A Good Day?

April 2025

Dear Friends,

“What is wrong with the world?”  If I asked you all this question I would receive a large assortment of answers!  Whatever you think of the Bible, its ancient answer does make sense of the world that we live in:  

We are created to be God’s ambassadors, his agents in his world.  What’s gone wrong is that we don’t want the job.  We would rather serve a different ‘god’, one who doesn’t restrict us or expect us to serve him, a ‘god’ who leaves us free to pursue comfort, wealth, approval, success or self-indulgence.  We might say our family is all that matters to us, or the good of the nation or the planet, or we might be fully committed to an ‘ism’ – they can all be ways of serving the goals we choose.  

Our hymns are ‘I did it my way’ and ‘No-one tells me how to live my life’ but a whole world of people pursuing their own agenda leads to the darkness that we experience – irritation, selfishness and loneliness through to hatred, violence and war.  Darkness with glimpses of light that make our hearts ache with a deep sense that life should be better than this.  ‘Do whatever makes you happy’ does not make us happy.

And the relationship that is most damaged is with our Creator – we want life and all his other gifts but not his authority over us.  How could we complain if swift judgment followed?

How amazing then if our Lord should don our garb and wade in to take our mess on himself.  “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.”  That tree was the cross from which Jesus cried out as he allowed God’s wrath at our sin to fall on him, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!”

Thorns – a symbol of creation against us – were made into a crown and pressed into Jesus’ head.  Iron – a gift in the rocks from our Creator – was shaped into nails to kill him.

And that terrible day became known as ‘Good Friday’.

Sincerely

Graham Burrows

Wise Dominion

March 2025

Dear Friends

Human beings are unique among the creatures of this world because we are made in the image of our Creator.   We are God’s self-portrait in his art gallery (see my February letter).

But what does this mean?  Physically, we have eyes because God sees, and hands because God builds, helps and rescues.  Morally, we understand that not everything that we could do is something we should do – like our Creator we know there is right and wrong.  We are also like God because we are made to rule over his creation, to have dominion over the earth as his representatives.

Some people believe that the world would be better off without mankind: “Leave it to its natural state, don’t disturb nature, reduce the number of people on the planet, make as little impact as you can!”  But that’s not a Bible view; if we are to rule we must make an impact.  We are certainly to rule wisely, with respect and love for all that God has made.  But not timidly.

The world is a hostile environment for men and women (Genesis 3:17-18).  Even with a vigorous and skilful use of the resources of our planet it is not easy for mankind to grow enough food; it is not easy to protect yourself and your family from cold and heat, floods and droughts; it is not easy to avoid disease, disasters and death.  Life for many was, and is, a struggle for survival.  To get beyond that and to have time and money for things like healthcare, sport, music and travel required us to be ‘benevolent lords’. 

When we take charge of our environment in this way we are mirrors reflecting the power and glory of our Creator and obeying his command: ‘God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."’  (Genesis 1:28)

Sincerely

Graham Burrows

The Repair Shop

February 2025

Are you saying I’m an animal?

Well, animals eat, sleep and communicate like us.  We’re classified as mammals and have hearts, lungs, muscles and DNA like theirs.

But we walk on two legs!            

As do gibbons and kangaroos.

We have opposable thumbs.

And so do gorillas and koalas!

What about our brain?  It’s so large!

Yes, but the same size, in proportion to our body, as the brain of a mouse.

OK.  But what about our ability to think in complex ways, and about abstract ideas and morals, and even to wonder why we exist at all?  

Human beings seem to be uniquely able to do all that, but those who can’t, like newborn babies and brain-injured patients are still people, aren’t they?

So is there something that unequivocally distinguishes us from animals?

Yes, but not in our biology.  It’s in something our creator said: “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness …” (Genesis 1:26).  Everything that God has made tells us something about him, but men and women are like mirrors reflecting a clear image of our maker.  All the paintings in the art gallery tell us something about the artist but human beings are this artist’s self-portrait.  That’s why your life matters so much.  And the lives of every other person.

Did God really say that?

Jesus believed that God did, and so did Jesus’ apostles (Matthew 19:4  James 3:9).

We humans do some ugly things. Can we really be made in God’s image?

The likeness is spoilt by our high-handed rebellion against our creator.  We have slashed the painting in the gallery.  Now Jesus alone perfectly shows us what God is like.  His mission is to restore you and me to our intended glory.  He has the power to take off our old warped self and reclothe us once again in the true likeness of God himself.  It’s the greatest Repair Shop in the world. 

Sincerely

Graham Burrows

Food for Life

December 2024

Are you eating well?  A lack of time, poor health or anxiety can all interfere with eating but even when we’re taking in plenty of good food Jesus says that we can still be severely under-nourished!  Quoting from the Old Testament he reminds us that “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)  Are you getting plenty of that food?  Meals keep us alive and can bring great pleasure, but they cannot give us the abundant life that Jesus offers.  Only by feeding on God’s Word – that is, the Bible – can we encounter Jesus, who is called ‘The Word’, and receive from him food that endures to eternal life. (John 6:27)

But where do you start with the Bible?  It’s a big book and we can easily get lost in its thickets.  Knowing that many people have found a Bible reading plan to be very helpful in providing manageable portions to be consumed and enjoyed daily, I have written a new plan especially for our villages.  The Westmorland Bible Reading Plan, as it is now known, gives readings for each weekday.  It divides the Bible into four sections and allows you to choose which you will consume first.  Every chapter in the Bible is included so after four years (or sooner if you read more than one section at a time) you will have read every word in the Bible.  Read alone or read with family or a friend.  It will work with any Bible translation, it’s a simple A5 leaflet (large-print also available), it’s free of charge and the plan begins on Advent Sunday, 1 December.

King David discovered that God’s words were sweeter than honey. (Psalm 19)  Why not help yourself to some of this sweet and satisfying food?  You can pick up copies by popping into the church (always open Friday and Saturday 10am – 4pm, and for services) or send me a message with your name and address and we’ll deliver one to your home asap.  Come, let’s feast together!

And we also guarantee you a very warm welcome to any of our Christmas services and events.  Details are on our church website.

Happy Christmas!

Graham Burrows

 

 

We will remember them

November 2024

Dear Friends

At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.  We will remember them because they gave their own lives for the sake of others. 

We will teach our children to remember them because generations are linked, as twigs and branches are joined to the limbs, trunk and roots of the tree; even though our children were not alive in either World War they can truly say these people died for me.  When we say ‘we will remember them’ we intend that they will be remembered long after we have gone; we place an obligation on our grandchildren and great grandchildren, even on those yet to be born, not to forget.

We remember too God’s kindness to us as a nation.  We make no claim for our own innocence when we say that God brought down some nations and raised up others.  We take nothing away from the bravery and sacrifice of our fathers and mothers when we say that it was the Father of the Lord Jesus who gave us victory and peace and prosperity.

The people of Israel were commanded to keep alive, down through the generations, the memory of all that God had done for them.  “I will utter hidden things, things from of old – what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us.  We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done” (Psalm 78).  Because they feared the rise of “a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him” they placed an obligation on their children to teach those yet to be born about the Lord and his deeds.  It is a tragedy when a nation forgets its heroes and a greater tragedy when a nation forgets its God. 

Whether young or old you are all warmly invited to join the villagers who will be gathering around the war memorials in our villages at 10.50am on Sunday 10 November.  And you will be equally welcome at the Remembrance Sunday services in the church (10am-10.50am in Holme, 11.10am-12.00 in Burton).

Sincerely

Graham Burrows

Switching the Labels

October 2024

Dear Friends

We’re now well into the new academic year and, in schools and universities, students are busy studying our world - everything from ants to whales, from the behaviour of electrons to the motion of stars, from the chemical processes in leaves to the shock waves of a thunderstorm. 

But what do they think they are looking at?  A fascinating and beautiful world shaped by mysterious and unchanging forces but without ultimate meaning?  Or the work of a craftsman who is outside his creation, and who has an eternal purpose for all he has made?

Does it matter? 

If there is no Creator then perhaps it doesn’t matter whether we realise that, or whether we take comfort in myths about God.  Everything will disappear one day anyway.

If there is a Creator then scrubbing him from our studies of his world is a big problem.  There is a basic injustice to removing or falsifying the artist labels in a gallery.  We’re also denying students the most valuable benefit of their studies in science, maths, geography, music or art: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge” (Psalm 19:1-2)  And this speech is not dry information about the ultimate power in our universe, it is a letter from the One who made us in love, who knows the purpose of our lives and who has entered his world in his Son to restore us to Himself.

When the Cavendish laboratory was built in Cambridge in 1874, a Bible verse was carved into the oak entrance doors.  In that building men would discover the electron, the neutron and the structure of DNA.  The second Cavendish lab was built in 1973 and the same verse was inscribed above its doors:
“The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein”     (Psalm 111:2)

Cavendish III has just been built in Cambridge and will open next year.  I understand that Psalm 111:2 will once again be displayed - a reminder that everything that is studied is a work of the Lord, the great God who has revealed himself in his creation, through his son Jesus Christ, and in the pages of his eternal Word, the Bible.

Sincerely

Graham Burrows

Open to All

 

September 2024

Dear Friends

This letter includes the announcement that I promised in July. 

A small number of volunteers do a herculean job regularly cutting the grass in the churchyards of Holme and Burton and maintaining our old church buildings.  Thank you to everyone who is involved in any way!  But the use of church and churchyard is not, of course, restricted to a few – they are intended to be for the benefit of everyone.

Our churchyards are always open and many people go there to visit family graves or because they enjoy these green and historic spaces within our busy villages.  It is always a pleasure to see people enjoying the ‘Church Garden’ in Holme beside the stream.

Church worship services are public meetings and are open to all.  Most weeks we have the privilege of meeting visitors or those coming for the first time and we guarantee that you will be warmly welcomed.  Our services will probably seem familiar to most and I don’t think you will find it hard to just come along and see what happens.

Since 2016 Burton church has been open to visitors from 10am – 4pm each Friday and Saturday and I am pleased to announce that Holme church is now open too, every Friday and Saturday 10am – 4pm.  The door will be unlocked and you are welcome to go in and explore the building or to use the quiet to think and pray.  Many thanks to the volunteers who open up the churches each week.

St James Burton is Grade 1 listed and the earliest parts date from the 12^th Century.  Holy Trinity Holme was built in 1839 as the village grew following the arrival of the canal.  Both buildings are full of interesting features and are well worth visiting.  In both churches there is a folder containing a map and index of churchyard gravestones for those looking for particular graves.  Holme Church also has a reference copy of Geoff Pegg’s excellent, ‘The Lives Beneath Our Feet’ which recounts the lives of many who are buried in the churchyard.

We welcome messages in the visitors books or direct to the churchwardens, whether concerns, suggestions, questions, thanks or offers of help.

Sincerely

Graham Burrows