From the Vicarage - December 2011

I simply cannot believe how quickly this year has passed and here we are thinking about celebrating Christmas again. It has been another milestone in the life of our Church with the 275th Anniversary celebrations, part of which was spent holding our services in the Church Hall whilst the Church underwent major repairs. The Flower Festival and other events all helped to play their part in recognising the important role that St Thomas’s continues to play at the heart of our town. This month will see the culmination of our Anniversary celebrations with the performance of Handel’s Messiah on 3rd December prior to our very special Christmas services.

The year has also brought sadness, not least of these was the death of Brian Shaw. Shortly after I came to St Thomas’s in January 2005 Brian was appointed Churchwarden, a role that he continued to fulfil unstintingly for the next 5 years, despite having to cope with his own illness as well as other family concerns. Brian made a significant impact on the Church during that time, helping us to launch the Restoration Appeal and to commence several projects to restore the Church to its former glory. Brian’s legacy to us is all around us in Church and the fruits of his labours will be there for a lifetime. Our thoughts are very much with Gillian who has lovingly been alongside Brian throughout this time. They worked as an excellent partnership, not only in their personal and professional lives but also within the Church family. Whilst we shall miss Brian enormously we have much to be thankful for in knowing him and seeing the strength, courage and determination with which he approached the challenges he faced in life. Many of the people who attended Brian’s funeral service were astounded at how much he had achieved during his life and how many people’s lives he had touched along the way.

As we look to the coming of Christmas we know that for some of us the celebrations will be very different this year because of additions to our family, loved ones who are no longer with us, or other changes that have taken place during the year, such as in the loss of jobs or a change in our domestic circumstances. I do hope that, whatever changes or challenges you have experienced this year, you will be able to reflect on those times of joy or sadness, in the knowledge that through the birth of this tiny baby in Bethlehem we are never alone. God is with us always in our tears of joy and our tears of sorrow. May he bless you richly this Christmas and always.

With every blessing. Rev Ron Curtis