Dear Friends,
I am so excited as I write this letter! By the time you read it, our special service for commissioning three new Lay Worship Leader and confirming eight candidates will be over, but just now, I can tell you that I am very excited. I am overwhelmed by the experience of accompanying candidates for confirmation, listening to their stories of faith, doubts, struggles and the drama of life. It has been a privilege and honour to share, at least for a while, the journey of faith that has led them to this point. Each candidate has had the opportunity to meet me to explore faith, ask questions and to pray.
The Lay Worship Leaders have been busy preparing as they undertook training, followed by tutorials. We explored the ways in which God leads us into a deeper revelation and calling; Jesus said, ‘I have come that you may have life in all its fullness’ (John 10:10).
But what does it mean to ‘have life in all its fullness’?
Unlike the worldly view which often equates a full life to either being exceptionally busy or full of social events, our understanding as Christians, is that we become more mature; we grow in holiness and become more like Christ. We allow Christ to orientate our lives; the way we love others, the way we campaign and work towards freedom and liberation from the unjust forces of today.
This is how we live up to our calling to be a blessing. As we grow in faith, hope and love, others will be richly blessed by our activities and our presence in the community. As Jesus says, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit”‘ (John 12:23-24).
We can be assured that as we think less about ourselves and more about others, we too will bear much fruit.
Grace and peace, Caroline.