Roy, Bartholomew, Bryan and Faithfulness

As children we listened to ‘Children’s Choice’ on the radio. Uncle Mac introduced the songs… including Roy Rogers ‘A four legged friend’ – about his faithful horse Trigger.

A four-legged friend, a four-legged friend
He’ll never let you down
He’s honest and faithful right up to the end
That wonderful four-legged friend.

Yesterday instead of attending our usual church in Lowestoft we visited ‘St Bartholomew’s’, a small village church in Grange Moor, Yorkshire.

Bartholomew was a disciple of Jesus, one of the twelve. We’ve know about Peter, John, Thomas and Judas, But Bartholomew? He didn’t deny, betray, doubt or do anything that’s recorded to be noteworthy…

Tradition says that he went as a missionary to India and was martyred for his faith in Armenia, remaining faith-full disciple to the end.

Bryan was leading the service. The church website says that ‘Bryan was ordained in 2002’, but he’d been serving in the church for many years before that. Bryan has now moved away from the area; this would be his final service.

Family and friends joined the regular congregation for this special occasion. At the end of the service Ian, the rector, thanked Bryan for all that he has given over many years – faithfully serving the parish and his God.

It was Pentecost Sunday. Bryan preached about The Holy Spirit… the prophet Joel, and the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit… St Paul’s description of the ‘fruit of the Spirit’, growing slowly, gently, gradually… Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…

Musing…

…Trigger, the faithful friend ‘who carries your burden, who carries your load’… Bartholomew the faithful disciple who continued unrecognised, unmentioned… Bryan the faithful servant in a small church living out the faithful Spirit of his God…

…Most especially on Bryan, because he’s my brother. Bryan’s been faithful to me throughout my life – loyal and totally dependable. Yesterday his family were joking about his ‘stubborn streak’; when Bryan’s decided something he won’t be moved. Bryan teaches me that there’s a stubborn streak in faithfulness too.