From the Minister

Remembering

November is a month when we do quite a lot of remembering.

Of course, there is Remembrance Sunday, when we remember those who have given their lives in war and conflict. And its important that we continue to ‘Remember them’. But I suspect most of us have other people we remember too. Family members, friends, people who have been part of our lives and who are no longer with us.

And sometimes remembering can be quite a strange thing: Something quite ordinary can suddenly bring a memory to mind. A song, a photograph, a place, or even something someone used to say.

But is that all there is to remembering?

A few weeks ago, at our Shoebox Dedication Service, I found myself thinking about remembering in a slightly different way:

We had all those shoeboxes, and blankets gathered at the front of church. People had spent time choosing things, filling boxes, knitting etc, then bringing them along to church. We prayed for them and dedicated them to God; and then off they went on their journey.

We won't ever know who receives them, we won't know what their reaction is, or what difference that little box might make to them. – Yet in some way these are people that we have ‘remembered’! We don't always get to see the results of what we do.

You see, over the last few months we've been thinking about prayer, listening, joining in and taking the next step. So maybe November gives us a chance to stop for a moment and to ‘remember’ why all of this matters.

We are all part of a story that didn't begin with us.

There have been generations of people who have worshipped in our church building, prayed here, served here and shared their faith with others. Some of them we know about. Many of them we don't. They took their next steps, just as we are trying to take ours. And now it is our turn. One day, we too will be part of the church's history. I wonder what people will remember about us?

I hope they will remember that we were a church that welcomed people.

A church that prayed.

A church that was willing to listen.

A church that wasn't afraid to try something new.

And perhaps, most importantly, a church that tried to follow where God was leading.

We don't know exactly where that will take us. We don't need to.

Just like those shoeboxes, sometimes we simply have to do what we can, pray, and trust God with what happens next.

So this November, let’s remember all those who have gone before us, and also give thanks for them.

Then perhaps we can ask ourselves what we are going to pass on. Because we aren't just keeping the church going for ourselves.

We are part of something that began long before us — and, God willing, will continue long after us.

Rev Rick