WELCOME TO ST MARY'S AND ALL SOULS
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St Mary's and All Souls Services We will post any revisions to services here and on our Facebook and Twitter feeds: https://www.facebook.com/StMarysAndAllSouls |
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St Mary's and All Souls latest Newsletter |
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Food Bank latest needs: Judith Simmonds will be taking the Parish contributions towards the end of the month so please drop your donations into our box in the porch before then.
Thank you. https://bromleyborough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/ |
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PCC Papers You can now download minutes and other PCC documents from the PCC page |
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Latest Reflections and Live Stream services |
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Our Network Page with |
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In need of help? Call |
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Here's the link to registering for help if you are in the highly vulnerable group: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable
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Princess Royal Hospital www.pruh.kch.nhs.uk | |||
| Daily Hope - a free phone line of hymns, reflections and
prayers by the Church Of England 0800 804 8044 | |||
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Some time ago I came across a series of quotes which expressed the difference between the optimist and the pessimist. Here are some of them:-
"An optimist looks on an oyster and expects to find a pearl;
A pessimist looks at an oyster and expects food poisoning."
"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds. And the pessimist fears this is true."
"Twixt the optimist and the pessimist the difference is droll: The optimist sees the doughnut but the pessimist sees the hole."
Well, I don't suppose that many of us would fit neatly into either of these categories, but it is true that people have very different attitudes when it comes to the way they look at life in general and probably especially the future.
For some, the future is something to be eagerly anticipated as they think of the hopes and dreams they have for themselves, their families and the world at large.
For others, the future is viewed with a sense of concern and trepidation. There may be fears about the ongoing situation with the pandemic, deteriorating health, the rapidly changing values of society, or "progress" which leaves behind a multitude in it's wake.
At this time of year, these thoughts are often heightened. We spend time reflecting on years gone by and we take time to consider our hopes and dreams for the future. The main difference is that we know what has happened, but it is almost impossible to predict with any certainty exactly what the future will hold. There will clearly continue to be developments in technology and industry but what about the Church, what about morality and spirituality? We hear all sorts of predictions relating to those.
Well, the one thing we can be absolutely certain of as Christians is that the future is in God's hands. The God who loved our world so much that He sent His son to die on the cross is not going to turn His back on us or abandon us, and He still has purposes and plans which He wants to work out through His Church. For this reason, as we look to the future as Christians, we can do so with the faith that can help us overcome all fears. The God we believe in is the God of the future as well as the past, and however much the world or the Church may change, His faithfulness will keep us to the end.
Let me finish with some words of Richard Baxter written many centuries ago, but words which I believe are also appropriate as we look to the future:
"God will have other generations to succeed us … The gospel dieth not when I die: the Church dieth not: the praises of God die not: the world dieth not: and perhaps it shall grow better."
Wishing you all a very peaceful and happy New Year."
Rev Susan