It is very appropriate that the wine and water ‘cruet’, in memory of Cliff Boddy, will be dedicated at our Parish Rededication Communion on Sunday 14 September at 10.45 am. It has taken us some time to find the right memorial for Cliff, but I feel sure he would approve of the choice. The cruet is a beautiful pair of glass flagons, with silver tops and handles, inscribed in Cliff’s memory. Cliff’s talents included that of silversmith as well as scribe. He was a chorister at St James for 78 years and he served as Churchwarden, PCC member, Verger and scribe. Every week he prepared the sanctuary for Communion. Cliff’s life of service to his Lord at St James can be an example for us all as we come to rededicate ourselves in ministry and mission, at the start of a new season. I am not trying to make Cliff out to be a saint – I can imagine what he might have to say to that! But his whole life was lived against the background of his sense of duty and dedication, that was focussed on his membership of the congregation at St James.
We do not often hear the word ‘vocation’ today. It is, as they say, counter culture! Today we hear more about personal choice, self realisation and self fulfilment. Jesus said to his disciples:- “You did not choose me, I chose you.” Or we can think of the child Samuel in the Temple called by God, and instructed by Eli to reply:- “Speak Lord, for your servant hears.” There can be no greater sense of privilege and purpose than to be aware of a sense of vocation, and it gives, I suggest, a greater and deeper sense of fulfilment and value, than is given by self choice and self gratification. Each one of us who is baptised has a vocation and ministry. For each of us it will be different and distinctively appropriate to our particular talents and inclinations. I pray that our Annual Rededication Communion will be an opportunity for each of us to hear our own particular vocation, to respond:- “Speak Lord, for your servant hears,” and to rededicate our whole lives in God’s service, as a consistent and constant background.
Cliff was a chorister at St James for 78 years. If God has given you the talent to sing, perhaps he is calling you to sing in the choir at St James. We are blessed with musical talent at St James, ably led by Steve Roberts, but we need new members so please contact him. Another area which is concern for prayer is our work with young people. We have been seeking for the right person as a Youth Leader, but we need also to listen to what our young people want and need. All of us, as a Church, should work as a team in welcoming, encouraging and supporting our young people. Please share your thoughts with us about what we could and should be doing. There is so much else in the life of our Church: much of it is lively and encouraging, but we want as many as possible to share our common concern and to offer suggestions for our ministry and mission.
There will be an exhibition of photographs and displays over the weekend of our Rededication Service, so do come and share that. This is an opportunity to thank God for the Restoration work and the response to the Appeal. We have decided to delay Phase 2 of the work (on the tower), till 2004. This has enabled us to apply for a grant from English Heritage who will not make a grant for work already started. Hopefully we shall have a response in the Autumn and be able to reach our target of £110,000 by the end of this year. I would again like to thank everyone for the marvellous response of over £75,000 so far. It would be good to use our Rededication Service to launch our final ‘push’ to reach our target.
When we think of Cliff Boddy’s life, that perhaps encourages us to understand our Christian discipleship as a lifetime’s commitment. May we use our Rededication Communion, not only to remember him, but for each one of us to be aware of our vocation and to respond by dedicating our life in worship, ministry and mission and to serve our Lord all our days.
Yours sincerely
Peter Lee
