大象传媒

Poem: Did you ever hear of Ebenezer Howard?
(from Frederic Osborn鈥檚 鈥楾he Green Belt Song鈥�)

Rev Dr Rob Marshall
Good morning. Welcome to Welwyn North railway station 鈥� situated (as its name suggests) just to the north of Welwyn Garden City. Anyone who has travelled north or east from King鈥檚 Cross Station in London will no doubt have whizzed through the parish, usually at high speed.

The dramatic Digswell viaduct, just a few metres away from here, was opened in 1850 - well before the Garden City was created. But the opening, by Queen Victoria, didn鈥檛 go at all according to plan. When she saw how high it was, she declined an invitation to cross it, taking instead a horse drawn carriage the long way round, much to the bemusement of the engineers looking on!

This is classic commuter country. Every morning, thousands of people arrive here at Welwyn North station on foot, bike and by car to travel into London. In the evening, it鈥檚 the same in reverse when people return home.聽

But, of course, the pandemic has changed all that. A large proportion of former commuters are now necessarily working from home. The trains have been quiet. Rather than going into London, residents have stayed in the garden city and surrounding villages. They have been discovering new things about themselves and where they live. And perhaps this generation have realised more than any other before it why the vision of the creator of Welwyn Garden City, Ebenezer Howard was so dynamic. Nothing quite like this had been seen before.

Music: Hills of the north, rejoice (Little Cornard)
Choir of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
CD: Dormi Jesu: A Caius Christmas (Delphian)

We begin our worship this morning with a prayer.

Heavenly Father we thank you for the opportunites of each new day. We also give thanks for this place in these uncertain times for and the places where we live. For all these weeks and months have taught us about the important of place, of being and of living. Help us celebrating today the vision of those behind the garden city mto be good stewards of our own communities 鈥搃n a spirit of love and service. Amen.

I鈥檝e walked down quite a steep hill from the station and am now at the very edge of the boundary of Welwyn Garden City. Indeed, I鈥檓 standing next to one of the magnificent new signs at the entrance to the town that were specially erected a few months ago to mark the centenary. As the cars enter the town they are reminded of the original vision: 鈥淎 marriage of town and country鈥� with a lovely illustration of the garden city that we will visit shortly. Dr Geoffrey De Villiers, who is a physicist and a member of the parish here in Digswell

Reflection: Dr Geoffrey Dr Villiers

Music: Look at the world 鈥� John Rutter
Cambridge Singers
CD: John Rutter 鈥� The Choral Collection (Universal Classics)

Father Norbert Fernandes, catholic priest here in Welwyn Garden City, now reads some verses from Chapter 21 of the Book of Revelation, starting at verse 22.

Reading: Revelation 21.22-27

Day, night, and glory. These words dominate the verses we have just heard. The Book of Revelation prides itself on vivid imagery and stark contrasts. But it seems clear to the author of this last book of the New Testament that it is the glory of God 鈥� notably God鈥檚 presence. 聽

Way back, when I was a theology student at Durham University, I was fortunate to be taught by the former archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey. He and his wife Joan were then retired, living in a lovely house just off the Bailey behind the magnificent Durham Cathedral. My student room was right across from his sitting room. Because of his classic book which I鈥檇 just read 聽the glory of God and the Transfiguration of Jesus I dared to stick a note through his letterbox and ask him for some conversations along the lines of 鈥� so this glory? What is it? How are we to understand it?聽 What does it mean?

I can still remember the conversation vividly. His magnificent eyebrows a quiver, describing the often-unexpected presence of this glory in a variety of places and situations. Suddenly, it鈥檚 just there, he said. In front of us; totally unexpected. Bishop Michael believed that the glory of God is a pointer through challenging times to freedom.

Glory is such a common word in the Hebrew scriptures that Jesus and the writers of the New Testament, and particularly St John, simply move the theme on and develop it into the New Testament including here in the Book of Revelation, where, as we will hear later, God鈥檚 glory means the absence of 聽darkness. There is no night at all when the glory is present. We can still have hope. 聽There is nothing that God cannot transform or change.

Music: God of grace and God of Glory
St Martin鈥檚 Voices
大象传媒 recording

Prayer
May the splendour of your glory dawn in our hearts,
we pray, almighty God,
that all shadows of the night maybe scattered
and we may be shown to be children of light
by the Advent of your Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen.

A marriage of town and country was how those new centenary signs welcoming visitors to Welwyn Garden City described the view that is now in front of me. It really is magnificent here looking down from what鈥檚 known locally as the white bridge as you survey the architect鈥檚 vision made perfect. An ordered green landscape of loveliness: trees, fountains and plants acting as camouflage to coffee shops, department stores, churches, offices and houses. There鈥檚 a local oft-told story that the Queen Mother, who used to stay in these parts, absolutely loved this view. Gail Munro who worships at the parish church is standing here with me 鈥� Gail what do you make of it:

Reflection: Gail Munro

Music: River of the Water of Life 鈥� Malcolm Archer
St Martin鈥檚 Voices
大象传媒 recording

Reading: Revelation 22.1-2

I鈥檓 sure you noticed the reference to the tree of life as we heard more verses from Revelation. Indeed, the tree of life figures at the very start of the Christian bible in the book of Genesis and here again as we look to the future at the end of the bible. The Old Testament story is well known. A lovely garden full of trees. God, Adam, Eve, a tree in the middle that they are told they must not eat from until that naughty serpent arrives egging them on to do just that.

By eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve were not allowed to enjoy the fruit of the tree of life through which they would have tasted the joys of eternity.

As we looked out over the garden city just a few moments ago, the vision of those who conceived it and created it a hundred years ago were so obviously aware of the power and symbolism of the tree as a symbol of life. The tree of knowledge here is at a different level altogether as we look to the future. Here in the Book of Revelation a fresh start is offered. The tree of knowledge represents new life and fresh hope. The despondency of Genesis is dissipated by this vision of the future. Indeed, here there is the promise of eternity and an end to suffering. Jesus is the new Adam and offers us a new covenant and commandment. The tree of life here is at a different level altogether as we look to a transfigured future.

Music: Jesus Christ the Apple Tree 鈥� Elizabeth Poston
The Sixteen
CD: A Traditional Christmas Carol Collection, Vol. II (Coro)

I鈥檝e crossed the road from the church now and am standing outside Knightsfield School. Knightsfield attracts students from much further afield than the garden city however because its main work is providing children with an auditory oral approach to learning for students between the ages of 10 and 18 with a hearing loss. It鈥檚 a totally wonderful atmosphere here 鈥� the students and staff are amazing and it鈥檚 difficult to leave without being overawed by their energy, vitality, and confidence.

I鈥檓 joined outside school here by Josh, who is twelve years of age and who travels into the garden city to Knightsfield school every day.

Reflection: Josh

Music: In our darkness 鈥� Taize
The Scottish Festival Singers
CD: Songs of Taize 鈥� Vol. 2 (Kingsway)

Reading: Revelation 22.3-5

My colleague, The Reverend Selina Evans who was ordained in this church just a few weeks ago now lights the second Advent candle. Let it represent for all of us, wherever we are, hope, life and light this morning.

I light this second Advent candle: that we may be made aware daily of the hope and the promise of new life which this light represents.

Music: O come, O come Emmanuel
The Piano Guys
CD: The Piano Guys 鈥� A Family Christmas (TPG Productions)

Heavenly Father, in this centenary year of the garden city we thank you for the beauty of creation in the natural world; for all that many have had the time and space to observe in recent months wherever they live.

We thank you for the vision of Ebenezer Howard who used their creative skills for the benefit of others. Especially we thank you and pray for scientists whose careful and patient work to develop vaccines and treatments benefits of all humanity. Help us to be generous in sharing the resources and knowledge that we have so that all may know the light that is the glory of God.

Lord hear us
Lord graciously hear us

O God, we pray for places of education and learning that in them children and students of all ages would flourish as minds are expanded and opened to explore a world of knowledge, creativity in the arts and a sense of wonder in life.

We pray for teachers who inspire young people, who encourage and give confidence to those who come to education later in life, who support with patience and kindness those for whom school is difficult.

We pray for ourselves that we would be thirsty to drink from the water of life so that we may deepen our understanding of your love each day and be willing to serve you.

Lord hear us
Lord graciously hear us

Living God, source of light and life we bring before you all who are unwell this day, those who are dear to us and those known only by you. We ask you to ease their pain and bring quietness to troubled minds.

We pray for any who are fearful this day as they await the results of tests or are anxious as they face an operation. We ask you to be present to them through the support of family or friends and the care they receive from nurses and doctors. May they know the warmth of your love surrounding them and your peace in their hearts.

Lord hear us
Lord graciously hear us

The Lord鈥檚 Prayer

Closing reflection: Rev Dr Rob Marshall

The Lord God will be their light.

In his book A Peaceful Path to Real Reform, published in 1898, Ebenezer Howard, the visionary creator behind the garden city movement, spoke of new hope, new life, and a new civilisation.

He believed that combining the advantages of town and country and living in a new kind of community 鈥� would give residents the advantages of both whilst, at the same time, eradicating the respective disadvantages.

But as we have heard in this service today, the centenary has also been a year of discovery here 鈥� people have had a lot more time to become acquainted with this unique space and it has had many blessings. It has been a year when people took to the roads to exercise and to walk; discovering new things not only about where they live but perhaps, for the first time, why the vision behind the creation of the garden cities 100 years ago really was so transforming.

New Hope, New Life, New Civilisation. Ebenezer Howard鈥檚 vision for the garden city uses theologically charged language. And, even more specifically, words which also sit comfortably in the Book of Revelation which isn鈥檛 the easiest of biblical books to pick off the shelf.

Many might identify with the idea that we could all do with a dose of new hope now. Life has been tough. Everything was so unexpected, and people鈥檚 hopes were easily dashed. Worry about jobs, money, and accommodation. Loved ones we haven鈥檛 been able to see and hug. Big life events which had to be cancelled; every plan we made seemed to be dashed. How to give new hope hasn鈥檛 been easy. But the book of Revelation is clear that God鈥檚 glory is often glimpsed in the most unexpected of places and when we least expect it.

The notion of new life has taken on a new meaning. But rather than going back to how things were before, perhaps our new way of life at the other side of this virus might be the best of what we had before plus the unexpected things we have discovered about ourselves and where we live through this darker period. The image of the tree of life as a symbol of what we might now be looking forward to has been key for me today reflecting on Revelation 21. You don鈥檛 have to live in a garden city to recognise the immense ability of nature to cajole us into thinking bigger thoughts that what may be the sum total of our current predicament. New hope. New Life 鈥� and then what about New Civilisation?

Ebenezer Howard鈥檚 third aspect of this community is almost identical to the thought in Revelation. The battle between darkness and light is how the bible describes it. The concept might seem too simple = but don鈥檛 be deceived by the contrast. As Josh reminded us earlier, in Britain the Christian season of Advent falls when the days are getting darker and we light our advent candles building up to that moment in the calendar when the darkness stops deepening and the days become gradually lighter. But most particularly in St John鈥檚 Gospel, after whom this parish church of Digswell is dedicated in one of the oldest bits of Welwyn Garden City, those who believe in the new hope which offers new life will be part of a new civilisation where there is no darkness at all.

As Bishop Michael Ramsey said to me in my early years in Durham: there is nothing that the glory of God cannot change or deal with.

After a calamitous year, the glory of God certainly offers us new hope. The joy of creation around us assures us of new life. The new civilisation is one in which light always gains the victory over darkness in all its forms.

New Hope, New Life, New Civilisation.

Music: Longing for light, we wait in darkness
St Martin鈥檚 Voices
大象传媒 recording

Blessing
Christ the Son of Righteousness shone upon you, scatter the darkness from before your path, and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be amongst you and those whom your love, and remain with you always. Amen.