| Saint Mary's Church, Saffron Walden | |||||||
|
What's on Grapevine News Marriages and Baptisms Who's Who Groups Photos Links Young People Homework Help Parish Profile History
|
Home Contact Calendar Help at Special Times Music Services Sermons
March 2010 The Rector writes: Dear Friends Truth put on his rather drab clothes and headed off for the market place. When he got there, he tried to interest people but struggled to get their attention. What Truth said was clearly right, yet no one would listen. After another day of facing disinterest and sometimes outright rejection, he plodded home, feeling slightly depressed. As Truth passed the Common, his attention was attracted to a large crowd gathered on the grass. In order to satisfy his curiosity, he wandered over towards them. A woman dressed in a very brightly arrayed and voluminous coat had everyone transfixed. Truth began to listen and felt, almost instantly, drawn by what she was saying. With others, he laughed, cried and learnt new things. After she had finished and the crowd dispersed, Truth lingered hoping to have a word with this mysterious woman. She smiled warmly as he approached, “Who are you?” he asked nervously. “Story,” she replied. From this tentative beginning, they became firm friends. They were, in fact, close neighbours. Now when Truth goes to town, he attracts vast audiences. Standing in that beautiful, multi-coloured garment, people hang on his every word. As you may have heard: you will often find Truth wrapped up in a Story. One kind of story is the biography. Andrew Malcolm’s unfolding story is approaching a significant milestone, retirement. As we journey with him over the next few weeks, we celebrate a life of music and worship, and are deeply grateful for all he has contributed to the life of St. Mary’s Church and beyond. Besides rejoicing with Andrew, we also experience the poignancy of an ending. It is important with transition points that we mark them properly. Consequently, there will be opportunities to express our gratitude to Andrew and to register our accompanying sense of loss. Alongside our preparations for Andrew’s final Sunday as our Director of Music and Organist, Easter Day, we move on to the next stage of the recruitment process for his successor. The interviews for those short-listed are on 19-20 March. I should be very grateful if you would continue to pray about this vitally important appointment. From Palm Sunday through to Good Friday, we will follow the Passion narrative. At the beginning, we will recall again the adulation as Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey. We conclude with the desolation of his crucifixion. On the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week this year, there will be a particular focus on the rich Biblical theme of “The Passover.” The Old Testament account of the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery and bondage in Egypt, remembered annually by Jewish people in a meal, is key to understanding the gospel accounts of Jesus’ death. On Monday, we will celebrate a Passover supper together in the parish rooms. (There are a limited number of spaces, so do sign up as soon as you know that you want to come.) On the next two days, Bishop Derek and I, respectively, will lead a Bible Study on this important topic, followed by Compline, Night Prayer. Each year, as we relive these seminal events for the Christian faith, we are invited to allow ourselves to be drawn more deeply into the Paschal mystery, the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus. The offer is for our stories, our lives, to be woven more tightly with the Truth, the eternal life of Jesus. As we participate more fully in Christ’s life, we are better able to let every event, all that happens to us, become an opportunity for growth in holiness. Stepping-stones to spiritual maturity are to be found for us individually and in our common life in the beginnings and endings, the dying and rising, we experience in the midst of life. In this season of Lent, and particularly in Holy Week, let us echo the words of St. Paul with increasing conviction: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings.” (Philippians 3:10) With love David Tomlinson
December 2009/ January 2010 letter
|
||||||
