December & January
Well, it’s December, and possibly your thoughts may have already started to turn to Christmas.
For Jill and I, we look forward to our first Christmas here on the Island and having family join
us. The Bible reminds us what Christmas is for when it says, “There is born to you this day in the
city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord”.
For many people, I am reminded of the part of the story that tells us of Mary and Joseph arriving
in Bethlehem and being greeted with the message that there is “No Room” at the inn. I can
imagine Joseph pleading with the manager of the inn, telling him of Mary's condition and their
desperate need for a place where she could give birth to her child. But "there was no room for
them in the inn." So when Jesus was born, His mother "wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and
laid Him in a manger" (Lk. 2:7).
Today, 2,000 years later, millions of people have no room for Jesus. Although they participate
enthusiastically in the festivities of the Christmas season, they keep Him out of their lives. The
NO VACANCY sign is there.
How about you? Is there room in your life for Christ? What better time than during this season to
rededicate your life to Him or to receive Him as your Saviour!
Celebrate the baby, but trust the Saviour. That's how to make Christmas complete.
Jill & I wish you all a Happy Christmas
And God bless you all,
Rob
“Remember, Remember, the 5
th
of November”
This childhood chant is a good reminder that for many, especially in
the Church, November is the month of remembering. It is the month
when we hold our annual “All Souls” service. Giving everybody the
chance to join us and remember those loved ones that have died,
whether that be a husband, a wife, a father, a mother, brother or
sister, or just a good friend, all are welcome to come along, to
remember and if they want to weep.
It is also the month when we will gather at the war memorials in the
villages on Remembrance Sunday to remember those that have
fallen during the world wars. This is often an important event in
village life, giving family and friends to gather, to pause for the two
minute’s silence, to lay a wreath or perhaps to plant a poppy cross. It
is wonderful that so many want to do this. It is wonderful to often see
that those serving in the forces, the uniformed youth organisations
attend these events.
Both of these events are emotionally charged, possibly painful for
some but for others it is a time to pay their respects, possibly for the
realisation of their loss to kick in and grief to truly commence.
One of the most difficult questions that I ask when meeting with a
family who have lost someone is, “How would they like to be
remembered?” So I ask each of you, “How would you like to be
remembered?” Write it down. Give it to your children and ease their
pain at that difficult time, file a copy with your will (if you have one),
but most of all, be honest about yourself. Share the good times in
your life, the highpoints that you want to remember.
As a benefice and as I settle into my role here, I am constantly aware
that many remember, that look back to how other ministers have
done things in the past. Part of my role is to hold onto what was good
in the past, to remember, but as we move forward, to develop and
encourage the growth and the change in how we do Church and how
we as the Church can connect with the communities around us.
God bless
Rob
