January 2009

VICAR: The Revd. Martin Fredriksen Tel: 694109

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

FROM THE VICAR: A lot of our memories of 2008 will be personal, but as a nation we will perceive it as having been a year of up and downs - financial disasters, yet more warfare and violence in the world, and much more besides.

In one sense, the beginning of a New Year is an artificial division - January begins after the last day of December, with one day simply following another, just as they have done since the beginning of Creation. But we use the 1st of January as a time to look forward and make resolutions for a better future - and joke about it when those resolutions make it no further than January 2nd!

Underlying it all, is our growing used to things that are wrong, and a resignation that things are not going to change for the better. The comment that many of us make that, 'That is how things are nowadays and although we don't like it, we have to put up with it.' is really a cop out. We have absorbed an attitude that makes all the problems of the world, someone else's fault. It is rare to hear a politician or someone who works in the national media say, 'I'm sorry - I got it wrong - and a lot of people were hurt by my actions.'

Our Patron, Saint John the Baptist, came with a bold message, 'Repent! - for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.' Repentance means turning round, forsaking the past and having a total change of heart. It is not a 'block' thing - it is something that each individual must do for themselves - but also reaps benefits for everyone.

For those of us who make regular use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (which used to be called 'Going to Confession';) - an integral part of Orthodox and Roman Catholic practice, as well as being encouraged in the Anglican Tradition in the Book of Common Prayer - we have the opportunity to ask forgiveness for the past, make a resolution to do better in the future, and importantly to know that we begin with a clean slate in God's sight.

However we may choose to begin the New Year is up to each one of us, but may I commend to you, making our own resolutions a central part of our daily prayers?

Things do not have to go on as before, unless we let them. They are not always someone else's problem. Think positively - pray meaningfully - and give thanks when these prayers are answered!

A Happy New Year to you all!

Martin Fredriksen.

 

Archived sermons :

2010 - January, February, March, April, May, June, July

2009 - January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2008 - January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2007 - January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December