Over the next two weeks, it is a joy to write the “newsletter headliner”, which is the name for what in other circles might be called the Op-ed piece. Please think along the lines of the opening sentences to the apostle Paul’s letters.
His initial greetings would always be “Grace to you, and peace in God and our Lord Jesus Christ”. Two Sundays ago, our visiting preacher, Canon Advent from Eswatini in Southern Africa, opened his sermon with such a greeting. “I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. We did not particularly know how to respond, we were a little hesitant, but everywhere in Africa, from South Sudan to South Africa, you would hear a resounding “Amen!”.
Then Paul would go into a particular offer of thanksgiving for a merit of the people to whom he was writing. To the Philippians, he said “I thank my God every time I remember you”. He offered the same for the Thessalonians, and would add a specific aspect of their life together that gave him joy: “Your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Thessalonians); “Because of your sharing in the Gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians); or how “in every way you have been enriched in Christ, in speech and knowledge of every kind” (Corinthians), or simply “because your faith is proclaimed throughout the world” (Romans).
What would he say to the beloved saints of God at Grace, in St Helena? Let me try a few Pauline phrases on for size.
“I thank God in my remembrance of you, as I think of your faithfulness in prayer, and your unceasing intercession for one another and for those around you”. Or, “your reputation for hospitality and generosity is known throughout the community and the world”; and “I am grateful for how your yearning to know God and the fellowship of Christ’s followers knows no bounds, as you support one another in small groups and in your gatherings together”.
At least these are things I might say in any letter to you all in the days ahead. Then of course, Paul would go into a specific challenge that might face the Church at Philippi or Thessalonica and in particular Corinth and Galatia! And if he did not know the community that well, he would simply lay out the credentials of his message of the Gospel as he understood it, as he did to the church in Rome or at Ephesus.
Have you ever thought of a summer reading project where you exchange a detective story or a romantic adventure for a letter of Paul? Use a paraphrase version, like the Message, and hold a one-sitting read of his epistles. And reflect on your own community and what he might want to say to you. I will give that a try in next week’s newsletter and would be happy to receive your thoughts.
In the meantime, as the apostle Paul might do, I want to stress one profound aspect of your common life which is rarely found in other churches. And challenge you to consider it as a new ministry for your life.
Each Sunday morning, before the first service of the day, a group of “Intercessors” gather with the priest, liturgical assistants and the preacher, and ask God’s blessing on all of us as we gather at Grace, in person and online. They often begin by thanking God for the privilege of this beautiful world, and life, and focus special attention on the important work of the preaching that day. Later, of course, as communion is being administered, they place themselves around the corners of the sanctuary and await your prayer requests. It is a ministry whose significance cannot be overestimated.
Have you wondered about offering yourself as an intercessor? On Sunday, July 6th, immediately after church, or at least, with some pause for refreshments, we will hold an orientation meeting in which we will introduce what the ministry is and how you can enter into it. The Intercessor roster tends to be “8 o’clocker tilted”, and we are looking for folk from the 10 am service to consider the calling.
And finally, let me end with one of the sign offs Paul enjoyed, like this one to the Corinthians “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you”. (2 Corinthians 13:13) Note that you can’t end a parish meeting in the United Kingdom without someone inviting everyone to recite what is now known as “The Grace” or as Paul intended it to be (a blessed) “Cheerio”.
— Bishop Alan
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