From the Vicar_February 2012
February 16, 2012
Dear Friends in the Parish and beyond,
Those of you who come to services at the church will know that we are having a series of sermons at present on "Modern Christians we can admire." It wasn't my suggestion - I wish I had thought of it! Seven people have offered or been cajoled into choosing people to speak on and their subjects have ranged all over the twentieth century: Canon Andrew White (chaplain in Baghdad at present), Desmond Tutu, Amy Carmichael (who went as a missionary to India), Joni Eareckson Tada (paralysed after a swimming accident), C. S. Lewis etc.
What has struck me is the enormous pain that all of them have suffered at times, and which gives their stories authority and power. If they have a strong faith despite what they have gone through, that must encourage and challenge us.
I see the same thing in some people I know who are seriously ill or who have lost close relatives: a huge dignity and courage despite the pain they are going through.
Lent, which starts in February, is about Jesus beginning his time of ministry with 40 days of harsh living and having his faith tested. And, of course, his few years of ministry led on to the cross. Our Christian faith isn't about the tinsel of Christmas decorations or about smiles, happiness and pretty songs and hymns. It's about a God who meets us in the hardest times, who went through it himself, and who is there for us to hang on to. That's a real faith worth hanging on to!
With best wishes
Chris
P. S. To read our sermon series: Modern Christians we can admire, go to our sermons page to download them and read at your own leisure.
Those of you who come to services at the church will know that we are having a series of sermons at present on "Modern Christians we can admire." It wasn't my suggestion - I wish I had thought of it! Seven people have offered or been cajoled into choosing people to speak on and their subjects have ranged all over the twentieth century: Canon Andrew White (chaplain in Baghdad at present), Desmond Tutu, Amy Carmichael (who went as a missionary to India), Joni Eareckson Tada (paralysed after a swimming accident), C. S. Lewis etc.
What has struck me is the enormous pain that all of them have suffered at times, and which gives their stories authority and power. If they have a strong faith despite what they have gone through, that must encourage and challenge us.
I see the same thing in some people I know who are seriously ill or who have lost close relatives: a huge dignity and courage despite the pain they are going through.
Lent, which starts in February, is about Jesus beginning his time of ministry with 40 days of harsh living and having his faith tested. And, of course, his few years of ministry led on to the cross. Our Christian faith isn't about the tinsel of Christmas decorations or about smiles, happiness and pretty songs and hymns. It's about a God who meets us in the hardest times, who went through it himself, and who is there for us to hang on to. That's a real faith worth hanging on to!
With best wishes
Chris
P. S. To read our sermon series: Modern Christians we can admire, go to our sermons page to download them and read at your own leisure.
Posted by Sarah Smith.
I'm originally from Zimbabwe and taught for a few years in South Africa after coming to university in the UK. After university I went off to teach English in Paraguay, with the South American Missionary Society. I had a great three years there and met and married Kathy in 1985. Kathy is British but was working as a missionary at the same school. Our daughter Joy was born there, in Asuncion. Then we went off to Spain for a couple of years, again working with the church, and our son, Patrick, was born there, in Alicante. After all my Missionary work, I was ordained in England in 1992, and we have been in Aylesford for four years.
