Fr. Kevin writes...

Community living?

Dear Friends,

For some years I was the director of a school Concert Band. It was an enterprise I enjoyed and put my heart and soul into, with memorable performances including London's Hyde Park bandstand. But, over the years, as life was getting rather fuller, my energies were being demanded elsewhere, the time to relinquish the band had arrived. I had to be persuaded to bequeath it to another. The point is that it was right for me to let go of it at that time.

Perhaps one of the hardest things to learn in life is when to let go. Isn't it so much easier to cling onto the things we love? Maybe we do so because we (understandably)enjoy it, or (wrongly) think that no one else can do it better than us, or (even worse) use it solely to gain and maintain our own sense of significance, security and self-worth?

Letting go is an ability, even an art, which all of us need to develop. Why? Because, while we are clutching on to the thing or activity we deeply cherish, our hands are too full to take hold of the new thing, the new opportunity ahead. Worse still, by holding onto cherished activity for too long, we may stunt its growth and deny others the opportunity to exercise their gifts. And one day, we will all have to let go, to let go of life itself, in the hope that Resurrection life is around the corner. So perhaps we ought to practise now!

Unless we let go of our children, we risk stunting their growth into maturity. Mary had to learn to let go of her son, Jesus, at Cana in Galilee (John 2.2-5) and again at Nazareth (Mark 3.21, 31-5), if he was to become the person God intended him to be and fulfil his ministry and destiny as the Saviour of the World. In his turn, Jesus himself had to let go of this life and die in agony, if he was to be resurrected on Easter Day and hand Resurrection life on to us.

As Jesus' followers we should expect no less. Jesus himself said, 'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. (Luke 9. 23-24).

What are the things or people that you and I hold on to for dear life, that prevent growth in us and others? Why is it in some churches that people cling to hymn books, to familiar furniture and fittings, dusty pews, to worn services and familiar routines, all of which, probably, need a facelift? If ever we hear ourselves or another defiantly saying, 'This is my church' or 'We've never done it that way before!', the alarm bells should be ringing! (In passing, may I please reassure everyone that the PCC has no plans to get rid of the pews!) But why is it so many people fear change? Change is inevitable. No-one in their right mind wants their children to remain as toddlers. We want them to grow up! But for that to happen, we and they have to face change, to let go of the familiar into new and strange territory.

At their Awayday in March, the PCC committed itself to a new vision and new ways of working, so that new things can spring up in our church. As we stop to remember again what it cost Jesus to win eternal life for us, I pray that we will face up honestly to where God is calling us to let go in our own lives and in our church life, that we may not slmply cling to the familiarity of the past, but take hold of the new, Resurrection life and the new opportunities for mission and service that God is offering us, this coming Eastertide, and beyond.

With every blessing,

Fr Kevin.