Blog 10 focused on Harry’s work with Elam Ministries, the sadness of Iran’s situation and the hope of Jesus, growth of the Iranian church and an amazing testimony.
Today’s Blog 11 shares a bittersweet moment for Sarah Matthews who travels to London to start full-time ministry as Vicar of St Andrew’s Walthemstow. We are thankful for Sarah’s Ministry at ECFC and what she has meant to each of us. Thankful for Sarah’s authenticity, kindness, warmth and joy. Thankful for Sarah’s amazing testimony which follows. It is good to reflect on what has been for ECFC a time of such significant change, growth and compassion: both for Sarah; the Iranian part of the congregation; and for us all at ECFC.
Sarah we send you off with our love and gratitude and all good hope for the next congregation you will serve. You have a big heart; we will miss you. We remain together part of one Church serving Jesus. Thank you.
Farewell to ECFC – A Community of Compassion
After five years of part-time ministry as a trainee Vicar at ECFC I am leaving. I arrived in 2021 just after lockdown had lifted and the world seemed a different place. To my joy what I encountered at ECFC from day one was a community that loved one another. Not just in church on Sundays but during the week also. I have been so inspired by the people who belong to the many groups that meet and spend time together in the church building. From all walks of life, many different countries, of all faiths and none, with one thing in common – compassion (amongst many others no doubt).
Compassion as active service, from those who provide and those who receive and then go on to provide. The root of the word is derived from ‘passio’ which means to suffer. Real compassion is not easy, not fluffy and nice, it is hard work and heart breaking sometimes. From day one this compassion was so apparent at ECFC and stood out in a wondrous way.
This painting is a scene from the famous Bible story of The Prodigal Son found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15. Jesus tells this story to reveal something about the Kingdom of God. There are just three characters, the father and his two sons. Both sons make mistakes, yet the father responds to each with compassion.
Rembrandt’s 1669 painting captures this story with extraordinary tenderness. The older son is stood on the right looking stern, not happy at the compassion the younger son was receiving.
The wonderful thing about the parables is the easiness of how we can relate to them… today.
At times I can see myself in both of these sons.
Henri Nouwen (a priest, professor, writer and theologian) wrote a book about this parable called The Return of the Prodigal Son inspired by this Rembrandt painting of the same name.
I read this book last year and there is so much to think about when you read it, it is a journey! In the conclusion of his book Nouwen writes about the idea of us becoming like the Father. Something I had never considered before reading this.
All of us can easily identify with these two sons. Yet surely our ultimate goal is to be like the father?
Not easy. But profoundly hopeful.
In Rembrandt’s painting the father is the centre of the piece. From him comes all the light, to him is all attention.
During my five years at ECFC I have witnessed the compassion of many people of all faiths and none, compassion that I believe is close to the Kingdom of God. This compassion has been woven into my own day to day existence. As I start my new job in London as a fulltime Vicar I have had the most incredible training ground to learn from for which I am eternally grateful to everyone who passes through the doors of ECFC.
Thank you.