Thoughts from The Vicarage with compassion, creation care and christening
Greetings to you and yours a little earlier this week!
Looking ahead to Sunday’s Gospel, Matthew tells us that Jesus travelled through towns and villages, teaching, proclaiming the good news, and healing those who were sick. Then Matthew pauses and tells us something remarkable. Jesus looked at the crowds, ‘harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd’ and he was ‘moved with compassion’. What is striking is that compassion begins with seeing. Jesus notices people and is attentive to them and has his heart open to them. In a world which is often divided and fearful the act of compassion, in the giving or in the receiving if it, is balm for the soul.
From compassion for one another – to compassion for creation. This is a plug for our very own Bishop Mary’s pod cast Common Ground. In the first episode she is in conversation with Chris Merchant a professor of Reading University who hales from our last Parish of St Paul’s Wokingham and additionally sang bass alongside Mr Vicarage! The conversation is just that, gently back and forth exploring the work Chris does as a Professor of ocean and earth observation, a climate scientist in essence. Chris speaks of the joy of problem solving and going through a process that adds to our knowledge and understanding of our world.
It’s an encouraging, hopeful discussion truly worth 30 minutes of your time with food for thought of how faith can shape our response to challenges of climate change. There is no despair or inertia in this podcast but be warned there are book recommendations as well! Amongst them, Katharine Hayhoe ‘Saving Us’. She writes of how we need to think about where we find hope, look squarely at where we fall short and how we can work together to address the not such good news. ‘The Golden Mole & other Living Treasure’ in which the author writes to help people to love the world. She tells of the most winsome accounts of the animals that are at risk of climate change. ‘If we have a passion for this work it can’t just be a selfish endeavour but rather one in which we work together’ says Bishop Mary:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6fgyiYyBQ6gRCngPj1Pve5?si=slS9JKdBSE68rCDm_wuYeg
Please do remember that St Michael’s Restore our Roof Appeal is under way and any contribution you are able to make will be much appreciated. Please see the attached for more information and how to donate, Thank you.
Thinking about a christening? For your child or for yourself? Save the date July 4th 10-11am at The Vicarage if you’d like to find out more – all welcome!
Finally, a prayer:
Lord, you have taught us that all our doings without love are nothing worth:
send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love,
the true bond of peace and of all virtues,
without which whoever lives is counted dead before you,
grant this for your only Son Jesus Christ’s sake.
Amen
Every blessing
Julie
Dates for your diary
- July 4th Saturday 10-11 am – Come & See about Christening or Baptism @ The Vicarage
- July 17th – 19th – Flower Festival St Michel & All Angels
- July 20th 1.30 – School leavers’ service St Michael & All Angels
- August 8th – Summer lunch at Meridian the home of Ruth & John Honey. All welcome!
- September 12th 7.15 – Last Night of The Proms screened in St Michael’s doors open 6pm
- November tbc – Film Night with David Attenborough
- December 4th – St Michael & All Angels Christmas Fair
- December 19th – Family film event with screening of the ‘Muppet Christmas Carol’
Revd Julie Mintern, Vicar of Lambourn Valley Benefice