August Vicar's Talk

Dear friends,

As I was deliberating what to write for this month’s BVN I received one of those ‘round robin’ e-mails. It’s a true story of how a Pastor in Broklyn enthusiastically began at his new Church in October. The Church was run down and dilapidated and he and his wife set a goal- that everything would look ship-shape for the Christmas Eve service. Things were on track – but then on the 19th December there was a huge storm and when the Pastor went into take a look inside the Church on 21st his heart sank. The roof had leaked and behind the pulpit was a 20ft x 8ft area where the plaster had fallen off. He reconciled himself to thinking that they wouldn’t be able to have the Christmas Eve Service after all.

Then on the way home in the local town he noticed a local business was holding a jumble sale for charity. Amongst the items for sale was a tablecloth. It was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with fine colours and a Cross right in the centre. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall and that’s what he did.

When he returned to put the tablecloth up he noticed a lady who had just missed her bus and she was standing in the snow. He invited her into Church to receive shelter and went ahead fastening the tablecloth to the wall. When he had finished he noticed the lady looked very white. She asked where he had got the table cloth from and he explained- she asked him to check the bottom right hand corner- it said EBG. She explained that she had made that tablecloth 35 years before when she and her husband had lived in relative prosperity in Austria. Then the war had come and although she escaped to safety her husband had been captured by the Nazis, sent to prison and she had never seen him again.

The pastor volunteered to give her back the tablecloth- but she said he was to keep it for the Church. Gratefully the pastor insisted on driving the lady home.

The Christmas Eve Service did happen- and it was a joyful and happy occasion. The Church was full. At the end of the service there was one man who hadn’t moved from his seat- and who was staring at the tablecloth. He asked where the pastor had got it. He said it was identical to the one his wife had made 35 years ago, before the war, before he was imprisoned. Since then he had never seen his wife again.

The pastor said he would take the man for a ride. He drove to the same house where he had taken the woman three days earlier. They climbed the three flights of stairs to the woman’s apartment and then he witnessed the greatest Christmas reunion you could ever imagine!

Well that was the story I received tonight. And you may think it far fetched or sentimental- or a very moving story. But when I read it I thought of those ‘co-incidences’ that I come across in ministry- which so often are God-incidents. They are stories I hear from you. Like ‘I was in the right place at the right time’, ‘I met so and so and s/he said something which has really changed my mind about something.’ Or ‘we have been put in touch with someone who can really help us’. I don’t think these are accidents. I think if we believe in God and His care for us ‘things do work out’. Maybe they work out in a way we would never predict, but none the less they work out. Sometimes I find God seems as though He has gone on his holiday- and then I hear one of your stories and my heart gives a leap. ‘Sorry Lord when I doubt you!’

So look out for these stories- maybe during the holiday we have more of an opportunity to hear and tune into the remarkable works of a loving God in all our lives!

God is blessing you- just listen and look!

Have a wonderful holiday,

Revd Claire