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The Rector's letter is printed in each edition of the Church Magazine
February/March 1995
What is eternal life? Most people would say it means Heaven or life after death. Jesus, however, shows us that it is more than that. "This is eternal life," he prayed, "that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ. whom you have sent." (John 17:3)
A good definition of a Christian is someone who has eternal life, in other words it is someone who knows God and knows Jesus Christ.
Our motto for 1995 'I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection' encourages us to explore and develop this relationship. Friendships can be superficial and they can be deep, they can be ordinary and they can be special. How well do we know our Lord? How special is He to us? How deep are we prepared to go?
If we are serious about "going for growth in Christ", this is the heart of it. The Apostle Paul made it clear that nothing mattered more to him than knowing Christ. It had a "minus" side: sharing in His sufferings. There is no avoiding that for anyone taking the Christian way seriously. There is, however, wonderful "plus" side: experiencing His resurrection power. 1995 can be a year to concentrate on spirituality.
Christopher Frith
From the February 1995 edition of the magazine
April/May 1995
Ten years ago, Pam and I were shown around the parish and we had to consider whether we were being called to serve here.
One attractive feature was the clear imaginative intention to re-order St Thomas' Church. It was something that I looked forward to greatly. Sadly, a decade on there is still nothing of it to be seen. What has happened since 1985?
St. Peter's and St. John's have been given priority - and rightly so. They have both carried through fine building projects, with the full support of St Thomas'. Their growth towards increased responsibility and independence continues.
Work among children at St Thomas' has developed. Summer Club now accommodates nearly 200 of them!
We have two temporary (and the Planning Department stress that they are temporary) portacabins.
The employment project, Touchstone is gathering momentum.
Opportunities beckon for outreach among the elderly and those who live alone (and there are many in our parish), as well as almost unlimited opportunities for youth and children's work.
There is a desire to increase our training and counselling activities.
We are realising that we have precious little storage space, our entrances are incredibly scruffy and so is the Church as a whole with the continual need to move staging, chairs and various items of furniture around. The old pews are collapsing from time to time. Provision for our complex administration needs is barely adequate.
The need for a major development of St Thomas' buildings is evident. The PCC has employed a fine firm of architects and has a Development Committee chaired by Robin Dawson. They now have some exciting proposals to put to the Church.
You are invited to a presentation of St. Thomas' Development Plans and to meet the architects on Sunday 21st of May 1995 in St. Thomas' Church at 4pm.
We need to know what you think. Is God really calling us to launch out in this way? This is an urgent question. My hunch is that He is!
We have discovered in recent years that He can be trusted to provide in almost incredible ways when His people really trust him.
Christopher Frith
From the April 1995 edition of the magazine
June/July 1995
Let me fill you in about our staff.
First, many congratulations to Sheila [Pite].The surprise announcement of her engagement to Don Stevenson, Chaplain at Bedford School, made a wonderful climax to the Easter Day Family Communion at St Thomas'. This means, sadly, that she will not only be marrying but moving also. Their wedding will be on 22 July, their farewell on 20 August at the 6.30pm service at St Thomas'.
I am delighted, to be able to announce that we are to have a replacement curate, Peter Wilkinson. He and his wife Julia introduce themselves here. Peter's ordination will be in Derby Cathedral on 2nd July and we hope a good number from the parish will want to attend. I am to have the responsibility and privilege of leading the retreat for those to be ordained and preaching at the ordination. Read more about Peter here.
Brian Porter is on the long road of convalescence after major surgery just before Easter. Mercifully the growth removed from his chest was benign. Please join me in praying for a complete recovery.
Judith Henderson has also been suffering, her back causing all sorts of problems, but as I write she is getting back into action. We trust God for her healing also.
Roger Freestone seems to be in good health, coping admirably with the most unsatisfactory busyness which seems to afflict our church. So am I, I am pleased to say -and it's wonderful to be able to say that Pam's [Frith] health is very much improved. However I hope people understand that, at a hectic time, we might not manage to live up to everyone's expectations.
We owe so much to our retired clergy, Geoffrey Wilbourne and Sam Cartwright, and John Rollinson when he is able. Also to our magnificent team of Readers; we would be pushed to manage without them.
With much love
Christopher Frith
From the June1995 edition of the magazine
August/September 1995
Someone made a hurtful comment the other day. It probably wasn't meant to hurt, but I found myself feeling offended. Then I remembered an article I wrote for a church magazine back in 1975! I believe its contents are relevant to many of us and so I am recycling it 20 years on:
"Mrs So and So hasn't been in church lately, has she?"
"No. I hear she's all offended......
Conversations like this can often be heard in churches. It's not surprising, for churches are made up of people, and people are always offending other people.
It's not surprising, but it is wrong. It's wrong to give offence unnecessarily (and I am aware how easily I do this.) It is just as wrong to take offence.
We are slow to realise this, but it is thoroughly unchristian to be offended, no matter what anybody says or does to us. In many cases Christian standards are completely opposite to the world's. For instance, Jesus tells us to love our enemies. Incredible - almost!
When I hear that I have offended someone at our church, I am obviously distressed, especially if I have been in the wrong. But I realise that it is inevitable. Think of all the people who took offence at our Lord. He told his followers to expect just the same thing. "Woe to you," He said, "When everyone thinks well of you" and those words are so true. The one vital thing is to please Him, and nothing that anyone else says must distract us from this.
When I feel myself getting offended, I have to stop myself. A quick "radio" prayer is called for: "Lord, help me resist this temptation." I hope you will try it too.
Christopher Frith
From the August 1995 edition of the magazine
October/November 1995
Autumn is a good growing time not for our gardens perhaps, but certainly for our churches. Refreshed after a wonderful summer, pleased to see the grass turning green again and relieved to find the temperature more comfortable, we have every incentive to grow.
Our vision statement - in summary, Going for Growth in Christ -needs to be owned.
It needs to be worked out in at least three directions.
Outwards: Reaching out with God's love to our parish - and the world beyond.
Inwards: Growth in love for each other shown in fellowship, pastoral care and improved communication.
Upwards: Growth in love for our Lord: shown in worship, prayer, service and giving.
This is what matters. I like to think that, when someone returns like a fond uncle to our parish after being away for a few months, we'll hear him say to us, "My, how you have grown!"
Christopher Frith
From the October 1995 edition of the magazine
December 1995/January 1996
Rector's Letter
If you won the lottery? what would you do with the money?
I doubt whether you'd give it away, but the evidence suggests that would be the best thing for your health and general well being.
Virginia Bottomley says it's the most successful lottery in history. It has made 127 new millionaires in its first year. It has netted £3,256m, in addition to over 1,000m from the "instant cards" started more recently.
On three occasions I have been embarrassed to find myself in the lottery queue in different shops! I can assure any reader who may have seen me that it was a mistake. Honestly!
There are two reasons why I dislike the lottery
1. It makes losing feel like winning. A conservative MP got excited having won £80 when he had spent out nearly £150! The payouts to selected "good causes" make purchasers feel good; they think they are giving to charity. But charities are in fact losing out disastrously. A recent estimate said they would lose £339m, while £248m was being distributed -a deficit of £91m, and that will be increased by the time you read this.
2. It is making our nation even more dominated by greed. "The love of money", said the Apostle Paul, "is the root of all evil." Time will tell just how much evil is being off loaded onto society by the lottery. Apparently, 80% of the population use it. An average of £2.43 a week is spent, per head.
You and I probably don't need much imagination to think of something better to do with our money. There are other ways of having fun! And there are certainly better ways of giving to charity.
Have a happy, peaceful and -if possible -greed reduced Christmas.
Christopher Frith
From the December 1995 edition of the magazine
Rector's Letters 1996
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