In last month’s Messenger Sally wrote about the necessity for ‘change’, and the challengers that change brings. Sally wrote, “we at St David’s know that, if we are to meet the challenges of the 21st Century then we have to move forward”. Coincidentally, I had already started to draft this article on the subject of ‘Change’ for July’s edition of The Messenger too. So forgive me for continuing on the same theme.
At this time of year a lot of people experience a change in their life; leaving school, graduating from university, or maybe retiring from work. I guess we will all know someone for whom life is changing in some way. In that change we pray that we can be thankful for what has gone and what is to come.
As human beings we are uniquely equipped to both affect change and be changed. Yet it is often one of the most challenging things in life. We have a tendency to resist change; to hang on to the things that are familiar to us and to see change as negative. It’s often said that the most difficult aspect of change is the ‘process of change’ not the result of change.
The second verse of that well-known hymn ‘Abide with me’ where the author writes “change and decay in all around I see” often brings a smile to my face because this gloomy sounding line is followed by the reassuring words “O Thou who changest not, abide with me”. Echoing the wonderful bible verse from the book of Hebrews “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”.
In our church worship week by week we find an unchanging focus; a point of stability in life. No matter what changes around us Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Many of the forms of church services we use week by week have been used for over five-hundred years and provide a great comfort to us in an ever changing and turbulent world.
Every week I look forward to going to church to say and sing word with which I am familiar – unchanging words that give me great comfort. Words that allow me to focus on Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Perhaps in your changing world you would like to visit our church and experience a Sunday morning service with us at 10.30am. If Sunday is not convenient, or you want a shorter simpler ‘said’ communion service, then come to church at 7.30pm on a Wednesday evening. You will receive a warm, friendly welcome and find some time and space with us.
May God bless whatever change you experience in your life in the days and months to come.
(This article by Phil Taylor was originally published as part of St David’s Messenger in July 2015)