Corrawallen Kildallon Kinawley Newtowngore Swanlinbar Templeport Tomregan Group Newsletter

United in Love

Well; after all the busyness of Easter, and a wonderful week walking and exploring in sunny Wales, I went to the Church Army Conference in Derbyshire. Held every 2 years I count it both a privilege and a priority to go to keep in touch with the ongoing life of the Church Army of which I am a part. I suspect there were about 200 Church Army officers present. As the only Church Army Officer presently employed in the Republic of Ireland it’s hugely important I keep in touch.
It’s always great to catch up with lots of friends, some of whom I’ve worked or trained with. I have to say that this year was particularly special for a very different reason. Looking at the programme, I and many others had been concerned about a discussion which was planned for near the end of the conference. It included a very difficult issue that had caused much pain and controversy in the past. In recent years the conference has left business and thorny issues for other days in the year because experience had shown they could cloud the whole atmosphere.
Well I’m pleased to say the discussion did take place. Instead of being the part of the conference we had feared it turned out to be the most important and special part of the week. Pain and hurts were shared. People listened. Fears, hopes and uncertainties were all shared in the most wonderful atmosphere of love. The Church is often pulled apart for it’s disunity and yet here was an example of something quite special. Different views were shared, yet a beautiful love in action prevailed. Praise God.
The Hayes conference centre Love is a distinctive mark of the church as it should be. This was a quality that was found in the early church. It’s what made the church so attractive and different. The church took note and acted upon Jesus instruction in John‘s gospel, "A new commandment I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Years later the ancient historian Tertullian reported that the Romans would exclaim, “See how they love one another!” Justin Martyr sketched Christian love this way: “We who used to value the acquisition of wealth and possessions more than anything else now bring what we have into a common fund and share it with anyone who needs it. We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we live together with such people and pray for our enemies.”
The church had taken note and so did everyone else and the church grew.
Of course it’s much easier to love those whom you already like and get on with. The Christian love stands out because it seeks a love even for enemies. Paul perhaps shares an important key in Philippians 2:3 where he tells us, "with humility of mind, regard one another as more important than yourselves." Jesus showed that love in action as he put each of us before himself on the cross.
I love the church here in this quiet rural land where God has called me. I love the warmth and generosity I find. Yet we must never be complacent. As we journey with hopes, fears, joy and pain may we continue to bear the marks of Christ’s church - his family. May we grow in a deep love for Christ and for one another.

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