Thank you to everyone for the welcome that you have given my family and I.  It is so encouraging to receive such a welcome as we come to this special place.

 

I found the licensing service especially moving.  It was wonderful to join in worship and celebrate together. I am grateful to all of you who have prayed for Helen, Jonathan and I and more so for all the prayers that have been offered for the life of the Parish during the interregnum.

 

Such is the life of the people of God. Lives led and guided by prayer and meditation on the scriptures, communal praise and worship. It is in this way that we can face overwhelming circumstances.  “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus” chimes the Apostle Paul. How do we give thanks in our dire circumstances?

When we have the attitude of gratitude, we are living out our faith and trust in Christ. We believe that He has all the resources for what we need in this Parish and for our personal adverse situations. After all, in one of our great anthems we sing:

 

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, “I am strong”

Let the poor say, “I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us”

And now let the weak say, “I am strong”

Let the poor say, “I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us”

 

It is not just lip service. Please join us in Prayer and worship reminding us that the faithfulness of God is not based upon our circumstances, but upon His unchanging and perfect nature.

 

Our future has both challenge and opportunity for us.  As we consider the way ahead and what God has in store for us, what better and more fitting way to begin this adventure with a renewed commitment to thanksgiving, worship and prayer in hopeful expectation of His coming again. Join us now. Now thank we all our God.