September 2012 Vol. 34. No. 9

Dear Friends

I am writing this on return from a week at Horton on the Gower Peninsula – an area where I have enjoyed many holidays from childhood.  Over the years, firstly with my parents, and later with Ron and our sons, I have walked many stretches of the coastal paths and visited just about all the beaches. This year Ron and I set off on a walk we’ve done many times before, down through the Bishopston Valley to a bay called Pwll Du (which is Welsh for Black Pool).  It’s a few years since we last undertook this walk and when we came to a choice of paths through the woods we couldn’t remember which route we usually take. We made the wrong choice, and  found ourselves in the middle of the wood, tramping along an overgrown path, on the opposite side of the stream to where we wanted to be. 

We battled through brambles and nettles, scrambling under and over fallen tree trunks and squelching through deep mud in places, and eventually emerged, scratched, stung and muddy, on to a familiar track, leading to a most idyllic scene at the back of the bay.  Cattle were grazing near a ford in the stream, the sun was shining and the view was breathtaking.  We spied a bench, made of yew, and it seemed to beckon!  Time for a rest and a drink, we decided.  I don’t know how long that bench has been in place, but I don’t remember seeing it before.  We were surprised and delighted to see two inscriptions.  One, along the front edge, reads, “All this beauty is of God”, while carved into a corner on the seat are the words, “I will give you rest”.  It was a moment to thank God for the scene before us, the sunny day, and for emerging safely from our long trek through the woods.  It was also a reminder to give thanks for the rest that comes with a holiday. 

There are many kinds of rest, from the blessedness of sleep at the end of a  tiring day, or relaxation after exercise, to the rest that comes with the cessation of pain after illness, or recovery from injury, or the peace of mind that comes when a difficult situation is resolved.  For people going through troubles of various kinds it can be hard to find the rest we crave.  “I will give you rest” is a promise given by Jesus recorded in the Gospel according to Matthew, Chapter 11 verse 28.  Some of you will be familiar with this promise from the Comfortable Words which are included in the Prayer Book service of Holy Communion, and which may be used in the newer services.  Jesus invites those who carry heavy burdens to come to him so that, however difficult our journey through life may be, and whatever obstacles we face, we can find spiritual rest and peace in his presence.

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington

August 2012 Vol. 34, No. 8

Dear Friends

“You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.”  That’s been said many times, and there’s some truth in it because being a Christian is not first and foremost about going to church, and sometimes people who are not Christians like to come along to church services – all are welcome. Some people say that Christians are people who try to live honest lives, doing good and not hurting others.  Certainly Christians ought to live like that, but so should everybody else! There are people of other faiths and people with no religious beliefs who have high standards of honesty and integrity and who do good to others. There has to be something else that defines a Christian. A Christian is someone who believes in Jesus Christ. So is this just about believing that he lived and did wonderful things 2000 years ago? That’s part of it, but there is more.  Christians believe that the whole nature of God is revealed in Jesus, and that through Jesus we can have a personal relationship with God.  We can receive assurance that God loves us, accepts us and forgives our sins.

In the Gospels we read of Jesus calling people to follow him and he still calls people today.  The fishermen left their nets to follow Jesus and we are called to leave behind anything that gets in the way of our relationship with God in order to begin a new life with Jesus. A Christian is someone who has responded to that call, and who has accepted Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.  That doesn’t mean that Christians are better than other people and we are certainly not perfect!  It does mean that we are in the process of becoming the people God intends us to be, through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit at work in us.

Christian faith is not just about believing, but is also about belonging.  For some the belonging comes first, as they are brought to church from an early age and gradually grow in their understanding and their desire to follow Jesus. Other people may come to faith in Jesus from a non-church background, then go on to make a commitment and start to get involved in church life.  We are at different stages and this is why we need one another, so that we can encourage and help one another along the path of faith and discipleship.  Attending church services is part of that. We tend to speak of going to church, but Church with a capital ‘C’ is something we belong to rather than go to.  The Church is people, not a building. We are the Church – each one of us who has decided to follow Jesus.  So let’s get away from talking about going to church and speak instead of belonging to the Church.  We belong to the Church if we belong to Jesus Christ, and we belong together.  Jesus never meant his followers to go it alone. 

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington