The Shadows of St. Peter and St. Anne’s: Visioning the future.

Introduction

If A Child Lives With. . . by Dorothy Law Nolte

If a child lives with criticism. . . . . . . .he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility. . . . . . . . he learns to fight.
If a child lives with fear. . . . . . . .he learns to be apprehensive.
If a child lives with jealousy. . . . . . . .he learns to feel guilt.
If a child lives with tolerance. . . . . . . .he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement . . . . . . . .he learns to be confident.
If a child lives with praise. . . . . . . .he learns to be appreciative.
If a child lives with acceptance. . . . . . . .he learns to love.
If a child lives with approval. . . . . . . .he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with recognition . . . . . . . .he learns that it is good to have a goal.
If a child lives with honesty. . . . . . . .he learns what truth is.
If a child lives with fairness. . . . . . . .he learns justice.
If a child lives with security. . . . . . . .he learns to trust in himself and others .
If a child lives with friendliness. . . . . . . .he learns the world is a good place in which to live.

This poem is on my wall at the school where I work. It helps to remind me every day- that say what I like it is actually the experience a child has of me, my teachers and the school that teaches them. They learn more from the shadow we cast than the words that leave our mouths.

So what about MY SHADOW & I ?

The New Testament Bible reading today says:

As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.

(Acts 5:15)

Introduction: The Need For Shadows.

There is much heartache, suffering, & weariness in the world, we only need to step out into the streets of Soho.
The suffering are waiting for someone to pass their way and cast a shadow of compassion their way.
The cripple man looked to St. Peter and St. John because he believed they could help.
The downtrodden, the oppressed, the sad, the lonely, the discouraged, the sinning the needy, all look to us expecting a blessing when our shadow falls their way
They have a right to. After all, we call ourselves Christians.
As the Isaiah reading today says we are the Lord’s witnesses and servants.

To be like JESUS, To be like JESUS,
All I ask is to be like Him,
All through life journey from earth to Glory,
All I ask is to be like Him.

Let us determine today to cast a good shadow individually as Christians- collectively as St. Anne’s. We may not have the opportunity with some who come our way ever again.

The bread that giveth strength, I want to give;
The water pure that bids the thirsty “live!”
I want to help the fainting day by day,
Because I shall not pass again this way.

So what can we learn about shadows?

1. My shadow is Inevitable.

Regardless of our stature, we all cast a shadow.
Rich & poor cast a shadow.
Believers & non-believers cast a shadow.
- St Anne’s Soho casts a shadow.
- Like it or not our shadow is inevitable.

2. My shadow is silent.

Many things we do in public: preach, teach, pray, sing, testify…
But just as in the poem at the start our greatest influence is arguably in the life we live.

3. My shadow depicts me.

Our lives tell people more about us than our words.

We are writing a gospel as we live each day, By the deeds that we do, and the shadow we cast their way. Men read that gospel whether faithless or true, What is the Gospel According to You?

In Acts 5, the people knew the character of St. Peter, and wanted his influence in their life for good.
Our Christian shadow should bless.
Our shadow should cause the downhearted to look up, and should cause the discouraged to take new heart.

St Anne’s shadow should bless as the parish church and should cause the downhearted of Soho to look up and the discouraged in Soho to take new heart.

There are loyal hearts;
There are spirits brave;
There are souls that are pure and true;
Then give to the world the best you have;
And the best St Anne’s will come back to you.

When I leave here I am spending a few days in a Benedictine Abbey. Part of the Benedictine way of life is to see Christ in others – A useful discipline I try to do each night is to consider the faces of the day and to see where I have met Christ in them and much more demanding to consider those faces and how I have been Christlike to them- the downtrodden, the oppressed, the sad, the lonely, the discouraged, the sinning the needy, the rich, the poor because they have been Christ to me. I have been blessed by their shadow.

Our shadow depicts us, whether good, or bad. It depicts us individually and collectively as St. Anne’s Parish Church. What is that shadow like? What is the shadow we cast over Soho?

4. My shadow is indestructible.

Once we have cast an influence, we cannot take it back.
One wretched soul cried out on his death bed, “Oh! That my influence could be gathered up and buried with me.”

What shadow we cast as Christians and as St. Anne’s Parish Church is cast and cannot be gathered up again- what is that shadow like?

5. My Shadow lengthens.

As we live our lives, our influence touches more and more people.
I cast the best shadow, the biggest shadow when I am in the proper relation to the Light and closest to the light.
Those who live in darkness can cast no shadow for good.
JESUS is the light of the world.
Walk with Him and cast your shadow for good.

6. The Shadow of St. Anne’s Parish Church Soho.

St. Anne’s is at a very exciting phase of its development and life. You have lots of important and interesting questions to explore with your new Rector. What kind of shadow will you cast over Soho as its parish church? How will you bless the different groups of people who live, work, learn and play in Soho. Who are you are called to serve as Christian people in Soho? Will that shadow be large because you are a strong worshipping community in proper and close relationship to Christ Jesus?

Now is the time for St. Anne’s to cast its shadow of blessing over Soho, building upon your strengths of hospitality and through the leadership and loving of Fr. Simon and Fr. David.

As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.