As we celebrate Bible Sunday this week and then enter this season of remembrance in the life of the Church, we pause to give thanks for all those who have gone before us. We remember not only those we have loved and lost, but also the generations of faithful people whose prayers, wisdom, vision and courage have shaped the Church we know today.
At the heart of this inheritance is scripture: the living Word of God, which has guided, challenged, and inspired God's people through the ages. Its stories, teachings, and promises have shaped our faith and tradition, offering wisdom for every generation. It has inspired new ways to understand God's call and to share God’s inclusive love in their own time.
The legacy of those who went before us surrounds us. We see it in our beautiful church buildings, where generations have gathered to worship and pray. We hear it in our music and liturgy, shaped and enriched over time. We recognise it in our mission, as our churches have responded to the needs of their community and sought to share the Gospel in changing times.
Those who went before us were not simply guardians of what they had inherited. They were people willing to take risks, make difficult decisions, and embrace change when they believed it would help the church flourish. They drew upon the wisdom of Scripture, the experience of those before them, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They needed courage to take the first steps and faith to trust that God was leading them.
As we remember them, we are invited to reflect on our own calling. We inherit both their faith and their responsibility to shape our churches for the future. How might we show the same wisdom and courage today? What changes might be needed in our buildings, worship, music, mission, and welcome so that future generations may discover the life-giving faith we have received?
Our tradition is not simply something to preserve unchanged, but a living inheritance to nurture, share, and renew. May we give thanks for the wisdom of Scripture, honour the faithfulness of previous generations, and have the courage to respond to God's call in our own time. May we trust that the God who guided those before us will continue to lead us today. Amen.
The Rev’d Dwayne Engh