Weekly Update – 1st November

This Sunday is All Saints Day.   When we consider a saint, we often think about an unreachable perfection.  An earthly life of poverty, hardship, suffering, sacrifice and often death through their witness of the Gospel.  Transformed into perfection through the heavenly grace of God.   However, the New Testament calls all people of faith – in all places and situations – as saints though their discipleship in Christ.  An example below from 1 Corinthians 1.2.

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 

(King James Version)

Therefore, All Saints’ Day is an opportunity for remembering and thanksgiving, not just the lives of those saints we recognise – those who have been formally canonised – but also the lives of those who we have known directly, who have inspired us or nurtured our faith.

One of the readings for Sunday comes from “the Beatitudes” (Matthew 5.1-12): a series of eight blessings that define the character, values and heart of those who belong to the Kingdom of God.  In this context, All Saints Day is not just about remembering and giving thanks but equally recognising the example and inspiration that is shown by those who lives of faith we would regard as saintly.

The picture at the top of the page is one of the twelve famous stained-glass windows at All Saints Church, Tudeley, (near Tonbridge), which were crafted by the artist Marc Chagall. All Saints, Tudeley is the only church in the world to have all its windows decorated by the artist.  It is said that Chagall was reluctant to take on the commission. He only agreed to do one window but when he had finished and installed it (in 1967), he was so inspired by the church and the location that he said he would do all the windows.  A task that took the next 15 years.  The final stained-glass window was installed in 1985.

Nigel

Churchwarden.