The Pointer March 2022
Rector The Rt Rev Darren McCartney 028 4175 3497 suffragan1@gmail.com
The Magazine of the Church of Ireland Parishes of Clonallon & Warrenpoint with Kilbroney in the Diocese of Down and Dromore Turbulent Times These last few weeks have seen us buffeted with quite a few storms. Trees have been blown down, high tides and the resulting destructions with many roads closed as a result. Even in the midst of these storms we are starting to see the changing of season from winter to spring. Nights are getting brighter, and flowers are starting to bud.
second of the images. We see men frantically working to drop the sails and the bow rearing up. It is quite the scene and quite the situation to find oneself in!
Interestingly, only a couple of weeks ago, between the storms that buffeted us, we had a Sunday reading from Luke chapter 8 about a storm. We heard how Jesus was in the boat with the disciples and was sleeping. I have included a couple of images of a painting by the artist Rembrandt, his first and only seascape titled “Christ in the storm on the Sea of Galilee”.
The first of the two images, the first I came across, focuses in on the disciples rousing Jesus from his sleep. Jesus looks like he has just woken. It isn’t long until you start thinking as to which of the disciples may best represent you if you were to put yourself in the painting. I could not but identify with the man in the light blue, right hand holding the rope and left hand holding his head.
The first of the two images does not fully portray how bad the scene is. On viewing the first image you might think it is bad enough, but I feel the gravity of the situation isn’t fully understood until you see the
I think it is safe to say we all find ourselves in a bit of a situation, at the moment, with current events in Europe. We aren’t really sure what to make of things. Perhaps we are holding our heads like the chap in the painting or calling out to Jesus, like the disciples in the boat, “Master, Master we’re ………”, fill in the blank. When faced with such moments like what we are currently experiencing, I find myself saying a very short prayer. Lord, I pray, that you would strengthen my faith. Hillsong Worship have an amazing hymn song, titled Cornerstone (original lyrics by Edward Mote, 1834) my mind often drifts to the words in prayer and these I wish to leave you with.
My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness And I dare not trust the sweetest frame But wholly trust in Jesus name.