things. It is then that they have a strange experience, ‘like wind and fire’. Some congregations will share a birthday cake today because it was at that time that the Church was born as a group who started to go out boldly and draw others in.

To understand this story, we need to look at some older stories. Firstly, Adam and Eve. A timeless story, saying, really, that the root of mankind’s problems is that we don’t work with God. Adam and Eve wanted to make their own rules, and wouldn’t cooperate when God told them not to eat the fruit. Later on in Genesis, in chapter 11, we have the story of the Tower of Babel. People again wanting to do their own thing. They might believe in God, but they weren’t going to let him be in charge. They thought that God was somewhere up the heavens. So, they said, ‘Let’s get ourselves up there too, on a level with him. We can be in charge’. To build the big tower, they had to work together. But, in the tale, God thinks, ‘I’ll put them in their place.’ He makes them all speak different languages, so they can’t work together, or build their tower.

Things in the New Testament bring something new from God, to humanity’s situation. Unlike Adam, the human Jesus did cooperate completely with the Almighty, and was at one with him. So, St Paul calls Jesus the Second Adam - and Jesus is in real history - not in a timeless story like the first Adam. Newman in the hymn which we will know, speaks of Jesus as ‘a higher gift than Grace’, refining our humanity, and writes, ‘a Second Adam to the fight and to the rescue came.’ Grace is a lifegiving relationship, with himself, that God offers us. But Jesus is a higher gift still, ‘God’s presence and his very self, and essence all divine.’

Just as Jesus reverses Adam’s disobedience, the Christian Pentecost is an absolute reversal of the Tower of Babel story. In that story we have people who, like Adam and Eve, didn’t want to work with God. At Pentecost, the disciples are waiting and praying and very much ready to work with God. In the old story of the proposed tower, language barriers appeared, but, at the Christian Pentecost, strangely, language barriers are overcome, and the Gospel starts moving out into the world.

The Church, has a special relationship with God, changing the lives of individuals, and congregations, and the Spirit works through the sacraments, but, - having said all of that - God can be active in others, especially those of goodwill, whether they know it or not, or know about him, or not. It is not always our role to bring the things of the God to a situation, but to try to glimpse where he is, there ahead of us, and then to co-operate with him.

The Spirit is a ‘he’ – or even a ‘she’ – a person, not an ‘it’. To speak of the Spirit’s presence and activity is to speak of glimpsing God’s presence and activity. ‘Glimpsing’, because we must not be too hasty in telling people exactly what God is about, which would often be to presume too much. The Church, collectively, has to try to discern what God is about, and can still sometimes get it wrong.

One big message of Pentecost is there, for our personal lives, especially if we face difficulties. Look to God patiently, wait, and pray. The same approach for a congregation, at a time of uncertainty and change.

When I was in Wales, in one Order for Communion, you ended readings not by saying, ‘this is the word of the Lord’, but, ‘Hear what the Spirit says to the Church’. A lady churchwarden, whose father had been an Archdeacon, and whose brother became a bishop, told me, ‘We don’t want that sort of thing here’! But by heaven, they needed it!

As Pentecost is something of a Birthday Party, we might end today on the light side. Two questions: ‘at what age do you stop playing with toys?’ and, ‘why am I asking this question?’ I’m asking because I don’t know! At 77, I’ve not having reached that age! So I’ve thought of a toy for Pentecost.

We don’t know exactly which of the disciples were present in the room at Pentecost. We might think, probably, the twelve apostles, but Judas had left, to be replaced by Matthias. Some think Mary might have been there, and maybe Jesus’ brothers. In a very arbitrary way, we’ll say fourteen people.

I took 14 circles of paper, half black, half white, and laid them flat, in a nice pattern. When the individuals were willing to work together and be part of a larger plan, – as the disciples were at Pentecost – then something strange can happen. The group of individuals seems less flat and ordinary, especially when the pattern is spun round!

And the circle of paper that is called to serve at the very centre of things, and to do lots of rushing round, will be the least one of all. Didn’t Jesus say something like that about how leaders in the Church should behave?

Fr Roger

1And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

2And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

3And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

6And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

7Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

8And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

9And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

13And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

In the first book, Theophilus, 

I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 

until the day when he was taken up to heaven, 

after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit 

to the apostles whom he had chosen. 

After his suffering he presented himself alive to them 

by many convincing proofs, 

appearing to them during forty days 

and speaking about the kingdom of God. 

While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, 

but to wait there for the promise of the Father. 

“This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; 

for John baptized with water, 

but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit 

not many days from now.”

So when they had come together, they asked him, 

“Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 

He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods 

that the Father has set by his own authority. 

But you will receive power 

when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; 

and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, 

in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

When he had said this, as they were watching, 

he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 

While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, 

suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 

They said, “Men of Galilee, 

why do you stand looking up toward heaven? 

This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, 

will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you;

abide in my love. 

If you keep my commandments, 

you will abide in my love, 

just as I have kept my Father’s commandments 

and abide in his love.

I have said these things to you 

so that my joy may be in you, 

and that your joy may be complete.

This morning, being the first of May, we had our Family Eucharist. We are maintaining social distancing so we cannot have every one in Church, and the Sunday School has not yet returned, although it is planned that they will come back next week. They will meet in the bubbles they are in at school in the new rooms, and then come into church for the communion and return to the rooms afterwards. This morning we had Father Roger as the celebrant, and Mrs Field gave us an update on the Sunday School and talked to us about the Gospel, her address is below.

The choir sang the hymns, but the Gloria was said by all. During communion the Choir sang the responses, and whilst the congregation were receiving the Choir sang 'Now the green blade Riseth'  as a motet.

We left in the sunshine, anticipating the rain and wind to come!

The 5th Sunday of Easter – Godparent Day

Today’s reading from St John’s Gospel is such a delightful reading for Family Service and, in normal circumstances, would be such a good reading to talk about with the help of the Sunday School members.  But, of course, we can’t do that this year. A number of you have asked why the children aren’t  leading the Intercessions or taking part in the Talk at Family Service.  The reason is the pandemic. We must abide by the Government’s general regulations regarding distancing, sanitising and the wearing of masks and we must also follow the regulations for Places of Worship.  In the recent survey that was carried out, there were questions asked about the lack of involvement of different members of the laity for the readings and the intercessions as there used to be.  The reason for this is the same.  We are required to restrict the number of voices speaking at a service to one or two and to minimise movement around the church to only that which is necessary. The churchwardens are responsible for ensuring that the church is covid secure and they feel that they should not delegate that responsibility to other sidespersons at this time and are therefore carrying out these duties themselves at each service.  We shall return to normal ‘service’ as soon as possible! And laity will be involved in services as they were before.

Sunday School is now allowed to return and we shall we restarting next week. Sunday School must follow the same regulations as those for services in Church but must also follow the regulations applicable to the school the children attend.  School is still in bubbles and so we must be. We wanted to tell you that the children will again come in to receive communion or to receive a blessing on 2nd and 4th Sundays but they will not remain in church for the end of the service as there just would not be room with social distancing in place. They will follow a one-way system into the church, to Father Roger at that altar and back out by the other door to return to the Parish Rooms.  The PCC has agreed this plan and if anyone has any questions or concerns about this arrangement, please speak to one of the churchwardens.

Now, back to today’s reading. 

The vine was one of the most common plants in Israel.  It would grow almost anywhere: it grew up walls, up trellises, around the doors of houses; it grew up sticks. It also grew in the wild. For the vine to grow well, it needed the ground to be prepared carefully and it needed regular attention.  If you wanted good fruit, you could not just leave it to chance.

Could it be that with Jesus who says, I am the vine’, we need the same attention? There is no one in whom he will not grow if only the preparation of the ‘soil’ is properly done and then the new growth must be nurtured. Today we expect instant results, instant responses, instant changes in people, instant conversions.  But they do not always happen because we have ignored what is going on at ground level.  We tend to ignore the weeds, the poor environment, the lack of sustenance; we want growth without having to make an effort.

We must remember Jesus’s analogy of the vine.  First we must prepare the ground, to see that the atmosphere is as good as possible for growth.  We need to make sure that it will not be choked by weeds or die from lack of attention.  Many who are young in the faith are lost because they do not receive the sustenance they need.

The Sunday School team and the parents of the Sunday School children do what they can and we are delighted that, since the beginning of the pandemic, we have had 12 new members of Sunday School.  The parents are giving the children wonderful support – two have volunteered to join the Sunday School leaders’ team and, helped by their parents, many of the children have been working on the resources that we have been sending each week during lockdown.  That is quite remarkable since children and parents have been coping with home learning all week!  But it’s not just the young who need help and nurture to grow in their faith.  We all need help. 

CH _ _ CH

What letters are missing from this word?     

Yes, ‘U R’! 

All those new to the faith, of any age, need our support if their faith is to grow. According to my Churchwarden’s handbook, today is Godparent Sunday.  Perhaps some of you have godchildren and perhaps today’s reading reminds us that we haven’t been in touch with them lately?  Maybe we could this today?

Many returns of our recent survey said that you want our church to grow.  It will only grow if we all nurture new life in the church and continue to do so.  Jesus calls himself the vine and says that we are the branches – we are one with him and one with each other.  We need each other to thrive.  We are expected to bear fruit together, to grow in the faith together however old we are.  

A Native American was taught the Lord’s prayer.  He began by saying, ‘Our Father’, then he stopped in amazement. He turned to the priest and asked, ‘Is God my Father?’ 

‘Yes’ was the reply. 

‘And God is your Father?’ 

Again the reply, ‘Yes’. 

‘This is truly wonderful. God is your Father and mine – that means we are brothers!’.

There is an old legend that tells of Jesus returning to heaven and the angels asking who will continue his work. Jesus points to the disciples.  ‘But they are so weak, so human.’ Protest the angels. Jesus replies, ‘I trust them and know they will not let me down.’

St Teresa of Avilla puts it so well:

Christ has no hands, but your hands to do his work today.

Christ has no feet but your feet to speed men on his way.

Christ has no lips but your lips to tell men why he died.

Christ has no love but your love to win men to his side

Chris Field Church Warden