25 jähriges Gemeindejubiläum

Besondere Gelegenheiten, wie das 25-jährige Gemeindejubiläum 1964, brachten Gäste aus Deutschland, in diesem Fall Bischof Weiter aus Schleswig-Holstein. Der Pfarrer der Universitätskirche, Ph. Martin, hielt aus Anlass dieses Festes eine Ansprache, in der er die Geschichte der Oxforder Gemeinde mit der des Volkes Israel verglich. Daher sollen seine Ausführungen im Folgenden wiedergegeben werden: Joshua 4, Vers 6: What mean ye by these stones?
In one way or another, at some time or another, every Christian, and every Christian congregation is obliged to relive for themselves and in themselves the story the Bible tells of God's relation with his people. We live ourselves into Biblical history, and it becomes for us (spiritually and sometimes actually) contemporary. And on this great and happy occasion Iremind you of only two occasions in that Bible's history of God's people which are for at least some of you parts of the history of yourselves.
The first occasion is recorded in the book of Joshua, chapters 3 and 4. Towards the end of their God-directed migration out of Egypt into Palestine, the children of Israel found their way barred by the river Jordan. They had left Egypt, they were in the wilderness, and now disaster starred them in the face. And then, when their Situation was deperate, against all expectation, and beyond all hope, God enabled them to cross the Jordan and to enter the promised land.
That great event was an occasion never to be forgotten, and so they set up on the river bank a pile of twelve stones - to be a witness, a visible reminder, of God's great act in the past; and in it they saw a guarantee of this continuing care in the present and in the future. In after years they looked at this pile of stones, and remembered, and thanked God, and were able to look forward and go forward gladly and confidently. When children ask their fathers in time to come, saying 'What mean ye by these stones?' then, they would tell how God had saved and directed them.
I believe that this story is repeated in the life of each one of us, in personal, private ways and in the life of this congregation, too.
Today is for you a day to remember, to look at the piles of stones that bear witness to God's care and guidance in these past 25 years.
The second occasion, in the Bible record, into which you have lived yourselves, is the time of the old Isreal's exile in the Babylonian empire, when a door had been shut behind them; in Babylon there was no gathering place, and they cried, 'How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?'
There was a time, doubtless, when some of you felt just like that; and yet God let you and made provision for you. Thank God, during these past 25 years you have found a spiritual home here in Oxford - the fact that in this church you found a home is a cause of thanksgiving for the people of St. Mary's, and a source of thanks to God for you. The land is no longer a strange land - for 25 years now you have as a congregation sung the Lord's song here.
But (in the Bible story) a time came, as the period of exile continued, when a generation grew up to whom the land was not strange, who did not miss so sorely what their fathers had left behind. Then, it was no easy task to hold both generations together in harmony, and to keep them forwardlooking, to help them to sing the Lord's song. And it was (under God) thanks to the prophet Ezekiel and others, that God's people remained faithful.
Therefore - as you have relived and are even now reliving among yourselves this part of Isreal's story - thank God for those who, during these past 25 years, have led and guided and shepered this congregation - Pastor Kramm, from 1939 - 1947, Pastor Kurtz from 1948 to 1962, and now your Pastor Reim. You have had three pastors since you first began to worship here; and during this time we have had at St. Mary's three vicars. When I came 1962 I have found your association with us one of the happiest parts of the heritage into which I have entered at St. Mary's.
And, now you are 'at home' here, commit yourselves to God in thanksgiuing and renewal - and in fullest confidence; with confidence because you remember the past, and how these 25 years are marked by piles of witness - stones -events and incidents which you remember, which testify to the good hand of your God upon you.
What mean ye be these stones? These are the seals of God's supreme control stamped on time past, to make the future sure.
We rejoice with you on this day, and pray that God's blessing may rest upon you always. With the Psalmist we say: Der Segen des Herrn sei mit euch! Wir segnen euch im Namen des Herrn!