November 2001

Text for the month:

9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and
though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which
was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed
in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent,
nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made
his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the
Father, full of
grace and truth.
  John 1:9-14 (NIV)

Thought for the month:

What can I give him. Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb.
If I were a wise man. I would do my part.
Yet what I can I give him, give my heart.        Christina Rosetti
(1830-1894)

Letter from the Vicar

Dear Friends

I came across recently the results of a computerised survey of the traits of the perfect vicar. They
included the following characteristics:

Preaches for exactly twenty minutes and includes all the Bible has to say on the sermon subject.
Condemns everybody's sins except yours and never says anything anyone might disagree with.
Works from six am to midnight and gets eight hours sleep and stays healthy. Is also the cleaner
after each service. Prepares sermons every week for forty years and never repeats an idea, an
illustration or a joke. Earns 100 a week, wears good clothes, buys good books, drives a new car
and gives 50 a week from his own salary to the poor. Is thirty-eight years old and has been in the
ministry for twenty-five years. Half of their hair is youthful and the other half is grey to give them
that distinguished look. Has a burning desire to work with teenagers and spends all his time with
senior citizens.
Is a close friend to every church member.
Smiles all the time with a straight face because he has a sense of humour which keeps him
seriously dedicated to his work. Makes fifteen visits a day to church families, and visits all the sick
every day. Spends all of his time evangelising and is always in the office when you need him. He
has four children that never get in trouble and a wife who cooks cordon bleu like Delia Smith, has
written books on prayer like Joyce Huggett and looks like Madonna without making anyone else
jealous.

I hope you find the results of the survey amusing. They certainly amuse me. However, they do
reveal an interesting misunderstanding of what a church should really be, which I would like to
share with you briefly.

In a few days time we shall once again be celebrating Christmas. We celebrate with the beauty of
the carols and the joy of giving and receiving presents. But as Christians we celebrate most of all
that at the first Christmas God revealed himself in the person of Jesus Christ. To put this in modern
jargon, at the first Christmas God "became personal".

The scriptures reveal how God had revealed himself in many ways in the Old Testament, through
the Law, the Prophets and the beauty of such writings as the Psalms and the Proverbs. But in
Jeremiah chapter 31 we read these important words:

 "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of
Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I
was a husband to them," declares the LORD. 33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of
Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their
hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of
them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember
their sins no more."

This was a prophecy pointing towards the arrival of Christ. His arrival on earth brought a new
relationship with God. We can know his forgiveness for all our sins. We can be refreshed by his
teaching. We can be enlivened by his peace and joy. But most importantly of all, Christmas is all
about that important word "IMMANUEL" meaning "God is with us".

Put simply, Christmas reminds us that not only did God come to earth in the person of his son
Christ, not only did he choose to become personal two thousand years ago, but he is also available
today. That means that whenever each of us calls upon him in prayer he can be there with us
today, for he is the God who chooses to be with us in our experiences of life, however easy or
hard they may be. This comes as great comfort to the clergy who of course cannot be everywhere
all of the time, whatever some folks' expectations may be! Thankfully, each member of every
Church can go straight to God in prayer, without the need for the priest there every time, because
we know that God is with us all of the time, wherever we may be.

Incidentally, that does not excuse me of my role as your vicar! I do visit a number of people in the
parish regularly and if you ever wish me to bring communion round to you or simply to visit you
please just let me know and I will visit.

Finally, my prayer is that you will know Christ's peace and joy this Christmas and into the New
Year, for you and all your loved ones, and we do hope to see you in the coming weeks at one of
our services.

In Christ              

Simon Tillotson