Dear friends

We have reached the end of the Christian year.  Next week, we start a new ‘book’, a new phase, a new mood, as we prepare for Jesus to be birthed into this world and our hearts, anew in 2020.

We can look forward to some changes, and a freshness, lights, cosiness at home and a refuge within our sacred space, to see how far we have come.  We will be able to look back on this time with its embedded challenge, loss and loneliness.  Each of us have changed, perhaps even in our approach to the gospel.  I hope you will join me in attending to our spiritual welfare as we journey together.

It is the Feast of Christ the King on Sunday: and a nudge for us to understand that the kingship Jesus holds us in non-material values and investments.  In the Gospel reading, he recognises us in our actions towards his people who are in need, in our response to meeting their needs with alacrity, immediacy and love. Thus, in each of us, Christ is resident, waiting to serve and be served, to care for and be cared for and so on. To be the hand of Christ in this world, is to accept our sacred duty, as servant to the needs of others. Jesus did it all the time and will reveal to us where our ministry lies, in the spontaneous minute, or as a longer-term calling. As a body of his people, let us sharpen that awareness of serving others.

Readings for the day are as follows

Ezekiel 34: 11 – 16

Psalm 100

Ephesians 1: 15 – 23

Matthew 25: 31 – 46

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God,

Whose will it is to restore all things

In the kingdom of your well-beloved Son;

Mercifully grant

That peoples of the earth,

now divided and enslaved by son,

may be freed ad brought together

under his most gracious rule;

through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, world without end.

We are adventuring as a Christian group!  Wednesday’s Zoom meeting was very insightful as Revd Gerry Dillon focussed on some of the lesser known Holocaust ‘martyrs’.  They were in keeping with the many unsung, oft unrecorded heroes of that grim space, as they stood together, held each other, and died together.  There were many who stood up to be counted, heroically depending and caring for their fellow internees. Grizzly proof there is of a nation driven by power and dominance. Perhaps there are areas of our lives which we should study, to see how we could detect and prevent wrongdoing against fellow human beings, in small or great ways.

What I do know is that the church must voice its opinions as much as actively seek to discern a course of action against any infringement of human dignity.

This Wednesday at 8pm, on Zoom, we take a look at Mary Slessor, Dundonian missionary to Nigeria, whose fearlessness, God-driven incentive to selfless care for whomsoever she ministered, is quite startling. Join us to listen to Iain Flett, who has long held a passion for the past heroes in the area, Mary Slessor being pre-eminent in his opinion! Send your name to me if it your first time to join us, and any friends you might invite.

Next week we start Advent 1, with a candle lit to look at the theme LOVE to open little windows of love for ourselves and others

Advent 2 will be shared with the Bishop, the theme being HOPE, in both St Margaret’s and St Mary’s.

I attach a flyer to publicise our new venture, on Tuesday evening Zoom meetings on the 12 January.  ‘Join the Conversation’ may be extended to anyone, anywhere.  Please forward the flyer and let me know if you will join us please!

May you feel the presence of God in your moments of gladness and sadness

Kathy Barrable

07552 805 359