beliefs. Even murderers have taken the name of the Lord as a battle cry.
German soldiers during the First World had it engraved on their belt buckles:
‘Gott mit uns’ –God with us, whereby most of them took this as a kind of
prayer for help. History has developed in such a way, that there are no more
Christian murderers like the crusaders. Yet apart from Islamists, there are
still other religions where fanatics refer to a greater God when they kill
minorities, like Buddhists in Burma, when they attack Muslims, or Hindus in
India doing the same, since they belief that those Muslims kill cows and
keep the meat in their fridges. Why should they call on God? The answer is
easy: He is truly Great, and therefore can be seen as a protector, exemplary
model, or even a pretext. He, who kills for a higher cause, a higher being,
not only legitimises his deed, he can also, in his mad mind, be certain of
receiving an award; only it isn’t that easy to sacrifice one’s own life.
Those who kill in the name of God can do so, since God is able to endure it,
he is greater than we can understand. It isn’t the abuse of His holy name,
which is the evil bit. God could see at the birth of Jesus not only a heavenly
babe, but also knew that His son would soon be tortured and killed by men.
It is irrelevant if they call on God in doing so, or on authorities like Pilate.
Suffering and death are very hard to bear, at any time, if by Christian or
Muslim children, but at Easter we are reminded that there are things greater
than death, which can bring consolation, if only for a short moment. It might
even become visible in some act of kindness offered to a suffering person,
or to one that doesn’t expect it, be he refugee or beggar or only somebody
who is being helped across a busy road.
Brigitte Williams
Holy Week Services
At the time of going to print the Vestry are still awaiting confirmation that
there will be a visiting Priest to take the Maundy Thursday service and at
what time the services listed below will take place.
Maundy Thursday – evening service.
Eucharist and stripping of the altar.
Chalice: B Gallacher & M Young
Good Friday – Early afternoon service.
Readings, prayers and silent meditation
Server: B Gallacher
Holy Saturday – No Service
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