FEBRUARY 2013 VOL.35 No.2

Dear Friends

February already, and we are well into another year.  Where do the years go?  I can scarcely believe that I have been in post as Rector of this Benefice for almost fourteen years. Prior to that I was in self-supporting ministry. Ron, my ‘other half’ has been a Reader in the Benefice for even longer.  Now the time has come to retire. By the time you receive this edition of Compass an announcement will have been made in all our churches.   We are both planning to retire from our respective ministries in the Benefice this coming summer.  Our final service will be held on Sunday 30^th June and more information about that will be given out nearer the time.

In Church ministry as in any walk of life there are many blessings and rewards, and some frustrations. One of the things I most enjoy is meeting so many delightful and interesting people of all ages in the church and the wider community. It has been a real joy to meet and get to know many of you. Sometimes that has come about through a happy occasion, such as a wedding or baptism.  I have also met many people through funeral ministry.  Sharing with people in times of sadness and trying to bring some comfort and hope into their situation is a huge privilege. I am acutely aware that the pain of separation can take a long time to heal, and people never stop missing the loved one they have been parted from by death, yet I dare to hope that God can use me and my colleagues to help people in the process of grieving and coming to terms with their loss.

People often turn to the Church at significant moments in their lives. Some people find that these events cause them to stop and think about what they truly believe, and some feel drawn to further exploration of the Christian faith.  Whenever I see someone coming to faith, or re-kindling the faith they once had, or growing in the faith they already have, that is most rewarding. The work of the Church is mission – that’s what we are called by Jesus to be doing.  He commanded his disciples (and that’s all of us who seek to follow his call and learn from him) to go into all the world and make disciples. I long to see more people becoming disciples of Jesus – but be warned!  Once you respond to the call to follow Jesus, you never know where he will lead you.  When I first committed my life to following Jesus I never for one moment thought that it would lead to ordination, let alone to becoming Rector here!

                                    With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington

 

JANUARY 2013 VOL. 35 No.1

Dear Friends

Halfway through the season of Christmas we bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new.  Some people will be enjoying parties, while others won’t feel much like celebrating.  The year just ending has brought happiness for some and sadness for others, and for many there will have been a mixture of good and bad things.  Some will be facing the coming year with feelings of expectation and hope, while for others there will be anxieties about the future.

On 6^th January the Church enters the season of Epiphany, which follows on from Christmas.  We think on that date of the wise men who were led by a star to the infant Jesus.  We don’t know much about their journey, but Matthew’s Gospel tells us that they went first of all to the palace of King Herod, an understandable mistake since they were looking for a newborn king.  Yet this error led to tragedy when Herod, in his jealousy, ordered the massacre of innocent children. After the wise men had presented to Jesus their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, they were warned about Herod in a dream, and so they returned to their own country by another way.  Then an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and the holy family fled to Egypt until it was safe to return to their home in Nazareth.

The much loved story of Christmas and Epiphany has its dark side too, though the central message is of the Light of Christ, coming into the world and shining in the darkness.  The wise men were among the first people to see and recognise that light.  In the years to follow others would be drawn to the light and love they saw in Jesus.  His followers came to recognise that he was the Messiah, or Christ, whose coming had been foretold by prophets long ago.  These events happened 2000 years ago, yet today Christians still believe that the light and love of God that came into the world at Christmas can shine in our hearts and lives and bring us hope in our times of darkness.  In the Church we trace the story from Jesus’ birth, through to his ministry, his death and resurrection and ascension into heaven. He is our Saviour and Lord, and through the Holy Spirit we can know his presence with us always.  The wise men had a star to guide them on their journey.  We too need guidance and help, as we journey into the new year, and in our journey of life. All of us have a mixture of sorrows to bear and good things to celebrate.  If we put our faith and trust in God, through Jesus Christ, we can look back and give thanks for the blessings we have received, and we can face the future without fear.

Wishing you God’s blessing and peace in the coming year,

Glynis Hetherington