Rev Chris’s Weekly Update – 13/11/2022
Dear all,
Friday is Armistice Day and then there will be Remembrance Sunday with both St Nicholas Church and St Paul’s Church having acts of remembrance, as close to 11am as possible, as part of their morning services.
Events of this year make Remembrance Sunday particularly poignant. There was the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday 8th September. As well as being the monarch her role would have been as “Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England” and she often spoke of how important her Christian faith was to her, drawing on teaching from the bible as inspiration.
The monarch’s role is also as Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces. King Charles III now takes on all such duties, as the new monarch, and, as part of that, will lay a wreath at the Cenotaph on Sunday.
Another event that comes to mind is the conflict in Ukraine that started on 24th February this year as Russia invaded that country. Sadly, the result of these actions has been that ordinary lives have been lost, or deeply impacted – through all such tragedies we continue to ask the question WHY? I have no answer other than to try to live by the good example of others and hold on to my faith in God, through Christ, that in the words of the prophet Isaiah (Chapter 2:3-4) from the Old Testament;
Many peoples shall come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
Peace be with you,
Rev Chris
RECTORY SUPPERS
We will be hosting these over the three evenings of Tuesday 6th, Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th December at 7pm. Sarah and I will host you in the Rectory and provide a two-course dinner and drinks – all you need to do is let us know that you would like to come (and any dietary requirements) by phone, 01622 297307, or email rev.chris@hotmail.co.uk or sarahlavender59@hotmail.co.uk.
