My Dear Friends,
The incredible Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, and the culmination of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity go hand in hand.
Last night we had our annual Unity Service here in Calpe at La Merced Church, hosted as always by our Roman Catholic friends who made us feel so welcome.
Unsurprisingly there were many apologies from folk who felt safer at home, but it was brilliant that we were able to go ahead with about 30 in attendance.
It really is a highlight for me when Don Juan Carlos and I can lead worship together. It only happens a few times a year, at the Unity Service and on Good Friday, and on the Holy Week Processions. Sometimes he refers to me as ‘The other Priest in the Parish’ which is really inclusive.
The service follows a similar pattern each year as we embrace a theme that binds us together. This year it was ‘I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. Jn 15.11
(Those of you who know me will realise that is right up my street!)
The Gospel reading was shared in 5 different languages:
John 15:5-9
 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.  Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.  As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.

Don Juan Carlos and I both got to give a homily. I am not sure exactly what he said as it was in Spanish, but I could tell it was very encouraging and inclusive.

I spoke about the Joy of being together, and the things throughout my life that bring Joy. (I shall keep this short,) I spoke about family and visiting them, walking in the mountains although I am scared of heights, being with friends, eating (curry) drinking beer, being in church, (not in that order), riding my bike. But then I spoke of the great joy of getting home, being in that  place where you feel most comfortable, where you can be absolutely true to yourself. Where you feel at one with your environment. My abode, and hopefully your abode is where you can settle right in, relax, express yourself, feel the love and just ‘Be’.

I then went on to pick up the theme from the Gospel, ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.’
We are called to make our home, our abode in the Love of Christ, and that too for me is right up my street.
It is when we allow ourselves to be at one with Christ, that we can be truly comfortable, and be truly ourselves. There is no need, and no possibility to pretend, to be false, to cover things up, or deny our feelings, but rather, in Christ we can truly ‘Be’.

The great joy of the Unity Service is that we share these feelings, these words with folk from different churches, backgrounds, languages and cultures, but we all have the Love of Christ in common, and we all make our home in him, and he in us.

There is so much more that unites us than divides us, and perhaps the churches of the world are being called to speak boldly against the divisions that can so easily tear communities apart.

The fact that the service takes place on the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul is so important.
Saul was out to destroy the New Way. He was the last person on earth that anybody would have thought to be used by God to build his church, but that is exactly what God chose to do, and Saul, who became Paul, took the Gospel message of Peace and Unity throughout the known world.

Nothing is impossible with God.
You and I are better together.

Bless you, Bless you, Bless you,

As ever,

Fr Marcus