by the Rev Grant Crowe, Amersfoort & Zwolle Chaplain This months Chaplain’s Letter is written basic idea of holiness is that of Anglican Bishop (recently deceased) difference, of being other, of being Michael Perham said: “It sometimes separate. God is different and that moves seems that in the Church of England we us to prayer, to adoration, to praise. As find it easier to sustain the austere William Barclay wrote “The very mystery discipline of Lenten liturgy than we do to of God, the very difference of God, sustain for fifty days a period of joy and moves us to awed admiration in his celebration that ought to thrill and excite. presence, and to amazed love that that is one long sustained … Eastertide greatness should stoop so low for us men season of praise. Easter Day begins a and women and for our salvation.” period of unparalleled joy and celebration The Cross where in the Christian year which extends God stooped so low through fifty days until the day of as we – Perham writing in Pentecost.” (Michael contemplate, as we 2000). The Easter season is long “one take the bread and sustained season of praise.” When wine as we hear – reflecting on those words, my mind went the sanctus, throws to the great scenes in Revelation fuel on our fire of chapters four and five. John is given a The praise…. vision and sees the heavenly throne room creatures praise his and those around it and the sounds and omnipotence the – words he hears within it. He receives his Lord, the Almighty. vision on the Day the main day Lord’s – of worship in the early church. These are wonderful and inspiring chapters, and worth reading aloud before attending our Sunday act of worship! John sees the creatures around the throne who never cease – from their doxology of praise. In the first song, three aspects of God are focused upon. His holiness is praised in words like in Isaiah 6. The
This months Chaplain’s Letter is written by the Rev Grant Crowe, Amersfoort & Zwolle Chaplain Anglican Bishop (recently deceased) Michael Perham said: “It sometimes seems that in the Church of England we find it easier to sustain the austere discipline of Lenten liturgy than we do to sustain for fifty days a period of joy and celebration that ought to thrill and excite. … Eastertide is one long sustained season of praise. Easter Day begins a period of unparalleled joy and celebration in the Christian year which extends through fifty days until the day of Pentecost.” (Michael Perham writing in 2000). The Easter season is “one long sustained season of praise.” When reflecting on those words, my mind went to the great scenes in Revelation chapters four and five. John is given a vision and sees the heavenly throne room and those around it and the sounds and words he hears within it. He receives his vision on the Lord’s Day – the main day of worship in the early church. These are wonderful and inspiring chapters, and worth reading aloud before attending our Sunday act of worship! John sees the creatures around the throne – who never cease from their doxology of praise. In the first song, three aspects of God are focused upon. His holiness is praised in words like in Isaiah 6. The basic idea of holiness is that of difference, of being other, of being separate. God is different and that moves us to prayer, to adoration, to praise. As William Barclay wrote “The very mystery of God, the very difference of God, moves us to awed admiration in his presence, and to amazed love that that greatness should stoop so low for us men and women and for our salvation.” The Cross where God stooped so low – as we contemplate, as we take the bread and wine – as we hear the sanctus, throws fuel on our fire of praise…. The creatures praise his omnipotence – the Lord, the Almighty.
HTC-Newsletter-2017-05.docx