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
Graham Usher, the Bishop of Norwich and the Church of England’s lead bishop for the environment, and Olivia Graham, the Bishop of Reading, have spoken at the conclusion of COP.In a statement they said: "At COP we called for keeping global warming to below 1.5 degrees, ending fossil fuel subsidies, and securing finance for the world's most vulnerable people who are already effected by climate breakdown. “Progress was made in all these areas, plus cutting methane emissions and halting deforestation. We were particularly inspired to hear powerful testimonies from young people and representatives of indigenous peoples.“We pay tribute to the work of Alok Sharma MP, the COP26 President, and his team.“Negotiations always have some compromises and disappointments. These impact the world’s economically poorest the most. We must now keep up the moral pressure so that pledges are urgently turned into measurable action. “The whole world needs to do more for climate justice. More quickly. More generously. More together. During its presidency year, the UK can be a key player.“And this includes all of us within the Church of England. “At Glasgow, the world glimpsed the possibility of a hopeful future. Hurting God’s creation and contributing to the suffering of God’s poorest people is not the ‘love God and your neighbour’ that Jesus commands of us.“COP showed us the unity of purpose people of faith can bring. This encouragement should reignite in all of us hope for our future.”
The Church of England’s first Head of its new Growing Faith Foundation has been announced as Lucy Moore.Lucy (see photo) is a secondary school teacher by training who in 2004 began Messy Church. Originally a Fresh Expression in a church near Portsmouth, Messy Church now has more than 3,500 settings in over 30 countries.The Growing Faith Concept began in 2019 to promote partnership between the church, school and household to encourage and nurture Christian faith in those of all ages within those communities.This has resulted in a number of initiatives at diocesan and parish level, and a major series of ‘Faith at Home’ video resources, which were widely used during Covid-19 lockdown, including as Collective Worship for the Oak National online Academy.The new Foundation will seek to build on and expand this work, and to be a strategic lead across the Church of England to grow a younger church and increase engagement with children and families in different settings. The role is part-funded by a generous grant from AllChurches Trust.The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said: “We’re delighted that Lucy will bring her considerable gifts and experience to the important work of setting up the Growing Faith Foundation, which goes to the heart of the Church of England’s aim to grow younger and more diverse.“Growing Faith has already become a key concept for engaging younger people in the home, at school and in church, and this is an exciting time as we develop resource through the Foundation, with the aim of helping more young people to encounter Jesus Christ.”During her work with Messy Church at BRF, Lucy has written many books and been responsible for developing the work of the initiative nationally and internationally. She is part of the Leadership Community of Fresh Expressions, a member of the College of Evangelists and has previously been a member of General Synod. Commenting on her appointment, Lucy Moore said: “I’m thrilled to be given the opportunity to take on this role within a movement that’s already been active for several years to be even more of a blessing to the under-16s in our communities and to be blessed by them in return.“Every church longs to be as hospitable as Jesus himself to those who don’t yet belong. We’ve seen first-hand what new life and energy pours into a local church when we get that hospitality right, so I’m confident that together we will make a difference. “I’m looking forward to meeting awesome people, lots of listening, lots of ideas-sharing across different traditions and contexts, lots of excitement as new opportunities are noticed and acted on. “The Growing Faith Foundation will do its level best to help all parishes be even better at helping everyone meet, love and follow Jesus, especially those under the age of 16.” The Church of England's Chief Education Officer, Nigel Genders, said: "The Growing Faith Foundation will build on the success of the Church of England Foundation for Educational Leadership and be rooted in our vision for education as we aim to catalyse a culture of instinctive engagement with children, young people and households. As part of the Education and Growing Faith team Lucy will also ensure strong links with the wider vision and strategy work of the Church of England."We are excited to be welcoming Lucy as a colleague, and look forward to all she will bring to the role as Head of the Growing Faith Foundation."Lucy will start her new role in February 2022.
