At this time of year, when, ironically, the summer is in full bloom in our fields and gardens, the thoughts in our churches turn to our annual Rush-bearing services and the recent death of loved ones, no longer with us. We may even contemplate our own mortality and question what happens to us when we die. Is that the end of our existence, or do we move on to a different level of existence and consciousness that we fail to comprehend but call heaven?
St. Paul gives a long discourse on this topic in his first letter to the church in Corinth (see the Bible passage below), starting with the significance of Christ’s death and resurrection, on which our faith is founded, before moving on to ‘so what?’ What does that mean for us? He concludes by acknowledging that this is a mystery we will never fully understand, but that on the last day we will all be raised to new life, in imperishable bodies, that have replaced our mortal, perishable bodies.
Our Rush-bearing Services – Sunday 3rd. August, 6.30 p.m. in St. Edith’s and Sunday 24th. August, 6.30 p.m. in St. Mary’s – are an opportunity to both affectionately remember our dead loved ones and to about think about our own mortality. All are welcome to join us.
God bless,
Tim and Norma