November letter 2025

Dear Friends,

November is the month of the year when we remember the importance of death and dying in our national life and in our local parish.

In the parish, we recognise the need of many of us to recognise the great value of loved ones who have died. On Sunday 2nd November at 4pm in St Luke’s Church, we hold a helpful straightforward service to remember. We read out the names of those who have made our hearts warm, and whose loss has brought heartbreak. We light candles as a way of saying we shall continue to be glad of the light they brought to our lives. We bring photos to hold and treasure as we thank God for those who have been a good gift in the sharing of life on this earth. All are welcome to come for a 45-minute Service to Remember, followed by tea/coffee in the church hall.

With the nation, we gather on Remembrance Sunday 9th November to recognise the great value of sacrifice given and loss endured by those who contributed to the war effort in WWII and in armed conflicts and terrorist acts since then. If we are Christians we will be most aware of the value of self-sacrifice even unto death. Jesus fought the good fight of life and gave himself to torture and execution, in order that we might gain a victory over sin and death. Soldiers and civilians have given their lives for our nation’s futures and freedoms. It is good to come and be part of Remembrance Sunday: 10am service in church, 11am Act of Remembrance at the churchyard cenotaph.

Our nation is in the throes of a very significant debate about death and dying. The present legislation before Parliament will most likely cause more heartache than it solves. I encourage you to ponder a bit of wisdom from John Stott (1921-2011), a once-famous London vicar and global preacher:

‘I sometimes hear old people, including Christian people who should know better, say ‘I don’t want to be a burden to anyone else. I’m happy to carry on living as long as I can look after myself, but as soon as I become a burden, I would rather die!’ …….But this is wrong. We are all designed to be a burden to others. You are designed to be a burden to me, and I am designed to be a burden to you. And the life of the family, including the life of the local church family, should be one of ‘mutual burdensomeness’. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6v2)

This remembrancetide, may your memories bring a smile and your thoughts bring life not death.

Yours in Christ,

Rob