Roger had been to Sunday School back in the late 1950s – his parents sent him though they did not go to church themselves except at the major festivals. Mrs Whittington was a bit fearsome but he quite enjoyed the Bible stories, particularly the one about Ehud, the left-handed man, who killed the fat king of Moab by plunging a dagger into his belly – ‘and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out’. Sunday School was OK.
However, as Roger hit his teens and the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were beginning to get into full swing, the swinging sixties began for Roger too. Church faded into the background.
Through the 1970s, 80s and 90s, Roger’s career progressed and he could certainly say he was better off materially than his parents. His children had a lot more going off at the week-ends than he ever had. There would have been a mutiny if he’d tried to send them to Sunday School and quite honestly when was the last time he went to church?
When his daughter got engaged to her long-term boy-friend, she wanted a church wedding. Roger was quite pleased about that - he and Gill had been married in church - though he would have been perfectly comfortable if she’d wanted a wedding in a nice hotel.
He and Gill went to hear the Banns being read in church a couple of times and Roger was actually quite moved by the wedding service itself. He was particularly affected by the words spoken as Charlotte & Bob gave each other rings – ‘with my body I honour you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit’. Those words seemed to echo from another era and made Roger reflect on a prosperous society that had somehow lost something.
Back to Church Sunday on October 7th at 10.30am – also our Harvest Festival - is for the Rogers of our parish. You may have had some connection with the church in the past through baptism or marriage or the funeral of a loved one. You may have sung in the choir or been to Sunday School as a young person but for whatever reason you’re not coming to church now. No one is going to pester you for money or make you feel guilty for not having been for a while. Just come along and we would be delighted to see you.
With all Christian good wishes,
Julian Mann
Vicar
Almighty God, we give you thanks and praise that you have again fulfilled your gracious promise and given us both seed-time and harvest. Teach us to remember that man does not live by bread alone; and lead us and all people to feed on your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who alone is the bread of life; for this we ask in his name and to your glory. Amen.