Regular Items

FROM: The Vicarage

Torch bearers for Christ in our generation

“Let your light shine before all people that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” Saint Matthew 5:16

Dear friends,

What a significant year this is for St George’s. 2012 is our 180^th Birthday of the church opening in our community, beginning a Christian mission to pastorally care and support our community through personal tragedies and significant milestones; keeping the flag of faith flying through two world wars, depression, floods and developments. Each previous generation of our church has had its own challenges to respond to with the resources they had to hand. Looking at the records it’s clear St George’s has never been a rich church but what we have lacked in financially resources God has made up for in generously bringing into our congregation people with practical skills, love for their community and spiritual devotion. In the last few years God has blessed our church with many more new faces that have become firm friends in Christ, and as our numbers have grown so have the activities to welcome our parishioners into their local church, and take part in the new faith-building groups that are flourishing.

This year is a significant birthday for the church. Like previous generations before us, we have had to take responsibility for repairing St George’s. However I hope we will remember that the reason for this season of fundraising is to continue to develop this holy sanctuary for local people, a sacred place for fun and fellowship, to celebrate weddings and commemorate the passing of loved ones. For St George’s to be a spiritual hospital for the wounded in our community and a Christian lifeboat station to rescue those who are out of their depth in  the dangerous undercurrents of our age, to be a like a holy garden for all ages to be nurtured and blossom in the sunshine of God’s spirit.

This is an Olympic year for our country when a member of our congregation, Sarah Thomas, will be carrying the Olympic torch representing a new generation of people who are being recognised for all they do for their community. God has passed on to us as a congregation the torch of faith, the light of Christ. This honour and responsibility rests in our hands now for our generation to keep the light of Christ burning, bringing love, forgiveness and hope into the darkness, doubt, emptiness and despair that overshadows many in our community.

This is a great opportunity to reach out to our whole parish, all 7000 people who are within our care, so let’s take these fundraising events as an opportunity to reach out a little wider into our streets to those we recognise but don’t really know. This could be the opportunity they have been waiting for as you invite them to a tea party, or special service. The torch of faith is in our hands – let us be ready to pass it on, stronger and brighter.    

Murray McBride, Vicar for St George’s