91热爆

A reflection and prayer to start the day with the Archdeacon of Bangor, Mary Stallard.

Good morning. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I鈥檒l begin: Once upon a year, actually today, it鈥檚 World Read Aloud Day, celebrating the power of story-telling.

This came home to me recently with the sad and sudden loss of a friend and fellow priest, a man called Lloyd Jones, who was a fantastic raconteur. He had the most amazing reading voice and could make even the least exciting bits of the Bible come alive.

Preparing for his funeral I was struck by the stories people told about him. Children at the local school spoke of how Mr Jones the vicar visited regularly, helping them laugh together. Colleagues who were so saddened at his loss would break into sudden smiles as they recalled funny things he鈥檇 said.
Lloyd delighted in history and in the lives of the saints. He was the one who鈥檇 remarked how our ancient, large churches where people in generations past had lived through plague or sought shelter, are often ideally suited for socially distanced worship. His wife showed a similarly graceful attitude, saying, `鈥檌f you have to tell anyone the sad news of Lloyd鈥檚 death, please tell them also of his faith, because he wouldn鈥檛 have wanted anyone to be discouraged鈥�.

When we retell stories of someone like Lloyd I think we鈥檙e also pointing to an even greater narrative: about a life that never ends and a God who鈥榮 always with us, who wants us to find joy and meaning as a part of the story of all creation.

God of beginnings and endings, thank you that you鈥檙e interested in every part of our lives, help us to live and tell our own story with truth and courage, today and every day. Amen