Commemoration of Archbishop Robert Leighton 26th June 2016

Special parish eucharist with input from the Rector of St Giles, Canon John Twisleton, and historian Ann Govas.

Introduction to the eucharist – Fr John

Some people make their mark on history. St Giles keeps the memory of William de Cahaignes who renamed Horsted when he arrived with the Conqueror. Of his crusader descendant whose image lies in the sanctuary. Of Giles Moore whose day book records 17^th Sussex village life. Of teacher Sidney Peek who died a century ago on missionary service in Africa. Of Arthur Benson who wrote Land of Hope and Glory. Of Ronald and Winifred Knapp run over by a train on their wedding day. Of Harold Macmillan who served as prime minister. All of these we keep the memory of and many of them left the world better at their passing. One though made his mark beyond all the others. When his grave fell into disrepair a national subscription occurred to restore it. Though in life he failed to reconcile Catholic and Protestant in Scotland his writings are still read, his holiness is celebrated and his legacy to Christian education continues. If you could choose to exchange one day with any of the dear dead whose memory we keep at St Giles would it not be Robert Leighton? Who wouldn’t prefer to lie as Leighton lies, awaiting judgement over the service of God and neighbour? Robert Leighton’s death 300 years back is marked across the Christian world today because the mark he made wasn’t just on history. This holy man is our holy man today. 12 generations on we gather at his tomb. His life, writings, example and prayers are here and now, as here and now as the communion of saints. Many have said so over three centuries. We at St Giles have good reason to agree with them as once again we mark his passing, praying God who worked holy wonders in him to work the same wonders in us so that ‘we, like him, believing in the promise of God’s word, like our bishop in good living him, praise and magnify the Lord’. Let us keep silence and then call on the mercy of God for our failings.

Scripture readings: Deuteronomy 32:1-9, Psalm 100, 2 Corinthians 5:17-6:2, Matthew 5:13-16

Sermon part 1 – Fr John

Ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, his work is perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God, without deceit, just and upright is he. Those words from our first reading, Deuteronomy 32 verses 3 and 4 might summarise Robert Leighton’s invitation to us. Seek to stand on solid ground, on the word of God, and inherit his integrity. Man is a mutable changing essence both in body and mind, and frequently is misinformed Leighton wrote, yet… experience and enquiry give further light… as God, his word, and his confidence direct.

Leighton’s commentary on the first letter of Peter – here it is from the safe – adds: The word of God in itself cannot be abolished, but surpasses the permanence of heaven and earth, as our Saviour teaches; and all the attempts of men against the Divine truth of that word to undo it are as vain as if they should consult to pluck the sun out of the firmament; so likewise, in the heart of a Christian, it is immortal and incorruptible. Where it is once received by faith, it cannot be obliterated again: all the powers of darkness cannot destroy it, although they be never so diligent in their attempts that way. And this is the comfort of the Saints, that though the life, which God by his word hath breathed into the soul, have many and strong enemies, such as they could never hold out against, yet for his own glory, and his promise sake, he will maintain that life, and bring it to its perfection.

Saints have a heroic capacity – Leighton had that – as well as a capacity to point us to God as our Rock and source of integrity and to how laying hold on God’s word gives a purpose for living and a reason for dying. If Robert Leighton is turning in that ornate grave (we are to visit today) it will be over biblical illiteracy. How can we find our lives on a sure foundation without knowledge of God’s promises? The word of God in itself cannot be abolished…where it is once received by faith, it cannot be obliterated again: all the powers of darkness cannot destroy it. The school Leighton’s family founded in 1708 sought above all education in God’s written Word, the Bible, and that work continues not least through initiatives we’re following like Bible Society’s Open the Book themed and dramatised Bible stories.

The second reading on reconciliation set for today’s commemoration of our holy man from 2 Corinthians 5 might have been set in any case for post-referendum Sunday. In the Collect for Robert Leighton we just prayed: Eternal God you raised up Robert Leighton in a time of tumult to settle your people in the peaceable way of truth and holiness. If Archbishop Leighton were in his pulpit rather than his grave this tumultuous morning he would unpack for us as he did for both sides of the Scottish church divide the power of God’s word there: in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:19-20)

Leighton wrote: Let the love of your brethren be as a fire within you, consuming that selfishness which is so contrary to it, and is so natural to men; let it set your thoughts on work to study how to do others good; let your love be an active love, intense within you, and extending itself in doing good to the souls and bodies of your brethren as they need, and you are able.

Sermon part 2 – Ann Govas

When I was in my twenties I worked at Birmingham Crown Court and one of my tasks was to prepare files for the trial judges. While doing this I became aware that new files held a fascination for some folk in the office. They were always keen to read the gory details. This made me wonder whether too much time spent reading about real life sleaze and violence might be bad for the mind.

Robert Leighton was interested in the far more difficult question of what is good for the mind and his writings on this subject are inspirational. He believed that all good and wholesome things in life sprang from the quality of our relationship with God and that the chief study of a Christian and indeed the very thing that makes a person a Christian, is that they want to be more like Christ. Those who strive to become like Christ (Robert maintained) find that the more they learn to truly love Him, the less self centred they become, because self love is the opposite to the love of God. When the love of God truly enters our hearts it destroys and burns up self love.

Our love then ascends upward to God himself and then radiates outwards to our brothers and sisters. It causes us to reflect the spirit of Christ which Robert said is all sweetness and love filling the soul with loving kindness so that being so filled it can show forth nothing else but loving kindness.  We will be drawn to live what he called “an angelical life” partly spent in prayer and worship and partly spent helping our brothers and sisters in practical and spiritual ways.

This belief inspired Robert Leighton to involve himself in the provision of education, firstly for the children in his parish at Newbattle and then for the students of Edinburgh College and Glasgow University. Finally his influence on his nephew Edward Lightmaker helped to bring education to Horsted Keynes.

Robert’s example inspired his nephew Edward to build a school to provide free education for twenty poor children, plus twenty-one further children whose parents were to pay for their schooling. He also left money to pay for the upkeep of the school and to pay the salary of the schoolmaster. The Lightmaker School has experienced difficult times during its long history but nevertheless it survived and it is now incorporated into St Giles School. This school with its caring ethos, dedicated teachers and lively, stimulating curriculum underpinned by Christian teaching is an embodiment of the kind of educational establishment that Robert Leighton would have wished to see in the village where he lived and unofficially ministered to the poor and needy for the last ten years of his life.

Sermon part 3 – Fr John

Our Gospel reading captures the essence of sanctity, presenting Christian discipleship as impacting the world as salt and light. Imagine food without seasoning, Christ is saying, or a room without light?

So would the world be without you and I. It is that partnership Bishop Robert knew first hand – Christ as his light, he as a light to others lit up by Christ. The light of love – for when the love of God enters our hearts it destroys and burns up self love and then radiates outwards to our brothers and sisters.

In this morning’s Prayer Book celebration the last line of today’s Gospel, Matthew 5:16 has honoured place at the start of the offertory: let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. This morning as I say these words I’m mindful I stand where Leighton stood to preach and near where he stood to celebrate the holy mysteries. After saying that sentence in our rite of 1662 he would as priest take up the paten. This morning in extraordinary fashion, having heard that verse in the Gospel, I am to take up almost certainly the paten with which he celebrated the eucharist. Here it is again from the safe, a relic of Leighton which is part of the ongoing life of the church he loved and served from 1674 until his death in 1684. It has also been used for 300 years at weddings to hold the rings. At the eucharist this paten or holy plate symbolises the offering of life. The bread placed on it represents our life awaiting transformation by the Holy Spirit into Jesus Christ.

Robert Leighton’s invitation this morning is twofold – to trust God’s word afresh (show commentary) and to enter afresh the mystery of Christ’s love (show paten). We have heard God’s word. We are now to lay hold of his love in Christ’s dying and rising placing on this plate our hopes and aspirations and the joys and sorrows of the whole world. We include in this the ongoing work of Christian education Leighton entrusts us with under God. I end with his words about the eucharist: Let his death, which we commemorate by this mystery, extinguish in us all worldly affections: may we feel his divine power working us into a conformity to his sacred image. So be it.

Advent 1 Growing in love 2nd December 2012

1 Thessalonians 3.12 May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.

That’s Paul’s prayer reaching down through the ages and it would be mine and the PCC’s for St Giles.

As you can read in the Mission Action Plan head statement in the news sheet: St Giles Church has a mission to grow in faith, love and numbers.

We want to grow in faith towards God, in the expression of love to the world and to grow the numbers in Christian fellowship here at St Giles.

Last week we looked at action planned to build faith such as tonight’s healing service and the meditation session later on.

What action has the PCC got planned, or raised up, to help us grow in love in the months ahead?

If you look on the porch flow chart the PCC has identified various opportunities for action. These include the social aspect of the Martindale refurbishment in its involving people and groups that use it, embryonic plans for action that comes alongside the youth and better outreach towards the housebound and elderly.

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all.

Those fifteen of us who walked to the coast, or almost to the coast, for the Martindale refurbishment raised almost £2,500 with gift aid. We  raised something equally significant in the day we spent with one another. This for me meant discovery of a parishioner, or near parishioner, who knew the interior of Guyana as well as I. We’ve met since to have a drink which linked in with a dining commitment with discussion of ways the church and others can help build village life.

If I’m typical the things we’re doing because of the Martindale refurbishment are taking us out of the box, out of our individual boxes, into new involvements and sharing as a community.

The 6^th November youth meeting mentioned on the MAP was attended by St Giles members with a dozen young people and supporting adults. It looked at future provision for youth. By putting this involvement under love and not numbers the PCC are saying let’s serve our young people before we evangelise them though the two are inseparable.

This brings us to broader thinking.

A church fellowship does community ministry through the individuals in it, as well as through what the church organises. A lot of us in Church aren’t involved in the listed activities on the PCC plan to grow love: Priest and lay pastoral visiting, First Steps, Thursday coffee, Westall House visiting, monthly village lunch, FOHKC events, Serendipity concerts, churchyard working parties, Harvest lunch/supper, FSW

Of course we want more of us involved in our mission through such things, more citizens and less consumers so to speak. Receiving the sermon and the sacraments is central to our Christianity but only when the body turns food into action do we see God’s kingdom built up.

Our individual growth and exercise of love has far wider remit than involvement in church activities. Charity begins at home. It’s also the case that people in our congregation are making a difference in the world  hardly comparable to the difference St Giles members make through running the weekly toddler group or monthly village lunch.

It’s not either/or but both/and. The Christian good news is given to permeate homes, villages and work places as well as education, healthcare, politics, environmental thinking and so on.  No one in Church this morning should feel guilty they’re not involved, save for prayer back up, in St Giles projects, unless the Spirit prompts them so.

What matters is each of us doing our best to bring love into realms of individual obligation such as our marriage and parenting, family and work commitments with an eye to the church community’s plans, hence today’s reminder. The PCC are doing their job in gently setting our priorities as a Church and helping more people to own them. We hope that as we share, like today, there’ll be people here realising that they too could join what is a rotating body and be a church leader such as James and Jan, David or Rhoda, Chris and so on. We’ve a pressing need to form younger Christians to lead the transformational ministries we have here.

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.

Growth in love may impact homes and communities but it starts in the heart as my concluding story illustrates.  A young man walked to church for years through a group of homeless people in a London churchyard. He was given a gift of love, a sort of ‘prayer burden’ for them and started to pray for them in church. He put it eventually to his church that they might run an occasional lunch and there was consensus to do so. Later on the church advertised for helpers in the local paper and had 300 phone calls offering help. This refreshed the mission partnership between the church and the community engaging with the needs of street people. It also helped church growth.

Your kingdom come, your will be done is the aspiration at the heart of Advent and of our Mission Action Plan for St Giles to grow in faith, love and numbers. It needs to be an aspiration that wells from deep in our hearts, as we live more and more aware of the love that surrounds us and cares for all that is, simply because it is!

May God enfold us in that love through this eucharist making us increase and abound in love for one another and for all through the almighty power that reaches into our hearts in this sacrament. Amen.

Christ the King 25th November 2012

The purpose of the Church is not to accommodate the demands of secular society; its duty is to a higher power. Nor were those who opposed the measure the zealots or dinosaurs of caricature. The debate was anguished, compassionate and reasoned. Those who voted no knew that they were going against the grain of modernity, and the exhortation of their leaders. But they had scrutinised conscience and Scripture, and could not bring themselves to vote otherwise.

I’m not speaking for myself but reading you the leader many of you’ll have read in Thursday’s Daily Telegraph on General Synod’s rejection of the women bishops’ legislation.

The sentiment fits this feast of Christ the King. I repeat: The purpose of the Church is not to accommodate the demands of secular society; its duty is to a higher power.

The debate on women bishops came right down to our Parochial Church Council. All three views – for, against and undecided – are represented there. As one against relief the measure fell on Tuesday is tempered by sympathy for those I now know will be hurt by that, and regard for those who lament synod’s failure to protect deeply held beliefs, such as my own, through a rather ill thought out and mean-spirited provision.

Over the last year the Parochial Church Council has had a very full agenda. Our wardens James and Jan, secretary Rhoda, treasurer David Colville, Mark Berryman, Marion, Chris, David Lamb, Heidi and Lisa have worked hard with me month by month for us all. Without the PCC there’d have been no prayer ministry training, July vision day, Martindale refurbishment, electrical inspection, stewardship renewal or addressing of our budget deficit let alone the consideration of issues like women bishops required of us by the diocese.

The PCC works hard for us – and they might earn a round of applause!

Since July the PCC’s been looking at our thinking on the vision day and we’ve produced a new mission action plan. You can read it on the notice board and its one line header in the news sheet:  St Giles Church has a mission to grow in faith, love and numbers.

As the old church year ends today with a flourish to Christ our King we’re asking him to stir up grace for a coming year of growth which is why I’ll be speaking on the three aspects of the MAP over the next month, starting today with action to grow in faith.

Our putting mission on the MAP has the same three dimensions we rehearsed two years back – the ABC of attending to God, building Christian community and commending God’s love for the world.

Now the order is different. Before it was looking to God, the church, the world. Now it’s growing in faith towards God, growing in the expression of love to the world and growing the numbers of our Christian fellowship here at St Giles.

So! What action has the PCC got planned, or raised up, to help us grow in faith over the next church year that starts on Advent Sunday?

If you look on the porch flow chart we’ve got various opportunities for you to act. These include

Signing up, as a dozen folk so far have signed up to, the electronic discipleship resource on the church website to obtain bible study, meditation, self-examination and Christian literature resources. These you can follow on the hoof on your iPhone or Blackberry or whatever. We’d like you to sign up and receive a two monthly e news letter from St Giles which has electronic resources useful to the building of faith among church members. I have some parents working with me to identify and commend websites useful to building faith in our children. Do give that site a click, if that’s your gift, and tell me sites you’d like commending in the January edition of electronic discipleship.

Action listed on the MAP that help build our faith at St Giles include: Sunday and weekday Eucharists, Sunday Club and All-Age Eucharist with prayer listening ministry, Westall monthly Eucharists and evening prayer twice monthly, monthly Sunday evening services, Wednesday evening prayer, Thursday life and faith group, Friday School assembly, Saturday prayer group, ministry of healing first Wednesday of each month and confessions before great feasts

Near at hand is next Sunday afternoon’s healing service with Fr Keith McRae. Why not begin the new church year on Advent Sunday by asking for a new beginning spiritually? If your faith feels sickly, let alone your body or your mind, come and welcome prayer for wholeness of body, mind and spirit. This service of evening prayer, sermon and laying on of hands by priests and lay prayer ministers is action to serve  spiritual and other needs. There’ll also be a number of events that will serve to build faith as we take Advent out into 24 venues in the parish this year and I’d like to underline the three meditation sessions at Jamie Large’s, the Rectory and the Miles’ when people of any faith or none will be able to share a 25 minute meditation on one of three themes: breath, light and word.

On the growing faith MAP for January there’s Unbelievable? As you’ve seen in P&P with flying pigs, this is a module on the Apostles’ Creed running the first four Thursday evenings in January. It’ll also serve as first part of confirmation training, as well as being part of the Bishop’s Certificate course that’ll draw a few from outside the village. The PCC is commending this action geared to help people build Christian faith more as the Creed expresses it.

In all of these ways we can take action to grow in our faith which is a key part of our purpose here at St Giles.

My former bishop Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, once issued a clarion call to his growing diocese: are you consumers or citizens?

Are you in church to consume word and sacrament for spiritual solace or are you here to grow as responsible citizens of Christ’s kingdom?

I’d re-iterate that challenge on the Feast of Christ the King. I realise it’s both/and not either/or but preaching uses phrases to waken us up by their directness.

Are you here to build God’s kingdom, to work for world transformation through the spread of faith beyond these walls, or are you settled in something of a consumerist mentality whereby going to St Giles fits alongside going to Sainsbury’s or to the Theatre?

The PCC of St Giles are lead citizens working for the kingdom here. They head up and bless others in work for the school, the hall renovation, the churchyard, the Sunday Club and Toddler Plus, the optimising of our finances, fabric and churchyard with the Friends, the music, the welcoming ministry, the serving and so on. They’re lead citizens and there are people here we need to take a place on this continually refreshed body when PCC elections occur in April.

Your kingdom come, your will be done is the motto for Christ the King, and for St Giles, as we seek to grow in faith, love and numbers in service of the kingdom without walls not accommodated to the demands of secular society but with duty towards a higher power.

May that power, the power of Christ the King, with the Father and the  Spirit be made present among us at this eucharist. Amen