APRIL 2010 - Vol 32 No. 4

The Reverend Steve Osman writes:

Dear Friends,

A few months ago I had to put my car in for repair. The only courtesy car I was offered was a brand new BMW X5 - I was slightly embarrassed to be driving it. Less than an hour after I got home someone in the village phoned me about something and commented, "I see you've got a new car." The grapevine in these villages is very efficient!

So I guess by now you will have heard that I am moving on from my present post, moving back to the N.E.

I just want to use this opportunity to say that we are very sorry indeed to be moving, but still feel it is right. I have spent ten very happy years in Gotham and slightly less than that looking after my other four churches. There have also been some excellent examples of collaboration across all twelve villages. I can't remember any seriously bad times; sad times yes, with the death of parishioners, but overall this has been a wonderful ten years. I have grown to love this part of the world and will always be proud to have served in these communities.

My new post is a challenge. Three churches formed into one parish with some resistance to that idea. Church life is a struggle in depressed ex-mining communities. My view is that there is no such thing as a problem, only an opportunity for challenge. On the plus side we will be much nearer family including elderly parents. The parish is next door to where I grew up. I have had to work hard at trying to tell the difference between God's call and the call of home. Accepting the fact that I'll be just fifteen miunutes from the Stadium of Light, I'm as convinced as I can be that this is what God wants.

For all of us who call ourselves Christian, this notion of God's guidance is always a challenge. As young people, what does my faith say about my career choice, my choice of life partner? As we get older, what does my faith say about how I spend my time or my money? From my experience it is rare to get clear and obvious answers when we ask God about all this. What is important is that we ask him. Too many Christians simply get on with their lives and give God just a passing nod.

This Easter time we can reflect on how Jesus followed his Father's will in order to give us hope and new life. That wasn't easy for him. Perhaps appreciation of Jesus' sacrifice will help us to give God more of our lives.

Steve Osman.