The Pointer April 2020
Rector The Rt Rev Darren McCartney 028 4175 3497 suffragan1@gmail.com
The Magazine of the Church of Ireland Parishes of Clonallon & Warrenpoint with Kilbroney in the Diocese of Down and Dromore This April Pointer is produced as pdf and digital copy only. If you wish to have it sent to you please give your email address to Elizabeth at hannamanor15@btinternet.com
Upon reflecting about how I might write to you, I have been somewhat conflicted, given the fact that you, like me, have been restricted in what we are allowed to do during this current crisis. Our screens have been showing us the direction of travel of the coronavirus and its effects on societies around the globe. I do not wish to downplay the severity of what is happening within society and yet as I look out across the fields and see the lambs playing in the field, the pigeon hooting in the tree and the beautiful sound of the birds, I am conflicted. Listening to the birds is a real treat. Whilst in the Arctic the only bird we would hear at this time of year was the large ravens who can see out the winter. Over the weekend I have been reflecting on a picture that has been coming to my mind and this picture is shaped by the story told in Matthew’s Gospel chapter 14:22ff. The picture is of the disciples straining at the oars in a storm out on the sea of Galilee. “Le Christ Marchant Sur La Mer” Amédée Varint (1811 – 1883)
Kilbroney Parish Church Rostrevor Clonallon Warrenpoint Parish Up to date announcements and live stream worship services will be posted here.
The disciples find themselves in trouble and no doubt were afraid as they looked at the waves that pushed and threaten the boat and their very lives. It is perhaps difficult for us to relate to their particular predicament, unless we have found ourselves in a boat that is being threaten in similar manner, but I am guessing we can identify with the emotions. The strong and somewhat overwhelming sense of fear, the uneasiness in the gut, the anxious thoughts, the what ifs. It is oh so easy to jump to the scene of Peter, in the water, calling and stretching out towards Jesus to save him. I force myself to draw back, to cast my gaze for a moment upon the disciples, in the boat and struggling for a little longer. I guess that for many of us it is the disciples on the boat whom we can relate best to for the moment. We may be struggling to keep things together, perhaps not wanting others to see how we may really be feeling. Straining to hold it together, straining to see our deliverance from that which is threatening. And it is in this moment that I ask you to join with me in calling out, calling out to the one who we know can save. Come Lord Jesus, come and be with us in this, come and deliver us… “And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased”. Matthew 14:32
Blessings +Darren