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

December 2012 Vol. 34. No. 12

Dear Friends

At this time of year lots of people attend carol services and concerts.  Some carols are played and sung every year.  Much as I love many traditional Christmas carols, I have other favourites which are less well known.  One of these is “God’s Surprise”.  We sing it to the tune “Scarlet Ribbons”.  The birth of Jesus is a surprise for a number of reasons.  In Bible times there was the expectation that God would send the Messiah (that’s a Hebrew word meaning “anointed” – the Greek equivalent is “Christ”).  First century Palestine was occupied by the Romans, and the Jews were anticipating a leader sent from God who would deliver them from their enemies.  There were various ideas about the kind of leader this would be, but a king who would lead them into battle was what many were looking for.  So the birth of a baby to a couple far from home, who found no room at the inn and who had to take shelter among the animals was not what they were expecting.

When that baby grew up he attracted followers, but upset many of the religious leaders, with all his talk of forgiving enemies and praying for those who hate us, not to mention healing people on the Sabbath.  The Roman rulers were upset too, because they feared Jesus would lead a revolution.  Jesus came to show a different way to be great, and to save us all, not from occupying armies but from the consequences of human sinfulness.  He came to bring about a revolution all right – a revolution in people’s hearts, to turn us right around from going our own way and to turn us back to God.  Some understood his message, but many missed the point – just as many failed to notice that God had come among human beings that first Christmas in the form of a tiny baby, wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.  Those who did see and believe were just a handful of shepherds who saw a vision of angels, and some wise men who followed a star.  I wonder how many people who celebrate Christmas this year will see the sign of God’s love in the baby in the manger, and receive him into their hearts and lives, and how many will miss the point.

To quote a couple of lines at the end of each verse of that carol, “God surprises earth with heaven, coming here on Christmas day.”  Are you ready to be surprised by God this Christmas?

With my love and prayers for a blessed and peaceful Christmas,

Glynis Hetherington

November 2012 Vol. 34 No. 11

Dear Friends

I asked some young people what they thought about when I said the name of their church.  There were some interesting responses including ‘the stained glass windows’, a favourite worship song, and ‘people going up to the altar for the bread and wine’.   The last answer led us into thinking what the Church really is – a building, what goes on in the building, or the people who use the building as a place to meet.  We went on to think about the Church as a family.  When I baptise an infant I talk to the parents about being born physically into a family, and baptism as a symbol of spiritual birth and being welcomed into the family of the Church.  Some families are close and meet often, so that warm and loving relationships grow and there is always help, support and encouragement and a deep level of commitment and sharing.  Family members are there for each other and from that secure family base each member can grow and flourish.

Other families don’t see much of each other and members drift apart.  I find that sad.  The same can happen with the Church family.  There are many who belong to the Church through baptism, yet who rarely meet with their Christian brothers and sisters for worship and prayer. The Parish Church is there to serve people in the community, whether or not they have any involvement in its life and worship, but some of our smaller congregations have concerns about how much longer they can fulfil that role. Maybe the Church of the future will be centred on the larger towns and villages. The faithful few in small villages might meet in one another’s homes, as happened in New Testament times.  Our relationships with God and each other are more important than buildings, and yet, if one day some small churches have to close, I wonder how many people will regret not sharing in the life of their Parish Church when they had the opportunity.

Staying connected to our families provides a network of friendship and support, and the same goes for the Church family.  In our individualistic society it is important to foster relationships and a sense of belonging.  Together as we grow in our relationships within the Church family we can also grow closer to God, helping one another in our quest to discover meaning and purpose for our lives.  For Christians, Jesus shows us what God is like, and demonstrates in his own life and teaching, and in his sacrificial death, God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. As children of the same heavenly Father it is important that we stay connected to each other.  Those who are already committed to meeting regularly would be delighted to welcome newcomers, or to welcome back members we haven’t seen for a while.

 

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington

October 2012, Vol. 34 No. 10

Dear Friends

This summer there has been a lot of excitement over the Olympics, and more recently the Paralympics.  Those people I have spoken with who have attended these events have spoken of very efficient organisation, and of how friendly and good-natured everyone has been from members of the public to the officials and Police officers on duty.  How refreshing it is to have reports of events where vast crowds have gathered to share in something good.  We see so many ugly crowd scenes these days, and even occasions that start peacefully can too easily erupt into violence.  At the Games we have seen that it is possible for vast numbers of people to share together in a spirit of peace and friendship.

 Another aspect of the Games that has touched me was hearing athletes speak about their dedication and commitment to improving on their own personal best, and to achieving the highest standard they can in their chosen sport.  That attitude has been an inspiration to many.  The Paralympics have been especially inspiring in view of the obstacles faced by sports men and women with disabilities and their determination to reach their fullest potential.  Their high standards of achievement and their courage are an example to us all.  So many of us who are able bodied fail to appreciate the health and strength that we have.  Sometimes, though, when we are ill or are temporarily incapacitated by some kind of injury, we can begin to imagine what it must be like for those whose lives are a constant battle with discomfort, or who struggle to find a way of performing the simple routine tasks that other people carry out with ease.

 People are talking now about the legacy of the Olympics and Paralympics.  It is to be hoped that we can utilise the lessons learned about good organisation of events, and that we can harness the goodwill that has been generated.  Some have spoken of their hope that today’s children and young people will be inspired by these Games to strive to achieve the best they can in their own chosen sports. Among the athletes and sports people are some good role models, and young people need good role models.  Even those who are not particularly athletic or ‘sporty’ can perhaps be spurred on to practise whatever gifts and skills they have in other areas and to develop their own talents to the best of their ability.  Each one of us is a unique child of God with the potential to grow and become the person God created us to be.  May we all be inspired by the Olympics and Paralympics to develop our God given abilities and talents, not only for our own personal fulfilment, but also for the benefit of others.

 With my love and prayers

 Glynis Hetherington

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