SERMON - May 2007
VICAR: The Revd. Martin Fredriksen Tel: 694109
PARISH OFFICE (Mondays to Fridays 9.30am – Noon) Tel: 697641
FROM THE VICAR: Once again, we have had a wonderful Holy Week and Easter in this Parish. To be full to extra seating on Easter Sunday morning was really inspiring and I am grateful to all those who came to worship with us and for all those who helped in any way with the conduct of the many services of this holy Season.
Someone commented to me that, unlike Christmas, where the services are part of the traditional 'package', people come to Church at Easter because they really want to. The celebration of the Resurrection seems somehow to begin to make sense of the imponderable questions of life and death, that surround us.
God's plan of redemption for all mankind, unfolds gently and positively over the events of the Christian Year – giving a rhythm to our daily lives. Without a pattern, things seem to get done as and when – and some just don't get done at all.
It is an experience to visit a religious community to see how they have a pattern of work, prayer and relaxation – it all appears to be relatively stress-free, but I have never asked them!
This month sees two important days in the Church's Calendar – Ascension Day (on Thursday 17th May) marking the return of our Lord to heaven after his resurrection appearances on earth and also Pentecost (on 27h May) when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Apostles.
That same Spirit, God continues to pour generously upon his people today. In this parish, there is abundant evidence of our Heavenly Father's generosity towards us. We must not fail to give him thanks and also we must continue to be faithful to the call of the Gospel. Some will be able to share that Gospel with others by means of eloquent words, but all of us proclaim what we believe by the way in which we live our lives and treat others. Actions often speak louder than words – and people are watching. The life of a faithful Christian is always attractive to others.
Martin Fredriksen
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