Vicar's Message for November

Dear Friends

Lest we forget

These words have become synonymous with the commemoration of war but the phrase was first coined in a poem by Rudyard Kipling to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897.

The passage of time changes the way in which we use words and phrases and how we look at things. We remember people and places differently with the progress of time, our perspectives and perceptions alter.

November is a month that we often find to be very busy with many things to be involved with at this time. Amongst other things we mark Remembrance and, increasingly, as we prepare for and celebrate Christmas which, talking of perspectives and perceptions, seems to arrive earlier each year!

November is often referred to as 'the month of remembrance' largely, and particularly importantly, because it is the time when we remember all those people who have suffered or died as a result of wars and conflicts. We have our parish Remembrance Services on 9th November. The month is also the time when many Christians and churches call to mind all those who have gone before us from this world. Many of those who we remember personally will be those family or friends who we have known and loved and who have had special influences on our lives.

Other than Remembrance Sunday this year on the 9th and Armistice Day on the 11th the month also gives us All Saints’ Day on the 1st and All Souls’ Day on 2nd. These last two dates have much in common for they both offer the opportunity to remember people who provide particular inspiration. They may be people who have been recognised by the Church as great figures of the faith whose memory and example is regularly celebrated throughout the whole Church or they may be people who have inspired, supported and encouraged us more individually. Whichever it is, we should remember because it is through this, that we recall their examples, how they live on in our memories and how they help us to be better people.

With grace, peace and every blessing

Paul

Revd Canon K Paul Arthur

Priest in Charge of Par, Charlestown, Treverbyn and St Blaise