A Message from our Minister

Dear Friends,

November is a month of Thanksgiving and Remembrances - with the National Day of Remembrance on 11th November, and in the church we will remember on the 9th.  The 16th is CrossReach Sunday and we remember them and give thanks for the work they do as we will have with the Guild Service on the 2nd of November.  There are other days of significance, the 1st is All Saints, or All Hallows hence Halloween, the 2nd All Souls day - but I do not remember those being really mentioned at all in my younger days as they were not ‘big’ in the Reformed Tradition as was Advent which starts on the 28th November each year - yes we had the calendars (that only started on the 1st December)  even today some churches will not sing carols until after the 25th December. Over the years there have been changes.

I also wonder if you, like me, are none too happy with fireworks going off well in advance of the 5th of November - and most likely will continue afterwards for weeks as well.  Although when younger it was fun to see the many bonfires and hear the explosions of sound and colour from rockets, catherine wheels, sparklers etcetera on the actual night.  Perhaps I am looking back with rose-tinted glasses and there were days and weeks of similar, but I am sure it was much more contained to around the 5th. I also remember at Halloween going out on the 30th of October if the 31st was a Sunday, another tradition that seems to have gone by the wayside as Sunday is just like any other day

Over the years there have been changes.  Society has changed, it always has and always will, yet many still seem to be seeking ‘purpose’ looking for a deeper meaning as many have done over the millennia. As Christians our deeper meaning comes from being followers of Jesus. We can look back with rose-tinted glasses on days when pews were more full, Sunday Schools were busy, and sigh deeply at those days in the past; BUT! that does not mean the Church and the message of Jesus is also in the past, it is still needed to be heard today, still relevant, still needed. We end the month of Remembrance on the 30th with the Sacrament of Communion and Baptism - the greatest remembrances we keep.  We celebrate Communion so that we can keep working to share the Good News of Christ, which we prepare for over Advent and rejoice in at Christmas in the hope that we might share more Baptisms as people turn to faith.

Yours aye

Ann