Knowing that we are loved

A new generation attending Chichester cathedral have shifted the atmosphere.  Buggies now take their place alongside the Zimmer frames, to the delight of everyone.

We are being reminded what it’s like to be a baby. The needs are basic: warmth and security, food, sleep, and clean clothes.

In early childhood we need people to notice us, and we need one or two people who always do this.  That’s how we know that we are loved.  We need things to play with, capturing our imagination and teaching us communication and how to work with what we see.

We never really grow out our earliest needs which guarantee our human dignity.

I was reminded of this at the joyful celebrations of baptism and confirmation just before Christmas. Candidates spoke of their need of being loved, feeling safe, finding kindness and knowing that you can be forgiven.

Some of the most moving testimonies came from our asylum seeker and refugee brothers and sisters. They spoke of how the local church has shown them the kindness of God our loving Father, which we see in the face of his Son, Jesus Christ. This kindness has done much to restore their sense of dignity as the children of God. And because words can sometimes be a barrier, the symbolic gestures of worship become more important as a form of communication.

The washing with water in baptism, like the laying-on of hands and anointing in confirmation speaks powerfully. It says that the love of God is as tender and reassuring as the gentle touch of a parent is to a new-born child.

So, with Christians young and old we rejoice this Christmas that what God the Father sees and loves in the new-born Christ, he sees and loves in you and me.

The Virgin Mother looks on with love. Joseph is a friend and guardian. Angels enchant us with music promising peace on earth. And all for your sake.

+ Bishop Martin

As the year draws to a close and the Christmas season approaches, we are are appealing to those who would like to, or already do, help keep our Parish running and serving our community with kind donations.

We want to ensure that the church gets maximum benefit from your financial support and to reduce the parish admin involved. If you are a UK tax payer, we are able to claim an extra 25p in Gift Aid for every £1 donated; the easiest way to do this is using the Parish Giving Scheme here.  Once set up, Gift Aid is collected automatically and you won’t need to do anything else (other than cancel any previous standing order you had set up to the church account).

If you’d prefer to continue giving as you do now, that’s absolutely fine, but if you are a taxpayer, we would really appreciate a completed Gift Aid form which you can print here, or pick up in church.

This extra support makes a big difference and we’d love as many contributions as possible to benefit from Gift Aid.

Thank you again for your generosity.

Next Sunday Evening, Sunday 24 September at 6:30pm, at St Barnabas’, Pound Hill, there will be a Service of Prayer and Praise.

Christians of all denominations are welcome to this informal ecumenical service of Prayer and Praise which is one of a series of regular monthly 6:30 Sunday evening services being held at St Barnabas’ Church.

The Ecumenical Worship Group will be creating a peaceful worshipful atmosphere with music and song and plenty of time for all to reflect together prayerfully.

If you would like to join in the music group by playing an instrument or singing please email John Palmer on music.stb@worthparish.org for more information.