“ ‘…choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’ ” Joshua 24:15
Dear folks,
We are delighted to be back in church for our services now, and it is looking wonderful – sincere thanks to Vestry and to all who have worked so hard to achieve that! Read more in the church magazine (page 12).
Also straight on the back of our first service back in the church, we welcomed our guests from St James’, Kolkata, with whom we have established a link relationship following my visit to Kolkata with Bishop David last year. I’m grateful to everyone for the warm welcome extended to Rev’d Shreeraj, Arun, and Priscilla. Having enjoyed sunny weather in Livingston the week before, on the day they arrived in Dunblane the weather turned and treated them to a more typical Scottish summer experience. Thankfully toward the end of their stay it began to try to brighten up, and actually Saturday was beautiful, but they noted still only like winter in Kolkata! You can read more about their time with us in the magazine (page 8).
Trips either way will be a significant aspect of our interaction/relationship. I’m told that there will be no shortage of volunteers from their side to come to us again in 2018, and so far there are at least 8 members of St Mary’s who have indicated an interest in going to Kolkata. I anticipate that will be late next January or early February. We will have a meeting soon to discuss that, and all who are potentially interested can come along.
The most important aspect of our relationship with St James’ will be communication. This can be done via email, Facebook between individuals and the churches, Skype, or good old pen and paper! I would encourage you all to take part in that.
I’m also very grateful to be getting up this morning to a new day where the whole Brexit debate which has been filled with speculation and scaremongering, is a thing of the past. Now we have to get on and make the decision work, not just for ourselves of course, but for the good of the world. This is a good attitude to have.
Unlike the populations of some nations, we in Britain enjoy living in a democratic society that allows us to have some say in decisions, even if it’s only to elect the next politician who might disregard our deeply held views. Even when democracy is facilitated with care and integrity by those elected to lead and govern, we may well find ourselves, for reasons which seem clear to us, out of step with the majority – it’s an inevitable consequence of the democratic process!
The problem with democracy of course is that for a whole host of reasons majorities don’t always get it right. The decisions of masses can be influenced by all kinds of means by promise of reward, stirring territorialism, creating anxiety, offering hope, and by discrediting the opposition.
As Western Christians we operate democratically, but are people who have come to realise that ultimately the whole universe is subject to a Theocracy. Theocracy in the proper sense is where people recognise God as the only true authority and source of all wisdom, and look to discover God’s leading in all decisions. We still are able to make choices, and we should listen to and challenge human voices of influence. But the ultimate decision is not whether we vote ‘for’ or ‘against’, but whether or not we choose to “follow the Lord” over and above any human ‘wisdom’ or deeply held views. This applies for us in every area of life.
There has been so much diversity of opinion over the European Union issue that many people are utterly bewildered. Learned and wise people have given strong arguments for both cases and it is evident that no-one can say with any degree of certainty what the immediate or long term consequences might be. But we will now find out!
However you may have voted (if you did), the outcome of the referendum is secondary to the willingness of all God’s people to make the best of the predicament that we find ourselves in today, to serve God and build a better life for all, not only for ourselves and our own.
Where folks can’t do that, democracy and theocracy break down, and anarchy creeps in. Where they can, people live in harmony and God is honoured. May that continue to be the witness of St Mary’s!
With love and thanks,
Nick
