Eleanor Rigby and L S Lowry

Holy Trinity Church, Huddersfield, Sunday 16th August, 2020

It has been a quiet week. Although it has been warm my arthritis reacts to humidity in the atmosphere and has kept me in. Not that I particularly want to go out. The data from https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=47574f7a6e454dc6a42c5f6912ed7076 from two weeks ago, 22nd to 28th July when the government imposed Covid-19 restrictions on Kirklees were only 6 new cases in the South Kirklees area which includes Huddersfield. This last week 5th – 11th August there are 37. I am not staying inside to snub anyone by staying indoors as much as possible, I am protecting you. I cannot see our restrictions being lifted anytime soon.

On to today: This was a two coffee morning, one at 8.30am in bed after the 8.00 local radio service (on a theme of submission, we submit to God like learning to swim, we have to submit to the water for it to support us) had been broadcast, and the second at the church 10:30 Zoom coffee meeting. Things discussed there included smashed avocado on toast for breakfast, apparently they are better with a few chilli flakes added.

On to this morning’s service. Youth minister Wayne, the maker of said avocado on toast (for himself and his wife, sadly not for us all) led the service, unusually for him without a hat. Whenever I think about of pray for Wayne I picture him behatted—is that a word?—so ubiquitous is the said garment.

In the worship minute Val, our musical worship minister encouraged us to use our bodes in worship. The Bible mentions different postures in worship from lying done on our bed to raising our open arms either to praise God or like a child wanting to be picked up.

We said goodbye to Nathan. Nathan came to the University here five years ago, and told of how we had helped with his faith. As well as being involved in the music and sound ministry, which was what he was reading at uni, and since graduating has been working at Holy Trinity as a ministry assistant. So long Nathan, You’ll be missed.

John, a retired vicar, preached. This is my notes and reactions to the sermon.

We live in strange and difficult times—some found it particularly difficult—”We are surrounded by lonely people who come from within our communities,” said John, commenting on a line from The Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby, which had been played to a montage of images of lovely people, one of which was people at desks bowed off in an open plan office.

“All the people in my pictures are all alone, they can’t contact each other,” said LS Lowry. A picture of a typical Lowry street scene with many people in it but all busy, surrounded by white space and not reacting to each other filled our screens.

Did people actually speak to the woman taken in adultery? No but Jesus did.
Did people actually speak to Zacchaeus the tax collector? No but Jesus did.

The ministry of Barnabas introducing Paul to the Christian community. is told in Acts chapter 9. He brings Paul, who had earlier been persecuting the church in to the Church. He is great at encouraging Paul. Later when Paul and Barnabas were about to go on a second missionary journey, Paul refuses to go with Barnabas as Barnabas has already left them wanrs to take Mark with them, but Mark has already abandoned ythem on the previous journey. We are to be like Barnabas, encouraging one another. in the family of the church, but beyond that. Hebrews 10:19-25 Was the passage in question

Have you tried encouraging people in church? If you try it first in a safe place it may encourage you to try it elsewhere. We are made in God’s image, and that is permanent. Nothing changes or can change that I have been made in the image of God. That is our hope, We must hold unswervingly to our hope. When did you last talk to someone about our hope?

John finished by asking us to consider Hebrews 10 vv 24 and 25.

²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25 NIVUK