Message from our Vicar, Cameron, and the Barker family
After being seriously ill for many years, our dear friend and our Vicar's wife, Jocelyn Barker, recently had a double lung transplant operation.
This is obviously a critical time, and she is expected to remain at Harefield Hospital for quite a long period.
Last Sunday, the Barker family sent this message to the Parish.
To all the saints in Christ Jesus at St Saviour's / St Paul's,
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
As we're sure you can imagine, this last week has been quite a time for all of us Barkers! However, this isn't an update on the latest ups and downs we have experienced since Jocelyn's double-lung transplant on 3rd May. There have, of course, been plenty of those – in both directions, though so far more ups than downs, overall. At this stage the situation varies from day to day, and it is likely to do that for quite some time to come. Rather, we're writing to thank you all for your love, support and prayers for us as we go on through this hugely challenging experience, and to encourage you to continue in them.
In the midst of what we are going through we are very aware that others of you will also be finding this situation immensely difficult to live, and deal, with. All we can say and do is encourage you to live each day in faith and trust in God's loving goodness, at all times, and in all circumstances, as we ourselves are trying to do.
I (Cameron) deliberately began writing by quoting Paul's opening to the church in Philippi. It has not been lost on me that my last sermon here was about us needing to face any and all circumstances – including the prospect of death – in faith and trust in God's loving goodness. As a family we are now having the opportunity to practice what I preached!
In that sermon I spoke of how Paul didn't focus on his feelings about what he faced. Instead he relied far more on the facts of who Jesus is and what He has done. Since last Saturday we have needed that perspective, regularly. And we will continue to need it, not least while the short, medium and long-term outcomes of the transplant remain uncertain. We don't, and can't, know what the situation will be tomorrow, let alone this time next week. And that is very hard indeed to live with. But we do, and can know that, by His Spirit, God is with us in it all, no matter what may happen.
So, please do keep on praying for us, fervently! Pray for one another too. And go on showing your love for each other and for us, in what you do and in how you do it. Pray also for John and the Itumu family, and the others who are picking up what I am now unable to do. Go on supporting them; go on supporting one another; and go on supporting us. In other words, be God's saints, His holy people, so that in even these circumstances the gospel of Jesus Christ may be continue to be preached, and His name be glorified
In His great love,
Cameron, Caleb, Hope – and Jocelyn
This is obviously a critical time, and she is expected to remain at Harefield Hospital for quite a long period.
Last Sunday, the Barker family sent this message to the Parish.
To all the saints in Christ Jesus at St Saviour's / St Paul's,
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
As we're sure you can imagine, this last week has been quite a time for all of us Barkers! However, this isn't an update on the latest ups and downs we have experienced since Jocelyn's double-lung transplant on 3rd May. There have, of course, been plenty of those – in both directions, though so far more ups than downs, overall. At this stage the situation varies from day to day, and it is likely to do that for quite some time to come. Rather, we're writing to thank you all for your love, support and prayers for us as we go on through this hugely challenging experience, and to encourage you to continue in them.
In the midst of what we are going through we are very aware that others of you will also be finding this situation immensely difficult to live, and deal, with. All we can say and do is encourage you to live each day in faith and trust in God's loving goodness, at all times, and in all circumstances, as we ourselves are trying to do.
I (Cameron) deliberately began writing by quoting Paul's opening to the church in Philippi. It has not been lost on me that my last sermon here was about us needing to face any and all circumstances – including the prospect of death – in faith and trust in God's loving goodness. As a family we are now having the opportunity to practice what I preached!
In that sermon I spoke of how Paul didn't focus on his feelings about what he faced. Instead he relied far more on the facts of who Jesus is and what He has done. Since last Saturday we have needed that perspective, regularly. And we will continue to need it, not least while the short, medium and long-term outcomes of the transplant remain uncertain. We don't, and can't, know what the situation will be tomorrow, let alone this time next week. And that is very hard indeed to live with. But we do, and can know that, by His Spirit, God is with us in it all, no matter what may happen.
So, please do keep on praying for us, fervently! Pray for one another too. And go on showing your love for each other and for us, in what you do and in how you do it. Pray also for John and the Itumu family, and the others who are picking up what I am now unable to do. Go on supporting them; go on supporting one another; and go on supporting us. In other words, be God's saints, His holy people, so that in even these circumstances the gospel of Jesus Christ may be continue to be preached, and His name be glorified
In His great love,
Cameron, Caleb, Hope – and Jocelyn
posted by Parish Administrator at 12:22 pm
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