Speaking at the Civic Service of the Mayor of Abergavenny Cllr Maureen Powell, her Chaplain Canon Mark Soady made reference to this week’s terrible terrorist attack on a Tunisian Beach and then reminded the congregation:
The New Testament Greek word for witness and the word for martyr are the same, ‘martyroi’. Today in many places, as it was for the early church, to be a witness to Jesus Christ very often means death.
But for most of us Christian witness is the the day-to-day experience of living our lives in ways that reveal’s the love of Jesus Christ. That does sometimes mean being unpopular, but thankfully does not mean giving of our lives.
The particular and special role of political leaders, who like Maureen are disciple of Christ, is to show love by example – and to be the conscious of our fellow citizens.
Cllr Powell clearing litter early on a Sunday morning
Our Mayor’s love for us and this town is shown through in her commitment to her Ward. She not only deals efficiently with her casework load, but is a generous person in other ways. While most f the Citizens of Abergavenny are asleep on a Sunday morning she ( and her Consort John) will be up clearing the litter left over from the Saturday night partying.
In his letter to the Phillipians St Paul says, ” If you have nay encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love…then make my joy complete by being like minded” (2.1). He goes son to say, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit”, but take on “the very nature of a servant”. That is what Maureen has done as a local Councillor and what I pray God will enable her to do to during her year of office as Mayor – and not her only but all those of you who serve with her on Abergavenny Town Council.
St Mary's Priory Church, Abergavenny 