Not something we can do on our own
Faith belongs in a community
It’s been good this past week to have been with many of you. Thank you for making me so welcome.
Thank you too for Anna and Barbara who are so dedicated to making sure the parish continues true to its calling. Thank you for Emmy and her support of the parish using her gifts of administration.
My work is to encourage people with their ministry and gifts not only to the church but out in the community.
I understand that love, compassion and forgiveness are not to be kept as some treasures of the church but are gifts of God to be generously given away in all their fulness to people we encounter.
Maybe in time we will be open enough to notice how God’s gifts are given to us through even the most unexpected people in our wider community.
Have you noticed: Not I but We
Most of our prayer book uses the plural pronoun and not the singular ie. the word we use is "We" not "I", or "our" not "my", or "us" not "me". We see it plainly in the Lord's prayer.
It says "Our father" not "my father". It says "Give us our daily Bread" not "Give me my daily Bread". It says "Forgive us our sins" not "Forgive me my sins".
Church worship is the worship of a community we call the Body of Christ. Its not the worship of an individual. It asks of each one of us to become part of each other and recognise that faith is something we share. Faith is not something we can do on our own. It belongs in community. So it gains a greater strength and depth as we belong than it could ever do if we attempt to be a Christian on our own.
From the Vicar
We live in a society that has in many ways abandoned its traditional patterns of mourning.
A time to relax and to reflect on the efforts made by trade unions to get this balance.
God gives us shelter from both rain and sun and picks us up when we stumble
Parish Officers
Parish Governance
The executive team of Vicar, churchwardens and treasurer meet constantly on parish business.
Parish Groups
Worship leaders, lay readers, servers, ushers, greeters, flower arrangers, cleaners, counters, intercessors and cup bearers all join together to support the service.
From the Vicar
We live in a society that has in many ways abandoned its traditional patterns of mourning.
A time to relax and to reflect on the efforts made by trade unions to get this balance.
God gives us shelter from both rain and sun and picks us up when we stumble
Community Fair bringing affordable toys, books, china, vintage clothes and more from the Opawa - St Martins Parish.
