Oops!

FEBRUARY 2011

Dear Friends,
This month I thought it would be good to reproduce the following shortened version of a Pastoral Letter from Bishop Michael which was read to all churches on the 8th January when we remembered the Baptism of Christ. I hope that you find it useful in your reflections. If the letter raises any issues that you might want to discuss with Sarah or with me, or wish either yourself or a member of your family to be baptised (Christened) or confirmed,  please contact us
ian

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
At this New Year I greet you and wish you and all within our diocesan family a year in which, with all the challenges that face our society, we shall richly experience God’s blessing on our world and on our lives. Today, on this First Sunday of Epiphany, Christians celebrate the Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan. I want to take the opportunity to invite each one of us to reflect on our own Baptism. Whether or not you can recall the day of your Baptism, it was a unique moment in your Christian journey.
Christian Baptism is rich in many-layered meaning. In the water of Baptism there is the invitation into a relationship with Jesus Christ, there is talk of new birth as well as of dying to the old and rising with Christ, there is the calling down of the Holy Spirit to abide within you and there is incorporation into a new family, the Church.
I want to ask you to reflect on what your Baptism means, or might mean, for you, and to do so not just today but as a theme running through 2012. There is a world of difference between saying “I was baptised once upon a time” and saying “I am baptised  -  it is something I am living and exploring.”
I also want to ask your church community over the next few months to explore the place of Baptism in your life together as you meet in church councils or house groups or in conversation with the members of your own church. You might shape that exploration around questions such as these.
Are we doing everything we can to encourage people of every age to come to Baptism? Are we offering teaching for those exploring the Christian faith and preparation for those seeking Baptism? Are we inviting those who have been baptised but not confirmed to renew their commitment through Confirmation? Are we providing opportunities for those who have experienced a leap forward in their discipleship to renew their baptismal commitment? Are we celebrating Baptism services in such a way that people have every opportunity to meet Jesus Christ?
If we all take these questions seriously, I believe we will see Baptism becoming more significant for us as individuals and communities and faith, and discipleship deepened.
To any who hear this and who have not themselves been baptised, I ask: Is this the moment when you should explore this step? If it is, please grasp the moment. And, if you are one of those baptised long ago, but who would like to renew your commitment, please seize the opportunity and begin a conversation today about how and when that might happen.
It’s a wonderful truth that we are the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ of whom his Father said on this day at the Jordan, “You are my beloved Son”. God says to us in our baptism and then goes on saying to us as we live out our faith, “You also are among my beloved sons and daughters.” What a privilege, worth taking very seriously, worth celebrating!

JANUARY 2011

Dear Friends,
May I wish you all a very happy new year and hope that 2012 brings all that you might wish. It always seems strange to be writing a letter for the January magazine when it is still, at the time of writing, some 2 weeks before Christmas. However, I do hope that you have all had a good Christmas and that you were able to come along to whichever service you felt was relevant.  Thank you everyone who helped with decorating our churches or in any other way.
A New Year always brings new challenges and so many of us make our New Year Resolutions in good faith, although not too many are kept beyond the first few days or weeks. My hope for 2012 is that we continue to grow together as a benefice, sharing together and appreciating the differences and celebrating those things that each church community has in common.  Amongst various things that I have been reading over the last few months is the following which I think is a great mantra for our lives.

Take time to THINK.... it is the source of power.
Take time to PLAY....it is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to READ.... it is the fountain of wisdom.
Take time to PRAY.... it is the greatest power on earth.
Take time to LOVE and BE LOVED.... it is a God-given privilege.
Take time to be FRIENDLY.... it is the road to happiness.
Take time to LAUGH.... it is the music of the soul.
Take time to GIVE.... it is too short a day to be selfish.
Take time to WORK.... it is the price of success.
Take time to DO CHARITY.... it is the key to heaven.
(Anon.)

With my very best wishes,
Ian

DECEMBER 2011

Dear Friends,

December brings us that very greatest of occasions when we remember our Lord God’s most treasured gift of His Son to the world. It’s a time for us all to remember the trust and obedience of Mary, who carried the baby despite the social stigma of the day, knowing that it was God’s will for her to do so and that it was the greatest honour that had been given to her and also to remember Joseph who continued to support her as together they stepped into the unknown. As we meet together at this ‘season of goodwill’ let’s not forget Mary’s role and at the same time the role of all mothers whose task is never easy in giving birth to a child and then taking on the very onerous role of raising the child. I’m often told that Christmas is ‘a time for children’ a sentiment which, for me does not go far enough. Christmas is a time for everyone, old and young alike, as we gather together to celebrate the love of God and to thank him who sent his Son, baby Jesus, into the world for all of our sakes. 

You’ll see that there are a good number and variety of services arranged for December as we have tried to ensure that there is every opportunity for all of us to come along at some time to give thanks to God for the Christmas Child. Sarah and I, together with the Ministry Team and everyone who helps ensure that our services run as well as possible wish each and every one of you a very merry and peaceful Christmastime. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.    (John 1 – verses 1 - 5)

ian 

NOVEMBER 2011

Dear Friends,

I am writing this letter during a period when I am taking some enforced time off work with a health problem.  During this time I am unable to take services or carry out those everyday duties that usually fill each week. However, a positive effect of taking this time out is that I have had much more time, when I have been able, to sit back and simply offer prayer to God for all that he does and for those who I know are in need at this time. This morning I have reached the 3rd chapter of Ecclesiastes in my bible reading and by co-incidence it is the chapter headed ‘A Time for Everything’. Many of you will be familiar with these words, but I would like to set out some verses here:- 

 verses 1 - 8:

‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,   a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.’

And verse 12 says:

‘I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live’.

How we use our time is so important, whether it be while we’re working, resting or enjoying some leisure time. Somehow it just seemed right that I reach those verses today. They have given me more cause to reflect on my life, the life of my family and the life of this benefice. As I read and re-read these words I will be taking the opportunity to reflect on what I think might be the things that are the most important for us as the ‘Family of Christ’ in this locality and the direction that we should be taking for the future. I am certainly not making any decisions or even intending at this stage to raise any discussion points myself. However, as you read these words you might like to take time to reflect in a similar manner and it may be that God will direct us in the way that he wants us to go.

Finally let me end with a quotation from David Hope:

‘Today is a gift from God which holds out immense opportunities for us. It is the first day of the rest of our lives; whatever yesterday was like, today is wholly new and the future lies ahead.’

Thank you to all who have sent messages of support at this time. I look forward to being able to resume my duties with you in due course.

With every blessing,

Ian