We regularly hear appeals such as the recent Survive-MIVA one. And in our 3 Churches we always respond very well! We don’t hear appeals for our own churches very often – but next week we will. We’re calling it “Serving Together”.

So what’s it about? First it’s to thank all those among us who do so much to promote the work of Jesus through his Church in our 3 communities. After an appeal written by parishioners, you will then be invited to get involved yourself, especially if you have not done so before. On a sheet with lists of ways of serving, you’ll be able to select areas or ministries that you think you are gifted for or attracted to. And it’s a very long list, as you will see!

Last week I quoted from Cardinal Newman about finding our role or mission in life. Let me remind you of some of what he said:

“God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission… I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons… I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place…”

Indeed, we are all called to serve the Lord and his people in our own way. What a lovely image – that we are links in a chain that we call the Church, and an even bigger one that we call the family of the human race.

So please bring this into your prayers during this week. Ask the Lord to show you what gifts he has given you, and how best you could use them. Let’s polish up the chain to which we all belong – it’s all the work of the Lord!

Fr Matthew