November News
|
Letter from the Vicar for November (The full newsletter for November 2011 can be opened in pdf format by following this link.)
Dear Friends, ‘Shine as a light in the world to the glory of God the Father.’
These are the stirring words we say to each baptism candidate as they are given their candle after being baptised. They remind us that being a follower of Christ and belonging to the Christian family carries responsibilities; we are called to be bearers of Christ’s light and love in our world.
All Saints’ Day, which falls on 1st November, is the special day that the Christian church remembers all those living and departed who have sought to follow Christ. We don’t just remember those famous saints we may know something about; we also remember men and women through the ages and in our own time who have tried to live lives of faith and service.
Last year, I remember reading about the ‘Lantern Saints’, a group of early Methodists who lived on the North Yorkshire Moors. They had a meeting place on one of the highest points of the moor and people would come from outlying farms and hamlets, and surrounding dales. Through the hard months of winter they would struggle up those moorland hills and meet in a shuttered room. As each family entered they would light their lantern as a symbol of receiving the light of the gospel and the light of Christ.
When the service was over they would set off back home again in all directions. What a sight it must have been! The light they had received and carried with them could be seen travelling to each dale, to farms and homes and communities. From that light they could see in the dark, and be able to share their light with others. This light was a symbol of how they sought to live by the light of Christ. Not surprisingly, these people became known in their local area as ‘Lantern saints’.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have that kind of impact on our parish, and those other communities from which we come; to be like those lanterns bearers lighting up the darkness? The Lantern Saints came together for worship and fellowship week by week in order to be sent out again as bearers of light in their homes, workplaces and communities. Our worship together here should feed and equip us to do the same.
During November, we will be starting to reflect on our worship at the Good Shepherd; particularly our 10 o’clock service. Everyone who worships with us will be invited to respond to a questionnaire. Those responses will then feed into a group that will be looking at our worship together. We will be thinking about what is working well, what we need to improve, and how we can make our worship more accessible to newcomers and visitors. Please reflect, pray and respond!
Joan H.
Archived newsletters: |
