The Rt Revd John Holbrook, Bishop of Brixworth
To be a Pilgrim
One of my favourite stories
tells of the famous detective
Sherlock Holmes and his
assistant Dr Watson going on
a camping expedition. In the
middle of the night, Holmes
woke up and nudged his
faithful friend; “Watson, look
up and tell me what you see?”
Watson replied, “I see millions
of stars”. Holmes asked,
“What does that tell you
Watson?” He replied;
“Astronomically it tells me the
universe is vast, it also tells
me the time is about a quarter
past three and I believe we
will have a clear day
tomorrow. What does it tell
you?” Holmes paused for a
moment, then said,
“Elementary my dear Watson,
it tells me someone has stolen
our tent!”
The opening chapter of St
John’s Gospel famously
speaks of Jesus becoming
flesh and “pitching his tent
amongst us”. The earliest
Christians were called
“followers of The Way” and we
are called to be a pilgrim
people, adventurously willing
to go where God leads,
pitching our tents where God
is at work, constantly on our
guard against becoming too
settled or too comfortable.
However, although nobody
has actually stolen our tent, it
sometimes feels as though we
ourselves, having built a
house, have put the tent away
in the far corner of the loft
along with our walking boots
and rucksack. And we say to
ourselves, we’ve “dunroaming” it’s time to settle
down! We forget our pilgrim
calling and I’ve heard it
suggested that the Church is
“the best disguised group of
pilgrims the world has never
seen!”
There is real spiritual danger
in thinking we’ve arrived.
The current season of Lent is
an annual reminder to keep
moving and growing in our
Christian lives, to stretch
ourselves and our faith. That’s
why we are often encouraged
to live differently, to give or
take something up. It is
particularly good if this new
activity is challenging for us.
Why not do something
adventurous for God this
Lent?
One of my great heroes, the
former Bishop of Coventry,
Cuthbert Bardsley, used to
describe the Saints as,
“Christians who went far
enough for fun!” How far will
you go for God this Lent?
With my prayers and best
wishes,
+John
A ‘Marvellous’ Film Night
Marvellous, the BAFTA
nominated movie, was shown
to a packed Crick church
recently. And Neil Baldwin,
the man whose extraordinary
life story is featured, joined
the audience.
Two hundred people watched
the inspirational and true story
of Neil ‘Nello’ Baldwin, a man
who refused to accept the
label of learning difficulties.
He is played in the film by
actor Toby Jones.
Neil and the film received a
standing ovation during the
evening.
Rector David Lake, who
interviewed Neil and his
lifelong friend Malcolm Clarke
after the screening described
the night as, “one of the
highlights of my ten years
here.” The Treasurer of St
Margaret’s wrote, “Personally,
I think we are richer from this
in many more ways than
simply the income we raised.”
The evening ended with Neil
and Malcolm signing
autographs and being
photographed with members
of the audience. Summing up
the evening David said, “A
truly inspiring film, reflecting
an incredibly inspiring
individual, a must-watch
movie”.
Recovery House opens
its doors
After four years of planning
and consultation, the
Recovery House has recently
opened its doors in Rushden.
The six-bed residential unit
offers men a place of recovery
from alcohol and drug
addiction.
“We have a team of staff and
volunteers, drawn from local
churches in and around the
town including those with
personal experience,” says
Project Manager Sandra
Taylor. “Some of the team
have been through rehab
themselves and have a lot of
experience and
encouragement to bring.”
“The Recovery House will be
‘home’, a place where family
happens for the residents,”
she says. “But it won’t
necessarily be an easy ride.
Life will happen largely within
the four walls of the centre for
at least six months for these
men. No one is forced to
attend, but our clients come
because they really want to
and because they are focused
on recovery for themselves.
It’s a courageous step to
take.”
The House is asking local
churches to ‘buddy up’ with its
residents, welcome them into
their own church communities
and provide a welcome at
home groups during the week.
But this is not just about trying
to beat an addiction. The
Recovery House offers a
chance to learn new life-skills,
a way back into the workplace
and maybe a chance for
reconciliation with family. “It’s
a new way to live and a whole
new way to be. Please pray
for all of us at the Recovery
House,” says Sandra. (01933
311164)
The Big Sleepout
Over 80 people braved a cold,
snowy night for this year’s
Northampton Big Sleepout.
A cardboard city sprang up
outside Christ Church, in aid
of the town’s Hope Centre.
This annual fundraising event
also highlights the plight of the
homeless in the depths of
winter.
Sponsored sleepers included
Fathers Glen Brookes and
Anthony McGowan from Holy
Trinity. The leader of
Northampton Borough
Council, Cllr David McIntosh
and members of staff from St
Christopher’s Residential
Home, a nearby Church of
England Care Home.
The Revd David Wiseman of
Christ Church was in the
kitchen the following morning
making a breakfast of bacon
and sausage butties.
Bishop's Bible Day
Wisdom: Reading the Bible in
a broken and divided world, is
the theme of Bishop Donald’s
Bible Day later this month.
It is a day for anyone who
uses the Bible in their
ministry, in church, in school,
at work, in the community or
at home.
In addition to keynote
addresses from Bishop
Donald, the day features 18
practical workshops. “Broken
and divided young people”,
“Where are we in the Bible?”
and “ Allowing the Bible to
speak to a Church in conflict”
are just three of the options.
You do need to book to attend
this free day on Saturday 14
March. See the events section
of the diocesan website for
more details.
www.peterboroughdiocese.org.uk
#washday15
#washday is a campaign
encouraging all of us to make
a difference in our
communities through some
kind of washing - re-enacting
Jesus’s washing of the
disciples’ feet on Maundy
Thursday.
Taking part is easy and fun for
all ages. Why not wash some
windows for people who find it
difficult, clean cars, volunteer
to wash up mugs in the office
or shop, anything that helps
make the world a better place.
It’s all about responding to
human need through loving
service.
Whatever you organise, post
a photo to inspire others and
tweet using #washday. Ideas
and resources
www.washday.org
March Events
Monday 2 Prayer & Praise
Northampton. Come together
with other Christians to pray
for the needs of the town. St
Giles’ 7.30pm.
Friday 6 Women’s World Day
of Prayer Service. St
Andrew’s Gt Billing 7pm.
Saturday 14 Bishop’s Bible
Day. The theme is Wisdom:
Reading the Bible in a broken
and divided world.
Northampton High School.
9.30am Sally Crossley 01604
887049.
Saturday 14 Flicks in the
Sticks. St Catherine’s
Draughton is screening “The
Book Thief” . Your £10 ticket
includes a bowl of chilli, a
glass of wine and the film.
01604 686696.
Saturday 21 An introduction to
Godly Play. Led by Dr
Rebecca Nye. All Saints,
Peterborough. Tickets £25.
10am-4pm. Sheila Rogers
sheila@godlyplay.uk
Wed 25 Peterborough
Theological Society. Dr Nicola
Slee gives the Montgomery
Lecture 2015 - Poetry and
Faith. Friends Meeting House,
Thorpe Rd, Peterborough.
7.30pm.
Wed 26 & Thurs 26 Launde
lectures to coincide with the
reburial of King Richard III.
Launde Abbey have two
evening lectures given by
Katie Bridger a PhD Student
at the University of Leicester
and dinner. 6.30pm - 8pm.
Tickets £30. More details
www.laundeabbey.org.uk
Sat 28 Music at Lyddington.
Violinist Rachel Podger plays
a concert with works by Bach,
Biber and Tartini. St Andrew’s.
7.30pm. Tickets £15. 07709
968896