The 1805 Dispatches #21.01 February 2021 2 of 5 “Water is one of those things that we seem to take for granted in life. In this country we only have to turn on a tap and be given the gift of clean water for washing and drinking. As an island nation we are surrounded by water and when we are able, so many of us find walking beside water restorative. Water can of course be destructive in storm or flood, it will find a way to penetrate the cracks in a building or the places where our coat is not waterproof in the rain. Our bodies are sixty percent water and without it we will die. Perhaps it’s no wonder that if water is so important to life that we find it mentioned at the very start of the Bible. [... ...] And it seems to me that the very nature of water is a helpful metaphor for the nature of God for us to call to mind today. In what feels as a dark and troubling time for our country and the world – God, like water, is to be found everywhere. In every nook and cranny of our lives, the parts we share with others and the bits we’d rather keep hidden, God’s light of love can shine as it shone on the waters at the creation of the world. In the pattern of our calling to live according to the life and teaching of Jesus, the Spirit of God can rest upon us too and give us strength to face whatever this life brings us. Admiral Lord Nelson, whose memory we commemorate today, was very familiar with the nature of water and the nature of God. As a boy growing up beside the sea and the child of a Christian minister, God and water were the constant background to his life. As a sailor Nelson learnt to respect the power of the sea and the importance of water for life aboard ship. As a Christian, he always acknowledged that he did all things in the power of God’s spirit. Here in this Chapel beside the river Thames, the presence of God and the presence of water are our constant too. In this week, as we continue another prolonged period of lockdown, we might call to mind the constant that is the loving spirit of God in our lives, each time we turn on the tap or take a shower or have a drink. As the Spirit of God moved across the face of the waters, and rested upon Jesus at his baptism, may we know this same spirit and draw strength as God’s people have always drawn strength from the knowledge that God is indeed with each of us in whatever we face. May it be so. Amen” SHIP’S WORD WHEEL Take a ten-minute break and find as many words as possible, using the letters in the wheel. Each must use the hub letter and at least 3 others, only once. No plurals (if only made with by adding an ‘s’ or ‘es’), no foreign words not in common usage in English, nor proper nouns. There is at least one nineletter word to be found. Answers on page 4 Old Royal Naval College Chapel Unfortunately, this year the service in The Immortal memory could not take place, due to the health restriction in place because of Covid19. However, at the normal Sunday morning service on 10 January, Nelson was not forgotten, as this extract from Rev Pat Mann’s Letter to the Congregation, dated 10 January 2021, shows: “...This week is the Second Sunday of Epiphany and the Baptism of Christ. We also mark what is known as the “Immortal Memory” of Admiral Lord Nelson. You will remember that Nelson’s body lay in state in the Painted Hall before his funeral in St Paul’s Cathedral on 9 January 1806. We shall be live again on Facebook and YouTube for the Sunday service. Here is the YouTube link: https:// www.youtube.com/c/OrncOrgGreenwich/live The services are able to be watched later in the day and can also be found on the Old Royal Naval College website Chapel page.’... Never forget that there is a whole treasure trove of interesting stuff frequently updated on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/The1805Club/ Sermon given by Rev Patricia Mann on 10 January at the ORNC, broadcast on YouTube. (Edited version - the full transcript may be published in the spring edition of The Kedge Anchor)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTYyMzU=