Vicars only work on a Sunday don't they?
This week I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by to do lists, sermons to write, toddler groups to organise, people to meet, meetings to go to, prayers to pray, AV systems to learn, which keys work where and remembering people's names (including my own at times).
Things I have leant this week are that things go wrong and that is ok, all expenditure must be cleared by Church Manager BEFORE spending it and even a 'paupers' funeral can be made truly splendid by the Church of England.
This week my vicar was taking part in the funeral of an old church member, which was happening at a neighbouring church. He invited me along to watch as it was to be a 'Requiem Mass' something I had never seen before. There were very few mourners at the funeral, no flowers and a very basic coffin. The deceased, who was 85, had no immediate family. It all seemed very sad. Yet what I saw in St Jude's Church in Hampstead Garden Suburb, one of the most architecturally beautiful churches locally, was the Vicar treat this man to the most amazing send off.
There where three vicars taking part in the service, all dressed in their finery. The coffin was bought in and covered in a beautiful dark purple cover, six candles on tall stands lit around it.
A robed choir sang beautifully during the whole service, making up for the lack of mourners voices. Kind words were spoken about the man by the priest in charge and a beautiful reading from the Bendictine rule read by another.
All three priests then concelebrated the Eucharist and whilst it was administered a young lady from the choir sang Pie Jesu.
Such a wonderful example of God's church honouring the 'least', in the same way as the 'greatest' would be honoured. A delight to be part of as this man was entrusted into the arms of Father God.
““The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" Matthew 25:40 NIV
Small things done with great love will change the world.
May God bless and keep you always. Revd. Sally x
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