Dear Friends,
Less than a month ago, as I’m writing, we marked the funeral of our late Queen Elizabeth II. Whatever your views on the
monarchy, it was an impressive occasion: ten days of pomp and pageantry, liturgy and logistics, all meticulously planned and
impeccably executed.
Alongside all the formal proceedings, and equally impressive, was the huge response of the public. People had travelled long
distances and queued for many hours to file past the Queen’s coffin in Westminster Hall, or to line the route of the
procession. Others gathered in parks and town squares, cathedrals and cinemas, to watch the event on big screens, or
stood at roadsides to watch the cortege pass by. For some this was because of a personal connection with the Queen, but for
the majority it was simply a need to be there, to feel part of the event and to share the moment with others. Even those who,
like myself, were not able to be there in person, had the opportunity to join in via the television coverage, which
included interviews with the gathered crowds.
There is something really important that happens when people gather together for a common purpose. It is more than just
sympathetic support. During my sabbatical, having set out to experience other places and forms of worship, I attended a
Quaker meeting. I knew that these meetings were conducted largely in silence, and went prepared to be still within myself for
the hour. But the woman who welcomed participants and introduced the meeting described something different. We
were there, she said, to hold the silence for one another. This was not about individual devotion; this was about creating a
shared stillness.
It made me think again about why we gather for worship. Yes, it is good to see other people and encourage one another. It is
good to pool our voices in singing and prayers. But we are also, in being present, embodying the presence of Christ for one
another. We are between us becoming the body of Christ in that place, at that time, through the Holy Spirit. It is both a
sacred responsibility and a precious gift.
Those who attended the Queen’s funeral made considerable sacrifices of time, money and comfort, happy to do so for a one-
off event. Church makes fewer demands: no queuing, and you can sit down for most of the time. But we are, as a church
fellowship, committed to one another, to being there for one another. So please come as often as you can, to services, quiet
mornings or bible study. Come, because your presence is needed to embody Christ for others. Come, because they have
come to embody Christ for you. Come, because in holding the space for each other, we make space for God.
Every blessing,
Sue
