“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. “
John 15:13 (NRSVA)

It’s been a real joy since I arrived with you nearly two months ago to worship in all of the churches and to begin the process of getting to know you all. As I write I’ve been in post now for nearly six weeks and a lot has happened. It’s scary to think that we’re already nearly at Christmas!
But between then and now we have our season of remembering and our season of Advent. November is always a significant time in the church year when we remember those who have died. Over the past couple of weeks we have held our All Souls, or Memorial, services in each of our four churches. At these services we remembered all those who have had funerals in our churches over the last twelve months, as well as those who are requested in each church. If you missed it this year, look out for details of next year’s services—they are always held at the end of October or the beginning of November. Everyone is welcome to these ser-vices whether the loved one you are remembering died recently or many years ago.
Remembering those who have gone before us is a really important thing for us to do. Remembering the things they’ve done for us, the things we’ve learned from them and that everything we do today is built upon the work and the prayers of those who have gone before us. And we in our turn are laying more foundations for future generations to come.
Perhaps the most poignant part of our season of remembering is our annual Remembrance Sunday services around the benefice. (See opposite for details of the service times). The freedoms we take for granted now were won by the sacrifice of many men, women and children. We remember their sacrifice and pray that never again will such sacrifices be required so we continue to pray for peace in our world. These services of Remembrance are not about glorying in victory but remembering the hardships the struggles and the sacrifices everyone affected experienced as a result of the conflict. Peace takes work, hard work and as churches we need to be people who seek to build peace in everything we say and do.
May God’s peace dwell in your hearts in everything you say and do this season of remembrance.
With love and prayers
Diane
Revd Diane Komorowski (Associate Vicar)