Gospel
Proclamation
NOTE FROM REV. AARON ROBERTS “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words” – St. Francis I hate to break this to you, but St Francis of Assisi never actually said this. Not only did he not say it – it’s not biblical. By all accounts, Francis was a very handy preacher - more like Billy Graham or Jonathan Edwards than we would likely imagine. Despite this quote (erroneously attributed to him), St Francis used ‘words’ a lot in his ministry. To cite one biographer, “sometimes preaching in up to five villages a day, often outdoors. In the
country, Francis often spoke from a bale of straw or a granary doorway. In town, he would climb on a box or up steps in a public building. He preached to . . . any who gathered to hear the strange but fiery little preacher from Assisi. He was sometimes so animated and passionate in his delivery that his feet moved as if he were dancing.” Why am I telling you all this? To remind you that proclaiming the gospel is an inherently verbal activity. And, to let you know that despite Covid, this last year, the gospel was proclaimed by more people in more places than ever before at St John’s. 6
Don’t believe me? Read the short entries on this page. We heard the gospel preached this year from the lips of clergy, from apprentices and from the laity. It was heard in church (when allowed!), in parks, in backyards and over zoom. It was proclaimed to non-believers at Granville Island, at shopping centres and at the beach. It was proclaimed in English and Mandarin. And, the gospel was proclaimed each weekday morning and night, as well as Sundays. So, has it been a tough year for the church? Of course it has. But, surprisingly, the gospel went forth, perhaps more any other year. Praise God!
