August 2024 - Magazine - Page 34
all Saints’ Brenchley
Vicar: The Revd. Campbell Paget
The Vicarage, Broad Oak, Brenchley
Tel: 01892 722140
Church Wardens:
Robin Brooks 01892 722814
Peter Westley 01892 722269
O
ne of the silver linings of this dark cloud of a pandemic has been the
‘community spirit’ or ‘good neighbourliness’ shown by so many. It gives
one confidence in all that is genuinely good in human nature. Yet it has also
revealed the darker side in some with their willingness to take advantage of the
situation for their own personal or political agendas. If we are honest and wise
about human nature, this will come as no surprise. We have certainly seen the
uglier side, especially in the conduct of some on both sides of, for instance, the
Black Lives Matter debate with its riots, dismantling of statues, and dogmatic
insistences not to dialogue, listen to opposing views, or even attempt to
consider the facts. When we allow only our emotions and political prejudices to
rule our conduct, everyone including ourselves suffer. Ignorance of history and
an unwillingness to look at the present except through darkened or rose-tinted
spectacles is a recipe for ultimate dystopia. All this, unless we prefer to bury
our heads in the sand, begs the question of ‘what then is our role to be?’ Jesus
taught that ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’. It sounds a lovely idea but is of
course a role which, if taken seriously, will put us in the firing line. (Brexit surely
taught us that!) People do not like others treading on their most cherished
prejudices: but it would seem that in order to be peacemakers such treading is
a necessary prerequisite for any worthwhile or lasting success. It is perhaps a
very pertinent example of what Jesus meant by ‘Take up your cross and follow
me.’ Sadly, increasingly it is Christians who find themselves one of the most
persecuted minorities not only around the world but even in this country for
telling the truth as the many sackings and no-platformings attest. Truth and
the facts quite simply no longer play a determinative role in so much current
disagreement when opinions and feelings are at stake. But it is precisely these,
proffered in love, which must prevail if any progress is to be made. When the
sanctity of life and social harmony are sacrificed on the altar of individual
choice the outlook is assuredly bleak. All reasonable and reasoning people
of whatever colour, class, culture, or creed have, surely, an obligation to
persevere in standing up for truth: if nothing else we owe it to our children and
grandchildren.
Campbell Paget
34
All Saints’ Services
T
he church building is now ‘officially’ open for private prayer, but we await
new ‘guidance’ from government and the House of Bishops. (Please use the
sanitiser and wipes as instructed in the notice on the main door.)
By the time you read this the situation, we hope, may have improved. In the
meanwhile we are continuing with our ‘virtual’ but ‘live’ online Sunday morning
10am services and Wednesday evening 8 – 9pm Study Groups when a member
of the congregation shares their thoughts on a particular passage of Scripture
followed by open discussion. You can connect or catch up on past services and
studies on our website www.allsaintsbrenchley.blogspot.com
Emergency
Defibrillators are
located on the
outside wall of the
Brenchley Memorial
Centre next to the
entrance to Gray’s
Tearoom in Brenchley
and outside The Star in Matfield. Full
instructions will be found inside.
Brenchley Ready Call
Parish of All Saints’
If requiring help for transport to hospital,
doctor or any other Ready Call service
in the first instance call 722789.
All other requests:
722885 or 722434
Matfield residents call St. Luke’s
Matfield Ready Call 822272
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