It’s not the vicar’s letter – from
Keith Thorpe
Dear Reader,
If you had been passing the junction of Redcar Lane and Lord Street on Wednesday, 31st October, 2007 at about 9:25 am you would have noticed a man standing outside the entrance to St Peter’s. You would have passed by, not giving a second glance or understanding how terrified he was of entering. This was a man who had not known religion in his life and you could even say despised it. The only trinity he was aware of throughout his life were Best, Law and Charlton. He considered Christians, and indeed all religious followers, to be weak people relying on some made up tales because they didn’t have the courage, strength or wisdom to get on with it themselves. Growing up in Salford was a hard life, you had to stand up for yourself or life was a misery. The law of the jungle prevailed. Affection was considered a weakness. So what brought this man to be outside St Peter’s quaking in his boots?
Let’s go back a few months to a dull overcast June day and nothing much on the telly. I was channel hopping and came across the God channel. Given my views at the time what could provide better sport? I settled back ready for a good old chortle. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better I realised the chap talking was an American TV evangelist. I was ready for a side splitting half hour. It turned out to be a life changer! I thought here we go, he’ll bang out a few bits of the Bible and part these suckers from their money. Big mistake! For the next half hour he hit me with one truth after another.
I knew then God existed. Well, what now? How do I find out more about this life changing Good news? Amazon of course! I sent for a Bible and began to read it. As I read it I knew it was true. Everything was there, laid out in black and white. All the truth, all the answers to all the questions. “If you will study, meditate and obey what is written, then you shall prosper in all you do”. What a promise! As I began to read the Bible I realised that it was impossible to be a Christian without being a member of a church.
But which one? I had no religious background so I had free rein. As I was pondering this one day I heard something being put through the letter box. John Weetman had delivered a free copy of the Parish magazine. Even I could read that sign. So here I am, standing outside St Peter’s, hopping from one foot to the other, trying to find the courage to enter. I mean, what do I do when I get in? Where do I sit? Do I sit? Do I stand? Do I kneel? Then a thought came to me. Why are you concerned? They are all Christians! They practice love, acceptance and forgiveness. Yes even you are welcome! So in I went to be welcomed by Betty. How lucky can you get? After the service I was invited to join them for coffee and had the pleasure of meeting Claire Todd and Anne Hagen. They were so welcoming, I felt at home. Well here I am four years later and now I am a churchwarden.
I would never have imagined it, but it seems someone had planned it.
Keith Thorpe.
When the thought of you wakens in us
God our heavenly Father,
when the thought of you
wakes in our hearts,
let its awakening
not be like a startled bird
that flies about in fear.
Instead, let it be like a child
waking from sleep
with a heavenly smile.
(Søren Kierkegaard
Keith Thorpe
Dear Reader,
If you had been passing the junction of Redcar Lane and Lord Street on Wednesday, 31st October, 2007 at about 9:25 am you would have noticed a man standing outside the entrance to St Peter’s. You would have passed by, not giving a second glance or understanding how terrified he was of entering. This was a man who had not known religion in his life and you could even say despised it. The only trinity he was aware of throughout his life were Best, Law and Charlton. He considered Christians, and indeed all religious followers, to be weak people relying on some made up tales because they didn’t have the courage, strength or wisdom to get on with it themselves. Growing up in Salford was a hard life, you had to stand up for yourself or life was a misery. The law of the jungle prevailed. Affection was considered a weakness. So what brought this man to be outside St Peter’s quaking in his boots?
Let’s go back a few months to a dull overcast June day and nothing much on the telly. I was channel hopping and came across the God channel. Given my views at the time what could provide better sport? I settled back ready for a good old chortle. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better I realised the chap talking was an American TV evangelist. I was ready for a side splitting half hour. It turned out to be a life changer! I thought here we go, he’ll bang out a few bits of the Bible and part these suckers from their money. Big mistake! For the next half hour he hit me with one truth after another.
I knew then God existed. Well, what now? How do I find out more about this life changing Good news? Amazon of course! I sent for a Bible and began to read it. As I read it I knew it was true. Everything was there, laid out in black and white. All the truth, all the answers to all the questions. “If you will study, meditate and obey what is written, then you shall prosper in all you do”. What a promise! As I began to read the Bible I realised that it was impossible to be a Christian without being a member of a church.
But which one? I had no religious background so I had free rein. As I was pondering this one day I heard something being put through the letter box. John Weetman had delivered a free copy of the Parish magazine. Even I could read that sign. So here I am, standing outside St Peter’s, hopping from one foot to the other, trying to find the courage to enter. I mean, what do I do when I get in? Where do I sit? Do I sit? Do I stand? Do I kneel? Then a thought came to me. Why are you concerned? They are all Christians! They practice love, acceptance and forgiveness. Yes even you are welcome! So in I went to be welcomed by Betty. How lucky can you get? After the service I was invited to join them for coffee and had the pleasure of meeting Claire Todd and Anne Hagen. They were so welcoming, I felt at home. Well here I am four years later and now I am a churchwarden.
I would never have imagined it, but it seems someone had planned it.
Keith Thorpe.
When the thought of you wakens in us
God our heavenly Father,
when the thought of you
wakes in our hearts,
let its awakening
not be like a startled bird
that flies about in fear.
Instead, let it be like a child
waking from sleep
with a heavenly smile.
(Søren Kierkegaard