Dear Friends,

We have been reminded in recent weeks and months about how delicate and painful the business of remembering is in our context in Northern Ireland. The determination to allow an Orange Order march down the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road after 28 years, followed by a large-scale protest and the subsequent decision to reverse this determination by the Secretary of State, has caused widespread anger and hurt within both communities.

There’s a lot of history there and while great work has been done in local communities to facilitate most marches to pass off peacefully, the scars that are there from previous times are not far below the surface.

While a legal determination was passed, there are memories of 21 deaths that took place that were linked to the violence around this particular march during the period 1996-1999. These memories and the involvement of large numbers in the protests, meant the police were in an impossible position, knowing that to forcefully remove protestors would have led to widespread violence.

Others were seen as orchestrating these protests and abusing their office to place themselves above the law to achieve an outcome that was not the determination of the courts.

In one of my weekly blogs, I tried to offer some thoughts on a very challenging situation. See Church Without Walls from 22nd September on www.stfinnians.org

Remembering is complicated and painful and yet it is an important part of our human experience. Sometimes we remember with joy, beautiful occasions and times shared with the special people in our lives. Other times our memories are filled with sadness as we recall seasons of illness or loss or relationships that have broken down.

Although it is full of complexity we believe it is an important thing to try to do together as a community.

This month in church we will gather for some special occasions to do this. On 1st November we will gather at 7pm for a service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance for those from our parish family who have died in the past year. There will be a photographic tribute and an opportunity to name these people with thanksgiving before God. For some it may be the first time they have returned to the church since the funeral service and that can be very poignant.

On 8th November at 11am we have an Act of Remembrance at our main morning service when we recall those who gave their lives for freedom during the course of 2 World Wars and in conflicts since, including The Troubles in our own province. We recognise that while people take sides in conflict, the pain of loss is universal, and we ought never to forget the human cost of conflict and pray unstintingly for peace in our land and throughout the world.

At the end of November, we will enter the season of Advent, a season of waiting and hope and expectation as we prepare to welcome the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. We will have special midweek services on Thursdays during December as a focal point to help us wait with reverence and attentiveness to this special event.

As we focus on remembering well each year, this season, although it is difficult, offers us special opportunities. We hope that you will come and join us, not to sweep the difficulties under the carpet but to honour the people and situations we think about and to renew our commitment to building a better, hopeful future.

With very best wishes,

Jonathan Pierce (Rector)

Telephone 02890 793822