All posts by KFord

Article: Curious Light

30/12/2019 KFord Leave a comment

An article by Revd Will Gibbs for the Redbourn Common Round

Candles don’t feature quite so prominently in our 21st century lives as they did for our forebears. We are not so dependent on them as they were (although candles are really handy if a power cut comes along, and we do get a few of those in Redbourn!). Nowadays, we’re more used to seeing them in comedy programmes (did Hyacinth Bouquet’s candle-lit suppers ever take place?), and the Two Ronnies’ four candles sketch lives on in the memory with fondness. We’re also used to seeing candles in period costume dramas; Downton and the like.

But it is in church that candles play the most prominent role these days – at a baptism as a sign that the candidate has received the light of Christ into their life, on the altar reminding us that Christ is the light of the world, and in memorial candles lit in memory of loved ones. And we still experience that magical, excited anticipation of a candlelit Carol Service at this time of year.

But when I think of candles, one particular image comes to my mind. A picture by a Dutch artist called Gerard von Honthorst entitled ‘Christ before the High Priest.’ A marvellous use of light with the High Priest seated at a table on which a single candle burns. A passive Christ stands the other side – their faces are highlighted – the High Priest wags an admonishing finger at Christ who gazes serenely down at him. Shadowy officials lurk in the background, foretelling the brutality to come. The picture has an immense intensity and like all good art, it draws you into its very substance and immerses you in what is happening. And, incredibly, each time you look, although Christ’s face has not altered, every time you can read different thoughts passing between them. Sometimes Christ seems to be rebuking the High Priest – at other times it’s almost as if there is an immense pity and sorrow in Jesus’ gaze. However you view it, I find it absolutely mesmerising.

Gerard van Honthorst [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

I hope that candles will have featured in some way in your Christmas and New Year celebrations. But there are continuing opportunities to enjoy the importance of candles so why not join us for our candlelit Epiphany Carol service at 6.30 pm on 5 January or one of our Candlemas services on 2 February?

In our Christmas services we’ve been welcoming the Light of the World once again with the words. ‘The light shone in the darkness, and the darkness could not overcome it.’ Amazing – all this can be found in a humble stable and a simple candle.

May 2020 be for you, and your loved ones, a year of light and peace and blessing.

Yours

Will

Worship

Redbourn Remembers: Sunday 10th November

26/10/2019 KFord Leave a comment

9.30–10.30 am: Civic Service of Remembrance at St Mary’s Church – All welcome

10.50–11.15 am: Act of Commemoration at the War Memorial

11.15am–12 noon: Refreshments at ChristChurch, Fish Street

We hope that you will join us as we remember the fallen and give thanks for the sacrifices made by so many for our liberty.

Worship

Sung Eucharist for All Souls Day: Sunday 3rd November, 6.30pm

21/10/2019 KFord Leave a comment

The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed

We invite all who have lost loved ones in the past few years to join us as we remember them and give thanks for their life at this special service with beautiful music sung by our choir.

Cards are now available to complete if you would like us to remember someone by name at this service, (even if you can’t come along to the service yourself). You can complete one at the South Door of the church.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them

Every year large crowds of people gather from our community on Remembrance Sunday at the War Memorial to pay our respects and to honour the sacrifice of those who have died in conflict and the pursuit of peace. And as we gather for that time of remembering, I am always struck by those powerful and timeless words of Laurence Binyon, ‘At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them’. In other words, day and night, we will never cease to remember them and honour the service they have given to our nation. And this remembering is for people that, for the most part, we haven’t actually known personally. Imagine what it is like when someone we do know and love dies; they’re certainly never very far from our thoughts at any time of the day or night.

A friend of mine has just lost his brother at the tragically young age of 58 and he says that there are at least five times each day when he goes to pick up the phone and tell his brother something and is halted in his tracks. He can’t call Jerry – he’s no longer there. But he is in the eternal care of almighty God and my friend knows that but it doesn’t stop him missing his brother terribly.

At All Souls each year, we have the chance to come to St Mary’s and remember our loved ones before God. To carry on missing them and loving them, of course, but also to remember them in our prayers because we will never stop thinking about them and giving thanks to God for them. Come and join us – whether you come to church regularly or not – all are invited and welcome.

Will