Dedication Sunday marks the foundation of our church building in 1865 (though not the parish, which had existed since 1857). Because the apostle Peter is associated with the “foundation” of the church, the tradition is to celebrate it close to St Peter’s Day (29 June), though the date is not really important.
This is a day to give thanks for all that God has done through St Jude’s in the past, and to pray for His blessing on our future. Remember, God “is able to do immeasurably more than all that we ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20).
The beautiful hymn “In our day of thanksgiving” reflects with gratitude on the faithful followers of Christ who have journeyed with us in our parish. Some of their names are on plaques around the church. Most are remembered only by God. These are the saints whom God foreknew, chose, called and justified. He empowered them to be his servants here in Randwick, until at the right time he called them home.
A few lines of the hymn might raise evangelical eyebrows, but can still, I believe, be interpreted helpfully. For example, the second verse seems to say that baptism and the Lord’s Supper “clothe us with grace”. This should not be understood in the Roman Catholic sense, of the water or wafer conveying God’s power. That is not true at all. But when the sacraments are received with true, Spirit-wrought faith, they do give grace by reminding and teaching us how Christ’s death has met our deepest need.
“These stones that have echoed their voices are holy” cannot mean that the building is holy in the sense that God alone is holy. But our building does have a “special purpose” – for the gathering of God’s people – and it is special to think of those elect who have used it before us.
The church is a staging post for pilgrims on their way through this vale of tears. It is a school, where they learn the faith, a hospital, where we are mended so we can carry on, and a service station, where we are fuelled up with encouragement to keep us faithful to the end of our pilgrimage. Praise God for his church here in Randwick!