The Church Wardens write…….. 

For All the Saints

At this period of the year we are reminded, not only of the Saints of the church calendar, many of whom are depicted in the beautiful stained glass windows of our lovely church, but of the lesser known saints, by whom we mean the many ordinary men and women who, having ‘fought the good fight’ on this earth, have gone on to share a fuller life with God. It is this great, invisible army of faithful souls, who make up the vast ‘Communion of Saints’ of which the Bible and Prayer Book speak.

It is necessary, however, in these days of loose thinking and ignorance of Christian teaching, to notice what the Church does not teach and the Bible does not promise in this matter. Nowhere does Christianity hold out the hope of eternal life for everybody, without regard to how they have lived and what they have done in their time on this earth

The exact opposite is the case. The glories of the life to come, as we are reminded over and over again, have to be earned. Membership of the saints is not open to all-comers, whether or not they have been believers. Many people will ask: ‘What difference does it make if we are Christians or not: whether we try to keep God’s Commandments or if we don’t? I can’t see one way or another.

The answer to that lies in the form of another question; How did the people of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union share the many decades of Communism and Marxist’s regimes to finally overcome this terrible nightmare?

Even today in many parts of the World such as China, Iran and the Horn of Africa region, Christians are being persecuted for their faith.

The answer clearly stated in the Gospel, is that it makes all the difference, not only in this world, but in the world to come.

What is more, it makes all the difference not for some time; but for all time – for ever.

These are truly the living saints.

Remembrance

Also this month, whilst praying and remembering all these saints, we must also remember the faithful men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice – their lives – in fighting for their countries, so that we who remain, live in peace and freedom.

On Sunday 13 November, ‘Remembrance Sunday’ we shall not only think of these people, but for those who have and are still suffering physical illness and pain, through the many wars and conflicts that have occurred and are still occurring, most recently in Iraq and Afghanistan. ‘We must never forget’.

Whilst never forgetting the past, we should also look to the future, and on Sunday 27 November we celebrate Advent – the beginning of a New Year in the Church’s long and eventful history, and reminding us of the Second Coming of Christ: in the clear light of Bible evidence, the Church has always taught the Christian people to look forward to the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time.

At the Second Coming of Christ, God will be manifestly seen to be stronger than the Devil, good being stronger than evil, and the righteous will receive their reward.

We must take courage however, from the Advent Gospel that Christ will win the last battle.

Gordon Berry and Colin Gregory