The March Treasury 2021 - Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones Fiction in a time of Covid Dewi Sant
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Dewi Sant
Dr Martyn Lloyd
Jones
Memory Humps
Fiction in a time of
Covid
The
March
Treasury
2021
THE MAGAZINE OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WALES
SAINT DAVID For details of the life of Dewi, we
depend mainly on his biographer,
Rhigyfarch. He wrote Buchedd
W
ho was St. David, and Dewi (the life of David) in the 11th
why is he so important century. Another source is Gerallt
to us? Gymro (Giraldus Cambrensis),
Saint David, or Dewi Sant, as he is who wrote a book about his
known in Welsh, is the patron travels through Wales in the 12th
saint of Wales. He was a Celtic century. He also gives some
monk, abbot and bishop, who information about Dewi's early
lived in the sixth century. During life. Dewi died in the sixth
his life, he was the Archbishop of century, so nearly ve hundred
Wales, and he was one of many years elapsed between his death
early saints who were in uential and the rst manuscripts
in sharing the Gospel among the recording his life. As a result, it
native Celtic tribes of western isn't clear how much is history,
Britain. legend or fact.
fi
fi
fl
However, both sources say that His last words to his followers were
Dewi was a very gentle person in a sermon on the previous Sunday.
who lived a frugal life. It is
claimed that he ate mostly
Rhigyfarch transcribes his words
bread and herbs - probably 'Be joyful, and keep your faith and
watercress, which was widely your creed. Do the little things that
used at the time. Despite this you have seen me say and do.
supposedly meagre diet, it is
reported that he was tall and
of his, Saints Padarn and Teilo, are
physically strong.
said to have often accompanied
Dewi is said to have been of royal
him on his journeys, and they
lineage. His father, Sant, was the
once went together on a
son of Ceredig, who was prince of
pilgrimage to Jerusalem to meet
Ceredigion in South-West Wales.
the Patriarch.
His mother, Non, was the
daughter of a local chieftain.
Dewi is sometimes known, in
Legend has it that Non was also a
Welsh, as 'Dewi Ddyfrwr' (David
niece of King Arthur.
the Water Drinker) and, indeed,
Dewi was born near Capel Non
water was an important part of
(Non's chapel) on the South-
his life - he is said to have drunk
West Wales coast near the
nothing else. Sometimes, as a
present city of Saint David. We
self-imposed penance, he would
know a little about his early life -
stand up to his neck in a lake of
he was educated in a monastery
cold water, reciting Scripture.
called Hen Fynwy, his teacher
Little wonder, then, that some
being Paulinus, a blind monk.
authors have seen Dewi as an
Dewi stayed there for some years
early Puritan! (I wonder why we
before commencing on a life of
celebrate his day with much
missionary travels.
eating and indulgence?)
He travelled throughout Wales on
Dewi founded a monastery at
these missionary campaigns and
Glyn Rhosyn (Rose Vale) on the
established several churches.
banks of the small river Alun
David was an early ‘church
where the cathedral city of St.
planter’. He also travelled to the
David stands today. The monastic
south and west of England,
brotherhood that Dewi founded
especially Cornwall as well as
was strict, the brothers having to
Brittany and Ireland. Two friends
work hard besides Prayer, Bible the most important aspect to
study and celebrating remember is that he was a Christian
Communion. They had to get
up very early in the morning for
who accepted God’s call to preach
prayers and afterwards work the Gospel, and secondly someone
hard to help maintain life at the who was as devout in his private life
monastery, cultivating the land as he was publicly
and even pulling the plough.
They would also involve
the new Archbishop. A great
themselves in all manner of crafts
crowd gathered at the Synod and
- beekeeping in particular was
when Dewi stood up to speak,
very important. The monks had to
one of the congregation shouted,
keep themselves fed, as well as
'We won't be able to see or hear
the many pilgrims and travellers
him'. In an instant the ground rose
who needed lodgings. They also
till everyone could see and hear
had to feed and clothe the poor
Dewi. Unsurprisingly, it was
and needy in their
decided shortly afterwards that
neighbourhood, while also
Dewi would be the new
providing some medical help.
Archbishop!
There are many stories regarding
It is claimed that Dewi lived for
Dewi's life. It is said that he once
over one hundred years, and it is
brought a young man back to life
generally accepted that he died in
and milestones were erected in
589 on March 1st. His last words
places where springs of water
to his followers were in a sermon
appeared following miraculous
on the previous Sunday.
happenings, connected to Dewi .
Rhigyfarch transcribes his words
These events are arguably more
'Be joyful, and keep your faith and
apocryphal than factual, but are
your creed. Do the little things
so well known to Welsh-speaking
that you have seen me say and
schoolchildren that it is worth
do. I will now walk the path that
mentioning them here.
our fathers have trod before us.
Perhaps the most well-known
Do the little things.' ('Gwnewch y
story regarding Dewi's life is said
pethau bychain') is today a very
to have taken place at the Synod
well-known phrase in Welsh and
of Llanddewi Bre . They were to
has proved an inspiration to
decide whether Dewi was to be
fi
many. Tradition tells us that on Unfortunately, these were later
Tuesday, the rst of March, in the found to be medieval remains.
year 589, the monastery is said to Dewi himself would have spoken
have been ' lled with angels as the Britton(Brythoneg) language,
Christ received his soul'. the early Welsh language; the
Dewi's body was buried in the language that would have been
grounds of his own monastery, spoken throughout Wales,
where the Cathedral of St. David England and the southern parts of
now stands. After his death, his Scotland some fourteen centuries
in uence spread far and wide - ago. Welsh is one of the oldest
rst through Britain, along the living European languages, and
Roman roads and then by sea to although it has been oppressed
Cornwall Brittany and Ireland. for centuries, it has refused to die
St David's Day, as celebrated and is alive and growing today.
today, dates back to 1120, when The Welsh medium schools,
Dewi was canonised by Pope which have largely been set up
Callactus the Second, and March during the past ve decades, have
1st was included in the Church played an important part in a
calendar. After Dewi's resurgence of the language.
canonisation, many pilgrimages In sharing these details about
were made to St. David's and it Dewi, the most important aspect
was reported that two pilgrimages to remember is that he was a
there equalled one to Rome, and Christian who accepted God’s
three pilgrimages to St David as call to preach the Gospel, and
one to Jerusalem. March 1st was secondly someone who was as
celebrated as a holy day in Wales devout in his private life as he was
until the Reformation. Many publicly. Dewi’s words still ring
churches are dedicated to Dewi, true down through the ages. As
and some to his mother Non. readers of the Treasury we would
It is not certain how much of the be wise to remember his very last
history of St. David is fact and words that encourage us to ‘do
how much is mere speculation. At the little things’ as we go about
the end of 1996, bones were our lives.
found in St. David's Cathedral
which, it was claimed, could be Bryn Williams
those of Dewi himself.
fi
fl
fi
fi
fiNEWSROUND the beginning of lockdown, their
prayer was that the ‘District’
would survive the obvious
Competition Time di culties. It has - thank God ,
and although they do not meet in
C
ould you write a short person, the fellowship remains
Easter-themed story of strong.
up to 1,000 words for the
April issue of the Treasury? A It is their Ernest prayer that their
prize of £50 will be awarded to goal of OUTREACH, hopefully,
the winning entry submitted by will bear fruit when life returns to
Saturday 27th March 2021. normal.
Note: Entries will be judged by a Park End, Cardi
person independent of the
T
Treasury. By submitting an entry, he recently published
you agree that the Treasury will March/April issue of the
have the unrestricted right to Evangelical Magazine
publish your story. The magazine includes an article by the recently
will publish the winner’s name in appointed minister, Revd Owen
conjunction with the winning Batstone on Growing a Jesus-
entry. In submitting a competition Centred Church. One of the ways
entry, entrants agree that the that Park End has endeavoured to
editor may at his sole discretion grow its members was by
edit, adapt, abridge it for encouraging them to Dig Deep
publication. Should no entry into the Bible. In the light of so
reach a su cient standard in the many evil habits being developed
opinion of the Judge, we reserve in lockdown, from alcoholism to
the right to withhold the prize. porn-addiction, the Bible is
absolutely necessary in the battle
Western Gwent Mission for holiness. The church
Partnership members were encouraged to
read the Bible for an hour a day
T
he Partnership of from 9pm until 10pm. Each
churches continues to be evening people checked in from
very strong in desire for across the world to ask after each
unity, love and togetherness. At other, pray for each other and to
ffi
ffi
ffbe fed from the Word of the Lord. who work and those who don’t, so
They nished the whole Bible in both types of people can attend.
169 days. The minister set o TATL Gaming which was held
reworks on day 100 at 10.30pm! twice monthly before Covid-19
has moved to online only. It has a
Sand elds, Port Talbot small following and but we have
A
fter the major lockdown seen some encouraging signs of
was lifted, and churches fruit from young people who have
were allowed to reopen joined in discussions about the
we took the opportunity to do so, Christian faith as we have gone
and have continued to meet through courses like Christianity
weekly. Numbers are up and Explored and Youth Alpha.
down, but we do see a regular We have missed being able to
attendance each week, though make the most of the usual
not always the same number of methods for mission and
people. Some people watch the evangelism and have thought
live service on Zoom. We have long and hard about ways to still
just started a new series looking achieve this within the
at characters through the Old boundaries of restrictions.
Testament on two Sundays in the
month until November. We also At Christmas, we had planned to
have visits penciled in from hold an outdoor carol service,
missionary societies such as which was rained o in the end.
Transform Europe Network and We were, however, able to post
Compassion International. ve-hundred Christmas cards to
the nearest ve-hundred houses
We hold two Bible studies per around the church with letters,
week, both on a Wednesday and we also gave out Christmas
currently reading through hampers to nineteen families and
Romans. A Wednesday morning individuals in our community with
at the church is normally only generous donations from the
attended by half a dozen or so, Social Services and from people
and a similar amount in the in the Port Talbot area.
evening study and prayer meeting We were keen to keep a link with
which is held online with the some of those families who are
same content. The purpose of the on the fringes of the church -
two studies is to cater for those those who would normally attend
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
ff
ffoutreach events but not always
the regular church meetings, so
we came up with an idea that we
have recently rolled out. It is to
send out evangelistic family packs
to all those families we are linked
with. The latest one is a Family
Pancake Pack. It includes an
instant pancake mixture, a church
postcard, an activity sheet with
Bible verses, and a couple of little
sweets.
We are aware that the lockdown
restrictions have caused more
problems than frustration about
will continue to remain open to
being stuck indoors; mental
ful l our purpose, witness and
wellbeing and loneliness were
calling to be a light in the
major issues without extended
darkness.
lockdowns, so with such long
periods of isolation, these issues
HOPE through COVID at
are worsening all the time. It's not
Tabernacle Penclawdd
only a problem for families, but
A
s in many churches
for others who live in couples or
around the country, the
alone.
restrictions and
lockdowns have presented
The spiritual wellbeing of even
di cult problems, and here at
mature Christians is tested in
Tabernacle Penclawdd it has
these times and while the Church
been no di erent.
can be open, we strongly believe
During the rst lockdown the
it should be open.
church reached out to its
members and friends and set up a
We are very thankful that we can
telephone and e-mail care
meet and aim to do everything
system, this pastoral care by the
safely, without compromising any
Elders was invaluable.
rules or recommendations in the
process. With the Lord’s help we
ffi
fi
ff
fiZOOM became another tool to
bring people together albeit a
virtual one. We initially used
Zoom for Bible Studies and Zoom
quizzes.
Subject to very strict procedures
to keep members and visitors as
safe as possible Tabernacle
opened for private prayer in
September twice a week, enabling
those who wish to seek comfort
and solace.
At the beginning of lockdown, we
managed to record our church
services and these were put on We have kept in touch with our
You Tube, however, as 2020 ‘Tabernacle Toddlers’ and their
developed, with the expert help families though our Tabernacle
and dedication of Paul Daniel Toddlers Facebook page. Here
(Evangelist with AECW) the Bible stories and activities have
church upgraded their technical been posted regularly. As
equipment so that regular live- Christmas approached thirty
streaming of services became Activity and Treat bags were
available. This way the whole made and distributed.
community can have access and At Christmas some members of
be connected. For those who ‘Open the Book’ team along with
cannot attend church, we are Revd Stuart Dainty made a three
worshipping together, but apart, part video telling the Nativity
in the same but di erent way. Story. This video (on You Tube)
The Blythswood Shoe Box appeal was given to the local Primary
continued during very di cult School along with a Nativity
circumstances, and 366 boxes booklet for every child in the
were sent to Romania/Bosnia. school.
The Food Bank is another Whilst worship and safety
ministry the church seeks to remained essential, it was
support. decided to hold a Candlelight
Christmas Service on the Sunday
before Christmas day, this was
ff
ffiattended by 32 people of which • Missed fellowship with each
10 were visitors, it was a great other face to face.
opportunity of reaching out at • Missed singing together.
this time. This too, was live- • Missed our tea/co ee chats
streamed. after
Sunday morning services.
As we move forward the links • Missed our regular Communion
we’ve made with the more services.
vulnerable and older members • Missed seeing our Toddlers and
continue to be developed. Online their parents.
worship and Bible Study/Prayer
will continue, as will our Sunday Restrictions and lockdowns have
Morning church worship been hard for so many people,
following Government guidelines. but God has been faithful. We
have developed new skills, and
Things we have missed: new ways of working in order to
• Missed meeting for worship get the message of the love of
regularly together. Jesus out to members, friends
and the community
TOMORROW one-hundred laps of his garden
and raised £39 million. He
WILL BE A received a
well-deserved knighthood and
GOOD DAY! when interviewed, humbly
expressed amazement at the
C
massive amount of money people
aptain Sir Tom Moore has had given.
been a bright shining light
in dark Captain Tom’s experiences in life
times. He captured the hearts of had taught him to be optimistic
many people when he decid- about the future. In one television
ed, at the age of ninety-nine, to inter- view he said, “I’ve always
raise money to help the NHS considered that if things are very
cope with hard, don’t worry. You’ll get
the Covid-19 pandemic. Before through them. Don’t give in, just
his 100th birthday he walked
ffkeep going and things will
certainly get better. That’s the
way to look at it.” In World War II
he had served as a dispatch rider
in the 8th Battalion, the Duke of
Wellington’s Regiment. He was
sent to Burma, now Myanmar,
shortly after the Japanese had Captain Tom spoke of his hope
overrun a British medical station, for the future in heaven. He was
not only killing the handful of not afraid of dying and often
soldiers but bayoneting the thought about being reunited
doctors, orderlies and patients. with loved ones who had died
He and his fellow soldiers were before him. He wrote: “So, even if
each given a tablet of cyanide, a tomorrow is my last day, if all
lethal dose to swallow if they those I loved are waiting for me,
were captured. then that tomorrow will be a good
day, too.” When we are trusting in
He survived the war but never Jesus, he promises a glorious
forgot his fellow soldiers who eternal home in heaven. One
didn’t come back. In the early hymn says,
years after the war, he had
di culty nding a settled job but “Through the love of God our
later became managing director Saviour, all will be well. Free and
of a concrete manufactur- ing changeless is his favour, all, all is
company. His rst marriage was well.
loveless and unhappy and ended
in divorce, but his second We expect a bright tomorrow, all
marriage to Pamela was very will be well.
happy and they had 2 daughters. Faith can sing through days of
When Pamela developed sorrow, 'All, all is well.'
dementia and went into a care
home Tom, then in his mid 80's, On our Father’s love relying, Jesus
visited her for hours every day. every need supplying, in our
After Pamela died, he moved to living, in our dying, all must be
live with his daughter Hannah well.”
and her family.
Revd Peter Milsom
ffi
fi
fiFORTY YEARS Sharing this suggestion with
one of the curates at the Old
ON: THE Parish Church, Farnborough, I
PASSING OF DR was met with, “Oh no, he’s a
dour Puritan!”
LLOYD-JONES
A
s a young Christian reared Sharing this suggestion with one
in Methodism, converted of the curates at the Old Parish
in Anglicanism and in the Church, Farnborough, I was met
process of discovering Puritanism, with, “Oh no, he’s a dour Puritan!”
I became aware of this London- Brought to Christ and con rmed
based minister known as ‘the in this church, I had felt God’s call
Doctor’. Called thus by his to the Christian ministry. However,
a ectionate admirers, the late Dr as my growing awareness of the
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Protestant origins of the Church of
(1899-1981) had been the minister England was being made light of
of Westminster Chapel for over by this same curate, I was
twenty years when I rst heard of becoming drawn to the Puritans.
him. While another speaker was
eventually invited to speak at the
Commencing an engineering carol service, I became
apprenticeship at the Royal increasingly intrigued to hear this
Aircraft Establishment, ‘dour Doctor’.
Farnborough in 1958, I later met
Derek Fenne (from Woking) at the After reading a Banner of Truth
weekly lunchtime meetings of the Trust publication, Sermons of the
RAE Christian Union. Then, when Great Ejection, I was persuaded of
the Apprentice Supervisor asked the defects of the Church of
me to recommend a speaker for England from a biblical
the Annual Apprentices Carol perspective. Thus I set aside all
Service in 1962, Derek—who, with thoughts of Anglican ordination.
his family regularly worshipped at Then, on hearing Dr Lloyd-Jones
Westminster Chapel—suggested for the rst time I was determined
the minister of his church, none to receive his ministry for the
other than ‘the Doctor’. foreseeable future. So, every
ff
fi
fi
fiSunday I joined hundreds of Jones. I had the privilege of this
others who travelled to hear the four times during the next three
unique and anointed preaching of years, lining up with others to
‘the Doctor’. With another RAE attend the Doctor’s ‘surgery’
friend, Geo Timmins, I also following every Sunday morning
headed for Westminster Chapel service.
every Friday evening to attend Dr
Lloyd-Jones’ expositions of Paul’s My rst personal encounter with
Epistle to the Romans. The 4.54 the Doctor occurred soon after I
pm train from Farnborough to left the Church of England. I
Waterloo was a rail journey with a asked him to read a document I
di erence. What regular spiritual had written to articulate my
feasts awaited us in London! reasons for secession, entitled
Apologia: the Twentieth Century
With several unresolved and Seventeenth Century
theological issues in my mind, Nonconformity—by an Anglican.
plus some personal problems, it While this document had earlier
was only a matter of time before I incurred the displeasure of the
sought the counsel of Dr Lloyd- Revd Michael Baughen, then
ff
fi
ffCandidates Secretary of the enable me to preach as I do,” he
Church Pastoral-Aid Society said.
(CPAS) and future Bishop of
Chester, Dr Lloyd-Jones was full Later that year, with prolonged
of encouragement. “You have a sleeping problems causing me to
very clear mind,” he said, “Go on, wake every morning feeling quite
go on.” exhausted and depressed, the
Doctor provided a strictly medical
On another occasion, I was explanation. “You are probably
anxious to know the Doctor’s su ering from low blood
views on ‘the baptism of the pressure.” He then added, “You
Spirit’, an issue I had encountered are in good company. Oliver
during a nal ‘charismatic’ phase Cromwell and Mr Gladstone
of my Anglican years. While I had su ered in the same way.” While
grave reservations about this information lifted my spirit
‘speaking in tongues’ and other considerably, my later medical
phenomena, I could not discount history con rms the accuracy of
a remarkable sudden experience Dr Lloyd-Jones’ diagnosis.
of the love of God which I had
enjoyed a year or so before. This Following the completion of my
occurred while reading my Bible apprenticeship at the RAE, I
and praying, of all places, in a worked as an Assistant
railway carriage, as the train Experimental O cer at the
approached Tonbridge, being en nearby RAF Institute of Aviation
route to Mabledon near Medicine from 1963 to 1966.
Tunbridge Wells to attend a Attached to the Psychology
CPAS conference for prospective department, I was frequently
ordinands. On reading later the embroiled in discussions with the
sermons of the Puritan Thomas generally-atheist psychologists
Goodwin, I was convinced that for whom I worked in the design
his ‘sealing of the Holy Spirit’ and construction of electro-
exposition of Ephesians 1:13 made mechanical apparatus for their
sense of my own experience. On experiments. Often engaged in
asking the Doctor about this, he ‘apologetics’ to defend the
encouraged me with his own Christian Faith, these were usually
testimony. “I have had two good-natured debates, so much
remarkable experiences which so that my antagonists thought I
ff
ff
fi
fi
ffiwould bene t from a university Later that year, with prolonged
education. sleeping problems causing me to
Consequently, I applied for a
wake every morning feeling quite
place at the University College of exhausted and depressed, the
North Wales, Bangor to read Doctor provided a strictly medical
Philosophy, Psychology and explanation. “You are probably
History. Only having ‘O’ levels
and engineering quali cations
suffering from low blood
(ONC and HNC), the University pressure.” He then added, “You are
of Wales permitted matriculation in good company. Oliver Cromwell
by this route without ‘A’ Levels. and Mr Gladstone suffered in the
Anxious to discuss this academic
possibility with Dr Lloyd-Jones, I same way.”
sought an opportunity to talk it
over with him. He encouraged me
to go ahead. Distrustful of the After my ordination at Primrose
value of the usual university Hill Congregational Church,
theology degree (on account of Northampton in 1969, I received
liberal in uences), the Doctor further encouragement from ‘the
considered that any good Doctor’. He preached for us on 1
intellectual training taught November 1970. I was able to
principles which could usefully be keep in touch with him by
applied later to more biblically- attending the monthly meetings
orientated personal theological in London of the Westminster
study. So, with Dr Lloyd-Jones’ fellowship. He also encouraged
blessing, I went up to Bangor in me in my research into the life
October 1966. and labours of Dr Philip
Doddridge of Northampton. He
In the gracious providence of then preached at my induction to
God, there was another purpose a new pastorate in Gateshead on
in going to North Wales. For there Tyne in 1972. Following a later
I met my Marian, a wonderful move to Great Ellingham in
Welsh girl from Pontlliw, South Norfolk, we had the privilege of
Wales. We were married at the hearing Dr Lloyd-Jones at Surrey
beginning of my nal degree year Chapel, Norwich in 1977. This was
in 1968. the last time I saw and heard him.
fl
fi
fi
fiHis caring influence for those of us
Immersed as I was in pastoral unashamed to be ‘his sons’ ensure
and PhD research activities in
distant Norfolk, I was unaware of
that his memory will remain fresh
Dr Lloyd-Jones’ declining health. in our hearts as long as we live.
Then, in the early weeks of 1981,
my friend Charles Lawrence the future leadership of the
informed me of the beloved fraternal’ (pp. 745-6). According
Doctor’s condition. Charles also to D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: Letters
reported that the Doctor was 1919-1981 (1994), selected by Iain
su ering from depression. That Murray, these letters were indeed
prompted me to write to him. the last (see p. 237). Assuming
Together with the letter, I also that, with his rapidly declining
sent a cassette tape recording of strength, the Doctor would have
the sound-track of my audio- attended that day to the longer
visual The Story of the Church. and more important letter rst, it
This simple introductory survey is highly plausible that the other
of two-thousand years of church letter was dictated last. That
history concluded with the ‘young minister’ was me, not so
ministry of Dr Lloyd-Jones. The much ‘an author’ (as Iain Murray
cassette had the desired e ect. I indicates) but the producer and
received a reply from him dated 11 supplier of the audio cassette.
February.
Little did I know at the time just
This, I believe, was the Doctor’s how near the Doctor was to the
nal letter, the last of eighteen I’d end of his pilgrimage. Amazingly,
received from him since the rst as March 1—St David’s Day—
in 1966. In the second volume of approached, I had intended to
his biography D. Martin Lloyd- preach a Lord’s Day evening
Jones; The Fight of Faith 1939-81 sermon on the preachers of
(1990), Iain Murray writes that Wales. In fact, in the course of
‘Among the last [letters] was one expounding ‘The Lord gave the
dictated on February 11 to word; great was the company of
encourage a young minister and the preachers’ (Psalm 68: 11), I
another to John Caiger, the cited Daniel Rowland, Howell
Secretary of the Westminster Harris, Robert Roberts of
Fellowship, giving suggestions on Clynog and Thomas Charles of
fi
ff
ff
fi
fiBala, concluding with Dr Lloyd-
Jones. Late in the day, sometime
after our evening service had
ended, Charles Lawrence
’phoned with the news, “Our
beloved Doctor passed into the
presence of His Lord earlier
today.” In view of what I’d
preached, I was quite stunned.
On Friday, March 6th, 1981 a large
crowd gathered in Newcastle
Emlyn, Wales for the funeral of
Dr Lloyd-Jones. At Westminster
Chapel on Monday, April 6th a
congregation of around 2,500
assembled in London for a
thanksgiving service.
Encouraged by his life, ministry eyes and hear the Doctor all over
and teaching, I—like many other again!
ministers—was motivated to
pursue my own ministry with For many of us, he was the
greater zeal. What a privilege it ‘beloved Doctor’. We love him for
had been to come under the his faithfulness to Christ, for his
Doctor’s in uence! The nal wisdom, kindness and
fteen years of his life had made compassion. His caring in uence
an indelible impression on me. for those of us unashamed to be
‘his sons’ ensure that his memory
It is a delight to know that all over will remain fresh in our hearts as
the country there were preachers long as we live.
in the mould of Dr Lloyd-Jones.
For some, imitation went beyond Revd Dr Alan Cli ord
theology. They even copied his
voice and mannerisms! On
hearing particular Welsh
preachers, one could close one’s
fi
fl
ff
fi
flNOT THE eld. What about you?” “Standing
in a eld. What will you do
SUNDAY tomorrow?” “Oh, stand in a eld.”
Right now, I am not sure if we are
SERMON that far removed from the thrilling
existence of Owen’s cows. What’s
T
in your diary for next week?
he end is in sight. We are “Nothing much, just sitting in my
on the edge of the chair.” Let’s be honest: even if you
Promised Land of milk, are one of the eighteen million
honey, hamburgers and haircuts. people to have had the rst dose
But that is for future issues of of the Covid vaccine, that does
“The Treasury”. What about not mean you can tear o your
today? What about now? face covering and run out into the
“What are you doing today?” street hugging the postman and
“Nothing much”, I hear you say. singing “Born free!” That’s not
“And tomorrow?” “The same”. I how vaccines work. It’s not how
am reminded of that wonderful lockdowns work. And Lockdown 3
character from The Vicar of has been the worst movie sequel
Dibley, farmer Owen Newitt, ever, beyond even Disney to
when he related to Dibley Parish make it funny.
Council an imaginary
conversation between two of his The other lockdowns seemed to
cows. “Oh, what have you been me to be easier. We had decent
doing today?” “Oh, standing in a
fi
fi
fi
ff
fiweather during the rst Manila who will have beaten us to
lockdown: summer was it and can sell you one with your
approaching, and we could all get name on it for a few hundred
outside. Lockdown 2, if my pesos.) Oh well, at least I saved
memory serves me right, was all money that would have been
about the things we could do spent on the champagne and
indoors that we had put o roses.
because of the good weather in
Lockdown 1, such as doing jigsaws Writing in The Times recently,
all day or polishing the gravel in Caitlin Moran in her weekly
the driveway. Lockdown 3 has had column pondered that these
little to recommend it. T S Eliot lockdowns have been worse for
was wrong: April is not the the young people. Why?
cruellest month. It was February. “Because” she wrote “we older
A winter that seemed never to fellows have, at least, had our fun
end, new varieties of Covid – we have racketed around a bit,
springing up to make those nice been careless, roamed from joy to
scientists go all cautious and joy… We older ones are lucky,
make Chris Whitty even more because we all have Memory
gloomy than Eeyore. Humps, like camels – where we
have stored fatty, creamy,
Just to rub salt into the wounds, emotionally calori c memories of
we had Valentines Day last summers and parties and rst
month. My wifey bear is 8000 jobs and train rides. In this third
miles away, give or take. I last saw lockdown, we can turn o all
her and the family in January future hopes and dreams for a
2020. Fat lot of good my newly while and simply redigest all the
acquired and cherished Covid previous hopes and dreams that
vaccine card made to any came true. We can sit in a
romantic plans. (You know the re ective fugue state and recall it
old joke that when Moses came all.”
down from Sinai with the Ten
Commandments, they were Think of your own Memory
already selling genuine copies on Hump. It may not be that
the streets of Hong Kong. When dissimilar to mine: the rst kiss,
Covid travel passports nally travel, that favourite pet, the
come out, I know a bloke in music you danced to at the
fl
fi
fi
fi
fi
ff
ff
fischool dance, escaping your we older fellows have had our fun
parents and bringing your dirty – we have racketed around a bit,
washing home at weekends,
getting drunk on vodka behind
been careless, roamed from joy to
the school bicycle shed (OK, not joy. We are lucky, because we all
quite the same Memory Hump have Memory Humps
as mine). And the bad memories
too: the job you hated, the boy/ some idea of where they were
girl who dumped you and made going. He was on speaking terms
you think “never again”. As Caitlin with God. Yep, his sense of
says, they all go into your Memory direction was a lot better than
Hump to remember during these mine. But the others? What is the
lockdowns of sheer nothingness. Hebrew for “Are we nearly there
yet?” “What have you been doing
For the people of Israel, their today?” “Oh, standing in the
sheer nothingness after escaping wilderness. What about you?”
Egypt was to last forty years. I “Oh, standing in the wilderness.”
make that 120 lockdowns and Which is how God decided to
counting (oh, so that’s why it’s punish them – forty years
called The Book of Numbers). standing in the wilderness, one
Sure, it was their fault, or rather year for each of the forty days
their parents’ fault or their they had spent sni ng out the
grandparents’ fault, for not land and the local girls. Best not
following that most sought-after to complain too much, I think.
lockdown exit route, the mythical Especially as God is always
road map, and more directly for watching, even behind the school
complaining and wishing they bicycle shed. So there they are, in
were back in Egypt. I say their Lockdown Number 78 having
parent’s fault because at the nished all their jigsaws of Mount
beginning of this forty years of Sinai and wondering if they are
existential nothingness, only nearly there yet - which clearly
those who had stored many years they aren’t and most of them
of Egypt in their Memory Hump never will be. Was it all wasted on
would be complaining (God, the teenagers who would nally
Exodus to Numbers is almost as make it to the land of milk, honey,
long as lockdown!). Moses, bless hamburger joints and football
his little stone tablets, had at least games?
fi
ffi
fiAnd as Caitlin Moran concluded
No, because those younger ones in her article, these are lessons
were not just standing in a desert the younger ones have been
doing nothing much. They were learning in the last few months:
building memories in their how to combat hopelessness and
Memory Humps, memories that despair without raiding the fridge,
would equip them to be the how to be locked indoors without
people of God when they asking your parents “Are we
reached the land of Big Macs nearly there yet?” There may
(other ways of clogging your even be some good memories
arteries are available). They stored away in those humps too,
would survive this long ready to unpack when they reach
everlasting lockdown in the the promised land of meeting
desert between the Red Sea and friends outside, parties without
the fertile land beyond. Farewell, Zoom and elds where they will
manna and banana bread! One hug and do things and not just
day they would go on day trips to stand there measuring two
Jericho while the walls were still metres from each other. Caitlin is
standing and beat the Amorites right: no incident is wasted if you
at football after a penalty shoot- learn from it; they all go into the
out. Memory Hump for us to mull
over, young or old, long after this
Yes, Israel, the end is in sight. And dragging time of empty
in his old age, forty years and 119 nothingness has ended.
lockdowns later, Moses would
remind them how God had Suddenly I am beginning to like
brought them to where they were The Book of Numbers. It shows
now. Lessons had been learned. us that Moses was right all along.
Tough lessons which went way There is never an easy way to
beyond how best to do a jigsaw build a Memory Hump, especially
puzzle or how to cut your own in the desert where everything
hair (don’t). Lessons on how to non-essential is closed. And
deal with waiting and isolation especially in Lockdown 3. But one
and loneliness, lessons about how day soon it will end, and I suspect
to see God in a desert. Lessons we will be better people for it.
which, lockdown or not, are pretty
useful for Lent. Ask Jesus. Revd Dr Mike Ward
fiONE MORE
THING
T
hree or four weeks into
Lockdown it started to
become clear that for
many, many people, things were
going to be ne. Lockdown
meant staying in with family,
downloading movies, ordering
food deliveries, and plundering
Amazon. But for a few people
not only was it not bad, it was
really pretty good. If you had
shares in Zoom you were
heading for a comfortable little
payday. Conspiracy theorists
joked that Disney must have an apocalyptic event that has
planned the whole thing to wiped out most of the world it
coincide with the launch of their asks the reader to imagine what
new streaming platform Disney+. life would be like if everything
They had hoped for 60 million changed, everywhere.
subscribers by 2024, launched in
the UK in March they reached The book is not di cult to read
that target in May! Companies (the publishers have done the old
making toilet paper, face masks student trick of trying to make the
and yellow tape were quids in and book seem longer by upping the
those producing hand sanitiser font size) so you’ll whizz through
must have been rubbing their the rst hundred pages without
hands together (tsk!) with glee. any trouble. As a Christian you’ll
nd a very interesting re ection
Author Robert Harris couldn’t on Christianity and the church.
have conceived of a better ad
campaign for the launch of his Not that Harris has done a lot of
new book The Second Sleep. Set work in that regard. The main
in the 1400s in the aftermath of character is Christopher Fairfax, a
priest from Exeter. He has been
fi
fi
fi
ffi
flsent to a small village in Wessex obeys its edicts out of fear rather
to take the funeral of the old than respect or love.
priest who has died in mysterious
circumstances. Fairfax has been Things change when he nds a
sent by the Archbishop and fully book. He knows he shouldn’t read
intends to do what he is told but it (the book is on a list of heretical
of course the things he nds start manuscripts banned by the
to challenge his views. church) but he is tempted.
Having discovered education
In this Harris (an author I really Fairfax’s trust in the church begins
enjoy) is terri cally unoriginal. I to wane. Now he meets a man of
feel like Robert Harris is Tony business. Eager to move beyond
Blair with a Mont Blanc. A classic the constraints of small time
left of centre author who grew up farming and to embrace a proto-
part of the Soixante Huite capitalism he tells Fairfax he has
generation. Having donated ‘not time for the church’ though
money to New Labour and generously he ‘still believes in
enjoyed that comfortable period God’. Finally Fairfax meets a
where centre left politics seemed woman and in him stir passions
to bear fruit (culminating in its he had tried to repress. She
full expression at the opening comes into his bed one night at
ceremony of the London which point his faith is pretty
Olympics) he has had his much lost. Education, capitalism
worldview shaken by 9/11, the and sex coupled with his
nancial crash, Brexit, Corbynism, realisation that the church exists
and the general turmoil of the last to repress people and hide the
decade. truth liberate him.
It wont surprise you in the We know this because he nds
slightest to nd that Fairfax starts that he doesn’t want to lead mass,
out incurious. He is a liberal he can’t summon up even the
priest, fully able to recite the beginnings of a sermon and his
creeds and confessions but with language changes; he has no
no awareness of what they mean. problem blaspheming by the end
He has (Harris reminds us a few of the book.
times) no time for ‘zealots’. He is Isn’t that the story we hear over
committed to the church but and over in media
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
firepresentations of Christianity? care of one another, ordered
Christians are almost always themselves and began again.
employed as vicars or priests, you While they were doing that they
rarely see a lay christian in a book read the books they found and
or lm. After that they are either preserved the story they read.
corrupt and therefore beyond
redemption or credulous and in Harris describes it as a matter of
need of saving by the freeing practicality. But it’s not hard to
forces of modernity. What see it as a parallel community. If
political leaders like Blair and Coronavirus had turned out
Cameron and authors like Harris di erently and we hadn’t (for the
can’t understand is that true most part) all been ok, where
Christianity already understands would people have turned? If
these things. True Christianity things deteriorate in the next few
understands the power of truth, years and we become ill or
the importance of education, the impoverished where will people
value of work and aspiration and turn? There is an historic thread
the joy of sex but it also sees that from the days of the apostles that
in and of themselves they are shows us the church exists as an
destructive. The drift to the left alternative community o ering
over the last sixty years has shelter to the lost, clothes to the
brought positive things but also naked, food to the hungry and
very many negative things. water to the thirsty. Yes there will
be those who abuse power, yes
So why bother reading the book if there will be those who merely
it’s just a rehashing of a failed parrot the creeds and never really
argument? think through the reality of what
they are saying. But what The
Simply this. Harris has to explain Second Sleep unwittingly reveals
why the church still exists after is that while one community
the apocalypse. And he explains chases money, power and sex as a
it by architecture. The cataclysm way to validate the self, a second
came. The survivors lost community continues to look not
everything. Looking for shelter to self but to service for the glory
they found old stone buildings of God.
(one for every parish). They hid
there, gathered their wits, took Revd Jonathan Hodgins
ff
fi
ffCOLOPHON
Dewi Sant Revd Bryn Williams is minister of Capel y Drindod and Ala
Road, Pwllheli. Photograph: wikipedia.com
Forty Years On Revd Dr Alan Cli ord is pastor of Norwich Reformed Church.
He has other recorded memories on You Tube REMEMBERING DR D. M.
LLOYD-JONES http://youtube/O8unLnuWcy0 and another, LLOYD-JONES
SINGS DODDRIDGE: ‘O happy day, that xed my choice’ https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4EqzPT9Yxk
Photograph: Authors own; Banner of Truth.org
Captain Sir Tom Moore Revd Peter Milsom was brought up in Park End
Presbyterian Church of Wales where he leads worship on occasions. He
lives in Rogerstone in retirement. Photograph: wikipedia.com
Sunday Sermon Revd Dr Mike Ward is minister in Moreton, Two Mills and
Clubmoor, Liverpool. Photograph: Unsplash.com
Second Sleep Revd Jonathan Hodgins is minister and community
chaplain in the Deeside Pastorate. Photograph: Authors own
ff
fiYou can also read
