Thought for the Month April 2022

Is Boris Godunov?

One of the great musical experiences I had this year (no, it wasn’t on a Tuesday!) was to watch the opera Boris Godunov by the (improbably forenamed) Modest Mussorgsky, relayed from the Metropolitan Opera, New York. First performed complete in 1872, it tells the story of Tsar Boris, who reigned Russia for seven years at the end of the 16^th century.

One profoundly depressing aspect, doubtless intended by Mussorgsky, was how little had changed in 300 years. The state was ruled by a despot with almost limitless powers. He used his personal wealth and tax revenues to reward oligarchs, who themselves acquired great riches. Meanwhile, Russia was nothing less than a police state – the people were poor and powerless; they were punished mercilessly if they stepped out of line. The establishment of the Orthodox Church supported the régime, indifferent to the suffering of the people. The only news was government propaganda. On the western border, armies were amassing.

Thus 1598. Thus 1872. Fast forward 50, and then another 100 years. Notice much difference?

Power. Boris became Tsar desirous of doing good for his people. Yet he could not govern without the state terror apparatus already in position. He could not secure his position without the carrot and stick to reward his allies and take out his enemies. He loved his children, and wanted to pass on the tsardom to his son – and that meant clinging to power by all means possible. He is a profoundly unhappy man. Jesus talks about rendering to Caesar what is Caesar’s, to God what is God’s – making it clear that they are two different things.  He talks too about how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It is as if this man Boris feels, almost knows, he has cut himself off from grace by his life choices. Do you feel, as I am coming to do, that (tragically) he is right?

Forgiveness. Boris achieved power by countenancing, probably arranging, the murder of the child who is the true heir. The guilt of this haunts him through to his death. He wants to be forgiven, but cannot accept that God will show him mercy, firstly because of the heinousness of his crime, secondly because he continues to enjoy (if that is the right word) the fruits of it. He dies in mental agony. So what would you say to him? Is there any crime so terrible that it puts you beyond God’s mercy?

Truth. There is another character in the opera whose life is a kind of reverse mirror-image of  Boris’s – Pimen. After serving time as a soldier, killing, gourmandising, womanising, he turns aside from the world and devotes his final years to life as a monk. And what he does is to transcribe the history of his time onto manuscript – to tell the truth of it. In the Met production, this is presented unforgettably as an actual scroll that is both fragile and immensely strong. The truth will set you free, Jesus said; we often tend to think of this in terms of mystical truth, but here we are shown that the truth of it is literal. In this world of lies and disinformation, we can only make choices that have value if they are based upon the premises of truth. The Bible itself is fragile – we cannot even trace back Jesus’s words to what he actually said in his own language; and yet it is mighty. It is truth. Its truth will set you free.

The people in this opera are the victims of its power struggles and its corrupt society. Without power or wealth, dependent on the vicissitudes of nature for a good harvest to be able even to eat, disregarded, pushed around, they remind us of the origins of Christianity. It is a religion where the poor are to be exalted, the mighty put down from their exalted positions. In this period of Lent, when this Thought is being written, it is a reminder that we are called to live in the world, as if we have any choice, but to be not of the world, which is a matter of choice. Renunciation is not being nicer, or slimmer, or even better: it is putting out of the way everything in our lives and in our minds that puts any kind of barrier between us and God. And that is hard.

The opera closes with the song of the Holy Innocent:

Tears are flowing, tears of blood;

Weep, O soul, O soul of poor Russia.

Soon the foe will come. The darkness nears.

Shadows hide the light, dark as darkest night.

Sorrow, sorrow on earth.

Weep, poor starving Russian folk.  

I urge you to pray for the people of Ukraine. For the people of Russia. For those who despitefully use us and them. And for all suffering, powerless, dispossessed people in the world. For all those who feel that they are far from God and that he is far from them. For all who cannot pray and cannot repent. Amen.

DAVID

Thought for the Month 6^th March 2022

It’s said that one of the first casualties of War is truth and I think we have seen considerable evidence of that in recent weeks. What we believe is true is, to a large extent, influenced by what we are fed in the media – as witnessed by the reactions of some in Russia to its state media propaganda.  But, away from blatant lies and deliberate misinformation, there is, one truth that cannot be denied or ignored, that is the humanitarian tragedies that are unfolding before our eyes – and not just in the Ukraine, but Afghanistan and Syria as well to name but two. Regardless of your political persuasion or perceptions, the human cost is shocking and those who have lived through such human tragedy must despair that it still happens today.

My first thought as I came to write this was, are we going to become ‘Humanitarian Crisis’ fatigued, again? Yes, it’s true almost everyone you speak to will acknowledge how terrible the situation is in many areas of the world. We wring our hands and make our ‘Armchair Politician’ statements, often with little or no understanding of the complexities of the situation whether historical, cultural, political…… and then five minutes later we go back to our own lives with little more thought and even less action.

I honestly do not think it’s because people don’t care, they do, many will have shed tears over what is happening in the world and be genuinely concerned, it’s just that with modern media, wall to wall news, instant access to what is happening in the world through TV, radio and the internet, everything becomes overwhelming and as individuals we can feel paralysed, not knowing what to do, so we push it away.

Right now outrage, concern sympathy, compassion are evident in abundance (as they should be) but (yes I always have a but) if Vladimir Putin were to pull his troops back right this second and immediately be replaced by a kinder more benevolent and just leader, the events in the Ukraine would disappear from our screens and probably by replaced by some salacious gossip that makes good headlines and sells papers but has little or no benefit to society, exactly as happened with Afghanistan, Syria and countless other social concerns. While all this happens, the aftermath of recent events will continue for a generation or more, the humanitarian crisis will continue for years. And let’s not forget the countless innocent Russians who want no part of this dreadful war, many of them suffering for their views, even imprisoned.

Those seeking to rebuild, to restore normality, to reconcile with neighbours, all need to be in it for the long haul. I wonder if leaders, nations and their citizens will be in it for the long haul too, or will it drift into the background leaving those in the front line to get on with it?

My point here is that when love and compassion run dry, so does hope with the result that the cycle starts all over again. With love and compassion comes hope, and with hope comes healing.

As I said above, not knowing how we as individuals can help is a major problem. We can’t all just pack our bags and jump on plane to go to the front line. Apart from the fact that wheels need to be kept turning at home, to have real effect on the ground takes great skill, resources, time and much more – including courage. Thankfully there are organisations who have people with such skill, courage and maybe some resources but these usually cost money. Maybe you have skills and resources you can offer, most of us can afford at least a few pounds in financial support. These organisations need support. Some agencies have targeted appeals for specific items that are urgently needed, things we might not think of that we can easily purchase for onward transportation, this is the case for Ukraine right now (See below) and never underestimate the power of prayer. We can all do something.

Just two final quick thoughts

Firstly, I believe our reactions and responses to the many injustices, tragedies and humanitarian crises of today will influence the reaction and response of future generations to future crises. What message are we going to leave those future generations?

 Secondly, we are heading into the season of lent leading us to Easter. I have often quoted the title of a book by Anthony Campolo at Easter ‘That was Friday but Sunday’s coming’ in it he quotes his pastor who preached “… it was Friday and my Jesus was dead on a tree. But that was Friday, and Sunday’s comin’!”  He continued in this vein until the end of the sermon. For Ukraine and its people it’s Friday. Let’s pray that Sunday comes very soon and let’s also remember that on Easter Sunday the work of Jesus on earth was done, but the work of the church had only just started!

Steve

Prayer

Heavenly Father, in this world full of conflict

We pray for peace among nations and their people.

We pray for victims in Ukraine and beyond.

Displaced, homeless, injured and afraid.

Those who have lost loved ones,

Lives are shattered

That can never be the same.

We pray too for the innocent people

Who are demonised

Because of the actions of others.

For those working to bring relief, security

And hope to troubled communities,

Guide them in all they do

And keep them safe we pray.

Give the leaders of all nations,

Wisdom in the decisions they make

May they seek Your justice,

Peace and reconciliation.

We ask it all in Jesus name. Amen.

Aid for Ukraine

I have been contacted by Roxwell resident Anna Adams who is a contact for Essex Charity Felsted Aid for Deprived Children (uk-aid.org) who are now collecting for Ukraine refugees as they cross the border. This established charity was featured on BBC LookEast last night and tonight and has a warehouse at Leaden Roding.  She sends the following message:

Following Russia’s devastating invasion of Ukraine, a local humanitarian charity, UK-AID (uk-aid.org) have had an unprecedented response to their aid appeal. They are arranging three 18 tonne lorries to transport the much-needed aid to Ukrainian refugees who have crossed the Moldovan border at Palanca, Tudora and Otaci. However, more is still needed. 
 
Items being collected

• new underwear (women and children)
• washing powder/ bottled washing liquid (no capsules)
• shower gel 
• toothbrushes/toothpaste
• new or nearly new bedding
• shampoo/conditioner
• nappies/baby wipes
• ladies’ sanitary products
• new towels

They are not currently asking for either clothing or soap.
 
Collection details
In Roxwell leave inside the church on the right near the font – by Friday 11^th March please. Church unlocked between 9.00am and 5.00pm. 
 
Other help
They are also asking for cash donations to help with the transportation costs.  Payments can be made to Felsted Aid for Deprived Children via Santander:
Sort Code: 09-01-53
Account number: 71315484
Ref: Transportation

For details of other organisations and areas of need it’s also worth looking at the Disaster Emergencies Committee website www.dec.org.uk

Thought for the month February 2022

I am a fair-weather cyclist. I hate getting wet. So I always look at all the weather apps to gauge the probability of rain. And then I take the most favourable. You can guess how many times I come home drenched.

I wonder if we sometimes read the Bible in the same way. Take the Old Testament lesson for the first week in February. It is a vision of heaven so glorious that we still use its words in the communion service, and still echo them in that favourite hymn “I the Lord of sea and sky”. In the book of the prophet Isaiah, it is preceded by the lovely image of God’s people as his vineyard, one that Jesus will use later; it is followed by those passages well known from the Christmas story, about the people walking in darkness having seen a great light, about a virgin conceiving a child. Messages of hope.

Then read the bits in between and you get a rather different picture.

God’s message to his people, that he charges Isaiah to deliver, is not a little bit of fine tuning. It’s the kind of heavy parental sarcasm I well remember my mum using to me. “If you think that’s a good idea, just carry on as you are doing. I don’t know why I waste my breath. I’ve said my piece. You’ll see.” It speaks of love and concern, but also of a despairing end of patience. Did I listen to my mum? You can guess. Isaiah prophesises what the result of the nation’s patterns of behaviour will be: conflict; war; destruction; moral bankruptcy; devastation of the natural landscape.

Isaiah identifies the false values of the nation that will inevitably lead to this outcome unless renounced. The ones that top the list are these: pride, arrogance and complacency; wilful blindness and thoughtlessness; greed and corruption. Do any of these ring true about our present world? Do I need to ask this question?

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the Old Testament reading is the opening: “In the year that King Uzziah died…” I had never given it much consideration until I came to do this Thought. Uzziah was not some obscure OT name. He reigned for fifty-two years – not quite as long as our present Queen or Queen Victoria, but long enough for the vast majority of people to have known no other monarch, and never to have experienced a Royal Coronation. His death was a significant time for everyone. And I imagine that when he died, people will have looked back over the changes that took place during his reign and their national achievements (it was a time of relative stability for the nation); they will have looked forward to building upon these foundations.

Actually, the reign of Uzziah was followed by national catastrophe – military defeat, the destruction of Jerusalem, the exile of almost all the people as slaves to Babylon.

Following the reign of Victoria, people looked forward to an era of further prosperity born of economic well-being, scientific advance and the might of the British Empire. Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set… Unfortunately, Germany had different ideas.

I am not saying that the reign of Elizabeth will be followed by similar disasters, but the message of Isaiah is that if you disregard what is wrong with the nation and fail to do anything about it, there is a price that will be paid.

While the New Testament focuses on answers to the question “What must I do to be saved?”, it is often refreshing to turn back to the Old, which focuses more on the wider question “What does the nation have to do to be right with God?” Isaiah makes it clear that the covenant between God and Israel is not the last word in what his people have to do, but a starting point. The exploration of what more needs to be done comes up again and again in the history of God and Israel: in other words, it is no good being circumcised and laying off the pork scratchings if everything else in your behaviour is wrong. Similarly, if all we as Christians are doing to be right with God is going to church on a Sunday, meeting our friends, hymn-singing followed by coffee, then we need to turn our sight outwards upon the wider world.

This part of Isaiah suggests (amongst others) three things that we could and should be doing today.

Firstly, the military defeat and exile of God’s people were caused by bad foreign policy decisions. We need as Christians to make our voice heard in those taken by our leaders.

Secondly, the established church, with its Chief Priests, High Priests and all the rest of the hierarchy  in the time of Isaiah (and in that of Jesus) was absolutely useless at providing guidance to the nation. No wonder people turned to outsiders, to prophets such as John the Baptist. In the week that I am writing this, the front pages are full of the threat from Russia to Ukraine and, beyond that, to the West as a whole. I found three references to the Church in today’s paper: that the Church was thinking of allowing more comfortable seating in church; that £1m was being allocated to settle a dispute between an Oxford college and its dean; and that Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York (and formerly Chelmsford),  is advocating a new method of voting for the Archbishop of Canterbury. Given such dearth of genuine leadership, it is up to us as Christians to make our voices to be heard on the moral questions of the day.

Finally, as Christians we need to look beyond the present day and its concerns to plan for the future, for where we want our nation, our churches, our world to be in five, ten, one hundred years’ time. In doing so we start to think like God, and in doing what is necessary to bring this about I would say, echoing Isaiah, that we do what God wants and requires of us.

David

Isaiah 6:1-8 (Shorter reading) 1-13 (Longer reading)  

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.  Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory!”

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.  And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.  And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for. 

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” 

9  And he said, “Go, and say to this people:

” ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;

keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’

Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes;

lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Then I said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said:

“Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people,

and the land is a desolate waste,

and the Lord removes people far away,

and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.

And though a tenth remain in it,

it will be burned again,

like a terebinth or an oak,

whose stump remains when it is felled.”

The holy seed is its stump.

Thought for the month January 2022

Well here we are again, the start of a New Year. Today I’ve made a conscious decision in these thoughts, not to dwell on the past year – yes, I know we can and should learn from the past but frankly we all know what it’s been like in the last year, both individually and collectively. I want therefore to look to the future.

Question: Why do we have to wait for the 31^st December each year to make the decision to change (or try to change) certain aspects of our lives?

I could suggest to you that each day is the start of a New Year in our lives, full of opportunity and promise. I could go on to say we should tell this to ourselves every morning. However, as with most New Year’s resolutions, I suspect the novelty would soon wear off! Plus for many people opportunity and promise can be hard to find some days. But do we really need to wait until New Year’s Eve to think about making a new start, to reinvigorate ourselves, to wish peace and prosperity for each other and for the world?

There are many trigger points in our lives where we can seek to rediscover our faith, to find the opportunities and promises of God that present themselves in his creation – birthdays, new school terms, new job, retirement, return from holidays a personal triumph and yes, even personal tragedy – to name but a few – all times and opportunities to start again or to refuel. It seems to me that it’s also important, at times when we’re feeling invigorated and positive not to keep it to ourselves, we should be encouraging others too, perhaps becoming a bit like Barnabas.

³⁶ There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”). Acts 4: 36 NRSV.

Those of you who know me will also know I’m not in favour of cherry picking verses out of the bible, in case they fall out of context. But knowing there would be several examples I looked for verses in the N.T. where people were either encouraged, or exhorted to encourage each other, I soon realise it would look like an enormous shopping list!

Having said we should be like Barnabas (which I still think would be a good place to start) in searching for encouragement quotes I found one of my favourite passages from Philippians where Paul urges his readers to an even higher aspiration, drawing on encouragement from Christ himself and being of the same mind.

2 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, ² make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others… 

(Philippians 2:1-4).

So my prayer for each of us this first Sunday in January is that we will look with optimism to the future, trusting in God and seeking out the wonders he has to offer in creation, to work together, supporting each other, lifting and encouraging those who are struggling so they too can see the opportunities and promise the future can hold.

But most importantly, let’s not wait until next Christmas and January 1^st to reinvigorate that hope. Jesus’ forgiveness, hope, love and redemption is not seasonal, so why should our desire to wish health, happiness and prosperity to all be restricted to a couple of weeks a year?

Heavenly Father

Help us through this coming year

To remember that renewal in you

Is not dependant on the day of the year.

Help us always to look to you

And the many blessings

And opportunities in your creation.

Help us to seek your forgiveness and love

And to share it with all those we meet each day.

In Jesus name. Amen

Thought For the Month December 2021

I don’t know about you, but I get very sad when seasons and festivals get blurred in the time line. Hot Cross buns all year round, Christmas puddings in August… We so easily lose that sense of anticipation of things to come, seasonal foods and Christmas are just two of the casualties of this trend.

We are now in the season of Advent, a time when we celebrate and anticipate the arrival of Jesus, the dawn of a new era. This Sunday is the second Sunday in Advent and traditionally (depending on the denomination or liturgy you follow) it’s a time we remember John the Baptist. In his gospel, Matthew describes John like this:

Matthew 3 : 3 (NRSV)                                         

³ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight.’”

Notice the subtle difference between Matthew’s text and the text from Isaiah

Isaiah 40:3 (NRSV)

³ A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Isaiah talks about a voice crying out – “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,… But Matthew describes John as the voice in the wildness ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”. John describes himself similarly in John 1:24.

So what you might say. Well this point in time – when John the Baptist was preaching – is the end of what would become known as the ‘Intertestamental period’, the time between the writings of the Old and New Testaments. For four hundred years there had been no prophetic voice in Israel, the Jews could be described as being in a spiritual wilderness, and John was the one crying out, not just in a geographic wilderness, but also a spiritual wilderness. He was telling the people to prepare for something greater than had ever been seen before.

I’d like now to refer back to theme for the first Sunday in Advent, this is when Christians look forward and anticipate the second coming of Jesus, a subject which I know is difficult for some. However the bible is quite clear on the subject and it’s worth considering that for individuals throughout history, and today, Jesus has already come for them.

Depending on the liturgical year, the two set readings are from Matthew (Matt 21: 1-13 and Matt 24: 15-28). In chapter 21 we read of ‘Jesus Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem’. He arrives at the Temple expecting to see a house of prayer and dedication, a fruitful place full of compassion and love – perhaps hoping rather than expecting as I’m sure he knew what he was really going to find – instead His house has been turned into a ‘…den of robbers.. (v13). A little later in the chapter we have the story of the fig tree where Jesus goes up to a tree and finding no figs, only leaves, he curses it. This was a metaphor for what would happen to Jerusalem and the Jewish people following Jesus’ experience at the Temple. In Chapter 24 we read of Jesus prophesy of the Temple destruction and the desolating sacrilege that would take place – all of which happened within a generation (around 66-73 AD).

So what does all this say to us in Advent 2021? Well if we consider last Sunday as a looking forward to the second coming of Christ (in whatever manner at whatever time) then I think it poses a very serious question for us all, especially as the world in many ways can seem to be in a spiritual wilderness. Will we be like the Temple Jesus came to, void of prayer, worship compassion, love… or like the fig tree that bore no fruit? Or will we be fruitful for Him, spreading the good news of love, compassion, kindness and good will to all.

Coming back to my opening comments, yes I love everything in its season, I love Advent and the anticipation of Christmas… But! Maybe somethings should not be seasonal, yes let’s keep our seasonal traditions, however, perhaps the world could do with us all being fruitful in the true Christmas spirit all year round. 

STEVE

Maybe this year we can light our own Advent Candles.

But thank you ‘Scarecrows of the Green’ for 2020!

The Challenge of Advent

Lord of all,
You tell us to wait and pray for that time
When Christ shall come again to establish his kingdom;
That time when your purpose shall be fulfilled
And your name made known and worshipped on all the earth!
You challenge us to live in the light of that promise –

Help us to respond.

Teach us, we pray, never to lose sight of your purpose,
Never to stop believing that you are at work,
Never to lose confidence in you kingdom.
Teach us that, as Christ came, so he shall come again.
You challenge us to live in the light of that promise –

Help us to respond.

But teach us also not to waste the present moment,
Not place all our hope in the future,
Or to imagine that you are unconcerned
For us and your world now!
Teach us to recognize that Christ is with us always,
By our side to the end of time.
You challenge us to live in the light of that promise –

Help us to respond.

Help us to live and work for you always,
Rightly and responsibly enjoying your many gifts,
And seeking to do your will and follow your ways.
Help us to live each day
As though Christ were coming back at that moment,
Until that day when he returns in glory
And you are all in all.
You challenge us to live in the light of that promise –

Help us to respond.

For his name’s sake.

Amen.

(Nick Fawcett: ‘Prayer for all seasons’ Book 2)

Thought For the Month November 2021

Good Morning.

I hope this “Thought for the week “finds you well and reasonably happy, for those who aren’t feeling so great, I send my love and pray that things improve  and hope you feel brighter soon.

November is upon us and my TFTW focuses on All Saints Day, what does it mean and why do we celebrate it?

As you probably know All Saints Day is celebrated on 1st November, a day commemorating all the saints of the church both known and unknown who have gone to heaven. In some denominations it’s also to give thanks to those who have guided others to Jesus, like a friend or relative.

This is followed by All Soul’s Day on the 2^{nd of} November where we remember and pray for all the departed souls. Some  countries have their own traditions for All Souls Day like Mexico, who celebrate “Día del los Muertos” or Day of the Dead. If you haven’t seen the Disney Pixar film “Coco”, (don’t groan,) you have missed a real treat, young and old!

On All Saints Day we remember those who have lived a holy life and we thank God that even those of us who are ordinary men and women, can be transformed to become extraordinary and make a difference to the lives of others and the world.

 We may not be saints or whiter than white, but human flawed Christians who struggle sometimes with our faith not knowing if God is listening or wondering if he has something in store for us. Maybe he has already steered us in some way that we may not have even realized, Jesus’ hand may be at work in your life at this very moment. Maybe he has plans on how you can be an evangelist and be the bearer of Christ’s light or maybe you are pondering on something and feel pulled in a certain way, is this Lord speaking to you?

We may think that saintliness is unobtainable to us lesser mortals but just think of Francis of Assisi. He had been described as physically unattractive as a youth possessing no particular gifts or aptitudes, but we all know that he grew up to achieve great things in the name of God.

 Of course, we don’t have to be a saint to do great things.

 In this country alone everyday Christian people have achieved much, for instance they first introduced schooling for children long before the government took over. It was ordinary Christians that first introduced hospitals and paid for them for the poor, long before the NHS. We think of prison reforms and the works of Elizabeth Fry who campaigned for better conditions for female prisoners, spending time with them and teaching skills to inmates. Not a saint in the real sense but certainly doing God’s work and to put up with the cold, stench and darkness is certainly saintliness in my eyes.

Years ago, stories of saints and their exraordinary lives would inspire youngsters to follow in their footsteps but times have changed.

After the “Age of “Reason” when the belief of science and logic gave man more knowledge than religion, the saints lost their sparkle and children looked instead to inventers and explorers. Then it was the turn of Hollywood stars, pop groups and footballers. Whilst there is nothing at all wrong with this, I myself am in awe of some of the scientific discoveries that man has made and as far as Pop Stars go, I thought T-Rex and Thin Lizzie were fantastic! Terrible though it sounds my husband Steve believes “Old Trafford is hallowed ground! But these things are transient.

Most of us will never become saints, or maybe wouldn’t wish to be, but we can still make a small difference. We can be everyday saints, sending out or showing in some way, God’s message, forgiving others and ourselves. Giving up our valuable time to help someone who may need us, loving and making sacrifices for the greater good.

I’m sure some of you do some if not most  of the above, but it’s important that , although we may not all be saints, wish to be , or even expect to be, thank goodness by doing acts of kindness we  can make a whole lot of difference to someone else’s life, perhaps making us all everyday saints.

As you carry on with your lives this month, give a thought for all those saints, martyrs and everyday saints that have sacrificed so much and done so graciously, making an  extraordinary difference to so many people , nations and the world.

JULIE

Prayer

Dear Lord

You have called us to be your followers,

Not knowing what you have in store for us or where it will lead.

Give us faith and courage to follow,

Knowing your hand is leading us and your love supporting us.

Thank you for the tremendous sacrifices made by those who have gone before us.

Bless them Lord and may we learn by their example how to listen and act when you call us.

Help us to grow with faith in continued worship, dedication, and love.

Amen