The Reality of Our Faith...

Everything you wanted to know about Christianity
at the Anglican Parish of the Otways

Please join me each week for our reflections
of sermons conducted during our church service.
Plus, occasional splashes of humour and epiphanies!

With much Love and Blessings
Rev. Jenny Brandon

Anglican Parish of the Otways

The Reality of Our Faith...

7/4/2017

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This week we have had the heartache of saying goodbye to one of our much loved community members.

As we come to terms with the reality of a loved ones death, with all its pain and sense of loss, we are not only united in our sorrow, we are also united in our hope, for just as we are confronted with the reality of death so to we must allow ourselves to be confronted with the reality of our faith.

Our faith opens our minds to the whole picture of life and death and what comes after death.

It is only in the light of faith that we can begin to understand what has happened to our loved one and how we are to keep going from here.

When in our faith we speak about heaven, and resurrection, and the next life, we do not speak about these things primarily because they give us consolation and strength. They certainly do that, but the primary reason we speak of these things is because they are TRUE.

God has spoken His word to us: Jesus said

Jesus said "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” John 11:25

“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places.
If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”
John 14:2

and we respond to it saying, “Yes, I believe.”

God has broken the silence of death, and told us that He has conquered it, a truth we will celebrate next week when we gather to celebrate Easter. Through baptism, we will share in victory over death that was won for us by Jesus Christ.Because of this, we as Christians are not silent in the face of death.

Many people attending funerals do not know what to say. Death seems to have the last word, But death doesn’t have the last word, Christ’s victory over death means love, joy and peace are the last word.

The end of the story, is not death, but resurrection and life eternal.

The farewell we give our loved ones who pass from this life is a temporary farewell.

When they die in Christ they will live in Christ, and share in Christ’s resurrection.

Blessings
Rev. Jenny

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About the author

Rev. Jenny is an ordained Priest of the Anglican Diocese delivering services at Anglican Parish of the Otway churches every week.

With great depth of knowledge and a spiritual practice that shows she walks her talk and has taken her to the far reaches of N.T. Australia working with indigenous youth and elders.

Rev. Jenny embraces diversity of Christian viewpoints. Her enthusiasm for children learning about their connection to God is infectious. The church services are people-centred and friendly. For more information Click Here!