03/02/2021

A reflection and prayer to start the day with the Archdeacon of Bangor, Mary Stallard.

Good morning. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin: Once upon a year, actually today, it’s World Read Aloud Day, celebrating the power of story-telling.

This came home to me recently with the sad and sudden loss of a friend and fellow priest, a man called Lloyd Jones, who was a fantastic raconteur. He had the most amazing reading voice and could make even the least exciting bits of the Bible come alive.

Preparing for his funeral I was struck by the stories people told about him. Children at the local school spoke of how Mr Jones the vicar visited regularly, helping them laugh together. Colleagues who were so saddened at his loss would break into sudden smiles as they recalled funny things he’d said.
Lloyd delighted in history and in the lives of the saints. He was the one who’d remarked how our ancient, large churches where people in generations past had lived through plague or sought shelter, are often ideally suited for socially distanced worship. His wife showed a similarly graceful attitude, saying, `’if you have to tell anyone the sad news of Lloyd’s death, please tell them also of his faith, because he wouldn’t have wanted anyone to be discouraged”.

When we retell stories of someone like Lloyd I think we’re also pointing to an even greater narrative: about a life that never ends and a God who‘s always with us, who wants us to find joy and meaning as a part of the story of all creation.

God of beginnings and endings, thank you that you’re interested in every part of our lives, help us to live and tell our own story with truth and courage, today and every day. Amen