Zetland Park Methodist Church
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Zetland Park Methodist Church Pastoral Letters
November 2015

All Saints

We are delighted that, yet again, Revd Jonathan Hustler is able to join us to lead our Chapel Anniversary services and thank him for making the time and the journey to be with US.

We start the month with the celebration of All Saints Day on November 1st, the day when the church especially remembers the 'lesser' Saints who do not have their own dedicated feast day like the 'major' ones do. Of course, like most non-Conformist churches Methodists don't go a real bundle on celebrating Saints like some other denominations do. However, we should remember that Paul starts many of his letters with something like, "To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus" reminding us that in the early days of the church all who followed 'the way' and who were faithful were called saints (with a small 's').

In the Methodist Church that is an understanding which we would not dispute - so, you are all saints! But that then begs the question, "In what way do our lives, indeed does your life, exhibit the characteristics of a saint?" We admire the Saints for their exemplary Christian life but how do ours measure up, even in a lesser way? Mmm! Like some of my school reports said, maybe we "... could try harder!" That said, in the words of someone who I cannot credit because I forgot to note it "Saints are just people who are trying to listen to God's word and live God's call. This is 'the communion of saints' that we speak of in the Apostle's Creed - that fellowship of believers that reaches beyond time and place, even beyond death. Remembering the saints who have helped extend and enliven God's kingdom is what All Saints Day is about."

That, of course, then reminds us that November 2nd is All Souls Day, the day when we continue to remember the saints, but most specifically the saints departed to glory and now at peace, the saints "who from their labour rest." The chance to remember those who were instrumental in bringing us to faith and nurturing us in the faith is, for many, very important and on our Chapel Anniversary we give thanks for the those who had the faith to found and develop our community of Faith in this place. Of course this reminds us that we can never be Christians on our own but are called to be part of a communion, a family, and that as we are dependant on others to support our spiritual growth so we are each - yes, even you - responsible to support others in their pilgrimage of faith! So how are you doing in fulfilling your calling? What are doing to support others? When we think of how much Marjorie Clayton contributed to the life of the Church, yes here but also in many other places, we shouldn't be misled into thinking that that life of service is only for a free special people - we are all called to serve others and help 'enliven the Kingdom'. So, two very important days which, maybe, we are tempted to overlook but which we should use to give thanks to God for the important lineage of which we are a part.

All Blessings

Arthur

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