Sense of people and places gives feeling of belonging

Church Notes by Christopher Brooks

Parishioner, Our Lady Start of the Sea Church, Lowestoft

HAVING researched and shared the story of Lowestoft evacuees and contributed to significant moments and anniversaries with other teachers in the life of three Lowestoft schools, where my teaching career was based, it seems somewhat satisfyingly appropriate to be involved in the organisation of the centenary celebrations of my old 'Alma Mater'.

A particular milestone for the Denes High School is this centenary year of the foundation and opening of its premises at Yarmouth Road, firstly as the Lowestoft Municipal Secondary School in 1910, becoming the Lowestoft Grammar School in 1945, which I attended from 1955 to 1962, and with comprehensive education introduced in 1970 becoming the Denes High School.

Many have benefited from the education they received there from dedicated teachers, some of whom will be attending reunions to be held there later this month.

The premises have greatly altered during the years particularly since the last war and it has been my privilege and joy registering former secondary and grammar students who wish to come back to the Denes to meet once again and view the changes.

This sense of people and place where we live and have our roots - our homes, where we have decided to live and experience much of our being - give us a sense of ease, identity and belonging.

Lowestoft, I decided is where I belong and where I chose to work as a teacher, marry, bring up a family and establish friendly relationships through mutual interests with others.

I truly value the acceptance accorded to me amongst various communities and groups in the town and at various churches through my ecumenical involvement over the years with Christians Together and in my own church.

Will it always be thus? Do we readily acknowledge and can we ultimately achieve the promise of our heavenly home which awaits us in the life to come? If we believe Jesus is the son of God and that he died for each one of us personally so we could be saved, how could he not accept us? And how could we refuse him?

St Paul, quoting from the Prophet Isaiah in 1 Corinthians 2:9 says: 'But as it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.'

It is the richest prize of all but we know we cannot get to heaven of our own accord having to rely absolutely on God's infinite mercy and love.

When Jesus was teaching the apostles after the last supper, Thomas the Apostle asked him: 'How can we know the way?' Jesus said to him: 'I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except by me.' (John 14: 5-6).

Surely then, to come home to God in heaven, we must turn to him and cooperate with his Holy Spirit, praying in faith that our sins will be forgiven and resolve to follow ever more closely the commands of life that Jesus, the son of God, came to teach.