Blessings from the vicarage

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Nearly 50 years ago, a new comedy programme with the incredibly talented Leonard Rossiter as the star, graced our TV screens. I’m sure many of you will remember ‘The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin’. To catch our attention, the sitcom started quite shockingly really, with Reggie appearing to commit suicide because he was sick of his marriage, fed up with his whinging, consumerist family who didn’t respect him, and wasn’t coping with the daily grind of his job which was so unfulfilling. I remember that he always had an extreme or ridiculous excuse for being eleven minutes late – “eleven minutes late: staff shortages, Nine Elms…”; “eleven minutes late, overheated axle at Berrylands…”; “eleven minutes late, derailment of container truck, Raynes Park…” Hilarious!

The fictitious Reggie Perrin faked his death in order to create a new life for himself, but after various attempts at creating a new life, he adopted a disguise and returned to his old life only to find that nothing much had changed. He even re-married Elizabeth, his wife, after wooing her at his own funeral. Interestingly Elizabeth later revealed that she knew it was Reggie from the start. He then got a job back at his old company, managing his own memorial fund. But eventually he tires of being ‘someone else’ and reveals his true self, thus having to admit what caused him to fake his own death, and be honest with the people he loves.

These old comedic sitcoms were, and still are, so very clever in their writing because they often touch on the deep truths of humanity that are so profound that it would appear we have to put them in a form in which we can cope with them…situation comedies. When you have time – revisit and reflect on ‘Yes, Prime Minister’ or ‘Butterflies’ or ‘Fawlty Towers’ even…

Reflecting on ‘The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin’ and comparing this to the non-fictitious journey of Jesus Christ, with which we have been travelling from Christmas until now; this also reveals the immensity of our human frailties but also the best ‘remedy’ (if you will) for overcoming them. Many people think that Jesus’ death on the cross was his fall, before he rose again. But actually Jesus’ ‘fall’ began when he was born.

Philippians 2: 6 – 11: Jesus who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of humans. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed upon him the name that is above every name. That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Because Jesus gave himself for us and fell even further for us in his death, he revealed God’s incredible, infinite reconciling love. He did this, not only in his death, but also strategically in his rising again and if we know this and follow Jesus’ example (letting everything fall that separates us from the love and God and each other), we are then truly able to rise with Jesus and become a new creation. ‘The Fall and Rise of Jesus Christ’ helps us, not like Reggie Perrin, become someone else; but enables us to journey into being our true self – connected, loved, and valued.

But, “there’s more” – as another famous comedian, Jimmy Cricket, used to say.

In May we move on from the bright Easter celebrations of Christ’s resurrection towards another major church celebration - the Ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven (for which I will be conducting a special service at 10am at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Thursday 29th May, with refreshments afterwards). The Ascension of Christ refers to the belief that Jesus ascended bodily into heaven forty days after his resurrection. This event signifies Jesus’ return to God the Father/Creator and his exaltation and sovereignty as God’s Son, revealing that life is continuous and eternal. What God offers to us in Jesus Christ’s death, resurrection and Ascension, is the wonderful reassurance and truth that we now live in God’s eternal life and so whatever ‘falls and rises’ we have in life, we are safe. No fiction or comedy needed here for happiness – this Good News brings JOY and PEACE in abundance…

With love and prayers,

Jane

PS. On Sunday 4th May at 6pm at St Mary’s Church we are holding a special celebratory service for V.E. Day. There will also be a quarter peal in the bells. All welcome.

PPS. We are having a church ‘Table Top’ sale on Saturday 24th May at St Mary’s Church from 9am – 5pm. £15 per table. Refreshments and lunch available with other stalls from which to buy goods. For more information and to book a table contact the parish admin.