Many of you will remember the horrific murder of church organist Alan Greaves in nearby High Green on Christmas Eve 2012 and the response of his widow, Maureen, whose forgiveness and love completely epitomise Christ’s teachings.
She has recently been awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to the community. You can read about this here. What is so striking about this is her humility: ‘When I read the letter I just couldn’t take it in so I rang the Cabinet Office to double check. They told me someone had nominated me for the way I behaved after Alan had died and how I acted towards other people and continued the work that Alan and I were doing.’ This work includes the St Saviour’s Project, a scheme attached to their local church which saw them open (three weeks before Alan’s death) a food bank and charity shop to help needy members of the community.
Maureen’s faith helped her through the grief and loneliness of her husband’s death and she continues to serve God in her local community faithfully, still working with the project. It’s this kind of faith lived out in simplicity and humility which is our best witness to the world, for it demonstrates the power of God to transform all tragedy. to transform all life. Living for Christ is not always easy: Maureen admits, ‘There is still a loneliness for Alan. I think of him every day, not with sadness but he’s always in my thoughts. I’m not leading a miserable life, I’m leading a good life that has obviously got better over time but it still has this great sense of loneliness for him.’ But in the middle of tragedy, we find God’s strength to carry on.
‘Our scars are a sign
Of grace in our lives
Oh Father, how You brought us through
When deep were the wounds
And dark was the night
The promise of Your love You proved.
Weeping may come,
Remain for a night
But joy will paint the morning sky.
You’re there in the fast;
You’re there in the feast;
Your faithfulness will always shine.’ (‘It Is Well’, Matt Redman)