The Church of England’s national assembly approved a Leeds Diocesan Motion calling on all political parties to adopt an ‘explicit policy’ of reducing the gap between rich and poor. Synod members further voted to redouble efforts by the Church of England both at national and local level to respond to need through social action and to tackle ‘unjust structures’ that contribute to the wealth gap.Speaking to the General Synod, Father Paul Cartwright, from the Diocese of Leeds, said living costs were rising and real terms disposable income decreasing for the poorest families. “We cannot expect to be able to write social or fiscal policy on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government, or even eradicate the wealth gap,” he said.“But what we can be is that genuine voice which speaks about the injustice of such a gap, a gap that leads to reduced opportunity for so many in our country.”“We can hold up the mirror to those who maybe can’t see what’s staring them in the face.”Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, told the Synod: “We make no apology for having a big vision of the worth of every human being. “We make no apology for holding ourselves and others to account for this scandal which I now see so clearly in the communities I am privileged to serve.” Revd Alex Frost, a priest in Burnley, Lancashire, whose work raising awareness of food poverty received widespread publicity last year, told Synod members that it was the job of Christians to ‘tell the story’ of those living in poverty.“It is our job to bring the voice of the homeless and those in poverty to people who don’t know,” he said.The Leeds Diocesan Motion was approved by 342 members with three recorded abstentions and two objections.
Sally’s funeral will take place next Monday, November 22. There will be a family-only funeral at Guildford Crematorium followed by a service of thanksgiving for Sally’s life at Dunsfold Church at noon. All are welcome. After this service David invites everyone in attendance to join him and his family at the Winn Hall for a reception.We will be operating a park and ride service from the Winn Hall from 11.15am to reduce the number of cars parking at church. For those of you unable to attend in person, arrangements are being made to broadcast the service via livestream - https://schmittat.uk/live/2021-11-22-sr/ This link will also remain open for viewing. In lieu of flowers, should you wish to make a charity donation, David suggests either Parkinson’s UK or the World Cancer Research Fund, both of which held significance to Sally – you will find a Tribute page at -https://sallyrivett.muchloved.comSally wanted her ashes interred at Kiltearn in Scotland. The family plan to have a memorial event around the middle of next year and will share further details in due course. David said: “Thank you to those of you who have sent messages of condolence in recent days - your kind words are very much appreciated at this difficult time and I/we will acknowledge them appropriately in due course.”
In a message to the opening session of the 11th General Synod of the Church of England, Her Majesty described the pandemic as a period of “of anxiety, of grief, and of weariness”.The Queen noted how it had been particularly hard for people of faith, with unprecedented restrictions on public worship, but that the Church had adapted and continued its ministry, including in new ways such as digital worship.The message was delivered by His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex who attended the inaugural session of the new Synod, which was elected earlier this autumn, on behalf of The Queen.Her Majesty, who is Supreme Governor of the Church of England, also highlighted the “weighty responsibilities” and “difficult decisions” facing the members of Synod over their five-year term.Yet through it all, The Queen said she hoped they would be “strengthened with the certainty of the love of God, as you work together and draw on the Church’s tradition of unity in fellowship for the tasks ahead”.
In the land of my birth November is the month for Thanksgiving. This national holiday is the most important holiday in the year and in almost all places it is a ‘four day weekend’. Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth Thursday of November and it is the one holiday that people might ‘go home for’. Christmas by contrast is a time to visit friends or relatives who live nearby. Christmas, unlike Thanksgiving, is also a religious festival.Thanksgiving goes back to sometime in the 18th century and commemorates the first harvest the settlers from Europe managed – they finally sought, and took advice, from the indigenous people about which crops would grow in that area and how to make the land productive. In many families Thanksgiving takes on a religious character because thanks is given to God who provides. Many families today will, in their commemorations, also explore the issues of oppression and subjugation to which the indigenous peoples were subjected and in recognition of this seek to renew a commitment to honouring the dignity of all people.It’s a cliché – but I think bears repeating, that ‘gratitude is the right attitude’. Establishing an attitude means to practice something for long enough for it to become a habit and to be able to reflect of the positive benefits for ourselves. True gratitude is not a hollow gesture and is much more than simply saying ‘please and thank you’. The habit of gratitude is achieved when we look outwards and not inwards. We thank others for what they have done, or tried, because THEY did it, or they tried to do it. We don’t thank others only when we feel that WE have benefited in some way- that’s to look inwards. As people of faith we thank God daily in our prayers. Yes, for what God provides, but primarily simply because God is God. Jesus taught his friends to remind themselves in their prayers that God [God’s name] is holy.An attitude of gratitude is not necessarily easy. It requires practising when we may not feel as if we have received any direct benefit. It requires practising when someone hasn’t quite got it completely, but they really tried their best. It requires practising in our prayers as we seek to hear God speak to us.In Britain we may not have a ‘four day weekend’ to focus on Thanksgiving but as people of faith we have the most powerful starting point for our attitude of gratitude – which is to thank God for God’s love shown to us in Jesus Christ. As we approach Advent and recall the hopeful expectation of our faith ancestors may we be thankful people - not for any specific gift we’ve received – but just because ‘gratitude is the right attitude’.Dean Dianna
