Rector's View - October 2013

Dear friends,

Our Sunday themes celebrate the treasure of God’s Love in scripture in Bible Sunday 27th October, the last Sunday counted after Trinity Sunday. Following our 22 week scriptural pilgrimage our year turns through thanksgiving for God’s bountiful provision in Harvest, to reflect on the revelation of God’s love in our lives. November sees us treasuring the light of our life within God’s perfect light. We commemorate all who lit our lives with their love, and we remember the sacrifice of those who sought to defend against the darkness of conflict and war. All this we offer to God’s transforming love that we may be light in our generation for our families and friends as for our nation and our world. As this year’s end witnesses the mass displacement of the Syrian peoples, refugees from such horrific violation of the innocent, there is all the more poignancy in Novembers’ remembrance of those whose lives were given to the defence of the innocent. The daily cry of all who suffer too echoes with our own daily prayer ‘lead us not to the time of trial but deliver us from the evil’.

The Sunday of All Saints falls on the 3rd November where in our morning Eucharists we give thanks for the heroes of faith, and this year you are invited to commemorate your own dear departed, by a more personable thanksgiving for those who blessed our lives in their living, at our 3pm service that afternoon at Wickhambrook. Lists will be at the back of our benefice churches toward the end of October for you to write those names, as you would like them read, to be remembered during our worship. When these names are read, everyone will have an opportunity to light candles should they wish, and we will be able to meet together afterward in the Hall over afternoon tea. Everyone is welcome to this service especially those to whom we have ministered in bereavement through this last year. So may we be encouraged, whatever trial is witnessed in this our day, that our earthly pilgrimage ever be supported by this fellowship, saints in heaven and on earth, of love and prayer.

Your servant in Christ

Rev'd Brin Singleton
Rector