St Peter's Yaxley

…reaching out in love and faith

Give Thanks & Encouragement

by

On May 9th I had the great privilege to be involved in a service at St. Giles, Holme at which Lance Bombardier William Barrington, Bill, was presented with the Legion d’Honneur.

Bill was awarded this honour for his involvement in the D Day Landings in Normandy in June 1944. If you live in Holme or Conington you can read more about this award in last month’s Holme Parish News. I’ve known Bill for several years and he is a warm and inspirational character.

As I drove home across the fen after the service it occurred to me that 74 years was a long time to wait to be thanked. Now, I’m certain that Bill didn’t do what he did in Normandy (and indeed elsewhere in WWII) in order to be thanked. However, it did feel to me like a good reminder of the importance of thanking those around us who make a positive impact on our lives.

I heard a Christian speaker ask recently how one could tell if someone needed encouragement. “It’s straightforward,” was his response: “if someone is breathing they need encouragement!” In other words, we all need to be thanked and encouraged – Christians, those of other faiths and those of none. May I suggest that as you read the rest of this article you give some thought to who you might say “thank you” to today? This simple act will make a real impact on the person / people you thank.

If you enjoy folk music may I extend a welcome to you to a concert which is being held at St. Peter’s at 7.30pm on Friday June 8th as part of the Oundle International Festival. The concert is being given by TEYR and tickets can be purchased at www.oundlefestival.savoysystems.co.uk

You are all very welcome to join us at St. Giles, St. Peter’s and indeed other local churches as we thank God for all that he has done for us.

With my prayers,

Jon
Jon Randall (Vicar) 07939 449255; vicar@saintpeters.co.uk

Not by chance

by

Having some enforced rest during a recent illness I was watching an interview with Alex Jones who presents The One Show on BBC1.

She was asked how she got her big break in front of the cameras. She related that soon after she left university she was working in the office for the BBC in Wales. One day she was asked to go and collect Michael Crawford from the railway station and take him to a location nearby for filming. On the way she got a message saying that filming was delayed and could she please take Crawford out to lunch. She had only just started work and had very little money so she took him to a McDonald’s Drive Thru’. She said Michael seemed to be OK with this, but her bosses went crazy with her when they found out. A few weeks later she committed another ‘indiscretion’ and again her bosses were unimpressed. Apparently, one day her boss said to her something like : “Well, you’re no good in the office so let’s see if you’re any good in front of the camera.” Clearly she was good on camera and this launched her successful career. Effectively she found her career by chance.

Some of you will have heard that Archbishop Justin Welby recently discovered that his biological father is not the man he had always thought that he was. Apparently his mother had a brief liaison with another man just before her marriage to Gavin Welby. Archbishop Justin said that he was completely surprised, but then added: “I know that I find who I am in Jesus Christ, not in genetics, and my identity in him never changes…” .

This wonderful statement reflects something which is available to all of us. The invitation is open to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ to know their identity in him. That identity includes being loved, being part of God’s family and the promise of everlasting life in his Kingdom. This does not happen by chance. Rather, it is part of God’s plan for us all. Whether you feel that you are in the right job, or haven’t had the sort of break enjoyed by Alex Jones, or indeed if you are not working at all and whatever your family and personal circumstances, the invitation to find who you are in Jesus Christ is open to all.

You are all always welcome at any of our services at St. Peter’s – details are here or give me a call.

May I take this opportunity to invite you to our annual plant sale, Green Day, which is on Saturday May 7th from 10.00am at St. Peter’s. We also look forward to welcoming you to our service at 11.00am on May 15th to begin the second day of the Yaxley Festival on the Recreation Ground.

With my prayers.

Jon Randall (Vicar) 01733 240339; vicar@saintpeters.co.uk

Read this article in the Yaxley Gazette.