Newsletter: November, 2006

The Glory of God

“Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)

Do you remember your first encounter with the reality of death? For many of us it may be that the death of a pet was the first time that the finality of death really dawned on us. Others of us will have more traumatic memories of facing the death of someone we loved, and facing our own lives without them. As we get older, that experience will become more common, but never easier. Even when death comes to someone as a blessed relief from suffering or dementia, it is hard for those left behind to view that death with simple gratitude, unaffected by our own grief and loss. When we think about our own inevitable death, uppermost among our fears is what impact it will have on the people who love us.

Christian teaching about life after death can sometimes sound like a mindless optimism that refuses to face reality. We cannot bear to think of life without the people we love, and we are sure that they cannot manage without us, either, so we simply invent a comforting story that allows us to believe that, even after death, we can still be together. But actually, the Christian belief in life after death is not so much based on what we would like to believe about ourselves, but on what we know to be true about God. It is the love, power and sheer vitality of God that underpin our belief in life after death.

The people who are sitting and mourning the death of Lazarus have begun to know something of God’s power, as it is expressed in Jesus. They have seen him perform astounding healing miracles and Mary, at least, firmly believes that if Jesus had been there when Lazarus was ill, Jesus would have been able to heal him. But even she has not yet grasped the fullness of what Jesus is capable of, while some of the others who are keeping her company are openly sceptical. They see Lazarus’ death as a sign that Jesus’ power is either waning, or perhaps was never as great as people made out. Perhaps, they guess, Lazarus was too seriously ill for Jesus to heal him. Perhaps Jesus really isn’t all that special.

Certainly, Jesus seems very vulnerable and shaken as he faces this death of a friend. He is not different from the rest of us in feeling the awful separation. Although he speaks to Mary with absolute confidence, and acts decisively, still we are told that he is “greatly disturbed”. But his sense of loss does not prevent him from trusting in God and acting for God. Even Martha and Mary, two of Jesus’ most ardent supporters, do not believe that he can do anything for their brother now that he is actually dead. Already, the processes of decay are starting, and Martha and Mary expect nothing from Jesus, except that he will share their grief. And, indeed, he does share their grief, but not so strongly that he loses touch with God. Moved and saddened as he is, he steps up to Lazarus’ tomb and calls his friend back to life. And instantly, Lazarus responds. This is, after all, the voice that called all creation into being.

It is hard not to envy Jesus his power to bring his friend back to life. How we have longed to be able to do the same for someone we love. But Jesus tells Mary that he is doing this so that she — and all the watching crowds — “would see the glory of God”. Jesus calls Lazarus back from death, not because he cannot bear to be without him. Jesus knows that soon enough he himself will face death, and that his ordinary human relationships will change forever. Lazarus is alive again to show the power of God. Mary and Martha believed that death was the end, but Jesus showed them that there is no end to the love of God. This is the glory of God, it is the very nature of God, that God is life and that nothing, not even death itself, can separate us from the overwhelming life of God.

So the Christian belief in life after death is a belief in the never-ending vitality of God. It is not a sentimental and unrealistic desire to maintain unchanged our precious human relationships, but a realisation that our love for each other is a small and imperfect symbol of God’s love for creation. We can trust this God absolutely with those we love.

October

This month has seen the students flowing back into the village. I imagine that has caused some mixed feelings among residents. Youthfulness and high spirits can make them a bit of burden for people who live here all the time. On the other hand, they do collectively spend a lot of money every year and our local businesses benefit from that.

University days are a time when young people have the experience of meeting others from very different backgrounds and being exposed to new ideas. Amongst those ideas are questions of faith and students bring to this quite a cleared-eyed, enquiring approach. Most have not strong background in Christianity or any other faith. They have the opportunity to learn and make up their own minds, which is why they are a breath of fresh air to the rest of us. It encourages us to ask again the most basic questions about the direction and purpose of our lives and the place we give to God within that. It is all too easy for routine and familiarity - the pressures of work and family that students do not feel — to blunt our search for truth.

By coming among us, they remind us that we should always be seeking and questioning the path that best leads us along the journey of faith. And thank God they do.

Mark Ewbank

NEWS IN BRIEF
We were pleased to be able to welcome staff and pupils of St Jude’s School to their Harvest service on Friday 13th October at 9.30am.

Englefield Green Crusaders are still urgently in need of a treasurer. If anyone can help, please contact Rita Berry on 01784 433560.

THE PARISH CENTRE
Most of you will know that over the last few years (since 2000 in fact) we have been planning to build on to the Church to form the Parish Centre. We had hoped that funding for this would come from various places including overseas but sadly this did not materialise and the architect who drew up the splendid building has now retired. Now although some people have been very generous, we are facing the fact that the large scale building will not happen.

However, we are actively seeking a new architect and will be instructing him to produce ideas of a smaller structure on the same site at a much lower price.

Because this has been a prolonged affair, we are holding an meeting at 11.00am on Sunday 5th November to which anyone who is interested, is invited. At this meeting any aspect of the project, financial or otherwise will be discussed and hopefully any questions answered.

ROBERT PITT
Robert Pitt has been our organist and choimaster for over five years but now he has a two year contract in Greece. If anyone wishes to contribute towards a present form him, they should send their donation to Brian Hooker, 11 Willson Road, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey TW20 0QB. Cheques should be made payable to St Jude’s PCC.

UNICEF CARDS AND GIFTS
Joan Wintour will be selling UNICEF cards and gifts after the 9.30am service on 19th November. If, however, you would like to have a catalogue or buy cards at another time, please ring her on 01784 437796.

CARE IN EGHAM AND DISTRICT
They need your help!

CARE is a local charity which provides a "good neighbour" service for those who are elderly, sick or disadvantaged in any way. They help with essential transport, shopping and some gardening. If you drive, enjoy meeting people and would like more information please telephone 01784 435202.

SATURDAY AFTERNOONS
As you may know, we keep St Jude’s Church open for visitors each Saturday afternoon between 2.00 and 4.00pm. To do this safely and adequately requires at least 3 people at all times. To keep this running, we must have a rota of people who would take a turn — obviously the more offers we have, the less often each one would have to do. If you can help with this, say, once every two months, please contact the Churchwardens (telephone numbers are shown above) or by email to saturdays@stjudeschurch.info. Your help would be appreciated.

FROM THE REGISTERS
Holy Baptism:
(1st October) Isabelle Rose Millard.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

COFFEE MORNING
There will be a Coffee morning in the Methodist Church porch on Saturday 4th November from 10.00am.

COFFEE MORNING
There will be a Coffee Morning outside St Jude's Church on Saturday 11th November from 10.00am to 12 noon. Please come along and suport us. Offers of cakes, jams, preserves etc would be most welcome.

CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER 2006