The Chaplain writes
Dear Saints,
The months of May and June are the least hectic months of the year in the life of St Mary’s Twente. Our annual Ascension Day Picnic is the only special event planned besides our regular worship services. So let us ease into a great Spring and an easy Summer.
Well, Mother’s Day is coming up on the second Sunday of May. Still, we usually do nothing with it as we have Mothering Sunday in the middle of Lent, so we celebrate our mothers then with a tinge of reserve. I feel very sorry for the fathers in our parish because nothing special has been done for fathers since I have been here. Should we not find a way to celebrate all the fathers in the congregation on the third Sunday of June? Make them feel special, or do they feel special enough?
In South Africa, May is celebrated in the Anglican Church as Africa Month, culminating on May 25 as Africa Day (generally the Sunday closest to May 25). Everybody dresses in traditional attire, and we share home-cooked special African dishes from parishioners from all over Africa and sing traditional songs. This is because the African Union was founded on May 25 1963. The African Union is an organization that stands for peace on the continent, development, prosperity, and a good life for all who live there.
We don’t appear to know of such a European celebration, even though May 9 is considered Europe Day. Politicians envisaged, on May 9 1950, five years after the end of World War II, a Europe that gears its economy no longer towards war but towards peace and development. This year will be the 75th celebration.
As the Diocese in Europe, the Anglican Church is in a unique position to make its members, congregants and friends aware that peace and development are needed in Europe, maybe today more than 75 years ago.
During the Easter season, we celebrate the resurrection, and we notice that in the 40 days between Easter and the Ascension, Jesus revealed himself to his disciples in many ways. In the first two appearances, we see Jesus greeting his disciples with “Peace be with you”.
We say that to each other in every Eucharistic service: Peace be with you. Let all of us who follow Him be workers for peace and, therefore, instruments of peace. This is imperative because the European economies are again gearing towards war. Can lasting peace come out of instruments of war?
Let me share an African prayer and a blessing written specially for the Anglican Church in Africa. Maybe they can inspire us to pray a similar prayer and blessing for Europe, asking God to help us work towards peace.
Prayer
God of mountain peak and rolling veld,
Whose voice is the lion’s roar
And whose reach is the heron’s swoop:
Look with favour on our ancient land
And pour out your blessing on Africa, that her history may inspire our children,
Her bountiful resources feed the nations,
And her drumbeat draws all the people into the dance of reconciliation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Blessing
Walk tall, walk well, walk safe, walk free
And may harm never come to thee.
Walk wise, walk good, walk proud, walk true
And may the sun always smile on you.
Walk prayer, walk hope, walk faith, walk light,
And may peace always guide you right.
Walk joy, walk brave, walk love, walk strong
And may life always give you song
Yours in Christ as always,
Revd Jacque