Greetings on this beautiful blue sky morning, a little later than usual as I’ve been on retreat.
Thanks for all the JB or John Betjeman comments last week! Evidently we have many enthusiasts in the Valley, one of whom wrote;
‘Delighted to see your reference to the maestro who we in The Betjeman Society, for brevity, usually just refer to as ‘JB’. But I visited S. Luke’s churchyard some years ago and concluded a touch of poetic licence has been used here. I scoured the cemetery and could find no gravestone that fitted the description:
Where, in nineteen-twenty-three,
He who trained a hundred winners,
Paid the Final Entrance Fee.
I wonder if anyone has ever found the elusive gravestone. Please let me know if that’s the case!
In the church’s year we’re moving into the green season with each church dressed in green! Each Sunday is referred to as the x Sunday after Trinity. This church year is known as Year A and in the Lectionary (the book that sets out the readings for each service every day) we continue a journey through Matthew’s Gospel as Jesus holds out a new start to broken people, healing those who are hurt and welcomes those who are alienated. We read of four examples of Jesus offering a new start just we are each offered a new start – truly Good News!
And from the Old Testament we hear of Abraham answering the call of God and becoming “the father of us all”. The amazing thing about Abraham is that he embarked on a journey from the known to the unknown believing that God could do the impossible. To hear the end of my sermon (!) you are welcome at either of the services on Sunday.
This weekend brings to a close the Churches Count on Nature Week. It has been a joy to share the pleasure of looking at all things natural in St Michael’s churchyard. Thanks to all who came along and to the lichen experts in particular who answered many questions and shared expertise amongst those present. You are always welcome to explore any of our three churchyards. Hot off the press news concerns bats which have been very evident recently inside St Michael’s. Watch this space as a bat detector will be coming our way soon!
In an exciting development, All Saints are growing their team of welcomers and we pray for them in their ministry. Ministry is something we all have in one form or other and if you would like to think about how you would like to serve the church please do be in touch – no query too small. We all have gifts of all sorts and to grow as the body of Christ we are all encouraged to reflect and explore our gifts and offer them in service.
As a disciple you may well feel yourself being called to take up an aspect of lay ministry – it may look very different for different people but if you are feeling called to offer yourself please don’t hesitate to chat it through with me. I look forward to hearing from you!
Finally, returning to Genesis and thinking of God’s covenant made following the flood. That covenant extended not only to Noah, his family, and his descendants, but to “all life on earth,” “all living creatures of every kind,” and even more remarkably to “the earth” itself in Genesis 9:13, 15, and 17. The protection, the love of God is for all people everywhere, not just a select few, and it is the mission of the church to be His safe haven.
I close this week with a prayer jointly written by Mother Teresa and Brother Roger of Taize from Kathryn Spink’s book, ‘Mother Teresa: A Complete Authorized Biography’.
Oh God, the father of all,
you ask every one of us to spread
Love where the poor are humiliated,
Joy where the Church is brought low,
And reconciliation where people are divided. . .
Father against son, mother against daughter,
Husband against wife,
Believers against those who cannot believe,
Christians against their unloved fellow Christians.
God bless
Julie