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19/01/2018
A reading and a reflection to start the day with the Rev'd Dr Karen Smith, Tutor in Church History and Christian Spirituality at South Wales Baptist College.
Last on
Fri 19 Jan 2018
05:43
±«Óătv Radio 4 FM
Script:
Good morning. A while ago when my husband and I were visiting London we wandered into St Paulâs Church in Covent Garden. Sometimes known as the âactorsâ churchâ because of its long association with the theatre community in the West End, the walls of the church are covered with memorials remembering some of the great actors who attended the church. As we walked around I was familiar with many of the names on the memorials: Charlie Chaplin, Noel Coward, Gracie Fields, Vivien Leigh, Ivor Novello and many others. Among all the star-studded names, however, there was one plaque which simply read:
Ìę
Tony Sympson
1906-1987
âinspired player of small partsâ
Ìę
I didnât recognize the name of the actor, but later discovered that while Tony Sympson had apparently never had a star role in any production, he had acted in many small roles in films and on television.ÌęÌę Since that day I have thought about the description of him as an âinspired player of small partsâ. In many ways, I suppose that is what so many of us are called to be.
Ìę
Mother (now St) Teresa who served among the poor in Kolkata said on one occasion that, âWe canât all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love.âÌę I believe she was right.Ìę Just think of what a difference it makes when someone does something small for us:Ìę The smile of encouragement, the offer of help from a colleague. Perhaps itâs true that only because there are âinspired players of small partsâ can the show go on.
Ìę
Lord, Thank you for those who have helped us on our way. Keep us mindful of the needs of others. Show us today the small things we can do and help us to do them with great love. Amen
Ìę
Tony Sympson
1906-1987
âinspired player of small partsâ
Ìę
I didnât recognize the name of the actor, but later discovered that while Tony Sympson had apparently never had a star role in any production, he had acted in many small roles in films and on television.ÌęÌę Since that day I have thought about the description of him as an âinspired player of small partsâ. In many ways, I suppose that is what so many of us are called to be.
Ìę
Mother (now St) Teresa who served among the poor in Kolkata said on one occasion that, âWe canât all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love.âÌę I believe she was right.Ìę Just think of what a difference it makes when someone does something small for us:Ìę The smile of encouragement, the offer of help from a colleague. Perhaps itâs true that only because there are âinspired players of small partsâ can the show go on.
Ìę
Lord, Thank you for those who have helped us on our way. Keep us mindful of the needs of others. Show us today the small things we can do and help us to do them with great love. Amen
Broadcast
- Fri 19 Jan 2018 05:43±«Óătv Radio 4 FM