Vicar's Letter - August

Dear friends,

I was reflecting recently on the words of The Grace Prayer, which we say to each other at the end of every PCC meeting and often at the close of other times together too…

‘May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all,
now and evermore.
Amen.’

The prayer is based on the words of St Paul, found at the end of his second letter to the Church in Corinth, (13:14).

In terms of the Christian faith, grace is concerned with the nature of God's love. It is the unmerited favour of God. We do not deserve the love and goodness that is freely and unconditionally given from heaven. All we can do is receive it and accept it.

Grace, (Charis, in its Greek religious usage), means ‘divine gift’ or ‘favour’. Grace is God’s presence and solidarity with us all in our strivings; standing with us, strengthening and encouraging us.

It is a great way to bless each other as we leave and go to our own homes, holding us in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit until we meet together again.

Many of our groups that meet in our church hall will be taking a break during August and so we pray this prayer for the members of each group; a benediction, expressing a desire for the continual presence and blessing of the Triune God, reflecting the communal aspect of our Christian faith, where the blessings of grace, love, and fellowship are not just individual experiences but are shared with all in our groups, our parish and beyond.

God Bless,
Keith