One of the strengths of St. Peter’s Church is its diversity. We worship with people of all ages and numerous backgrounds and nationalities. Together we cohere as a parish church exists to praise God in the local area. A recent visitor remarked (with surprise) that we are much more mixed than he had expected. He was pleasantly surprised.

The Diocese of St. Albans has as one of its stated tasks the intention to growing younger and more diverse. Life at St. Peter’s should give to those in St. Albans some sense of encouragement. It is an easy church to fit into and feel you belong. We should all be pleased about this, but before we get too pleased we might note that it is not all of our doing. We exist together at St. Peter’s by God’s grace. If you like we are part of the harvest of grace which the gospels and other New Testament writings point to.

Harvest, which we celebrate this month, is often used as an image for the end times and the day of judgement. The Book of Revelation is particularly strong on this.

Then I looked, and lo, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat upon the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” So he who sat upon the cloud swung his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

(Revelation 14: 14-16)

There is more, but you get the message. It would be worth attending to this harvest especially this year because it is the harvest of grace – God’s wonderful gift. We are who we are because of the fruit of prayer. We pray frequently for our growth as a congregation, both numerically and in terms of our commitment to God and to each other. We recognise that we are the disciples of Jesus, proclaiming him and serving him in this place. It is humbling to recognise that we are here by God’s grace whatever choices have been offered to us and whatever decisions we have made over the years. There is something behind our choice of house or job, something more to our search for a place to worship than just our own fancies and inclinations. We were led here by God’s grace, at the bidding of his Spirit.

I find these thoughts encouraging as I make plans to leave and others make plans for my replacement. The whole process requires a lot of stillness and listening in order to make the most of the opportunities which God offers; it requires the gifts of wisdom and discernment. I know that we are very much in the prayers of Bishop Luke who will play a significant role in the months to come, offering guidance and working very often ‘behind the scenes’ to find you a new priest. Please pray for him too. Pray too for the Bishop’s staff at St. Albans who will deal with some of the practical matters surrounding the vacancy.

It is a privilege to know that we are part of God’s harvest and that he has a purpose for each of us. Let us thank him for all he has done for us and for bringing us to the place we now find ourselves.

Image by Aszak on Pixabay

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