August 2008

VICAR: The Revd. Martin Fredriksen Tel: 694109

PARISH OFFICE (Mondays to Fridays 9.30am - Noon) Tel: 697641

FROM THE VICAR: Violence and aggression show themselves in many different ways. The escalation in fatal stabbings and shootings even over the course of this year is clearly evident. Excess alcohol – not helped by 24 hour opening of licensed premises – sometimes causes people to act in ways that are contrary to their nature and can end in confrontation.

People drive their vehicles far more aggressively than they used to and people are often extremely rude to staff in shops and banks. Our own community experiences many of these things and unless we are careful could degenerate into the lawlessness that we read about elsewhere – it is only a matter of degree and part of the root cause is selfishness.

The Church is not immune either – many of its members at home and in other parts of the world are certain of their own right-ness and condemn others who do not agree with them. God does not always do things in the way that we would like, but I am certain that he does not put one brother or sister against another. One point of view may be right and another wrong, but do we ever consider that both may be wrong, and that God has a totally different answer?

and only that answer will be the right one!

I feel that we need to listen to God more, before we pontificate about our own rightness and that we should consider more carefully the effect that our behaviour has on other people.

It is easy to feel superior, but when I reflect upon some of the characters that our Lord Jesus used in his service – like the impetuous Peter, and the former lady of relaxed virtue, Mary Magdalene just for a start – then I am inclined to think again about my own position! They achieved great things, but not through their own righteousness.

Martin Fredriksen.

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