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St Hilda's Church, Ashford
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I was brought up in the folds of the High Pennine Hills in Yorkshire and was privileged to worship in a church which dated back over 1000 years The Norman building was an inspiration to all who worshiped there. The architecture and acoustics were wonderful. As we prayed and sang our way though the liturgy glorifying God, we were lifted, as by the angels, into a knowledge that we were part of a tradition which we received and would pass on to many generations to come of prayer and adoration. We worshiped with the thousands who had passed though the church doors down the centuries.
As a member of God's family I was very grateful for the generations of Christians who had gone before me, sharing the same gospel and hope for salvation. That building was a testimony to their love of God in how it had been maintained and carefully developed over hundreds of years. It was like a baton of faith, love and care being passed down from parents to children from one generation to another which made all of us know that we had also a duty to do the same.
I believe that we have the same inherited gift from the people who began to build St Hilda's 92 years ago. We have also received the baton of faith from those who have loved and cared for the building since its completion 76 years ago.
If we are being called to Mission and Service in proclaiming God to this and future generations we also have a duty to hand the baton on also, knowing that we have done our bit. We need to think ahead not only for ourselves, but also for our children, and yes, our children's children. We must continue in our prayerful commitment to the gospel and ensure that God's people have a place to meet and worship after we have been called into glory.
We here at St Hilda's manage, with some difficulties at times, to balance our year-by-year financial commitment to God. But as you all know we have had to face an electrical fire which cost £16,000 to repair, new sound system at £14,000, Disability Acts requirements which have already exceeded £20,000 and a need to repair the roof at St Hilda's which will cost in excess of £60,000. We happily go on raising the monies but would it not have been easier if we had reserves, which had been built up over the years.
One important way of fulfilling the passing of not only the baton of faith but also the baton of the building to the next generation is by asking you, the Holy People of God, if you would help in building the financial reserve for the generations to come. This needs to be extra to the day-by-day giving we make. This is not easy, I know, but one of the least painful ways is to make a legacy within your will to St Hilda's. This is always a delicate area to talk about so the Vicar, Churchwardens and Parochial Church Council have asked Ken Clarke if he would be available to answer any questions you might have. This is highly confidential and nobody will even know that you have chatted to Ken. [Not even the vicar!]
Let us ensure that the generations who follow us will always have a place to Glorify God, which speaks of Our Faith, Our Hope and Our Love today.
Fr Chris Rogers