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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2024</strong> 5 <strong>The</strong> vicar's letter Dear Friends, As someone who has no interest in football, I have nonetheless been aware of a recent fuss surrounding the matter of the England team’s shirts. Apparently the cross of St George has been subjected to 'a playful update' by Nike, rendering it unrecognisable to me and looking rather like another flag that seems to be ubiquitous these days. In the general scheme of things, I suppose this is of little importance, but nonetheless, I can’t help but wonder if this 'update' is rather less than 'playful' and indicative of an erosion of the Christian heritage of our country. If this were an isolated news story I could be considered paranoid, but, coupled with so much else for those with eyes to see, one wonders. This month marks the first anniversary of His Majesty’s Coronation, and we look back on an extraordinary service in Westminster Abbey, utterly rooted in our Judeo-Christian heritage. Perhaps, to some, it seemed anachronistic, even faintly ridiculous, but the oaths, symbols, prayers and anointing all provided a bridge to both the Old and New Testaments and highlighted just how central the Christian faith has been for over 1,000 years in this Kingdom. I have long said in response to those who have called for us to leave all this in the past and adapt to becoming a secular state, with no established church, that the inevitable void this would create will not remain unfilled. To the passionate secularists I would warn that they should be very careful what they wish for. <strong>The</strong> Christian church, for all its human faults, has been a tremendous force for good since its birth, and while this is so often forgotten, the foundation of so many hospitals, hospices, adoption agencies, care homes, schools, universities, international relief charities and much else besides, came from the desire of Christians to improve their societies and to care for those in need. SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT In a small, yet significant way, our own church continues in this tradition with our flourishing work with young people and children. It is a good news story and one that should both encourage and inspire. <strong>The</strong>re were 76 teenagers at a recent STAY on Friday youth group in <strong>The</strong> Ark and so many others have been helped by Westy and Corinne in schools and elsewhere. If St Andrew’s had not invested in the creation of these posts and in housing, who else would be providing such a service to our local communities? Indeed, I venture to suggest that we are seeing young lives changed for the better, and what a privilege it was for me to baptise in the river on Easter Day, three teenagers and a young mother. MISSION AND OUTREACH <strong>The</strong> great church feast of Pentecost is approaching later this month, and we shall celebrate with Christians around the world the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the infant church. <strong>The</strong>y were a frightened and persecuted group of men and women and yet through the infusion of the power of God’s Spirit, they went out and boldly spoke of the resurrected Christ and of his life changing message. <strong>The</strong> world has never been the same since and I believe, more than at any time during my 26 year ministry, that the local church is being called to refocus itself on mission and outreach, to overcome bureaucracy, complacency or even defeatism, and tap back into that power which brought our church to life 2,000 years ago. Come Holy Spirit! Warm wishes, Jamie
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