The week just passed was Mental Health Week. A radio announcer reminded me on Monday that there is strong evidence for the practice of gratitude being good for mental health. She was inviting listeners to text in about “what they were grateful for”, and each morning she read out some of these messages. (This radio announcer also happens to be a qualified psychologist.)
So! Science demonstrates that giving thanks is good for the thanker! Here is yet another proof of the wisdom of God, who encourages us in his word to give him thanks: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights” (James 1:17). “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4). “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess. 5:18).
As a Christian, I am grateful that I know the One to whom I should give thanks. Rather than merely sending gratitude out into the universe, we can speak our gratitude personally to the Father of the heavenly lights. I am sure that the more sincerely and deeply we mean our words of thanks to God, the more powerful will be those mental health benefits!
In brief:
- Thanks to everyone who worked towards our classical concert this weekend. I’m sure it will be a great event!
- Sunday 30th October (two Sundays away) is St Jude’s Day (our patronal festival). We are holding a special combined service at 10.30 am, followed by a picnic and BBQ lunch in the open space of the graveyard. This is always a great event, and it will be nice to hold it again after two years of COVID disruption. I am making a big effort to get everyone there. Please invite/remind anyone you know who hasn’t been to church in a while. This is a great occasion to re-connect.
Yours,
Andrew Schmidt
Rector