St. Peter's Church, Gayton, part of the Mid-Trent Churches Team

November always suggests to me a cold dark night full of smoke and the smell of fireworks – yes, its Bonfire season! For the last few years, I have gone with my family to the local bonfire in one of our own villages. In the past I have been to grander affairs at Shugborough and the Show Ground, but if I am honest, I prefer the smaller ones which tend to be far less hassle coping with parking and large crowds, and more friendly and enjoyable. My brother cannot avoid the crowds, as he lives in Lewes, Sussex and there they have 6 huge Bonfire Societies who parade through the streets dragging flaming tar barrels and burn effigies of not only Guy Fawkes but modern targets (I think Donald Trump has been considered!!) Bonfire night is connected to Christianity but however not in a comfortable way. It began by Act of Parliament, initiated by James 1st entitled ‘An Acte for a publique Thanksgiving to Almighty God every year of the Fifth day of November’ which involved burning the man Guy Fawkes who tried to blow up King James and the protestant parliament in a Catholic conspiracy. Lewes has a double whammy as they also commemorate 17 Protestant martyrs burned in the High Street during the reign of Catholic Queen Mary. Such violence between Protestants and Catholics is an ugly stain on Christianity and such violence in the name of Christianity and other religions is still going on. The Bible on the other hand, sees bonfires in a far different light. Moses is called by God to start the impossible job of persuading Pharaoh to set the Israelites free and lead them to a new Land filled with Milk and Honey, by attracting his attention to a burning bush. This was the best sort of bonfire as it was not at all destructive but burnt without consuming the bush. In this case the bonfire marked the presence of God. That symbolism is found throughout the bible, cumulating in Jesus, who John announces in Chapter 1 of his Gospel: “ In him was life, and that life was the light of humankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” In some sunrise services on Easter Day, a bonfire is lit outside the church and candles take the Light of Christ from that fire into church to symbolise the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who, through his death and resurrection, stills lights up our world giving us light, hope and peace. Just like Moses’ burning bush, the darkness never overcomes it, because it never burns out. As I said in my opening, November is a dark month and during such months, especially when we watch the news, and see a world full of unhappiness, conflict and destruction, it is easy to lose sight of the light, the hope and the peace. But turn to Jesus and use those warm flames and beautiful fireworks as indeed a Thanksgiving to God, not as a mark of religious intolerance but as simply the joy of Friendship, Community and the beauty of those fireworks lighting up the night sky! With every blessing,

Vivienne.

St. Peter's Church, Gayton, part of the Mid-Trent Churches Team

A Letter from Rev'd Vivienne.

Our Parish Magazine, Compass

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