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FROM THE URC MINISTER

On 11th February, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he would resign as from 28th February.  As you read this the Conclave may be meeting to elect the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. 

The Pope said, “After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry….  In order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me.”

In this month leading up to Easter, it is worth noting the place of Peter, the fisherman, at the death and resurrection of Jesus.  He was the last disciple to stay with Jesus after his arrest, and the first to enter the empty tomb looking for him.  The risen Jesus challenged Peter three times, “Do you love me?” and then gave him his ministry, “Feed my sheep, tend my lambs.”  This was despite - or perhaps because of - Peter’s failure to keep awake when Jesus had asked him to pray with him, and Peter’s denial that he knew Jesus; for Jesus saw deeply into the heart of Peter, and saw his potential, with the Holy Spirit’s strength, to lead others in their struggles to follow Jesus and declare their faith.

But great responsibilities do require physical and mental strength, and there is wisdom in recognising the time to hand over to someone else, under God’s guidance.  Pope Benedict said, “And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“With regard to myself,” he said, “I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.” That call from Jesus to pray continues beyond failure to keep to it, as in Peter’s case, and the ending of other responsibilities.

After Pope Benedict’s visit to Westminster Abbey in 2010, I wrote in ICN that I found it a moving moment when Pope and Archbishop prayed together.  The Pope prayed to God, “Bring the hearts of believers together in your praise and in common sorrow for their sins.  Heal the divisions among Christians; that we may rejoice in the perfect unity of your Church, and move together as one to eternal life in your kingdom.” 

Amidst the development of nuclear weapons capability in North Korea, the resurgence of violence in Mali and in Northern Ireland, and the continuing divisions between so many people, may those prayers come true.

Bernie

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR THE BEREAVED

There will be a Memorial service at St Giles’ Church on Sunday 12th May at 3pm for those who are bereaved.  The names of the departed, whose funerals were conducted at Ickenham URC or by St Giles’ Church staff between the beginning of March 2012 and the end of February 2013, will be read out during the service. 

The Revd Deborah Chapman, Priest-in-Charge of St Hugh’s Northolt and Chaplain to the Willesden Area Mothers’ Union, will give a short talk, and members of the Bereavement Support Group will be present. 

After the service, the congregation will be invited to have refreshments in St Giles’ Church Hall.  Anyone who would find this service helpful is welcome to attend.