As during the past few weeks, Sunday services will again be held in Gandia, La Fustera, Calpe, Albir and El Campello, though in Campello we continue to meet in a private home. And at 10am Spanish time Fr. Rodney’s live streamed service of the Eucharist can be viewed on his Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/rodney.middleton.940.
The recording of that service will also be available later on. The details will be posted here once it is available.
Friday Offering from Fr Marcus 7th August 20202
A ‘Must Read’ for everyone connected with our Chaplaincy Part 2
O Lord my God,
when I in awesome wonder,
consider all the works thy hand has made,
I see the stars,
I hear the rolling thunder,
thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to thee,
How great thou art, how great thou art,
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to thee,
How great thou art, how great thou art.
Many of you know that I do quite a bit of mountain walking, and have done a few stretches of the Camino to Santiago. (My trip to do the Portuguese route was cancelled earlier this year) Although I get scared when I am up high, it is truly beautiful and awesome being up in the mountains, and they certainly become very spiritual places for me. But at the moment it is hot. So Hot that walking during the middle of the day is almost impossible. So on Tuesday I went with a group of friends for a night walk around the Sierra de Olta, finishing some time after midnight. It was a route we knew well, and we were equipped with head torches, and plenty of water as it was still hot as we set off at 7.30, and the climb is very steep.
What amazed me was all the things that we saw that are not around during the day – frogs came out to meet us. The eyes of big spiders lit up by our torch beams were peering at us from the banks of the path. A Pine Martin climbed up the tree and stood staring right at us with its huge eyes clearly visible. A wild boar thankfully rushed away from us, but made enough noise to scare the living daylights out of some of us, and a derelict tumbledown Finca just had to be explored in the dark. Best of all, I couldn’t see the drops by the side of the path, so it didn’t feel like I was up high. Once we rounded the sea side of the Olta, we waited for the clouds to part, and there was the beautiful full moon.
The reason I am telling you this is that something very familiar created a very different experience when viewed differently. We came across things that were not obvious, but always there, and somehow in the dark, we felt even more a part of it.
I am continuing with my thought about The Diocese in Europe, and hope I can encourage us all to see, and experience how much we receive by being part of it.
Today I shall speak a little about Archdeacons, Safeguarding, Lay Leadership, Synods and Communications.
I don’t know if you have much of an idea of how, in normal circumstances, my week pans out. Suffice to say that my diary gets pretty full most of the time, although we rarely have meetings in the evening. (In the UK most meetings were in the evening) I am never at a loss for some work to do. Our HFD Clergy, Fr Jim and Fr Rodney often work way above their allotted hours, and we survive through the generosity of those clergy with Permission to Officiate, some of whom are here most of the time like Fr Robin, and some visit for a few weeks, like Fr Richard Horner, who is with us now.
Well, imagine a full on work load, and then being asked by the Bishop to act as Archdeacon as well. That is how it was in the past, and several Archdeacons burned themselves out doing too much. And our last one, Fr Geoff was pretty much full time, and responded to every enquiry very quickly, and was such a fount of wisdom – but he was supposed to be retired!
So the diocese has changed its policy, and we now have a dedicated Archdeacon, Fr David Waller, and part of our contribution to the Diocese goes towards funding him. We really should not expect clergy to make themselves ill by working toohard. Jesus says the worker deserves his pay. Luke 10.7
Fr David will be visiting us in November to re Licence me, as the Licence runs for 5 years and has expired. His visit will be at no extra cost to us. He has also been very helpful in guiding us through the process of re opening our churches, and I have spoken with him about dozens of things over the last year, so I am really pleased he is around. He acts like the Bishops representative.
Having said that, Bishop David is also very much available, and has phoned a few times since lockdown just to see how we are all doing.
Safeguarding, as you know has become a major issue, not just for the church, but in all walks of life. It is right and our duty to make sure that everyone who comes into contact with our chaplaincy, and indeed every chaplaincy across the diocese, and in turn every diocese, experiences both a welcome, and a safe experience. We can never make the assumption that ‘Issues’ only happen elsewhere.
Because of this the Safeguarding Team for the Diocese work tirelessly to help implement a policy which cares for all. The main areas of work are investigating and resolving all cases and queries that come to the attention of the DBF, training of key stipendiary clergy and volunteer church officers and processing DBS checks for large numbers of clergy and volunteers.
It just so happens that since Fr Don has left, and our finances have taken a tumble, two retired clergy have got in touch, one moving here full time, and the other planning to spend a considerable amount of time next year, and they have both offered to help out in the southern part of our Chaplaincy. But first they need to be checked in the UK, and every country they have lived In for more than six months. This is a huge task which the Safeguarding Team manage on our behalf.
Just to remind you that all people, clergy and Lay who have positions of responsibility within a chaplaincy need to be checked and get their safeguarding clearance.
2019 saw a number of unusually complex and long running cases being handled by the diocesan Safeguarding Team with consequent increases in the workloads of the COO,(Chief Operations Officer) the Director of Communications, the Suffragan Bishop and the legal advisers to the Diocese as well as the diocesan Safeguarding Team.
You only need to watch the news and realise how important this work is. Part of our contribution to the Diocese goes towards Safeguarding.
The Diocese as you know is huge and complex embracing over 40 countries with a mix of languages, cultures, political differences, financial obligations and worldly and legal as well as spiritual issues, and so there are Lay People who help us with the posts that clergy are not equipped to do. We have a Legal Registrar, Diocesan Secretary, Chief Operations Officer, Head of Finance, Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor to name just a few. These folk make sure we do the things that we do properly, and we would fall apart without them.
But we also have Lay leadership in many of our Chaplaincies, and as I mentioned on Tuesday across the Diocese we have 30 Readers in training (They used to be called Lay Readers). In our own Chaplaincy we are Blessed with Stephen Carden and Tony Cooke.
The Church of England has a Synodical structure of Chaplaincies / Parishes, Deaneries (in the UK), Archdeaconries, and then Archdeaconry Synod, Diocesan Synod and General Synod with the House of Bishops and the House of Clergy and the House of Laity.
So our Clergy and Synod Reps got to our Archdeaconry Synod where they are informed of and vote on policies which come and go to Diocesan Synod, which does the same at General Synod Level.
Everyone who goes to our Archdeaconry Synod will tell you what an inspiring, up lifting, educative, informative, Spiritual and helpful experience it is. Retired previous synod reps still go in their spare time because it is so good (they don’t have to, and they pay for themselves).
So in a real way we have a say in the governance and future of not just our Chaplaincy and Diocese, but the whole of the C of E. Part of our financial contribution goes towards this.
And finally for today, we have a diocesan Communications team.
The focus of activity through 2019 has been on continuing consolidation of diocesan media platforms, across the website, social media, and blogs to make these platforms more effective and consistent.
Strong content has driven the projection of our diocesan communications across these platforms. The current diocesan website continues to average around 3,500 views per month, and encouragingly, half of those are new visitors. New followers continue to engage with the Diocese on social media, with an increase of nearly one-third on the previous year. A suite of online social media training courses for people across the Diocese was offered in late Autumn, with highly positive feedback. This is going to be repeated with training given in the use of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, A Church Near You and hopefully Youtube.
Blogging by the Bishops covering their visits across the Diocese has continued to draw significant interest, in and beyond the Diocese.
Brexit remained a focal point for diocesan media coverage during 2019, with key messages on the impact of Brexit uncertainty for over a million UK citizens living in EU member states. Bishop Robert contributed regularly to Church Times coverage and gave many interviews on Brexit on the BBC and other continental European radio and TV news programmes. Positive news stories from across all aspects of diocesan and chaplaincy life in the Diocese continued to feature in our website coverage.
In addition, a new diocesan publication, European Anglicans was launched last summer, with a further edition produced before Christmas, then monthly throughout this year. This publication makes direct use of our website content and is published online, thereby achieving cost savings. At the same time, it has been possible for the Friends of the Diocese and chaplaincies to use the publication as a printed version. Check out this on www.european.anglican.org It really is good.
Part of our contribution to the Diocese goes towards communication.
I could go on talking about Continuing Ministerial Education, the huge role of the Dicesan Director of Ordinands who helps people discern their vocation. I could speak about the voluntary Chaplains of the Camino de Santiago (who don’t cost anything, but their work is administered by the diocese), and the Diocesan links we have with other Dioceses and our Archdeaconry Link with Peru. But you get the point. In my opinion we are blessed to be part of the Diocese in Europe. Like all things it could be better, but I am proud to be part of it.
Bless you, Bless you, Bless you.
Until next time.
Fr Marcus
Click this link to view – https://youtu.be/6T4qIB_vAL0
Click this link for the latest news – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain#visas-and-residency
My Dear Friends,
Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, rejoice.
In these tough times there are so many things to worry about, and to concern everybody, but there is even more to be thankful for, and to rejoice in. Little things can mean such a lot. On Sunday I was taking the services at Albir and Campello, and they were both delightful.
At Campello we are not able to use the church building yet, so we meet in the house of two of our members, Keith and Janet, and we celebrate the Eucharist in their garden. It was such a simple affair, yet it meant the world to me (and I hope all those who were taking part). Here we were, keeping our social distancing, outside in the midst of God’s creation doing that thing that Christians have found no better thing to do, and that is breaking bread together. It was beautiful in it’s simplicity.
While I was preaching a little bird had a wash in the bird bath, then tried to drink from the swimming pool, and fell right in. But it fluttered it’s wings and climbed out, and went and sat in the tree. Keith told me about this, but I could not see it as it was behind me.
On my way home, riding my bike through the beautiful countryside I thought of St Francis preaching to the birds when there was no one in church, and perhaps that little bird had heard the Gospel and my sermon, and offered himself for Baptism. (Look at me and St Francis being brothers!)
I tell this just because although It is although it is my far fetched imagination, the idea brought me joy, and we need plenty of that.
Our Chaplaincy Council has been meeting and exploring the state of our Chaplaincy, and financially we are in a very worrying place. No services for months meant no cash collections, but huge thanks to those who give by direct debit, and those who have made up for missed services since we have been back. No funerals took place during lockdown, no wedding blessings or fund raising events and yet our expenses remained close to average. Less travel but the same financial obligations.
We are planning a Gift Day, and more about that in the next couple of letters, but today I want to put some of our expenditure in to perspective. Each year we have to pay our contribution to the Diocese, and I am keen to explore what we get in return.
Do you remember the Monty Python sketch ‘What did the Romans ever do for us?’
( if you want a reminder, here is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xad5Rl0N2E )
Well our Diocese is much the same.
Sometimes we think of the Diocese as just those people who work in the office in Tufton Street in London, or in Brussels, who impose things upon us, normally with an expense attached! But that is not the case. We are the diocese. Most of us view the diocese through the life of our local chaplaincy, and each chaplaincy is an expression of the diocese, with our own particular ministries and patterns of living the faith and building the Kingdom. The Diocesan Offices and Officers are just another expression of it, and we couldn’t function without them.
So, what do we get in return for our contribution.
Firstly it sounds odd, but we get the brand. Church of England. That recognisable and traditional body to which we belong. We couldn’t function without being part of the C of E. Fr Jim, Fr Rodney or myself could not lead services, we probably wouldn’t be able to share the churches that we do, we are accepted as part of the mainstream denomination which is C of E, we have the legal status of being part of the diocese, with all the safeguarding checks that go with that. We are able to appoint our clergy from the C of E pool, and know that they are properly trained, qualified and checked.
Plus when we introduce ourselves, folk know that we are genuine. So being part of the diocese in Europe is a big plus. But that is just the beginning.
Being part of the Diocesan Structure means we share with our Diocesan family in the great plan of the church.
The diocesan strategy commits us to:• Building up the Body of Christ and fostering growth• Sharing with other churches and agencies in the evangelisation of Europe• Striving for the creation of a just society and a sustainable environment• Work for Reconciliation in communities and in the wider world• Providing the Resources to do these things
It is never just about us. It is always about Mission and Growth. We have a stories to tell, so are personal to us, and some are definitely to do with the Gospel, and we should never isolate ourselves from the wider church, but rather work together to tell of the great things that God had done.
Let us just get a little picture of some of the things that happen.
The number of clergy in the Diocese holding a Bishop’s licence as at 31 December 2019 was 141. This includes 105 clergy in post as Chaplains and 31 assistant priests who hold a licence in a chaplaincy as well as the Archdeacons and the Director of Ministerial Development.
At the close of 2019 the Diocese had 41 vacancies which, when filled, will have licensed clergy (including both Chaplains and assistant priests). Posts requiring a licensed priest total 182 . There were 13 new appointments during 2019.
The number of Readers holding a Bishop’s licence or permission to officiate as at 31 December 2019 was 102 .
At 31 December 2019 there were 22 Ordinands on either residential or short course training , and there were 30 Readers in training.
The Diocese was successful in its bid to the new Strategic Ministry Fund to support curacies established by the Church Commissioners. This will fund 70% of the costs of curates in the Diocese for three years from the Summer of 2020. Posts confirmed so far are in Voorschoten and Brussels. A further bid has been lodged for 2021.
So, you can see the Diocese is a huge organisation and has to be administered accordingly. All of these posts and appointments have to be managed and recruited safely and fairly.
Although on the news you often hear of the 27 member states that make up the EU, our Diocese has chaplaincies in over 40 Countries across Europe and beyond. (The ones beyond don’t fit in to any other diocese.)
The Diocese have to manage, and check all those clergy, readers and appointments and ensure that welfare of those involved in ministry, and make sure those who are paid, and are in deceipt of pension contributions are paid properly.
To put some of this into perspective across the diocese in 2019 we had 411 Baptisms, 89 Marriages (I have no idea how many Wedding Blessings) 24 Confirmation Services with 192 candidates. Our Easter Day attendance was 15, 723 which averages 112 per chaplaincy. In the rest of the UK the average is 83.
Our Diocese is remarkable, not only in it’s size, but in it’s growth and diversity. The Chaplaincies in Casablanca, Padua and Rotterdam are doing incredible work among migrants and refugees many coming from parts of Africa and South Asia.
Moscow has had a tough time when many of the UK diplomats were expelled in 2018 it has recovered and re grown.
There were two completely new Chaplaincies created in 2019 Amersfoort and Heiloo (Nr Amsterdam)
To help with all of this the Church Commissioners gave a grant to the Diocese of £163,000 per annum for 3 years starting in 2019.
Next time I shall talk about Archdeacons, Lay Leadership, Safeguarding, Synods and communications. Plus the legal protection we have from being part of the Diocese.
In the meantime, if you want to see some more good stuff check out the Diocese in Europe website, and in particular the online magazine The Europeans Anglicans.
Bless you, Bless you, Bless you.
As ever,
Marcus
The Chaplaincy Singers concert will take place at 8:00pm on Friday 21st August at the Ermita Sant Josep, La Fustera. Everyone will be socially distanced, the bar will be open throughout the concert. Tickets are 10€ call Eileen on 607 706 904
SUNDAY SERVICES.
The services at our churches continue as they have throughout July, with hygiene and social distancing, to ensure the safety of everyone.
But for those who are unable to attend, Fr Rodney with Fr Robin has recorded a service, as usual. Unfortunately the YouTube link has failed and the video is now floating somewhere in the ether, possibly never to be seen again.
It can still be viewed on Facebook, where you can join at your own convenience and play from the beginning. If you do not already have Fr Rodney’s page in your shortcuts just search Rodney Middleton, Orba.
Good Morning My Dear Friends,
I start with 2 questions.
Have you said some prayers yet today?
Did it include the Lord’s Prayer?
We have just finished our little exercise looking at the Prayer that Jesus taught us, but when we look at the versions in scripture Matthew 6 and Luke 11 we notice that we finish ours differently. So today’s Offering is like a bonus track on an album.
The early church added
‘ For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen’
Partly to reflect a traditional doxology which was a common way of finishing prayers, and partly to bring us full circle, finishing the prayer with praise and appreciation of God.
There is something very creative and positive about learning to appreciate as well as learning to be thankful.
Thankfulness is hugely important, so much so that one of my favourite theologians, Matthew Fox, who wrote ‘Original Blessing’ says ‘If the only prayer you ever say is Thank You, that would be enough.’
I do like that, but hope that we do say more than that, and we do appreciate the important things.
Just try this for a moment.
Identify one thing you really appreciate about your family.
One thing you appreciate about our church.
One thing you appreciate about knowing God.
It is hard if we need to limit it to one, and that was not the point, it is to name the good things because it is so easy to be critical of people and things and not so easy to praise and appreciate those who are on our mind.
Appreciation helps us to see other people as they really are, to value and affirm what is good in them. It encourages us to be open, and it helps us grow in all our relationships including our relationship with God.
We have spoken earlier about the Thy Kingdom come, but let us focus for a minute on us affirming the ‘Power and Glory’ belong to God.
Power is an interesting one. For me it does not express the idea of God wielding almighty power like some great warrior or authority demanding we do as he wishes, but the ultimate creative power which is love, and our response to that is one of awe and wonder.
Glory is that divine beauty that emanates from his love. It is what we experience when pour out our praise and thanks, our adoration and devotion. It is that magnificence that is holy. This too is about awe and wonder.
Our prayer finishes with us trying to express what it feels like to be in the very presence of God, for that is what we are. But our words sometimes are not enough, and we can’t always appreciate what it all means.
People of faith throughout history have tried to get this feeling to become real, through a whole host of prayerful practices. Bu having prayer patterns, fixed procedures, using the divine office of morning and evening prayer, by saying grace, but focussing on poems, or beauty, or candles, or icons. By singing (whoever sings prays twice) by reading scriptures, by using the imagination, by practicing Lectio Divina, by mediating, by walking, or going on Pilgrimage. By being alone, or in groups, by meditating…… the list is endless which makes us realise there is no one right way. We all do what seems right for us where we are at present on our spiritual journey. But for me, one thing does stand out above all else, and I will come to that in a moment. But first let me just ask you to spend a few moments just thinking about how you pray. There may well be many answers, and I would like you to think of them all.
For me I love to pray in church using the liturgy. I love to say my office or morning and evening prayer. I love to experience the beauty of creation, and pray while I walk. I love to go on retreat. I love to read the scriptures and imagine myself being involved in the story. But most of all I love those moments that come when we are not trying too hard to create them, and we just find that stillness, that quiet, and we know that God is.
The psalmist teaches us ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ (Ps 46.10.)
Bless you, Bless you, Bless you.
Until next time.
Fr Marcus
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