DECEMBER Vol. 35 No. 12.

Rev’d Tim writes:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Let me begin by saying again how excited and delighted I am to have officially started as the Priest-in-Charge of our benefice. I am deeply thankful to everyone who helped to make my licensing and welcome here so special. It has been great to meet so many people already and I look forward to sharing this season of Advent together.

This time of year is a really exciting time for mission. Almost everyone in our communities will be observing Christmas in some way and so it’s never going to be easier to say a word or two about the hope that makes us, as Christians, want to celebrate so much.

But what should we say? For me, the most important message I try to get across at Christmas is the fact that God has come to meet us.

Many people have some sense of personal spiritual yearning, but aren't quite sure what to do about it. Part of the good news of Christmas is that we are no longer left in the dark about God. He’s not stuck up in heaven, shrouded in philosophical obscurity. Instead, he has come and lived among us. He’s become part of the human story, part of history.

Christmas therefore is not  just about sing carols in beautifully decorated churches. Rather, Christmas is a chance to meet the God in whom all our spiritual hungers are satisfied. A God who came in to the reality of everyday life and has let himself be known. That’s the message we try to get across at Christmas.

So this year, take time to invite someone to a Christmas service. But afterwards, take the time also to ask them what they thought of it. And in particular, ask them what they think of the God who decided he wanted to move in to a Bethlehem cattle shed to meet you.

God Bless

Rev’d Tim

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means “God with us”. Matthew 1:29

NOVEMBER 2013 Vol. 35. No. 11

Sue Shaw writes:  

New beginnings.

Dear Friends

From 2 Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 17:  So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!

At a special service at 7.30pm on Wednesday November 6^th Revd. Tim Parker will become our Priest in Charge for the Benefice. Welcome to Tim!

When you read this page in your Compass in December, he will be the author. That’s the first new beginning.

On Remembrance Sunday, 10^th November, we recall the wars when men and women turned their back on their “normal life” and headed for a new beginning. Some went to fight in the war, joined the Land Army, or started working in munitions factories, for example. Children living in risky areas left the familiarity of home, beginning life as evacuees in safer places. Their life-changing decisions were all about a better world of freedom, where dictatorship and injustice would be destroyed. Even now, for some families, deeply affected by loss of life or serious injuries to brave soldiers, their future is a new, very difficult beginning.

We still do not live in an idyllic world. We are appalled by the horrors at the Nairobi shopping centre and the desperation of the “boat people” who died in the sea, only yards away from escape to an Italian island.

I was given the words of a hymn, which ends with this verse –

“Still we need dreams, O God, make us your dreamers,

Inflame our passion for a world made whole,

A world where love extends to all a welcome,

Where justice, like a powerful stream, will roll.

Come, Prince of Peace, our fading hope rekindle,

‘Your kingdom come’ we pray, let peace be made.”

Please join me in praying to Jesus, the Prince of Peace, for that kind of world. Let’s start by praying for peace, especially in areas of conflict, and for the people who are striving, at home and abroad, to bring about that peace.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matt 5.9)

This world needs a new beginning. Each of us needs a new beginning – Jesus gives us that New Life, through the Holy Spirit. Accept it for yourself and He will change you for eternity.

May the peace of the Lord be always with you.              

 

Sue

OCTOBER 2013 Vol. 35 No. 10

John O’Nions writes:  

Reflections on Autumn

Dear Friends,

As you read this, the season of Autumn will have arrived, a season with the promise of a good harvest; a time of mellowness when leaves turn to gold and the misty evening air has a slight chill.  I remember as a child, autumn meant the first lighting of a coal fire in the evening, hot milk before bedtime and the excitement and fear of starting a new class or school.   Now in the autumn of my life, it brings a mixture of nostalgia as I look back at the blessing of life’s high summer along with an excitement, sometimes trepidation, of what the future holds; and in looking back rejoice to see how God has led me thus far.

But there is one certainty - the future will hold change.  Increasingly as we age we experience the passing of loved ones and there are lonely gaps in our lives.  The realization too of our declining vitality and health means some of us cannot do the things we once did; our world changes daily and not always for the best.  Some of our children, or their children, will be leaving home for the first time this Autumn, some nests will feel very empty, the silence deafening.  Our children are growing up in a world and environment far different from our own, many of them feeling, as some of us do, desperately afraid of what the future holds.

In the bible the word autumn occurs only once in Jude 1:12, where false teachers are compared to “Autumn trees without fruit”.  God expects us to be fruitful.  He expects us to pass on to our children and others his true teaching and his love.  And we who have experienced life and seen God’s blessings in our lives, who have seen his provision and felt his guidance, still have much to do.  Every farmer knows that after the corn has been harvested there is yet more work waiting to be done.  It maybe that in the autumn of our years we are called to take advantage of God’s Harvest in us, and sow the seeds he has stored within us over the years.  Everyone is needed; everyone is valued doing his work. There is no age restriction.

Amidst this season of change, of transition, one thing, one person never changes, our God and his love for us which feeds and nurtures us but also braces us, like stored harvest grain, for the cold winter days.  Be assured, in faith we will enjoy the love and fellowship of God for all time. The world may grow old and fade, the seasons change, and harvests fail but God, who has been our help in ages past, is still our hope, our strength and support for today and for the years to come.   For our God knows the end as he knew the beginning and he will bless us in whatever is offered to him in faith with thanksgiving. 

May your harvest be fruitful,

with love John

SEPTEMBER 2013 Vol. 35. No 9

Sue Waterston writes:  

Dear Friends,

On 28th August 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln memorial in Washington DC one of the most powerful and memorable speeches ever heard was made by Dr Martin Luther King Jr.  He was challenging the citizens of America – and the wider world – to consider the true meaning of civil rights and freedom and to recognise that all people are created equal.

Jesus taught his followers the importance of respecting our fellow human beings as human beings, regardless of their faith or age or colour, for we are all loved by God.  ‘Love our neighbour as our self’ we have been taught by him; in other words, treat others as we would have them treat us.  It is a good way to live, but sadly these days, we are witnessing increasingly more incidents where this does not happen, not least among those users of social networking sites. 

Bullying behaviour is frowned upon everywhere; at work there are policies and procedures to outlaw it with consequences which may affect one’s continued employment; in schools and colleges the disciplinary consequences can be very serious ranging from suspension to expulsion.  But ‘trolling’ as on-line bullying or hate campaigning is called has, to date, not been taken as seriously as it should with some tragic outcomes.  Perhaps this is because the potentially severe or tragic repercussions of something which is written online are not immediately apparent to the bully. Once posted, their message is ‘out of sight’ and becomes just as quickly ‘out of mind’ as they move on to their next victim. 

Most of us would not choose to be bullied by whatever means, and if we witness this happening we should do something about it – without putting ourselves in harm’s way.  If we are to truly follow Jesus’ teaching to “love one another as [he has] loved us” (John 14:12) it is our duty as Christians to do this.  As the Old Testament prophet Micah challenges us: “What is it that the Lord doth require but that you should do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8).  ‘Doing justly’ is challenging this unacceptable behaviour firmly but politely; ‘loving mercy’ is supporting the victims of this and any other kind of abuse, and ‘walking humbly with God’ is praying to him for strength and wisdom to deal with such situations appropriately.

As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of that famous speech, I am emboldened to declare that I, too, have a dream: namely that one day all of God’s children of all ages, faiths and colours will be able to live in harmony with one another and bullying and abuse of all kinds will be a thing of the past.

With my love, prayers and hope, 

 

Sue Waterston.

AUGUST 2013 Vol 35 No. 8

The Rev Pat Edwards writes:  

 Selah.

Dear Friends,

The book of Psalms contains one hundred and fifty poems which reflect the feelings and emotions of their authors whose souls were moved by the thoughts of God. Whatever our state of mind we find a psalm that fits our mood and expresses our emotions. Many of them were written by David, of 'Once in Royal David's City' fame. Often set to music, psalms were designed to express the dynamics of real life experiences through worship.

If we dip into the Book of Psalms in the Bible, notice, occurring fairly frequently, often more than once in a psalm, the word 'Selah'. You may find it's tucked away at the side, but it's there. It's actually an instruction for the musicians. It means 'stop and ponder' and it was understood that during worship, when the word Selah appeared, there was to be a pause to allow everyone time to stop and think about what had been sung.

At the end of June we had two very special services, then a party, as we said our 'Goodbyes' to Glynis and Ron. Several people have asked me why, in the Church of England, we have a time of vacancy, an interregnum, before someone new comes to minister with us. Practicalities aside, the answer is that it gives us a pause for 'Selah'; a time to stop and reflect.  Inevitably, we look back and thank God for all that has happened in our parishes over the years. You can look back a lot further than I can! In the present, we have had the opportunity to take stock of where we are and, more  importantly, we've had time and encouragement to look ahead, to dream with God for the future.  A few days ago I had a conversation with someone; well, I was trying to, I suppose it worked, up to a point. All the time we were talking the person I was chatting to was also doing something with their mobile phone. I know they were listening to me and I got appropriate answers to my questions, but a bit of me felt as though they weren't really interested in what I had to say. (I'm sure they were, but were just busy, but it didn't feel like that at the time.) It occurs to me that I sometimes do that to God, I am trying to listen to him, but I'm a bit busy doing other things at the same time. It's important that we do take time to listen to God, to 'Selah' and give ourselves a chance to hear his voice in the midst of our busy lives.

                                    With my love and prayers,

                                               Pat.

 

JULY 2013 Vol. 35 No.7

 

The Rector writes:

Dear Friends

Our five churches use a hymn book called “Hymns Old and New”. As I write this final letter as your Rector, I find myself thinking of “Friends Old and New”.  There are those among you who have known Ron and myself since we first came to the area, in the years that pre-dated Ron’s licensing as a Reader and my ordination.  We have got to know many other people over the years, both in the Church and the wider community. The nature of ministry as a parish priest is such that I am always meeting new people and I feel that I am constantly making new friends. That is a tremendous joy and blessing. 

People have been asking if I am looking forward to retirement.  The answer is a qualified “yes”. I shall enjoy having more time for the family and for my various hobbies and interests, but I know that there are many aspects of parish ministry that I shall miss, and I am going to miss the people I have got to know and had the privilege of ministering amongst for so many years.  I hope that I shall be able to keep in touch with friends I have made in these parishes, but I do want to urge you all to offer your friendship, encouragement and support to my successor.  Whoever comes next will bring his or her unique personality, gifts and experience to the role. I trust that this will mean new and creative thinking and encouragement for the churches to move forward together, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  It is my earnest prayer that the churches and communities here will flourish and be richly blessed in the time ahead. Yes, there will be challenges, but God has plans for his Church and plans for each one of us.  A Bible verse that has been significant for some of us over the years is Jeremiah 29:11 – “Surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”

Times of change can feel exciting but also rather uncomfortable and it’s all too easy to look back to how it used to be, perhaps to some imagined golden age (conveniently forgetting those aspects we weren’t so happy about at the time!).  As I look back over fourteen years as Rector, it seems to me that we have come a long way on our journey together.  As in any walk of life, there have been ups and downs, joys and sorrows, successes and failures.  It’s no good dwelling on the past. Instead, let’s rejoice in the good things that are happening now, look to the future, and put our faith and trust in our unchanging God.

As I enter this new phase of my life, I will be praying for my successor, and for God’s blessing on the five parishes, and I will be giving thanks for “Friends Old and New”.  I guess I will make more new friends in retirement, but I will always value the friendships I have found here. 

With much love, and many happy memories

Glynis Hetherington