Dedication Sunday 2006
A sermon preached by Fr Michael Fuller
Today is the 141st anniversary of the dedication of St. George’s, Campden Hill. Last year I reminded you of some of the fascinating history of St. George’s:
- Members of this church were at the forefront of the development of the temperance society, founded to combat alcohol abuse in Hillgate Village
- The area had some of the worst slums in the UK. The church provided clothes and food to the very poor who lived in the neighbourhood for over a hundred years
- St. George’s also offered an evening service to servants of the richer residents of Campden Hill
So what of 2006? What is the raison d’être of this church in the present? This is an interesting question today. Tomorrow evening the PCC will review the Mission Action Plan, a kind of business plan for the church. This Mission Action Plan is based solely on the prayerful vision that I have for St. George’s. It is concerned with a number of key issues and is based upon our Mission Statement, and here it must be realised. Such Mission Statements came from the church originally and are not the exclusive preserve of big business. “The purpose of our church is to love and serve in the joy of the resurrection and to be a witness of God’s love in Christ.” So we see that the church is a living organisation working, “living and working” BUT When you begin to ask people why they came to church you receive a diversity of responses that are as complex as life itself. And do you know what? IT DOES NOT MATTER!
There is underlying church attendance, an acknowledgement of the greatness and reality of a living God.
In our Old Testament reading, a great reading, Jacob wrestles with God and comes to the conclusion that the place of his strength was the place where God is. Have reached that understanding yet? Do we realise that where it’s the hardest, that’s where God is! And do we come back to this house, here and thank Him for being with us?
Tomorrow when the church committee meets will consider six issues, they will begin with two major challenges:
Living locally-thinking globally Thinking globally-living locally And why should we be doing this? Precisely because of what Peter tells us in our second reading. Because we, you and me, are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood” whatever you think of yourself and of the dear old Church of England, remember that we are a royal priesthood, God’s own people. Isn’t that wonderful?
Peter goes on to say “once you were nothing”, in spite of all we have achieved, in spite of who we are, BUT YOU ARE GOD’S PEOPLE, ALLELUJA, PRAISE GOD!
What a privilege and a joy is ours in spite of the difficulties we face! I pray God that this place, this house of God, can be the place it should be!!!
In the gospel Jesus tells us that his house, St. George’s Campden Hill is to be a house of prayer, and prayer is a meeting place with God.
Pray with me, be with me, plead with me in this house of God. GIVE WITH ME OF YOUR RESOURCES UNTIL IT HURTS then perhaps we can be the people who know God, are loved by God and are blessed by Him.
AMEN.
Fr Michael Fuller: 1st October 2006