{"id":14909,"date":"2026-10-31T10:53:18","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T10:53:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk\/web\/?page_id=14909"},"modified":"2026-10-31T10:57:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T10:57:49","slug":"vicars-page-november-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.pattinghamchurch.org.uk\/web\/information\/vicars-page\/vicars-page-november-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Vicar’s page – November 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Previous month<\/a> – Monthly index<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Merry’s miscellany\u2019<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The Vicar\u2019s monthly letter for the Parish News<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Rev<\/a>
Rev Merry Smith<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

November<\/strong> 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

November is a month when we are particularly conscious of remembering. We remember those who have died, those who have given their lives in war, and those whose lives have touched our own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we celebrate All Saints\u2019 Day, we are reminded that the Church is much bigger than the people we see around us. We are part of the Communion of Saints: aII God’s people, across every generation and across eternity, united in Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On All Saints’ Day we can remember people who have lived extraordinary lives. Many faced persecution, showed remarkable courage or served others in ways that have inspired generations. Yet they were, first and foremost, ordinary people.
However, in challenging circumstances, the faithfulness of individuals became
extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sainthood, however, is not primarily about life stories that have become well known. It is about the everyday holiness we see around us. The person who quietly visits someone who is lonely. The neighbour who notices when someone needs help. The person who forgives, encourages or sits alongside someone who is grieving. The person who holds on to faith through adversity, or who is willing to share the name of Jesus with those they meet. These things may seem small, but they are ways of living out the love of Christ. We do not need extraordinary circumstances to give out extraordinary love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we remember the saints and all those who have gone before us this November, perhaps we can also look around and recognise the saints among us – and ask how we might become more saintly ourselves. As the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews put it – “We are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses … Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This November I aim to spend some time thinking practically about what faithful Christian living looks like: To remember the actions of faithful Christians who I have known but see no longer and to thank God for them. Why not join me in giving thanks for those whose lives we have valued and working out the small ways in which we can follow their example? Perhaps it might lead us to encourage someone else, hold faithfully to Christ, or share his love with someone you meet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever we choose to do, let\u2019s recognise the love of God in each person we meet and know that we are invited to be part of the communion of all the saints, loved and valued throughout eternity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rev Merry<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Previous month – Monthly index \u2018Merry’s miscellany\u2019 The Vicar\u2019s monthly letter for the Parish News November 2026 November is a month when we are particularly conscious of remembering. We remember those who have died, those who have given their lives in war, and those whose lives have touched our own. As we celebrate All Saints\u2019 Day, we … <\/p>\n

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