I find myself writing this article for the February  parish magazine in the middle of December, in the middle of Advent with its  great themes of Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell. These eternal themes are  counter-cultural to how most people regard the month of December with all the  seasonal preparations for the festival of Christmas.  However, yesterday I had  a trip into London and trying to squeeze onto an overcrowded tube train did  indeed give me a little glimpse as to what Hell may be like.  My sympathies go  out to all commuters who have to struggle with the underground day in and day  out.  I count myself fortunate in that I work where I  live.

The journey to London was in the end well  worth the effort for, as a pre-Christmas treat I went along to the Art of  Sienna exhibition at the National Gallery - what a real treat that was.  Siena  is so often overshadowed by Florence (my favourite Italian city) so it was a  joy and a delight to see the Renaissance works of art produced in that great  rival city.  In the first room there was a statue of that great saint and  Christian mystic - St. Catherine of Siena, one of the few among God's saints  to have been granted the holy stigmata - the wounds which Christ Himself bore  for us upon the cross.  It was the first time ever that this statue had left  the convent in Siena. I wonder what St. Catherine thought of 21st century  London?

But what astounded and amazed me most of  all were the fabulous paintings of the Madonna and Child.  They were both  stunning and glorious and clearly showed the loyalty Mary had for Jesus and  Jesus had for His Blessed Virgin Mother.  There was also a magnificent reredos  of the Assumption of the Virgin.  Astonishingly this great work of art was  discovered in a shed!  There was Mary being assumed into heaven surrounded by  angels playing various instruments.  The angels reminded me of nothing more  than the children of Feering school at their Carol Service - situated each  side of the high altar in All Saints' playing their percussion instruments and  singing with gusto the Gloria from "Ding dong, merrily on high". At the top  of the reredos we find Christ Himself literally diving down from heaven to  welcome Mary into the courts of paradise in order to crown her as Queen of  Heaven.  The divine son (like the father at the return of the Prodigal  Son) simply cannot wait to be reunited with his mother and so rushes out to  greet her.  Again, what a beautiful image this gives us of  loyalty.

So, where do your loyalties lie?  To family?  Friends?  School?  Work?  Political Party?  Country?

To whom should a Christian express loyalty?  To God  surely!  Our loyalty to and our love of God ultimately show themselves in  worship.  If we love God we long to be there in church Sunday by Sunday with  other Christians expressing our love and loyalty to Him through our praise and  worship.  Alas, there are far too many in our congregations who only come along  when they are actually have a job to do and are absent at other times.  I would strongly urge and encourage a stronger and a greater loyalty to Christ  in this new year which offers to us all new beginnings.

The word loyal is ultimately the same word as legal  shown in "faithfully carrying out (legal) obligations".  We all must one day  face the dreadful day of judgement when our faith and our loyalty to Christ  will come before the divine judge.  A little annual reminder of this is when  Churchwardens are sworn into office - they stand before the Archdeacon and the  Registrar who is attired in legal wig and gown.  Here I would like to pay  fulsome tribute to our four churchwardens and thank them - in order of  seniority of service - Phyllis, John, Jenny and Tom - for their faithfulness  and loyalty to Christ and to the local church.  I couldn't ask for better  support and loyalty and I express my sincere gratitude to all four as the  chief representatives of the laity within this parish.  They give to us all a  fine example of Christian devotion and loyalty.

After that encomium let me conclude with a little  story - A young man in the army confided to his padre that he never went out  with another girl unless she was outside a fifty mile radius of his own home.  His loyalty to his girlfriend extended for a mere fifty miles!  How far does  your loyalty to Jesus Christ extend?  Make 2008 a year when your loyalty to  Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, extends and  grows.
 
 

NEW YEAR BLESSINGS
 
 

FATHER DAVID