Pastoral Letter: Rev Ulrike Bell

​Dear friends,

As we enjoy the beauty of autumnal sunshine and the earthen smells, as the days are getting shorter and the leaves are turning golden and falling to the ground, some of you, like me, may be reminded that our own time on earth is limited and will some time come to an end.

I love November for reminding me. As much as I enjoy the sun in spring and summer, I do love the end of the church year for drawing us in towards the darkness, for exposing us to the uncomfortable warning apocalyptic texts that come with Remembrance Sunday and all the way through Advent and towards Christmas.

I see it as a wake-up call not to take my life for granted, nor my loved ones, nor God’s loving presence and mercy and His purpose for us all, nor the liberty and peace that we enjoy in this country, despite current political, social and environmental struggle. I don’t want to take for granted (although I mostly do).

May we remember the beauty and warmth of the golden autumn sun when our days will have become wet and dreary.

May we remember the light that shines in the darkness, and that within our own dreariness/ darkness, entirely unwanted and uncalled for, we can become an opportunity for Christ’s light to shine even brighter. (2 Cor 12,9)

May we remember the rock from which we were hewn (Isaiah 51,1f.), the loving creator who called us into existence for a reason (no doubt more than one: different purposes in different phases of our lives). God will not only turn nature from winter back into spring, and night back into day, but will turn also our inner scarceness and angst into grace and use us, even us, for joining in with His mission work. Our God is a great, big God!

Have a good Remembrance.

Yours, in Christ

​Ulrike