I’m sure that, after the excitement of the Olympics and
Paralympics, many people will find it quite hard to get back to the
normal routines of everyday life this month. It’s often like that after
any special event in our lives – a birthday perhaps, or a holiday - we
might well experience a sense of anti-climax and feel quite flat when
the event is over. When a whole nation seems to have had an exciting
time things are bound to seem dull, especially considering the present
economic problems we are facing. So maybe you’re not looking
forward to a return to ‘ordinary’ life. On the other hand, you might be
someone who really prefers the routines of daily life to the turbulence
of special times. You might not have particularly enjoyed the Olympics
and all the fuss that went with them and are quite glad to be getting
back to normality. We are all different, thank goodness!
Olympics or not, September is always a month for getting back to
routine: a new school year begins, students prepare to return to
college, and all manner of organisations begin a new season of
activities. This is certainly true in the life of the parish of
Llandudno. Although as a seaside parish we are busier than most
churches would be in August, welcoming visitors to our services and
concerts etc., nevertheless September sees many of our organisations
meet again after the summer break and a resumption of business meetings
such as the PCC. Hopefully, everyone can enter more fully into the
challenges that lie ahead refreshed by the break.
However as we do this, we need to remember that the inner heart of the
life of the parish is in fact its routine of worship and prayer. And
this goes on day by day, week by week throughout the year, summer and
winter. The offering of the Eucharist on at least four days each week,
and the saying of the offices of Morning and Evening Prayer are the
real beating heart of our parish. Sometimes, like all routine
activities, they can seem dull. One can question the point of
performing the same actions or saying the same (or at least similar)
words, time and time again and long for something different, more
exciting.
Yet Christians through the centuries have found that it is precisely
when they remain faithful to the daily routines of prayer and worship
that they grow in their spiritual lives. When we pray the psalms day by
day, when we read and reflect on the words of sacred scripture, when in
the Eucharist we are drawn near to the ‘one offering, single and
complete’ which Our Lord made on Calvary but which he ‘shows forth day
by day’ for us – when we do all these faithfully – then Christ is
surely being formed in us as individuals and as a parish community.
We have many challenges to face in the years ahead – not least how to
attract more folk to share our worship and fellowship. Both William and
Andy have been writing about this recently and stirring up much
controversy in the process! Whether you agree with what they have been
saying or not, it is vital that we at least consider all the options
before us. Don’t worry – you won’t turn up one Sunday morning any time
soon and find that all the pews have gone! But we do all have to think
long and hard about where God is leading us and what being faithful to
Christ means in 2012 and in the future. Please be part of this debate.
However, with all my being I believe that whatever the future holds for
us, and whatever decisions we make, nothing will be of value unless at
the heart of our parish life is that faithful attention to God known to
us in the ‘breaking of bread and the prayers’. As we return to the
routine of life after the Olympics and the holidays, my invitation to
us all is to deepen our share in the worship and prayer of the parish –
to be present at the Eucharist as often as we can and to enter more
deeply into the wonder which is made known to us there; - to come to
share in the Daily Office (the prayer of God’s people) in church
whenever we are able, or perhaps to say part of it at home on our own.
Although the ordained ministers of the church have an obligation to say
the daily offices they are essentially the prayer of all God’s people.
The more we enter into worship and prayer the more we will grow in
grace and also will be more open to where God is leading us in the
future.