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The Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple
31st January 2010

The Parish's Ministry

After this service I will be going off to Thanet where the PCC are having an AwayDay.

I have a feeling that that name came from British Rail and stuck. We hold the day on a Sunday so that people can see who the PCC are - when they are not there. The object is to meet together, away from our usual discussions about finance and buildings, and discuss some aspect of our life and worship, and enjoy being together and looking at how we can lead the Parish forward.

Today, while the congregation in St. Paul's Church is thinking about The Presentation, we will be experiencing a presentation from the Diocesan Missioner, a model for mission called The Mission Dynamic. We want to look at how our vision and structure here in this parish relate to the Diocesan vision.

The message of our Gospel never changes, just as the words of Simeon never change. What he said came true and is with us still. But we need always to look at how to express that truth in our own time with its changing realities and priorities.

One of the things that people sometimes say is: Oh we've done that before, we've tried that before... it's as if one attempt at something different and one failure completely cancels out the need to do anything else. In fact the mission of the Church is all about uncertainly and risk, trying and failing, rather than staying comfortable and secure.

I am pleased to see that almost everyone on the PCC is coming on the Day today - a real sign of commitment to work together. Please pray for your PCC during the day that God will be with us in our reflections and that he will show us the way forward.

Amen

© PCC St Martin's and St Paul's Canterbury 2008 - 2010