Restore! Renew! Revive!

The Year of Restoration was launched today with a moving service.  It was orginally to be held on the lawn of the Deanery but our Heavenly Father wanted us closer together and herded us inside the Cultural Centre through the use of some early morning showers.  All the Parish Churches were there, Bethel, Good Shepherd, St. Andrew, St. Anthony, St. James and of course St. John. 

Restore! Renew! Revive!

The Gospel reading  (Luke 15: 13-32), the parable of the prodigal son and his brother was touching and the Bishop's sermon was laced with metaphors.  My favourite of which was one he borrowed from Bishop Desmond Tutu.  The church is much like an ochestra with each member playing his or her part.  Sometimes there is a member holding a triangle whose only part is to strike it once in the entire piece they are playing.  Yet if that one "ping" is not heard during that piece, that piece is incomplete.  This restoration of the church building and the church the body of Christ is greater than any of us can imagine.  Whatever part we play at whatever time, we must realise that like that triangle player we have a valuable and necessary part to play.

While this is the Year of Restoration, the restoration of the church building and the church the body of Christ will take years.  The latter the rest of our lives.  We must stay committed.