Travelling Light: A Service for the Third Sunday after Trinity | The Church of England

Here's the reflection that I shared in today's national online service for the Church of England:

Cliff Richard once sang that he had no bags of baggage to slow him down, no comb and no toothbrush, nothing at all to haul. He was travelling light because he just couldn’t wait to be with his baby that night. I wonder whether Eugene Peterson had that song in mind when he translated this reading in ‘The Message’, his version of the Bible in contemporary language. His version of Jesus’ charge to his disciples starts like this: “Travel light. Comb and toothbrush and no extra luggage.”

Travel light. Jesus was calling the 70 to an itinerant ministry (Luke 10.1-11, 16-20). Their focus was on going ahead of Jesus to prepare people for his coming and his message. So, they took nothing unnecessary with them, they weren’t distracted by small talk along the way, they welcomed hospitality when they received it but they simply moved on to the next place and the next person whenever they were not made welcome. No distractions, just a clear focus on their task and their message.

We also need to travel light in our individual lives and our corporate Church life in order that we are focused on our core task of sharing the good news about Jesus in actions and words. But there is also a second reason for travelling light which is to do with the footprint that we leave on the world. By sitting light to possessions and by accepting hospitality as it was offered to them, the 70 imposed as little as possible on the people, villages and areas through which they travelled. In our society, since the advent of the Industrial Revolution, we have done anything but. Our footprint has been heavy on our world as we have exploited its resources for our own gain and we are still struggling to realise the consequences.

John V. Taylor's book, ‘Enough is Enough’, kickstarted the simple lifestyle movement. ‘Live more simply that others might simply live’ was their slogan and it is one that Eugene Peterson sees as coming out of the instructions that Jesus gave to his disciples before he sent them out on their mission: “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment,” he writes, “Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns – get a modest place and be content there until you leave.” Keep it simple. Travel light. These are the key messages of Jesus’ instructions.

Why? To keep us focused on our message and mission and to tread lightly on the earth as we do so.

Travelling light / without / a purse / without / a bag / without / shoes / without / equipment / you are / the equipment / you are / all you need

Travelling light / no / special appeals / no / luxury hotels / no / looking / for the best / cooks / keep it / simple / keep it / modest / be / content

Travelling light / don’t stop / to make / small talk / with those / on the road / move on / reach / your destination / the harvest / is great / but the / workers / few

Travelling light / do stop / to bless / the homes / in which / you rest / for all / you receive / give thanks / and peace / don’t create / when made / unwelcome / shrug / your shoulders, / wipe / your feet / move on

Travelling light / don’t / fill your barns / simply / to eat, / drink / and / be merry / don’t / store up / riches / simply / to rust / and decay / don’t / store up / riches / simply / for others / to steal / your heart / will be / where / your riches / are

Travelling light / do / store up / acts / of love, / hope / and faith / do / store up / the things / that remain / do / store up / treasures / in heaven / your heart / will be / where / your riches /are

Here's the earlier service that we recorded at St Andrew's Wickford in January:

My recorded sermons for the Diocese of Chelmsford's Weekly Sermon series can also be viewed below.

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St Martin-in-the-Fields - Morning Song.

Tread lightly on the earth

Here's the reflection that I shared at St Andrew's Wickford this morning:

Cliff Richard once sang that he had no bags of baggage to slow him down, no comb and no toothbrush, nothing at all to haul. He was travelling light because he just couldn’t wait to be with his baby that night. I wonder whether Eugene Peterson had that song in mind when he translated this reading in ‘The Message’, his version of the Bible in contemporary language. His version of Jesus’ charge to his disciples starts like this: “Travel light. Comb and toothbrush and no extra luggage.”

Travel light. Jesus was calling the 12 to an itinerant ministry (Luke 9.1-6). Their focus was on going ahead of Jesus to prepare people for his coming and his message. So, they took nothing unnecessary with them, they weren’t distracted by small talk along the way, they welcomed hospitality when they received it but they simply moved on to the next place and the next person whenever they were not made welcome. No distractions, just a clear focus on their task and their message.

We also need to travel light in our individual lives and our corporate Church life in order that we are focused on our core task of sharing the good news about Jesus in actions and words. But there is a second reason for travelling light which is to do with the footprint that we leave on the world. By sitting light to possessions and by accepting hospitality as it was offered to them, they imposed as little as possible on the people, villages and areas through which they travelled. In our society, since the advent of the Industrial Revolution, we have done anything but. Our footprint has been heavy on our world as we have exploited its resources for our own gain and we are only now beginning to realise the consequences.

John V. Taylor's book, ‘Enough is Enough’, kickstarted the simple lifestyle movement. ‘Live more simply that others might simply live’ was their slogan and it is one that Eugene Peterson sees as coming out of the instructions that Jesus gave to his disciples before he sent them out on their mission: “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment,” he writes, “Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns – get a modest place and be content there until you leave.” Keep it simple. Travel light. These are the key messages of Jesus’ instructions. Why? To keep us focused on our message and mission and to tread lightly on the earth as we do so.

Travelling light
without
a purse
without
a bag
without
shoes
without
equipment
you are
the equipment
you are
all you need

Travelling light
no
special appeals
no
luxury hotels
no
looking
for the best
cooks
keep it
simple
keep it
modest
be
content

Travelling light
don’t stop
to make
small talk
with those
on the road
move on
reach
your destination
the harvest
is great
but the
workers
few

Travelling light
do stop
to bless
the homes
in which
you rest
for all
you receive
give thanks
and peace
don’t create
when made
unwelcome
shrug
your shoulders,
wipe
your feet
move on

Travelling light
don’t
fill your barns
simply
to eat,
drink
and
be merry
don’t
store up
riches
simply
to rust
and decay
don’t
store up
riches
simply
for others
to steal
your heart
will be
where
your riches
are

Travelling light
do
store up
acts
of love,
hope
and faith
do
store up
the things
that remain
do
store up
treasures
in heaven
your heart
will be
where
your riches
are

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Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi.

Start:Stop - Travelling light

Bible reading

‘Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God’s kingdom and heal the sick. He said, “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns—get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you’re not welcomed, leave town. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on.” … Later the Master selected seventy and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he intended to go. He gave them this charge … “Travel light. Comb and toothbrush and no extra luggage. Don’t loiter and make small talk with everyone you meet along the way. When you enter a home, greet the family, ‘Peace.’ … Don’t impose yourself. Stay at one home, taking your meals there, for a worker deserves three square meals. Don’t move from house to house, looking for the best cook in town. When you enter a town and are received, eat what they set before you, heal anyone who is sick, and tell them, ‘God’s kingdom is right on your doorstep!’.”’ (Luke 9. 1 – 5 & 10. 1 - 9)

Meditation

Cliff Richard once sang that he had no bags of baggage to slow him down, no comb and no toothbrush, nothing at all to haul. He was travelling light because he just couldn’t wait to be with his baby that night. I wonder whether Eugene Peterson had that song in mind when he translated this reading in ‘The Message’, his version of the Bible in contemporary language. His version of Jesus’ charge to the 72 disciples starts like this: “Travel light. Comb and toothbrush and no extra luggage.”

Travel light. Jesus was calling the 72 to an itinerant ministry. Their focus was on going ahead of Jesus to prepare people for his coming and his message. So they took nothing unnecessary with them, they weren’t distracted by small talk along the way, they welcomed hospitality when they received it but they simply moved on to the next place and the next person whenever they were not made welcome. No distractions, just a clear focus on their task and their message.

We also need to travel light in our individual lives and our corporate Church life in order that we are focused on our core task of sharing the good news about Jesus in actions and words. But there is a second reason for travelling light which is to do with the footprint that we leave on the world. By sitting light to possessions and by accepting hospitality as it was offered to them they imposed as little as possible on the people, villages and areas through which they travelled. In our society, since the advent of the Industrial Revolution, we have done anything but. Our footprint has been heavy on our world as we have exploited its resources for our own gain and we are only now beginning to realise the consequences.

John V. Taylor's book, Enough is Enough, kickstarted the simple lifestyle movement. ‘Live more simply that others might simply live’ was their slogan and it is one that Eugene Peterson sees as coming out of the instructions that Jesus gave to his disciples before he sent them out on their mission: “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment,” he writes, “Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns – get a modest place and be content there until you leave.” Keep it simple. Travel light. These are the key messages of Jesus’ instructions. Why? To keep us focused on our message and mission and to tread lightly on the earth as we do so.

Prayer

God of love, show us our place in this world as the channels of your love for all creatures of this earth, for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.

Let us live more simply that others might simply live. May we keep it simple and travel light.

Pour upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty. Fill us with your peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.

Let us live more simply that others might simply live. May we keep it simple and travel light.

Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognise that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.

Let us live more simply that others might simply live. May we keep it simple and travel light.

Enlighten those who possess power and money that they may avoid the sin of indifference, that they may love the common good, advance the weak, and care for this world in which we live.

Let us live more simply that others might simply live. May we keep it simple and travel light.

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Sarah Masen - Give A Little Bit.

Arts Centre Group: Cliff Richard statement

In the light of the current allegations against Cliff Richard, the Chair of the Arts Centre Group has made the following statement:

'We would like to express our thanks to Sir Cliff Richard, founder member and Patron of Arts Centre Group. We know Cliff to be a man of integrity and honour, truth and faith who sought throughout the height of his career to be guided by and accountable to men of wisdom and strong faith.

We wish you to know Cliff that we appreciate you and are praying for the Lord to guide you and sustain you. We thank you that your efforts have been fundamental in the setting up, development and longevity of our 43 year old organisation.

Without Sir Cliff, Arts Centre Group would not be what it is today, an ever evolving Group with members who are both Christians and professional artists.

This scripture is what the Lord led me to in relation to this situation - 1 Peter 3: 14 - 17.'

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David Grant - Keep It Together.

Modern day Donatism

Just a quick post to say that I share Tim Goodbody's frustration with the people at Anglican Mainstream who seem to be encouraging others to move donations from Tear Fund because Desmond Tutu spoke at a recent conference and because long-term Tear Fund supporter Cliff Richard has spoken publicly recently in favour of same-sex relationships.

Tim has a very good post on the topic which can be found here. As he says there, "it's just modern day Donatism - not wanting to be "tainted" by association." Further comment on the Fulcrum website can be found here.

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Carly Simon - You're So Vain.