VICAR'S NOVEMBER MESSAGE

THE VICAR'S NOVEMBER MESSAGE

Rise, Let us be on our way!

We’ve at last got the Diocesan permission we need to refurbish and renovate our building to maximize flexibility and to emphasise that the worship of God together, in many different ways, is the key to everything we do. It’s been a tough time but we’ve come through, more or less intact. To some of us this moment seems to be a more scary time than the process of a Consistory Court. Jesus’ words of encouragement to his disciples on the night before his death are appropriate for us now. He’s saying, ‘we’ve come this far; whatever we have to suffer is as nothing compared to being part of God’s Risen life and God’s final purposes for the world. Now we are invited to “Rise and be on our way”.’

“He pitched his tent among us”

Increasing our closeness to God is the purpose of the Advent season and our 6pm evening services this year have the theme of “He pitched His tent among us” (see the details on ELSEWHERE ON OUR SITExxxxx). Letting go of a bit more of our ego and self-importance and letting God be the one that directs our lives, brings true happiness but not always in ways which are easy. Christian faith is communal so that we can give and take mutual support. Our community life is designed, primarily, to stimulate our being present to God and to God’s work in the whole of life.

Giving thanks and grieving helps us move on

We can experience sadness at letting go of things that hinder our relationship with God before we know the deeper joy of being at one with God. In a similar way we would be unfeeling if we didn’t experience sadness as we dismantle the careful work of those who created the choir stalls and the side chapel. Many will have profound memories of singing and praying in those spaces and we must honour them and grieve a little. Then we can truly move on into the next stage of the journey of faith that God is opening up to us.

Beginning the changes

Tom Savage – despite his surname – promises to make the transition from the way our building is now to how it will be, as gentle and sensitive as possible. Especially, remember that the beautiful timber that our 1930s forebears bequeathed to us is an essential part of our future. The Oak will be carefully dismantled, stored and creatively re-used by craftsmen in the process of reshaping our worship spaces. Volunteers would be welcome – please contact our parish office.

After refreshments on the day of our Remembrance Service (November 14), it seems appropriate to spend a few moments giving thanks for past memories and formally decommissioning the chapel as it becomes a meeting room. We shall take great care in moving the aumbry – that’s the special place where the reserved sacrament is kept, (with its white light pointing to Christ’s sacramental presence in our lives). In the architect’s plans the new site for the aumbry is within the apse area. This will bring an added prayerful intensity to that part of the building. The table altar to be commissioned for the new nave sanctuary will be the new “high” altar.

Journeying On

Our Vision is to“Make Christ known through building his church” and for the period 2011 to 2016 we will be focusing on Journeying On.

In our society the 1970’s myth that we can live without God, faith or spirituality is fading away. Everywhere you look religion and spirituality is in evidence – not always healthily, rarely in churches and not simply as a putting back of the clock. We are called to respond with thoughtfulness and a deepening of faith and the ability to connect with others. We stand in a unique time in the journey of St. Mary’s; for 100 years there has been a place of worship on the site; for 80 years worship has taken place in the present building – much enlarged in the 1960s - and we are currently continuing that journey by developing the way we use the building to meet the needs of a new generation. Throughout the past 100 years,the buildings used on the site have been altered and changed to help the community grow in discipleship and in understanding God’s love, presence and action.

What do we do now?

Ever since the crucifixion and Pentecost, disciples have asked, “Now that Jesus has gone, what do we do?” In the diocese in recent years we have twice produced Mission Action Plans that set out how we will achieve God’s call to us. It’s now time to produce the third version of the Mission Action Plan, to guide us in the next five years.

Six Core Groups

Our MissionAction Plan 3 sets out six key themes for development. They are actions but also set a culture or an atmosphere – we are mutually bound together in community and at the same time open, generous and engaged with all that happens in the parish. The Mission Action Plan is not a list of what we are already doing, it sets out what else we want to do and why.

The six themes for the journey are:

Worship & Spirituality– To help the congregation grow in intimacy with God (Core Group: Robin, Pat Moran, Carole Lax and Thelma Gilhespy)

Welcoming, Integrating & Caring– To create an environment where newcomers, visitors and regular worshippers feel equally welcome and valued at St Mary’s and to provide opportunities and encouragement for people to grow in the love of God and of one another. (Core Group: Eileen, Marion Oakes, Jane Walker and Eric.)

Learning, Living & Sharing– To lead and deliver discipleship and evangelizing strategies in accordance with our Mission to all ages across the parish. (Core Group: Sue Hart, Craig Pemberton, Jo Porter and Mike Stoker).

Making Connections– To develop effective and consistent ways of St. Mary’s connecting with the whole parish, the wider community of Whitley Bay and within the congregation itself. Our messages should be clear and reach as wide an audience as possible and reflect our understanding of our part in God’s mission. (Core Group: Benjamin, Katy Bell, Iain Lynn and Tony Garland).

Building & Development– To lead the project for refurbishing the church buildings through raising funds, negotiating with architects and contractors, the PCC and the congregation.(Core Group: Sue Johnson, Tom Savage, David Lax and Ruth Blake).

Resources– To resource the mission of the church through good stewardship of people, buildings and finance. (Core Group: Mike Stoker, Val Cowan and Roger Windass).

Throughout all the themes, considering the needs of all ages in the community, from the youngest to eldest, is a basic part of our culture, along with our desire to uphold the mission of Justice and Peace.

“You are the light of the world.

A city set on a hill cannot be hid”

Do come and visit our lively church community at 10am on a Sunday morning

Your parish priest

Robin