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The Vicar’s Light Reflections

Light Reflections… “Let your light shine…” (Matthew 5.16)

I pray that you have all had a good summer; have taken time out to rest and recuperate and are now feeling refreshed for that ‘back to school’ feeling. I have enjoyed a slightly quieter time and with a family wedding in the Southeast, took the opportunity to go to a place that I have wanted to go to for a long time, Canterbury. Of course, this meant a visit to the Cathedral, which was amazing, an ancient place of worship; and of course, also the martyrdom in 1170 of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. Where he was murdered very much felt to me, still a place of violence, at odds in the House of God, a place of peace and prayer. And this dichotomy is reflected in two stained glass windows in the southeast transept. These 20th Century windows are by Ervin Bossányi, who was an Austrian-Hungarian refugee who left Nazi Germany to a new life in England. The windows, called Salvation (left) and Peace (right) are stunningly beautiful, inspired by the folk art of Hungary, and which replaced, in 1960 the Victorian windows which had been damaged bywartime bombing.

In a world that is still being torn apart by war, especially in Europe, as we continue to pray for peace in Ukraine, I was struck that even in the midst of horror, death and humankind’s inhumanity, we have a Saviour who frees us from sin, who opens the door on our prison cells and leads us into peace and eternal life. For Jesus has already gone before us, he himself suffered, as our Creed tells, “...under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.” But “on the third day he rose again from the dead and ascended into heaven.” Maybe, this month, take time to reflect through these glorious stained-glass images on who Jesus is and what he has done for us...for you...and know the eternal truth that sets us free, gives us life and peace, that surpasses all understanding.

Blessings, Rev’d Karen

Christ Centered...Kingdom Focused