Author: svbenefice

We have recently nominated a Wednesday lunchtime at work as a time to meet over a cup of tea and chat about whatever we want. Sometimes it may be about science, when people can share their joy (or disappointment) at their latest results. However, this week I had a lengthy conversation with a colleague about Latin. It arose out of some banter we had shared earlier in the week, about the word “viva”, used in universities to mean an oral examination, but which is a Latin term. It turned out that both of us had done Latin at school; I took it for O-level, my colleague wanted to do the same but her parents thought it was of no use and made her do German instead.  Quite a few years later, she still has a passion for Latin but has forgotten most of her German. I also enjoy Latin; I am not very good at it, but being able to get some sense from a Latin inscription written hundreds of years ago helps me connect with the person who wrote it. Of course, I do not have to do this, but I enjoy it. My colleague is thinking about taking up Latin again as she loves it so much. We  owe our identity not just to the “useful” things we do, the objectives which can be measured, but to all our activities including the “useless”. Thes things make us rounded people and they are vital (note the Latin root). As the 2nd century Christian teacher Irenaeus wrote  (in Latin), “The glory of God is a human being fully alive”.

Rev David Poyner

I am writing this the morning after the partial eclipse of the moon, the spectacular “blood moon” that turns red and disappears as it  passes into the earth’s shadow. I didn’t see it, largely because I think it happened early in the morning when I was asleep and in any case it was cloudy. However, many years ago I did seen a lunar eclipse and it was beautiful. A few weeks ago I did gaze out on the planetary procession, to see Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Mercury. I am not really into astronomy, but I enjoyed looking at the planets; even last night before I went to bed, I was struck by the red glow in the clouds around the moon when I could see it.

In times gone by, the doings of the stars and the planets were given supernatural significance; we see this in the Bible and it is still present in some form with horoscopes and astrology. Of course, science has given us a much deeper understanding of what is actually happening; the universe is ruled by the laws of physics. But my instinctive reaction to seeing the planets, or colours in the night sky, is awe; I am most deeply moved by the beauty of what I see. As a Christian, intellectually I believe that behind the laws of physics is God, who chooses to work through them. But more  than that, I respond to that God with my emotions and that is the same response that I have to the night sky. The heavens can indeed tell of the glory of God when they speak to us of awe and beauty.

Rev David Poyner

It has been a depressing week to follow the news. We seem to be entering a new world of international relationships, where old conventions no longer hold. Even more worryingly, there seems to be in some a hankering after autocratic leaders who disregard any interests other than their own and listen to no one. There is of course an argument that people need to be confronted with realities with vigorous argument, but even in these cases, there still needs to be an element of dialogue. At some point, the various sides do need to listen to each other, no matter how forcibly they press their own point of view. This morning (Friday 7^th March) I heard “Thought for the Day”, in which the Rev Giles Fraser spoke convincingly about the importance of good argument. However strongly we feel about our own position, we gain if we allow ourselves to be challenged. It may be that as a result of that, we hold our views even more firmly, but at least we know that we have tested our position and have greater confidence that it is correct. Of course, there is also the possibility that we may modify our views after being challenged. As a vicar, I am aware that the Bible is often a book of contradictions; its writers frequently disagree. It’s readers are the richer for this as they weigh the arguments. In open argument, truth is the winner.

Rev David Poyner

SPHEREX,  a powerful new telescope, is being launched into space in the next few days. All galaxies emit a form of radiation invisible to the human eye known as infra-red radiation and this is what SPHEREX observes. By measuring this, we can learn about the origins both of the galaxies and the universe. Thus the telescope is on a journey to learn about the physical centre of all things. Co-incidentally, this coming week marks the start of Lent with Ash Wednesday, 5^th March. After Shrove Tuesday (pancake day), traditionally Christians observe 40 days of reflection, marking the time that Jesus is said to have spent in the wilderness at the start of his ministry, as he pondered what form it should take. If Lent features at all in the popular imagination these days it is a time of denial, of giving up items, often luxuries such as chocolate or alcohol. That can be part of it, but it is much more than a life-style choice. Jesus went into the wilderness to go on a journey with God, deep inside himself, to learn what form his mission on earth should take. The real point of Lent is that Christians are called to go on that same journey; to explore the spiritual centre of themselves. Just as SPHEREX will enrich us by gazing into the physical universe, Lent can enrich us by helping us to gaze deep into our souls.

Rev David Poyner

As a single person, I am used to silence; as an introvert, I positively relish it. Silence is however rarely total. As I write this, alone, I am aware of the wind blowing outside, the faint hum from the central heating in the house. One of the most magical silences I regularly experience is being alone in a church; to hear the birdsong, the bleating of sheep, perhaps less romantically, the sound of traffic or a plane in the sky. As a vicar, I wish I could tell you that this is when I hear God speaking to me. I don’t and the more I try to be holy, the worse it gets. The silence is broken in my head by a babble of voices as I relive past triumphs and disasters. Better just to enjoy the silence. But, as a vicar, I also believe that God is ever-present. God enjoys silence as much as I do; it is not necessary for him/her to be constantly chattering to me. Somehow through that very silence when I am simply enjoying it, God is transfusing into me and strengthening me. The language of God is indeed silence.

Rev David Poyner

Last month the news was announced of the death of the Rev. Don Cupitt. He came to fame in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Then he was the BBC’s favourite theologian; the high-point was a TV series he presented called “The Sea of Faith” in 1984. This was the period I was a student at Cambridge University; Don Cupitt was a lecturer in theology at Cambridge, Dean of Emmanuel College there and as a friend of mine recently put it, he “was all the rage”. This was not just because he was a gifted speaker and presenter, but also because he was radical in his views. He was an ordained Christian priest, but who freely described himself as a “Christian atheist”, or similar. He had studied science as an undergraduate but was fundamentally a philosopher. He had come to reject any notion of the existence of God or the supernatural, but he also knew himself to be a deeply spiritual person. Towards the end of the life, he ceased to be a “communicating” member of the Church of England, but as far as I can tell, that made no difference to his spirituality. I think his work was really an attempt to make sense of these contradictions; his acceptance that we live in a physical world governed by laws of nature and yet also the reality of the spiritual. Some were outraged by him, some claimed he damaged their faith. Personally I was fascinated by his work. He lived in much the same space as I do as a scientist and a priest. I think he came to the wrong conclusions; I am a mainstream Christian who does believe in the reality of God. However, I am very grateful to him for asking hard questions that have allowed me to come to that position. May he rest in peace and, perhaps to his surprise, rise in glory.

Rev David Poyner

I have written several thoughts about St Valentine. This brings challenges, as next to nothing is known for certain about him. Somewhere behind all the stories there is probably a Christian priest, killed during one of the persecutions of the Roman Empire. Wikipedia tells me that he is also the patron saint of suffers from epilepsy and beekeepers, in addition to being the patron of lovers. All of these associations would have probably been news to the person who was actually behind the stories. No matter, the value of Valentine is what he reminds us of today.

Valentine stands as a symbol of mutual love, “romantic love” as it is sometimes called. Love takes many forms; when it degenerates to self-centred lust, there is nothing in it to be celebrated. But romantic love is about two people who prize their relationship above everything else, including material prosperity and status. They will pay any price to be together. Of course, some of these attachments are ill-thought out and do not last but many will endure a life-time.  Romantic love is worth celebrating and has been used as metaphor for the highest relationship between a believer and God.  So celebrate St Valentine’s Day!

Rev David Poyner

Another day, another story about the Church of England. This time the Bishop of Liverpool has retired, following allegations of sexual harassment of two women, one a bishop. The Bishop of Liverpool denies the allegations; they were apparently investigated by the police and no action was taken and there was no action taken following a Church of England Safeguarding investigation. However, the fact that there was no realistic prospect of a criminal conviction (the police) nor any issue with vulnerable people (safeguarding) does not address whether there were other issues of dubious conduct. This could have been investigated by a disciplinary enquiry following a complaint. It would have allowed all parties to put their cases, both the women and the bishop. One of the women did make such a complaint, but there is a time deadline for reporting such matters. My understanding is that the complaint was made outside of this; the matter seems to have gone to a judge to adjudicate and he ruled that the case could not proceed. In this he was following due legal process, which is necessary to ensure fairness to all parties. Thus we have ended up with the situation where nobody can get satisfaction because every option is flawed. 

It is easy when news stories break to just judge them by the headline and our natural urge is to seek heroes or victims and villains. Sometimes however the truth is more complex; we are faced with situations where whatever is done will be an uncomfortable compromise. In the Twitter/X culture in which we live there is no room for this. We are all the poorer.

Rev David Poyner

A few weeks ago, I was talking to a local resident. She had taken her son into one of our churches. Once there, he just sat, not moving. Eventually he spoke, of how beautiful the place was. He could never remember being in a church before, now he was overwhelmed. Apparently he had no wish to come to a service, but he did want to go into other churches, to sit and be still.

I do not know what words this person would use to describe what he discovered in the church; quite possibly “God” would not be one of them. But in that moment, God connected with him, whatever he thought it was. God does not need a preacher to reach out to his/her people.

Rev David Poyner

Sent to me this week by a colleague: 

God, grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, which is pretty much everyone, since I’m clearly not you, God. At least not the last time I checked.

And while you’re at it, God, please give me the courage to change what I need to change about myself, which is frankly a lot, since, once again, I’m not you, which means I’m not perfect.

It’s better for me to focus on changing myself than to worry about changing other people, who, as you’ll no doubt remember me saying, I can’t change anyway.

Finally, give me the wisdom to just shut up whenever I think that I’m clearly smarter than everyone else in the room, that no one knows what they’re talking about except me, or that I alone have all the answers.

Basically God, grant me the wisdom to remember that I’m not you.

Amen.

R