The Rt. Revd. Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford, preached on two questions at his Welcome Service for the Barking Episcopal Area on Thursday at Christ Church Wanstead.
The first was, 'how have you used the hand you have been dealt?' which concerned our recognition and use of the unique combination of gifts, experiences and circumstances which has been gifted to us by God. The second was, 'how we have used these with the Church to bless others?'
These are questions of reckoning, which Bishop Stephen suggested may be asked of us on the Day of Judgement but which are concerned firstly with the many and various ways in which we are accepted and blessed by God and then with the way in which we, in turn, bless others.
What he had to say chimed well with his inaugural sermon as Bishop of Chelmsford, when he said:
"You’ll probably hear me say this hundreds of times over the next few years, but let me say it loud: You can go to the Church of England for a lifetime and nobody gives it to you straight. You are loved. You are precious in God’s sight. He has a purpose for your life.
And, together, our task as God’s people in this great diocese is to know and reveal that love which God has for us in Christ. This is my prayer for myself and for our diocese."
It chimes too with his vision of Christian leadership, as set out in Hit The Ground Kneeling, which "is one that is always drawing more people in, helping them discover their gifts, and constantly expanding and sharing leadership ... The cherishing of the gifts of others – even if they outshine us in their own areas – is a vital gift of leadership."
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Lauryn Hill - His Eye Is On The Sparrow.
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