Dear Friends,
This Sunday marks the time of year when we remember those who have given so much of themselves, often to the detriment of their own earthly lives.
To give body, mind and soul, to the service of God, is something that we often think of as the remit of others, far more worthy and useful to God’s service than ourselves. Indeed there are many examples of people who have given everything, including their lives for the service of God. We look upon these people, down throughout the ages as martyrs and sometimes even more elevated as Saints. When we do this, it is with a reasoning that ‘we’ could never do what they have done, and that is probably true to some extent.
There is however, another type of person we refer to as a Saint, a person who also gives their life to a cause, not this time in blood, but in generous life long service. Service to the church, service to the community, service to all of God’s children without distinction. Mother Theresa for example gave her life as service to the poor and destitute of Calcutta.
In our world today we can see Saints all around us. They may not necessarily be outwardly promoting a Christian faith but they quietly work for the benefit of all Gods Children regardless of Ethnicity, Gender, Age or Socio-Economic status. These are our doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals and care-workers. People who have put their own lives at risk over the last 9 months to care for those in need. Many have indeed lost their lives through their calling. We owe them a great debt of gratitude for the work they have done and the work they are about to do again!
Saints live among us now in each and everyone of our communities. Let us thank God for them, and do our best to keep them safe in their work by being sensible and safe in all we now do in our work and lives
May God be with you all in these difficult days.
The Walesby Group, set into the north western edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds, consists of 10 parishes, 10 worshipping communities and 11 church buildings. With a population of around 2100 we are a benefice of very small communities, living in the vast open spaces of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As worshipping communities we aim to grow ourselves in our faith and discipleship, support and engage with our local communities and bring new people to Christ.
We are blessed with beautiful buildings and faithful commitment from our congregations. As the group continues to integrate together, we are being enabled to offer a variety of worship and outreach styles. Lay ministry and leadership is key to all we offer, and encouraged as we endeavour to open the Kingdom and its values to all.
The Christian faith is focused on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. We also believe his death achieved something very special: the opportunity to reconnect with the God that we might believe in but might sometimes feel remote from.
We believe that Jesus was not just a human being but, in some way that we cannot fully understand, God as well. We believe in God the Father, the creator of the entire universe, and the Holy Spirit, who is the way we can experience Jesus today. Not three gods but one, who together are described as the ‘Trinity’ – a description not so much of philosophy but of the relationship at the heart of God.
In the most famous Christian prayer we pray ‘Our Father…’ This creator God wants a relationship with us, for us to be his children and to give us, as Jesus says, ‘life in all its fulness’ (John 10.10).
