Kempston East

Methodist

Church

e-Newsletter

Issue 58

April 25th

2021

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Minister: Rev Michael GilesMichaelgiles2017@gmail.com

01234 930882

www.kempstoneastmethodist.org

Jesus, the Good Shepherd

A Bible Study by Ruth Wilde

The Ethiopian Eunuch’:

‘identity-politics and liberation’

Read: Acts 8:26-40

Reflect:• Do you think this man – the Ethiopian eunuch – is a person with privilege? Why? • How has this story been interpreted by religious leaders in churches you’ve been

to? • Do you think it’s important that this man was Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official

and a religious person? Which of these do you think is the most important? • How does this passage speak to your own experiences? • Which parts of the eunuch’s complex identity do you identify with?

Think:We are not really familiar with eunuchs these days, but they were a common fixture of the ancient world. They were isolated by mainstream society and stood out with their high voices and unusual height, but they also often had high-powered jobs, like this one in Acts. This eunuch would not have been poor economically, and he was well-educated. He was evidently able to read, which most people would not have been. He would have had a roof over his head, and access to healthcare, such as it was in the 1st century.

However, in other ways, he would have been ‘poor’. He did not have the freedom that others had – he was entirely dependent on Queen Candace. He was unable to have children and would most likely have remained single all his life, in a world where the family unit was important socially.

He had no place in a world which was divided strictly between women and men either – in this way, he was what we might term ‘queer’ in today’s vocabulary. As a religious person and a Jew, he would have had the experience of not knowing where to worship at the temple, as the temple had a section for women and children, and a separate section for men. He was most probably forcibly castrated as a child, and he would not have felt entirely comfortable or accepted in all-male spaces and society; however, he also would not have been welcome in female spaces.

A Bible Study by Ruth Wilde

Listen:Privileged people often attempt to reduce the important work of justice and liberation for marginalised people to the term ‘identity politics’. However, only those people who do not experience prejudice against their identity can afford to say identity doesn’t matter. Some people are excluded from jobs because of the colour of their skin, treated differently because of their sexuality, and patronised or worse because of their working-class background or because they’re disabled. For these people, identity matters. Identities must be named in order for prejudice against them to be shamed and then dismantled.

Often, in church services, we have heard this passage explained as a story about mission – the mission of the apostles to convert people to Christianity. We are then told that we too must go and convert people so that they can be baptised. As Marianne Kartzow and Halvor Moxnes explain, however, this is a very Western interpretation – it has become the hegemonic interpretation, excluding all others. It is time to re-read the story through the eyes of marginalised and poor people – this is liberation theology. If the writer of Acts did not think the eunuch’s identity was significant in this story, why was he described in such great detail?

People being treated differently because of their identity or background is not a new phenomenon. The eunuch in Acts was excluded from ‘normal’ society in many ways –he was excluded from family life; he was disabled – with a scar, missing genitalia, an unusual voice and height, and the inability to procreate; he was a Black, African Jew; he was queer or gender divergent; he was foreign; and he was a servant – yes, a wealthy one, but one who was still dependent on his employer.

The people who have risen up and said that ‘Black Lives Matter’ this year have not done that because they sat down and thought about how they might get ‘identity politics’ on the agenda. They have done it out of anger, desperation and pain, because Black people are being treated differently and unfairly. In some cases, Black people are even in danger for their lives. The death that sparked a worldwide outpouring of anger and protest this year – that of George Floyd – was watched by millions around the world on a nine-minute video.

A Bible Study by Ruth Wilde

According to the Black theologian Dwight Hopkins, it is likely the fact that so many saw it happen on camera which really moved people to action.

The eunuch in this story came from Ethiopia, and in this era of renewed struggle for Black freedom and justice, that is particularly meaningful. Ethiopia has a long and proud history and is often seen as a symbol of Africa as a whole. It is where some Black people decided to move to in the 20th Century to escape injustice and ‘exile’ in the West. That project of returning from exile to Africa may not necessarily be a long-term solution to the racism people face, but it gave hope and a focus to many who have been treated so unjustly for so long.

The Bible scholar Peterson Toscano says that the eunuch could have been moved by the passage he was reading, as it related to some of his own experiences of forced castration and exclusion: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted… he was led as a lamb to the slaughter.” Toscano wonders whether he perhaps read on to Isaiah 56, where he would have read about God’s promise to foreigners and eunuchs: “Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will surely separate me from His people.’ Nor let the eunuch say, ‘Behold, I am a dry tree’ … To them I will give in my house and within my walls a memorial, and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut off’” (Isaiah 56:3–5). The promise in Isaiah is not only God’s promise to a eunuch in the 1st century; it is God’s promise to all who have been excluded, marginalised, mistreated and abused. You will have a name better than that of sons and daughters, says God. You are my children.

Act:Create a study group at your church to look at identity and inclusion. Use the Inclusive Church set of books, especially the personal stories in them. You can also use the stories on the Church Action on Poverty website here: https://www.church-poverty.org.uk/stories/

This is published under a Creative Commons Licence CC-BY-NC-ND by Church Action on Poverty, and can be downloaded from www.church-poverty.org.uk/bible

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In the week up to April 18th there were 32 new cases of Covid-19 reported in Bedford Borough, down from 40 in the previous week. This equates to 18.5 new cases per 100,000 population compared with 23.1 new cases per 100,000 population in the previous seven days. Most of the new cases were among 20-39 year old males, 10-29 year old and 50-59 year old females. One death from Covid-19 was reported in the Borough in the seven days to April 9th.

The Kempston West ward had 4 of these new cases while Wootton and the other Kempston wards had less than 3 new cases each.

Weekly COVID-19 Cases in Bedford Borough

This Bedford News is extracted from emailings from Bedford Borough Council and their partners

Bedford Road Primary School Celebrates the life of Prince Philip

Thanks to Richard for these pictures

Our Church Family

Your

Prayers

Please remember in your prayers:• Les and Rosemary R• Jenny C• Clifton who has broken his arm• Barbara, her family and Peter’s family following

the death of Peter• Paul and Linda C following the death of Paul’s

mother, Phyllis.

To all my friends at Kempston East –a big thankyou for your cards and good wishes on my 90th birthday.

Peter Peck

Arrangements for the Funeral of Phyllis Chambers

Phyllis’s Funeral Service, which will be at Norse Road Crematorium Bedford, will be on Thursday April 29th at 10.45am. You will be able to watch the service via the live online webcast. Access details are:

Website: https://www.obitus.com/Username: biki8522Password: 389713

Donations to Sue Ryder St john’s Hospice may be made in memory of Phyllis and a page will allow you, your family and friends to leave personalised tributes in memory of Phyllis . To use this facility please visit http://www.abbott-funerals.co.uk/ and visit the Online Donations page. In the Love2Donate section there is a 'click here to donate'button to access the donation page. You will then be asked to enter Phyllis Chambers'sname in order to gain access to their unique tribute page.

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Arrangements for the Funeral of Peter Tipping

Peter’s funeral will be on Tuesday May 4th at 2.00pm. This will be the first funeral for over a year to be held at Kempston East. Government regulations restrict the number of people allowed at the funeral to a maximum of 30 – and these will all be by invitation. The funeral service will, though, be livestreamed on Zoom to enable a much greater number of people to join. The Zoom login details will be sent in Richard’s email (and will also be sent by Barbara to those friends and family of Peter who will not be able to attend in person).

Wesley Guild Annual General Meeting

The Guild AGM will take place next Monday 26th April at 4pm.Please note the change of time for this meeting.

Our last AGM took place in 2019, as last year we were in ‘lock down’. This particular meeting is extremely important as thefuture of the Guild and its format will be discussed.

At the end of the 2019–2020 session, three of the four sectional secretaries announced their resignations. Since then the Vice President has also announced his retirement from that position. This leaves a committee of just three people - Joyce (Literary & Cultural secretary), Anna (Treasurer) and me (General Secretary). We are quite happy to continue with our specific roles, but are not prepared to take on further responsibilities.

If we are to continue as we were before ‘lock-down’, albeit fortnightly and during the daytime, we need a new Vice President and Secretaries for the Devotional, Christian Service and Social and Musical sections. I am asking all Guild members to consider taking on one of the vacant positions.

We have almost reached our 100th anniversary and it would be lovely to say we have achieved what our forefathers started. We all know that there is still considerable interest from our Church and Guild members and this has been proved by the success of our Zoom meetings which have taken place over the past 2-3 months.

Please make the time to join this meeting (again via Zoom) and make your views known. Richard will send out the Zoom login details with his covering email.

Roger

WorshipThis Sunday, our service will be led by Anwar Masih, one of our own members at Kempston East. The service will once again take place live in the Church at 10.30am.

So that no-one feels left out, the service will be streamed live through Zoom. If you wish to join the service in this way then just login to Zoom as you have been doing for the past few months. Dom will put a recording of the service on the church website later on Sunday.

Full login details are included in Richard’s covering email. You can login in by clicking on the link there on a laptop, desktop computer, tablet or smartphone. Or you can dial in from your landline to listen to (but not see) the service.

As before, Dom will put a recording of the service on the church website. This does take a bit of time to do, so please allow for that and, perhaps, wait until Sunday evening to connect in to that.

On BBC1 at 10.45am the Rev Kate Bottley continues to share inspirational stories rooted in faith, hope and spirituality in a new series of ‘Sunday Morning Stories’.

Songs of Praise moves once again to BBC2 when, at 1.15pm, you can see more of Rev Kate Bottley as she visits the new Bridgewater Gardens in Salford to celebrate spring, and Gemma Hunt joins a Christian couple bringing joy to families through cooking.

The Sunday morning service on Radio 4 at 8.10am has the theme of ‘To Have and To Hold’ and, as restrictions slowly ease, we reflect on the relationships that have helped us through the past year. Led by Canon Ann Easter, sermon by Dr Krish Kandiah.

Choral Evensong continues on Radio 3 at 3.30pm when it come from St Matthew’s Church, Westminster, London, with music by Shephard, Wesley, and Bach. There is more Choral Evensong on Wednesday April 28th from St Peter’s Eaton Square, London, with the BBC Singers and music by Joanna Marsh, Ben Ponniah, Richard Shephard and Victor Togni.

Forthcoming Services from Kempston East

Sunday May 2nd Pat LilleySunday May 9th Rev Kath PawlettSunday May 16th Sunday Club Anniversary

Unless anything changes in the meantime in terms of Government restrictions, all of these services will be in the church and also live-streamed on Zoom

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worship at

home

Sunday

April 25th

2021This short act of worship has been prepared for you so you can spend a few moments

with God, knowing that other people are sharing this act of worship with you.

Opening Prayer

Lord God, wherever we may be we approach you now as your people, and the sheep of your pasture. We enter your gates with thanksgiving, and your courts with praise, for your steadfast love endures forever. AMEN

Hymn: The Lord’s my shepherd Singing the Faith 481Sing/ Read /pray /proclaim the words or listen to it here https://youtu.be/pN4tPkX0MG0

The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want;he makes me lie in pastures green,he leads me by the still, still waters,his goodness restores my soul.And I will trust in you alone,and I will trust in you alone,for your endless mercy follows me,your goodness will lead me home.

He guides my ways in righteousness,and he anoints my head with oil;and my cup -- it overflows with joy,I feast on his pure delights.And I will trust in you alone….

And though I walk the darkest path --I will not fear the evil one,for you are with me, and your rod and staffare the comfort I need to know.And I will trust in you alone….

Stuart Townend (b. 1963)

Let us pray togetherAlmighty and eternal God, glorious in power and purity, we adore you. Creator and Lord of the universe, we are amazed that you care for us, and when we were far off, you sought us in Christ, to bring us back to the fold of your love.

Forgive us that we still sometimes turn away from you like lost sheep.Draw us back to you, we pray, assure us of your love, and enable us to share your love with others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN

Today’s Gospel Reading: John 10: 11-18

Time to Reflect

Sheep and shepherds are frequently mentioned in the Bible. Several prominent Old

Testament figures spent time as shepherds, including Jacob, Moses, and, of course,

King David.

The prophet Ezekiel speaks of shepherds who do not care for the sheep but are only

interested in profiting from them (Chapter 34). The “shepherds” to whom he is

referring are the kings of Israel who have badly failed their subjects. God, he says, will

set up in their place his servant David, who will feed his people and be their shepherd.

Jesus referred to himself as “the good shepherd”, who lays down his life for the sheep.

This is in contrast with the hired hand who only wants his wages. Jesus is therefore

declaring himself to be the fulfilment of Ezekiel’s prophecy. He is the King, “born of

David’s line”, who has come to establish God’s own sovereignty over his people.

Shepherds in the UK today drive their sheep, often aided by a dog or two. This is very

different from the shepherds of Biblical times who led their sheep. The sheep knew

their voices and would follow. Even in this country, however, lambs which are

orphaned, or whose mothers do not have enough milk for them, are often raised by

hand. They soon learn to recognise the person who feeds them, and like Mary’s little

lamb in the nursery rhyme, will follow them everywhere.

May we hear and recognise the voice of our own Good Shepherd, and follow him

where he leads us, because we can always trust in his love and care.

Take a time to sit quietly

A time of prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you that in Jesus you have given us a Good Shepherd who

lays down his life for the sheep. We pray for those who give of themselves and take

risks to serve others who are suffering or in danger. Grant them courage and

endurance, and time for rest and refreshment.

We thank you for the compassion of the Good Shepherd, leading his sheep to still

waters and safe pasture. We pray for those who work among the poor peoples of the

world and care for the victims of abuse and neglect. Grant them determination,

patience and empathy, and strength to go on in the face of disappointment.

We thank you for the love of the Good Shepherd, who knows his sheep by name. We

pray for those engaged in the pastoral care of the church. Grant them wisdom,

understanding, listening ears and caring hearts.

We remember people we know who are facing times of difficulty or anxiety, sickness

or sorrow. We pray that they may know the presence of the Good Shepherd and find

in him comfort, strength, peace, healing and hope.

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We pray for ourselves, that we may hear the call of the Good Shepherd in our own

lives, and follow, joyfully and trustingly, in his way of love.

We ask it in his name and for his sake. AMEN

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father ……

Hymn: In heavenly love abiding Singing the Faith 736https://youtu.be/sT0r9DaGbmQ

A prayer of blessingNow the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great shep-herd of the sheep, through the blood of the ever-lasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, to whom be the gloryfor ever and ever. AMEN(Hebrews 13: 20 – 21, Authorized Version)

Original Materials by John BarnettHymns reproduced under CCLi 1144191 and CCLi 5467

In heavenly love abiding,no change my heart shall fear;and safe is such confiding,for nothing changes here:the storm may roar without me,my heart may low be laid;but God is round about me,and can I be dismayed?

Wherever he may guide me,no want shall turn me back;my Shepherd is beside me,and nothing can I lack:his wisdom ever waketh,his sight is never dim;he knows the way he taketh,and I will walk with him.

Green pastures are before me,which yet I have not seen;bright skies will soon be o'er me,where darkest clouds have been;my hope I cannot measure,my path to life is free;my Saviour has my treasure,and he will walk with me.

Anna Laetitia Waring (1823-1910)Based on Psalm 23

The Value of Old AgeRemember, old folks are worth a fortune, with silver in their hair, gold in their teeth, stones in their kidneys and gas in their stomachs.

I am quite a frivolous old girl; I am seeing five gentlemen a day.

As soon as I wake up, Will Powers, helps me out of bed and I go to visit Lou. Next it’s time for Mr Quaker to give me my oats. They leave and Arthur Ritus shows up and stays for the rest of the day. He doesn’t stay in one place for very long, so he takes me from joint to joint. After such a busy day, I am ready for bed with Johnnie Walker.

What a life! Oh and yes, I’m flirting with Mr Al Zymer.

The vicar came round the other day and said, ‘At your age, you should be thinking about the Hereafter.’

I told him, ‘Oh I do, no matter where I am – in the lounge, or upstairs, in the kit-chen or in the cellar, I ask myself, now what am I hereafter’.

Thanks to Geoff H

If you have any prayer requests, thanks, how you’re passing the time, feelgood items and, indeed, any other items and news that you would like to go into this newsletter then please email these to geofftal@btinternet.com, ideally by Wednesday each week. As you can see, unlike the printed newsletter, there’s no restriction on space and we can even slot last minute things in up till Friday evening.

If you know of someone who would like to receive this emailed newsletter could you please send their email address to richard.ward4@btinternet.com. Equally, if you would like to be removed from the distribution list, please let Richard Ward know.

Next week’s poster from Richard

Open Doors PresentationOpen Doors supports persecuted Christians worldwide and exists to strengthen the church in the most hostile places. On May 6th at 3.00pm, Dan Gower will talk via Zoom about the World Watch list, the situation in China and offer us a challenge. Richard will send out the login details with his email.