I am writing this a couple of days after the recent election. Yet more turmoil that can lead inevitably to anxious times. Fear for the future. Distrust and uncertainty creeps with stealth into our lives and our communities.

The two terror attacks in London and Manchester are still very much in our thoughts. Religion yet again takes a knock. The radical extremists appear to be able to baffle us with their ideology.

The three great faiths, Jewish, Christianity and Islam all share the same heritage. The old testament has been handed down to us over thousands of years. We share the great prophets Moses, Abraham and Elijah and their one true but indivisible God.

Intrinsic to the Jewish faith is the belief in a “personal” Messiah who will come and bring justice to the world. THEY WAIT. Christians have accepted Jesus as their Messiah (Saviour) who has risen to heaven and we await his second coming. In Islam Jesus is a highly revered prophet. His birth story is in the Qu’ran and Jesus and Mary his mother are mentioned innumerable times. Also the apostles who they call the helpers of God. What is less well known is that Muslims await the coming of a Messiah who some believe is going to be the likeness of Jesus.

I much prefer to dwell on the similarities rather differences. The one thing common to the three faiths is Jesus the Jew.

Islam in its pure form is without doubt a religion of peace and social justice. The concept of Ji’had means a holy striving or struggle. A Ji’had of the mouth means a religious argument. There is no place for the extremist holy war or the atrocities done supposedly for God.

God as we encounter him in the Bible creates humanity that is itself creative. In his own image. People with the concept of language, thought, reflection, imagination and choice. A form of life that can be rebellious. To choose between obedience or disobedience, good or evil. To enhance nature or to destroy it.

In almost every action we take we could have chosen to do otherwise. We can become cruel and mean or good and generous.

Acknowledge our mistakes. Whatever our faith, whether in God or humanity we must hold our fellow Muslims and Jews in our thoughts and prayers. We cannot let this evil ideology and the young men (who are themselves victims) prevail. The idea of “An eye for an eye” leaves the world blind. If the blind lead the blind we all end up falling into the pit.

Let us hope the future will bring peace and happiness although sadly I feel this might be an outcome for which we will have to wait.

God Bless, Wendy.

(This article was originally published as part of St David’s Messenger in July 2017)

I am sure that many of us are familiar with the hymn “Abide With Me”. It is sung by the crowds at important football matches. It is often chosen for the funeral of a loved ones, and can be a hymn of personal devotion.

“Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail, and comfort flees,
Help of the helpless, Lord abide with me”

Beautiful words, that strike a chord with many of us. However, I wonder just how many of us know the story behind this great hymn?

The word “great” – when thinking about a hymn-does not mean “literary greatness”, but rather that the influence that the hymn had, and still has, on successive audiences and individuals. The author, Reverend Henry Lyte, was vicar of Lower Brixham, Devon. In 1847, at the age of just 54, his health began to fail quite rapidly, and it became obvious that he was not long for this world. He decided that he would like to spend (what would become) the last year of his life in Italy.

It was as the date for his departure from home drew near that he gave to the world this magnificent hymn (and Henry’s epitaph) that has since found a place in almost every published Hymnal. His daughter has given us an account of the day when Henry Lyte composed the hymn. “The summer”, she said, “was coming to an end, and when September (when he planned to take ship) arrived, each day seemed to have a special value, as being nearer his departure.”

His family were surprised, and also very anxious, when he announced that he wanted to preach to his congregation one last time. Worries about his weakness, and the dangers to his health that might result from his efforts, were well founded and his family urged him not to put himself at such great risk, but it was all in vain. Henry, bound and determined to fulfil his own wishes-did preach, and his parishioners listened with breathless attention.

Though he was very exhausted, his family and friends could see no reason to believe that he was harmed in any by his efforts. During the evening of that same day, he placed into the hands of a near and dear friend the words of that hymn, which we now know and love so well, together with music of his own composing as accompaniment.

Henry Lyte died that November in Nice, in the south of France: his last words were “Peace and joy”.

“Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes:
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
When Heaven’s morning breaks and Earth’s vain shadows flee,
Help of the helpless, Lord Abide with me”.

(This article was originally published as part of St David’s Messenger in May 2017)

It’s not too late to wish you a happy Easter! The Easter season – Eastertide – lasts until Pentecost (Whit Sunday on 4^th June).

Easter, unlike Christmas is a movable feast, meaning its date changes each year. In Western Christianity, Easter always falls on a Sunday between 22 March and 25 April within about seven days of the full moon.

Imagine living a few hundred years ago, before the industrial revolution and the arrival of street lighting. Walking around after sunset on a moonless night would have been risky – falling foul of thieves, wild animals, or falling into a ditch – in pitch darkness anything could happen. Thank goodness for the light of a full moon and daylight. As the Book of Genesis tells us:

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.

It’s little wonder then that light plays such an important part in our domestic and social lives. And so it is that light is an important part of our Christian faith; Christian’s declare Christ is ‘The Light of the World’.

Every year, in churches around the world, the new fire of Easter is lit and from it the Paschal Candle; a candle to be used throughout the following year signifying the risen Christ at Baptisms and Funerals.

On Easter Eve the newly lit Paschal Candle is carried into the church in darkness as the priest sings the ‘Light of Christ’ echoing the wonderful words in the first chapter of St John’s Gospel:

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

As we read in the book of Isaiah:

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Jesus, in His ministry, uses the contrast of darkness and light to promise that His followers will have the ‘light of life’ saying:

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

One of my favourite prayers concerns light and darkness and comes from the service for Evening Prayer, when we say:

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Although we live at a time when people sometimes complain of ‘light pollution’, there often seems to be darkness threatening us. During this joyful Eastertide, and always, embrace Jesus the ‘Light of the World’ and reject darkness.

Come and join us at St David’s for one of our services either midweek or on a Sunday. You will find a warm welcome and see our Easter Candle burning bright.

May God bless you and all those who you love now and for evermore.

(This article was originally published as part of St David’s Messenger in May 2017)