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The Vicar's September Letter.
 | I couldn't send each one of you a postcard from my Austrian holiday so instead I have printed each one of you a postcard. My postcard is from St Andrew's Church in Salzburg.
St Andrew's is a large and an impressive church near to the centre of Salzburg. In one of the side chapels there is a memorable and a moving modern wooden crucifix. It is that Crucifix that is on my postcard.
Take a closer look at the Crucifix. You will see that in his agony on the Cross God is close to Jesus. God supports Jesus. God holds Jesus in his hands. It is my understanding that we are not one of us, not even Jesus, beyond rejection and hurt and pain and suffering. Not one of us. But it is our faith that God is with us in that suffering; God shares in our suffering; God is beside us in our suffering and God holds us in his hands.
Although Jesus' himself cannot see God ; God is there; understanding; supporting; loving. The circle may be a symbol of the support and the love that surrounds Jesus.
It is my understanding that God is especially close to all who suffer.
I want you to be aware, too, that the dove, the symbol of the Holy Spirit, the presence of God, is at Jesus' feet. This is unusual. The Holy Spirit is most often above.
Is it not the case that in our suffering, God, by way of the Holy Spirit, can seem absent? We can feel alone and abandoned. Not so. We are encircled above and below by God, a God who is close; a God who understands; a God who supports; a God who loves.
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Christian Aid
A very big thank you to Liz and Derek Freer for organising the Afternoon Tea in aid of Christian Aid. A staggering £674 was raised. |
The Vicar's November Letter
Growing up in the 1950's in the terraced streets of the town centre, Bonfire Night was an occasion that brought the community together. At that time there were still many areas of waste land that had been war time bomb sites and on Bonfire Night the entire street, the entire community, was likely to gather on the 'common' around the Bonfire.
Times were hard, there wasn't much money and a majority of people had few possessions, but it seems to be that there was not a great deal of unhappiness, nor a great deal of debt.
I wonder if I am right in thinking that at that time, a majority of people were thankful for what they had? After all, the Depression years and the war years were well within living memory. I wonder, too, if I am right in thinking that for many in today's world there is more wanting and wishing than thanking? Much more of a sense that possessions will bring happiness.
Take time to be positive. Take time today to reflect, and to say “thank you” for all that you have.
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Remembrance Sunday
Remembrance Sunday this year is on Sunday 9th November. We hope, of course, to invite any number of visitors to the church that day; it is my understanding that we will have more than twenty wreaths to lay.
Our Remembrance Sunday Service will begin at 9.30am and will conclude in the churchyard with the Wreath Laying Ceremony. The Service in church will finish at about 10.50am. and the Service at the War Memorial at about 11.20am. On Remembrance Sunday there will be no Family Service.
There will be an Evening Service for Remembrance Sunday at 5.00pm on Sunday 9th November. This will include the traditional falling of poppy petals. It is at this Service that we especially welcome war veterans and representatives from several ex-service associations. Your support at this Service would be appreciated. Refreshments will be served after the Service.
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