Dear friends,

I am quite a morbid character – it did not help that when I was young and in my formative years my mum and dad were tracing our family tree and we would spend part of our holidays in Scotland looking round graveyards. I find it interesting reading gravestones and seeing how people want to be remembered.

There is the famous memorial of James Maurice Butler “Sacred to the memory of Captain Maurice James Butler accidentally shot by his batman on 4th April 1882. Well done thou good and faithful servant”

Many gravestones will relate to a person`s occupation.

How do we want to be remembered?

Will people remember us as Christians demonstrating the fruits and gifts of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

We are all created in the image of God – will people remember us as being Christlike – loving God and others?

I want Micah 6 v 8 on mine. What does the Lord require of you, to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Dad wants a verse from Philemon “He warmed the hearts of the Saints.”

What I also want is “Well done thou good and faithful servant” Matthew 25.21

Remembering and being remembered is so important.

Memory is part of what makes us human.

October and November are months filled with remembrance. At the start of October we had our Animal Blessing service – the church this year was filled with dogs. It was a sad time for some as they remembered animals that have previously attended but are no longer around. For those who have never lost an animal, it is hard to understand the depth of loss people can feel. Our cat died in May 2022 We do however still talk about her and keep her memory alive.

Then at our All Souls Service of Commemoration, we remembered those who have died. During the service Alec read out the names of those who have died. It is helpful to remember, to speak into the silence the personal name of someone we have loved, and who has died. It helps to keep the memory alive, it helps to remind us - because of course God doesn’t need reminding -, but it helps to remind us of our duty to be the living biography of the people whose lives have intersected and intertwined with ours. This was one of the comments following the death of Queen Elizabeth, that our lives should reflect hers with regard to faith and acts of service being her continued legacy.

On the 12h November we have Remembrance Sunday where we remember all those who have died in wars, preserving our freedom. “At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.” The Spanish American writer, George Santayana said “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” - that is why it is so important that we remember each year those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. This year we will also not doubt think of the many who have died following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and for the lives lost in the Middle East.

In the Bible Moses told the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land to always remember God`s faithfulness.

On the cross one of the thieves asked Jesus to remember him.

Each time we have communion, “Do this in remembrance of me”, we remember the life, death and resurrection of Christ. No matter how we are feeling at the moment we need to remember that God will never forget us. He has each of our names tattooed on the palms of his hands. A simple Bible text to remember is “God is Love” and we need to repeat that to ourselves so that it is engraved on our hearts.

So continue to make memories and keep remembering that you are loved, more than you can ever imagine, by a God who is with you always

Love Christina