Vicar’s November letter

Dear friends,

I am writing this letter three days after Gwen, Sian’s Mum, passed away here at the Vicarage. She had been unwell for some years and had deteriorated over the last few months to the point that she was unable to leave her bed. Over the last week she had hardly eaten anything and had drunk very little. Blood tests had shown that her cancer had spread to different parts of her body. It was obvious that she was moving towards the end of her life. Her passing was very peaceful, there was no sense of pain or struggle. However, it was still hard for Sian as she acknowledged that her Mum had gone. She was upset and emotional. Losing someone close will always affect us, and we will experience a wide range of emotions as all sorts of feelings and memories cascade over us.

St Paul writes to the Church in Thessalonica about grieving. Early Christians were expecting Jesus’ second coming, the end of the world as we know it, the Day of Judgement, to happen quickly and were concerned about the fate of those who had died before this happened. Paul assures them that all will be well, that those Christians who have already died will still be with Jesus in eternity. Paul acknowledges that we will grieve, but says that we should not grieve as others do who have no hope. Paul is saying that the Christian hope of resurrection life with Jesus will make the death of loved ones easier to cope with, because, for Christians, death is not the end.

Have you lost a loved one recently? Do you have that Christian hope for their future in eternity? Do you have that Christian hope for your future in eternity?

At All Souls we remember those we have loved and lost. We give thanks again for their lives and seek God’s assurance for their wellbeing. We have an All Souls service at St John’s, Cinderford at 6.00pm on Sunday 3 November. Please consider coming along if you think this service might be helpful for you.

On Wednesday 18 December at 7.00pm at St Stephen’s, Cinderford, we are having a new service called Looking for the Light. This provides an opportunity to consider the meaning of Christmas to those for whom this can be a difficult time, including those who have been bereaved. Please consider coming along to this service if you find Christmas difficult for any reason.

Do not hesitate to get in touch if you would like to talk about the loss of a loved one or your own thoughts about death and eternity.

God bless,