Looking at this week's Newsletter, with its many stories of all sorts of events and activities in Tittensor, there were common themes.  Whether we were looking at a funeral, the delight of being together for tea, food and a natter at the Summer Café, the quiet celebration of a wonderful marriage to a much-missed husband or the donation of large sum raised for a local charity, those themes could be seen.  They were thanks, generosity, fellowship and love.  The love was that which comes from the deepest core of a human being, the love that says 'Your presence in my life has made me so thankful and I wish the best for you in every single way'.

That love doesn't just mean person-to-person; it can be for a person, a group, a pet, a garden, or even the whole of creation, as Freda Bishop was describing in last Sunday's worship at St Luke's.  It was a rewarding experience when the congregation was invited out into the churchyard for prayer, quiet meditation and to look, hear, smell and listen to the wonders in that small area.  People being people, love also appeared in those who sat together on a bench, wondered at the flowers and, as ever, chatted about everything under the sun (and it was sunny!).

It was that love that Jesus offered to the world, in his own time on earth and to the rest of us for all eternity.  It was a love that survived temptation, assault, humiliation, false accusations and eventually a cruel death at the hands of angry people.  That love shines through in the Gospels and has changed the hearts and minds of millions, from small children to pagan emperors.

It was a generous love, offered without price to everyone.  On Sundays, we give thanks for that love.  Perhaps we should do that more often.  Amen.