Welcome to the
North Wiltshire Methodist Circuit
As I’m writing
this, there are just a few days left in October. The clocks have gone back, the
evenings are drawing in and after some particularly stormy weather over the
last week, it feels as though winter might finally be on its way.
At this time
of year, I always pause and take stock. I look back over the year that’s
drawing to a close and reflect on what’s gone well and the things that were not
so good. What were the celebrations and where were the losses? What are the
things I want to remember and the things I would rather forget? What were the
things that filled me with joy and what left me feeling drained? And perhaps
most importantly of all, where have I felt the presence of God? Perhaps you do
the same at this time of year.
November is
traditionally a time of remembrance. All Saints Day is a feast day celebrated
on 1st November. Since the 4th century AD, it has been a
day in the Christian calendar when we remember the saints and martyrs throughout
Christian history. Men and women in whose lives the grace of God has been powerfully
at work. It’s a day when perhaps we can stop and think about the people, who
throughout our lives have influenced and guided us on our Christian journey,
and to offer thanks to God for those who have encouraged us and nurtured our
Christian faith.
In November
we hold Remembrance Sunday services in our churches, and communities gather
together on 11th November for Armistice Day with the two-minute silence,
marking the time in 1918 at which the First World War came to an end. These are
the days on which we honour British and Commonwealth service members who died
in the First and Second World Wars and later conflicts, remembering those who
fought for our country and paid the price for our freedom.
At this time
of year, I often turn to Ecclesiastes Chapter 3. The words, seem to be poignant
in our fragile world, particularly the final verses about love, hate, war and
peace.
‘For
everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven: a time
to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is
planted; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to
build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to
dance; a time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones together; a time
to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek and a time to
lose; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to
sew; a time to keep silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to
hate; a time for war and a time for peace.’ (NRSV)
As we start
to think ahead towards Advent and Christmas, a time when we will be celebrating
the birth of the Christ child, November is perhaps a good time to pause and
remember the ultimate sacrifice that was made for us, the death of Jesus our
Saviour on the cross, so that we might have eternal life.
Deacon Tessa
Welcome to the
North Wiltshire Methodist Circuit
As I’m writing this, there are just a few days left in October. The clocks have gone back, the evenings are drawing in and after some particularly stormy weather over the last week, it feels as though winter might finally be on its way.
At this time of year, I always pause and take stock. I look back over the year that’s drawing to a close and reflect on what’s gone well and the things that were not so good. What were the celebrations and where were the losses? What are the things I want to remember and the things I would rather forget? What were the things that filled me with joy and what left me feeling drained? And perhaps most importantly of all, where have I felt the presence of God? Perhaps you do the same at this time of year.
November is traditionally a time of remembrance. All Saints Day is a feast day celebrated on 1st November. Since the 4th century AD, it has been a day in the Christian calendar when we remember the saints and martyrs throughout Christian history. Men and women in whose lives the grace of God has been powerfully at work. It’s a day when perhaps we can stop and think about the people, who throughout our lives have influenced and guided us on our Christian journey, and to offer thanks to God for those who have encouraged us and nurtured our Christian faith.
In November we hold Remembrance Sunday services in our churches, and communities gather together on 11th November for Armistice Day with the two-minute silence, marking the time in 1918 at which the First World War came to an end. These are the days on which we honour British and Commonwealth service members who died in the First and Second World Wars and later conflicts, remembering those who fought for our country and paid the price for our freedom.
At this time of year, I often turn to Ecclesiastes Chapter 3. The words, seem to be poignant in our fragile world, particularly the final verses about love, hate, war and peace.
‘For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to keep silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.’ (NRSV)
As we start to think ahead towards Advent and Christmas, a time when we will be celebrating the birth of the Christ child, November is perhaps a good time to pause and remember the ultimate sacrifice that was made for us, the death of Jesus our Saviour on the cross, so that we might have eternal life.
Deacon Tessa