Embedded Files
Rev. Carol Harvey and Harry
January
January
Dear Parishioners,
As I write this letter to you, Christmas has not yet arrived! By January 1st, who knows what might have happened? Our Lord might have returned! Perhaps that’s not the first thought we have when we look forward to a new year. Do we live in hopeful anticipation of that day, or are we living each day given, in the joyful hope of eternity when our time comes? I think we need to exercise balance here and perspective! I think we are back again to living in the world but not adhering, not being ‘of’ the world. I am reminded of the poem by Wordsworth, “The world is too much with us, late and soon, getting and spending...”
However, the beginning of the year is a time we look back and look forward; that is what “January” means. The month is called after the ancient Roman god of beginnings, transitions, doorways, and time. Famously depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions - one forward, one back. Not that we as Christians should adhere to a pagan tradition, but we should acknowledge that the Christmas we have just celebrated - the birth of the baby Jesus, the incarnation of God in human form, has given us all that second chance, that opportunity to start anew. No better time to examine our lives, see what needs changing and strive, with the grace of God, to do better.
January arrives quietly like a clean page. The noise of celebration fades, and we are left with something holy: the chance to begin again. Scripture reminds us that God’s mercies are “new every morning”, and January makes that promise visible. We do not step into the year perfected, only hopeful.
This month invites us to walk slowly, to listen carefully, and to trust that small, faithful steps matter. Seeds planted now - habits of prayer, kindness, honesty and courage - will grow in seasons we cannot yet see. God does not ask us to carry the whole year at once, only today.
So begin where you are. Offer what you have. And let this first month teach you that beginnings, when placed in God’s hands, are already blessed. As you see those precious snowdrops appearing from the dark soil, be encouraged, let your heart for your God and your creator soar, choose to be renewed by the love and grace of our Lord and Saviour.
May I wish you all a peaceful, healthy and spirit filled new year.
Love,
Carol
December
December
Reflections from the Glebe House
“I was just thinking...
...Christmas seems to come earlier every year!"
This was brought home to me especially this year when we had a Santa’s Grotto at our Craft Fair on 8th November! However, I remember that when I began in ministry, the build up to Christmas rarely started until December; nowadays, through the shops, television trailers and in many other places, it’s many weeks before then. And for many of us, myself included, Christmas fatigue can set it. It’s a time, not only of preparation for the events taking place, but also of cooking, writing cards, buying presents, attending parties etc., etc. During all this we can get increasingly tired and take our eyes off the real meaning of the season until we eventually collapse in a heap on Christmas day.
I’ve lived through over 60 Christmases, and I know many of you can beat that, so maybe the challenge for us all is: How can we continue to tap into the joy and wonder of Christmas amidst all that is going on?
T. S. Eliot in his poem Little Gidding I think gives us a clue. He writes:
“We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploringwill be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”
We all know the story so well but how can we keep exploring? How can we approach Christmas in new ways and get something different out of it this year? Here are three suggestions:
Firstly: Give Christ the place he should have, the primary place in your Christmas.
I love our Christmas services, especially Christmas morning’s family communion, which is always such fun; however, I always feel sad that so few of our congregation make Christmas worship a reality in their Christmas day. Christmas is all about Jesus, so why, as Christians, is Christmas not a time we attend church to worship and thank God for his incredible gift to us? Make Christmas different this year by coming to at least one of our services on Christmas Eve or Day before getting into the family celebrations.
Secondly: Spare a thought for those who struggle at Christmas.
It’s not the season of joy and goodwill for everyone! Our S.A.N.D.S. service on 7th December will be seeking to support those who have lost a child and find this season really difficult. Similarly, if you’ve lost a loved one this year it’s likely that you’ll be dreading Christmas! Can we be aware of those people around us who might be struggling, and go out of our way to visit them or offer them hospitality? Thirdly: Invite a friend or neighbour to a church service over Christmas.
A recent survey showed that 42% of the population would attend a Christmas service or event if they were invited. Christmas is a time when people are much more open to going along to church, particularly maybe for a carol service. Attending with someone they know is much easier than going on their own. So have a think: which of your friends or neighbours can you invite along to one of our church services this Christmas?
All the above may make your Christmas just a little different and richer this year whilst still enabling you to “arrive where you started”.
May you this Christmas, journey ever deeper into that greatest story ever told. Lynne and I wish you a truly blessed and Christ filled Christmas.
Andy
Rev. Andy Heber
Rev. Carol Harvey
November
November
Dear Parishioners,
How are you at ‘letting go’? You may say, “Letting go of what? What do you mean?” There are many things in life that get us down, stop our progress, make us unsettled or unhappy. Perhaps we have to make an important decision that will change our future, or there is something in the past that we just cannot let go. Maybe a health issue or a fear of some kind.
I am not really talking here about grief or bereavement; we can understand how that can pull us down, although the same principles apply. I am talking about those times that we are unaware of what’s wrong, that anything’s wrong even! Maybe someone keeps asking us what’s wrong, or telling us we don’t seem like ourselves (always a strange thing that, who could we possibly seem like?). Anyway, I expect you all know what I’m talking about. We have all had those times when we just know we are not ‘at ourselves’.
I was speaking in the nursing homes lately about autumn leaves. You know how lovely it is to crunch through those leaves when they are crisp and crunch under you feet. It struck me the trees, a wonderful part of God’s creation, can show us just how natural it is to let go, as they gracefully let go of their leaves. So, as always, we can turn to our Creator for help. In Isaiah 43:18-19 we read, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” One of my favourites is Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” These are words which bring us comfort - healing words. God wants healing for each one of us, healing which encompasses physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing.
We were blessed last month to have Kris Kramer, the new Director of the Acorn organisation, visiting with us. Our Vicar is a trustee of Acorn, and we operate a “Healing Hub” in our church. We have parishioners with a heart for the healing ministry, who have completed a year long course through the Acorn Healing Academy, and we have another few church members who are enrolled in the current Academy. So we can say that our parish has a heart for, and is a centre for, healing ministry. We offer healing prayer after every service. Have you ever availed of this opportunity? Maybe you are saying I don’t have any illnesses. Healing prayer is for body, mind and spirit. There’s not one of us that couldn’t benefit from prayer. So please don’t hesitate - pray for yourself or for a loved one. There are many opportunities in your church to come for healing, and if you don’t see a time that suits you, help is just a phone call away. Remember God, whose greatest desire is to be in a loving relationship with us, wants healing for each one of us - body, mind and spirit.
Every blessing and much love to you all,
Carol
OCTOBER
OCTOBER
Reflections from the Glebe House
“I was just thinking...
...My sabbatical seems a long way away now!”
I’ve now been back at work for over a week, and with it being September, it feels as if I have hit the ground running and never been away! It’s been lovely to see everyone again and begin to think forward as to what God wants for Carnmoney as we move into the autumn. I shared a taster of what I’ve been doing over the last four months on my first Sunday back in church and will be speaking in more depth at the Community Friendship Club (8th October), the Men’s Group (10th November), and the Mothers’ Union (25th November). All these meetings are open meetings if you would like to come along and hear more (and see lots of photographs!).
This last year, I have been asked often what a sabbatical is and why I needed one (“After all, vicars only work one day a week don’t they?!”). Well, there is a sense that the busyness and pressures of work can, over the years, begin to take over, leaving the feeling that you are on a bit of a treadmill with the continuous rounds of visiting, preparation, preparing sermons, community meetings and all the other expectations that being a vicar brings. It has been wonderful for me to spend time off that treadmill over the last few months, and I’ve had more time to think, pray and rest, which will hopefully set me up again for the next few years of ministry here at Carnmoney.
There’s an interesting story in Mark’s gospel where Jesus sends his disciples out on mission, a mission that is hugely successful. The disciples return telling Jesus about all the wonderful miracles they have seen as God worked through them. They really were full of enthusiasm and raring to go out again. But what does Jesus say to them - not to go out to the next village and carry on whilst God is working, but, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest for a while.” This was a principle he lived himself, often leaving his disciples to go off on his own and pray and also spending time with his friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus. He knew he couldn’t keep giving out without spending a corresponding time taking in.
If that was true for Jesus (and incidentally also God, who rested on the seventh day after creating the world), how much more important is it for us mortals to maintain those healthy balances of work, rest and play! Maybe for those of you who are retired it comes easier, but for me (and possibly for others who work), I’m learning (often the hard way) that my ministry will be much more effective now I’m back at work if I intentionally work these regular pauses into my life and seek those things that restore me and fill me up again. Carving out time each day to sit down with God and my bible is a vital part of this, but also simple things like going for a walk or a run amidst all the clamours of work really help to keep me going.
And as we move forward, I am convinced that, despite the fact that we are an ageing congregation and live in a society which is largely oblivious to the concept of faith and the relevance of God and the church to their lives, we do have a vital message to tell people - simply that God loves and accepts them and wants to be involved in their lives. Hopefully we can shape our church life to make sharing that message easier (and yes, I have returned with a few ideas!), but it needs to be a team effort with everyone who considers themselves a member of Carnmoney offering their time, gifts and money and playing a part in the life of our church. So as we move forward under God’s guidance and seek to grow our church, please do ask yourself what part you can play in the work of God in our community and what contribution you can offer to the life of your church?
Andy
Rev. Andy Heber
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse