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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.

2 minutes

Last on

Fri 19 Jan 2018 05:43

Script:

Good morning. A while ago when my husband and I were visiting London we wandered into St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden. Sometimes known as the ‘actors’ church’ 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
“inspired player of small parts”
Ìę
I didn’t 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 ‘inspired player of small parts’. 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, “We can’t all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love.”Ìę 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 it’s true that only because there are ‘inspired players of small parts’ 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

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  • Fri 19 Jan 2018 05:43

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