VICAR'S LETTER FOR May

Have any of you bought a copy of the Church Times (or it's Roman Catholic equivalent, The Tablet)? I can recommend them both for a jolly good read. They employ a very wide range of journalists, authors and professionals to explore the many the issues facing the church(es) of our age. Gardeners, Cooks, Scientists, Vicars and all sorts contribute, with the Christian Faith as the focus of discussion.

Inevitably examples of the worst kind of behaviour are reported the poor reader is left wondering how ever the offender can square their conduct with the calling to follow Christ. Of course history is littered with so-called followers of Christ who were anything but – their treatment of their fellow human beings testifies! St Paul spends a lot of effort exhorting us to “have the mind of Christ” and love our brothers and sisters with “a love that is stronger than death”.

If I am remembered for being keen to hammer home any part of our faith I hope it is that, as it says in our Baptism Service, “we are carriers of God's grace, and, the richness of God's grace is within is”
What that means is that by our actions we reveal to others what God is like and that is a responsibility EVERYONE holds, not just church-goers or those attending the latest Baptism service! The way you or I treat each other gives someone else a direct experience of God. How you conduct yourself is a divine action, inspired by God.

Of course for many the Bible will be their guide, as will the practice of worshipping and sharing wealth with those who do not have enough. But for those who have no Christian up-bringing or commitment the responsibility is still the same. You have been given much by God and the only way to respond is “to love God and your neighbour as yourself”. Everyone can manage that, absolutely everyone! I hope to find God in the people I meet – do you?

Your friend and priest, Robin.