Letter to the Parish

Can You Serve?

What do you think of when speaking of serving; of being served; of service? Do you immediately think of sport, and beginning a tennis match; sending down that ace serve to win the crucial point? Or does your mind start to thinking about a waiter or waitress serving a meal at your table? (Remembering the privilege it is to have someone come to serve you; or the sheer hard work that it is if you're on the other side of this service?) Or if you are from a military background, then surely serving in the armed forces will come to mind, and the times you spent with colleagues in dangerous situations - serving one another. If you are in any form of Christian ministry, then the expression serving the Lord will resonate with you. We also speak about serving a sentence in prison, or serving your time. In the legal profession you serve a writ. And when something has outlived its usefulness we say it has served its purpose.

In Jonathan Swift's, Gulliver's Travels, "Voyage to Brobdingnag" he speaks of someone serving his country: "... whoever could make two ears of corn or two blades of grass to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country than the whole race of politicians put together". (With apologies to our local councillors who serve us well in our village!)

And if it is music and hymns that come to mind, then you may have music from Gustav Holst's "The Planets" going through your mind and the words of Cecil Arthur Spring-Rice: "I vow to thee my country, all earthly things above, entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love". (If you didn't, you do now!)

Whatever it is that comes to mind with the word service, one has to admire the service that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II committed to and has achieved in her life. The weekend of the 10-12 June sees the official celebrations of Her Majesty's 90th Birthday and her service as our monarch - the longest serving monarch of our country. Whether you are a royalist or a republican at heart, you have to be impressed by the dedication that she has shown over so many years to her role. She seems to have lived up to Psalm 100, "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing." (King James version). We have a service at St George's Church on Sunday 12 June, with a theme of "service", to mark this milestone of Her Majesty. Please come along, as part of the celebrations, and join in this service; it starts at 5pm.

Revd. David Commander
Rector

Benefice of Benenden and Sandhurst

T: 01580 240658 E: david@dc-uk.co.uk