Message from the Rector

From The Rectory

Dear Friends

Sometimes we forget to stop and take time to reflect. Life seems fast and hurried, once we’ve finished one thing the next is staring us in the face. I want us therefore to think a little about Remembrance Sunday. Year on year it has steadily grown (and many thanks to those who organise it). Every year the community, in its rich diversity, comes together to remember those who have given their lives for their country. It is both heartening and humbling that the leading of this act of remembrance is still offered in God’s name and with a renewed commitment to seek peace. The church is privileged to be at the heart of this important event for the community, and particularly reminds us at St Mary’s of our calling to serve all; to bring hope to those in need. There is sadness in remembering our dead, but it is not a sadness of those who have no hope - rather it is filled with the promise and hope of God’s Kingdom.God created us not for death but for eternal life. Our earthly life is not a journey to nowhere; it is a journey to a Promised Land and those we remember each year have led the way.

As we move toward Christmas, Advent is often overlooked when busyness takes over. Advent is a time of expectant waiting for the celebration of the nativity of Jesus. (Advent comes from the Latinadventus meaning‘coming’ and is a translation of the Greek word ‘parousia’ referring to the‘Second coming of Christ’.)For people of faith this an important time, and, as I mention above, is one of those times when we need to stop and reflect. Let these four weeks of Advent serve as a spiritual reminder both of the original waiting done by Israel for the birth of the Messiah as well as the waiting of Christians for Christ’s return.

Those we remembered in November lived and died in hope, and in Advent we find the same promise of hope. I wonder whether we rush too easily into Christmas and rather lose sight of he hope it brings? Perhaps we need to prayerfully reclaim Advent, allowing Christmas to gently and naturally dawn in our hearts.  May the warm glow of hope radiate in, through, and out of each of us this Christmas.

With every prayer and good wish                   

                                               Barry