Dear friends,I have many heroes and heroines and one of them is Nadia Bolz-Weber. Nadia is aLutheran Pastor from Denver. If you“google”her, you will see a trendy tattooedwoman with an interesting past. Her language can be choice, she can offend, butboy can she preach. She set up a church called “the Church of Saints andSinners”which offers welcome to all. She shares God`s love to those on the marginsand shows that the Good News of Jesus is inclusive.Nadia recently reflected on the Beatitiudes in Matthew 5. In the Beatitudes, Jesuslavishly blessed those who were around him on the hillside, people that the societyof the day did not have much time for. Perhaps Jesus was blessing the ones aroundhim who wouldn`t otherwise receive a blessing. She therefore re-imagined them forpeople of today.Blessed are the agnostics. Blessed are they who doubt. Those who aren’t sure, whocan still be surprised.Blessed are those who have nothing to offer. Blessed are they for whom nothingseems to be working..Blessed are the poor in spirit. You are of heaven and Jesus blesses you.Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are they for whomdeath is not an abstraction. Blessed are they who have buried their loved ones, forwhom tears could fill an ocean.Blessed are they who have loved enough to know what loss feels like.Blessed are they who don’t have the luxury of taking things for granted any more.Blessed are they who can’t fall apart because they have to keep it together foreveryone else.Blessed are the motherless, the alone, the ones from whom so much has beentaken.Blessed are they who laughed again when for so long they thought they neverwould. You are of heaven and Jesus blesses you.Nadia aims to turn the world upside down – like the early church.We are fast approaching Lent so why don`t we do something unconventional.Perhaps rather than giving something up we could do something, perhaps leave ourcomfort zones, undertake random acts of kindness? I`m open to ideas.Whatever we do, let`s make sure we bless others.Love Christina
From the VicarWriting this letter in the immediate aftermath of the general election, and in the last weekbefore Christmas, and looking forward to the coming year, I am very conscious of the rangeof feelings and emotions which people across the parish, and country, will be experiencing.In the run up to the general election the Archbishops of Canterbury and York wrote apastoral letter encouraging members of all churches to “...set aside apathy and cynicism andto be people of hope” and also, as each of us is called to honour the gift of truth, that thisshould be done “...with humility and in love.” In their letter the Archbishops make the pointvery clearly that those who hold different political views from our own are not “...ourenemies” and remind us all that taking part in the democratic process is a “privilege and aresponsibility” and that as Christians we should be guided by a “love for our neighbours,near and far, and seek the common good that truly benefits us all.”I know I really appreciated the wisdom and thoughtfulness of the Archbishops’ letter, and aswe look forward to the New Year and all that it will bring, it is my earnest prayer that weshould all continue to heed the wise words of Justin and John. As citizens we do of coursediffer in our political persuasions, but as Christians we are all united in our faith and in ourlove and respect for our fellow citizens, however much we may disagree with thempolitically. Our shared faith brings us together in a way that transcends ideology and dogma,race, class and creed – it is no accident that some of Jesus’ most powerful teachings aredrawn from examples of relationships between groups of people traditionally seen as beingopposed to each other – Jews and Samaritans most famously in the case of “the goodneighbour”. In a different way this is what each one of us is called to do and to be – goodneighbours to all around us, loving and caring for all, especially the most disadvantaged inour society, but also those with whom we disagree the most.The Archbishops end their letter in these words: “Let us be filled with hope and call on Himwho is the ever- present guardian and final judge in our nation and in our politics.” As thewise men were led to the infant Messiah by the light of the star, so may we all, in thisseason of Christmas and Epiphany and in the coming year, continue to be led by Christ andto walk always in his marvellous light, which dispels all darkness from our hearts and minds.May God bless each one of us richly in this coming month and year.The Revd Alec Brown.
