THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
29th August 2025
Greetings,
In the Church's calendar 24th August is the Feast of Bartholomew the Apostle. His name is splendid and memorable but there is little of certainty that can be said of him. And the name itself is uncertain. The Gospel-writers aren't unanimous in naming The Twelve Disciples and it is generally reckoned that the Nathanael of John's Gospel is Bartholomew. There he achieves early prominence as the first to confess Jesus as the Son of God and he is described by Jesus as an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile. Thereafter we hear little in the Scriptures of Bartholomew/Nathanael and for what we lack we have to rely on snippets passed down through the ages. According to this tradition Bartholomew played a full part in the missionary activity of the early church and is associated with India, where he is said to have left a copy of Matthew's gospel, and also Armenia. Tradition also suggests that he died a martyr's death though sources disagree as to by what means.
Tomorrow's gospel (Luke 22.24-30) is generic as far as the Apostles are concerned. As befitting the feast day of one of whom so little is known, it focusses on them as a group. And it doesn't portray them at their finest for they are arguing as to which of them is the greatest. Jesus' retort is that he is among them as one who serves. From our perspective they are venerable apostles but we must remember that they began as a bunch of young lads from Galilee with very little experience of the world for whom Jesus probably signified adventure and opportunity. They had so much to learn and their early enthusiasm would be tested, as Jesus himself hints in speaking of his trials and temptations. Given that they had little idea of what they were letting themselves in for, the most remarkable thing is that only one of them, Judas, fell away. To anyone in business and recruitment that represents an HR triumph! In truth it signifies the triumph of divine grace and in that, there is hope and purpose for us all. In the sweep of Christian history we may be obscure, far more so than Bartholomew, but no degree of obscurity conceals us from divine grace. In the circumstances and conditions in which we live, our witness is an important one. In the trials and temptations of life, grace is given, a divine gift for endurance and witness.
Every blessing,
Charles Booth
We stand on the cusp of meteorological Autumn and it is being heralded by a substantial change in conditions. In the months of uninterrupted warmth and sunshine social comment on the weather has focussed on the gardens and their need of rain. I suspect it will now revert to type and we will soon be moaning at the wind and rain keeping us in and ruining our outdoor events. Already, my arrangements are uncertain. I'm travelling to Lundy this weekend to officiate at the island church (St. Helen's) and to lead some guided walks. But whether I will be going by ferry from Ilfracombe or helicopter from Hartland Point depends on what is currently brewing in the Atlantic.
The only instance of Jesus' encountering inclement conditions is in the Storm on the Lake and many on the crossing to Lundy would be glad of his intervention, peace .... be still. It applies of course not just to the weather but to our restless hearts and lives. In the gospel for this Sunday (Luke 14.1,7-14) Jesus upbraids those who seek status and honour in the eyes of others. Such accomplishments are fleeting, and even worse, deceitful, for by them we are lured into a false understanding of ourselves. What matters is being children of the same heavenly Father, and coming before God in a spirit of humility, penitence and gratitude. It's something we all know very well, but such is human nature, that it is important to be reminded of it again and again. God alone grants that peace which passes all understanding and it is that which we must seek for it is that only which quells the storms of the heart and brings us into fulness of life.
Blessings,
Charles Booth
Services this Sunday (5th of the month) will be at All Saints' at 8am and at St. Mark's at 10am with refreshments after both services. The Pew Sheet is attached. Please be mindful of forthcoming events, not least the Historic Churches Ride and Stride with accompanying Heritage Open Day at All Saints (13th September) and the Parish BBQ the following Sunday. We pray for good weather but will rejoice in God's peace whatever the conditions!
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