Dear friends,  one of the joys of being a Vicar is baptising babies and even though I have baptised many over the years, I have never lost the     wonder and joy of holding new life and sharing in a family’s thanksgiving to God for the gift of their child.  Very often those being baptised are very young and it is very moving to think of the life that lies ahead for the child.  In a fast changing world it is hard to imagine what the world will look like in ten never mind eighty years time!  I also wonder about the world we are handing over to our children and our children’s children.  In many ways we are blessed with a far better quality of life than our grandparents but in other ways we take the world for granted.  You only have to think of climate change and the issues around plastic we face as a world.

On Remembrance Sunday 10th November we shall again pause as a country to give thanks and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.  Looking back I am sure all those involved in war were hoping and praying that the loss of life, sacrifice and horror would lead to a new world order and peace.  Sadly, this has never been the case and wars and unrest in some place or another across the globe are never far from our television screens.

Wars have continued to rage in one form or another since the two great wars and blood stains the books that chart the course of human history.  When one watches the news or reads a newspaper it would be so easy to think ‘what can I do? or ‘what impact can my life and  actions have on the world stage?

There’s a lovely story of two little boys walking along a beach after a storm and the beach is covered in thousands of stranded starfish They are overwhelmed by the numbers of starfish and do not know what to do until one of the boys picks up a starfish and throws it into the sea.  The other boy remarks ‘you’ll never make a difference? whilst peering at the thousands left on the beach and then the other boy replies ‘well, I just made a difference to that one!’

No matter how insignificant we may feel on the world stage we can all play a part with God’s help in building a better world.  This can be through prayer and being available to help and support those who cross our paths.

On Remembrance Sunday, on 10th November at 10am,  we will hold a service of Remembrance with Holy Communion at St Peter’s and during our time together there will be the opportunity to walk to the War Memorial in the old churchyard to read the names out of those who paid the ultimate    sacrifice.  On Remembrance Sunday we not only look back at the past but pledge ourselves to build a better world.  Please do consider joining us at any services and social events over November.    

I leave you with the prayer ‘Commitment to Peace’ which we will say together on Remembrance Service:

Let us pledge ourselves today to live as good neighbours,

to honour the past, to care for all who are in need,

and to live at peace among ourselves and with all people.

Lord God, Father of all,

We pledge ourselves

To serve you and this neighbourhood,

To bring relief to all those who are in need,

and comfort to the sad, lonely and distressed;

Keep us ever mindful of the struggles

and achievements of former generations,

and of this place where we make our home,

now, and in the days to come.  Amen.

Take care and God Bless,

Glenn

Vicar of Stanley, Outwood and Wrenthorpe, and Priest in charge of St Paul’s Alverthorpe

Dear Friends,

You do not need me to tell you that Brexit has dominated our political life as a nation for well over three years now.  Looking back to when the referendum took place in June 2016 there was a real sense that things would be done and dusted in a comparatively short time. How wrong that has turned out and as time has passed and deadlines have come and gone the rhetoric and debates and language surrounding Brexit has taken a turn for the worse.  However and whenever the country leaves the European Union, we will be faced with serious  challenges to what it now means to be British together.  There are many different political views on political priorities and actions.  The key is how we agree to disagree and move forward as a nation loving one another and working for unity.

In the meantime as we journey towards the 31st October, we bring before God the questions and the challenges currently facing the UK.  We remember the burden our parliamentary representatives carry especially in the light of the death of Jo Cox, a local MP and the strong views being expressed in some quarters. 

I would like to leave you with Archbishop Justin Welby’s comment: ‘Join me in praying for MPs their families and staff, across all parties at this difficult time, especially those who face unacceptable abuse and intimidation.  We must model good disagreement in our debates, and show respect and support for those in public service’

I offer this prayer produced by the Church of England at this time for your own personal prayers:

A Prayer for the Nation

God of hope,
in these times of change,
unite our nation,
and guide our leaders with your wisdom.
Give us courage to overcome our fears,
and help us to build a future
in which all may prosper and share.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rev Glenn Coggins:  Vicar of Stanley, Outwood and Wrenthorpe, and Priest in charge of St Paul’s, Alverthorpe.