Rector’s Letter – August 2011
As I write the last of the arrangements have been tidied away, the floors swept, the church restored to its usual way. The Festival of Flowers has been a wonderful experience, as we have welcomed so many visitors and regulars into our building and I hope their spirits, like mine, have been inspired by the beauty.
“You must be tired” I said to one of the team of many hard workers after the weekend. “Its been worth every moment – it’s been so good to get to know more of our church family that I don’t normally meet, and to work together”
And I think that, for me, has been the added bonus of this Festival, as so many people have been knitted toegther into the body of Christ as we focussed on this task which welcomed people into our building. Although our building was even more impressive than ever during the Festival, it is the warmth of welcome that will make a long term diference as we continue to work together.
This being part of the body of Christ, as we put aside personality, or differences over styles of worship, is part of what we were created for. Our society encourages individualism with so much choice, even with us never needing to share, or sometimes learning to compromise for the sake of other people. It separates us from one another, rather than bringing us together to form a community where we belong and are able to care for one another and support each other through all that life brings. This is an important part of being the church together – family at its best – loving, not necessarily because we like each other but because we are family – belonging to God and all bearing the family image.
It is great to welcome into our new family Tim, Clare and Evie. They have lots of us to get to know, so forgive them if they don’t get your name straight away, but it is a delight to have them, not as my curate and family, but as part of OUR family here at St Mary’s.
So let us rejoice in the creativity of the team who have so wonderfully reflected God’s creativity. But let us also conintue to work together as the family of God in this place, that as we do so, we reflect more strongly His love for His world.