Monthly address

Dear parishioners,

It’s hard to believe we are now into July.  Andy’s sabbatical is half way already!  The children have finished school and the summer holidays are upon us!  What a blessing the weather has been.  We have had continuing days of sunshine.  Not just a day here and a day there, but many days in a row.  I wonder if that’s to do with global warming?  Our solar panels are, to use a colloquialism, “going a dinger”.  At the last count we had generated £700 to £800 worth of electricity!

Some people think that in “end times” the seasons will change, but that idea does not have any biblical foundation.  In fact, it says in Genesis 8:22, “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”  There are, of course, other signs, and Jesus speaks of these in Matthew 24 when He says there will be, “Wars and rumours of wars.”  “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be famine and earthquake in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains.”  Yes, it does sound familiar, and we can certainly see these things happening now.  But it’s summer time and we don’t want to think about that do we?

Are you prepared for summer?  Have you a holiday arranged?  If so, if you are an organised person, you have probably sussed out the holiday luggage and begun to prepare to get packed.  What are you needing to take with you?  Have you got your sun cream, your after sun cream, your insect repellent, your bite cream, your antihistamines?  Your Weetabix and baked beans?  You can see I am prepared for the worst.  Oh dear - have I got my holiday insurance?  Yes, we spend some time being prepared for our holidays don’t we, and of course, after the booking.com, the anticipation, the talking and planning with our travelling companions is half the fun and the enjoyment.  You know, our lifespan is like a blink of an eye in the face of eternity.  Isn’t it odd that we don’t plan, talk about and get excited about the next part of our journey with Jesus and with each other - Eternity!  In fact, we rarely have spirited conversations together about what a wonderful, humorous, loving, Abba that we have.

All excitement aside, how can we be prepared?  The biggest item on our list is Jesus.  Accepting Him as our Saviour and friend, acknowledging what He has done for us and reminding ourselves about the terms of our policy - love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbour as yourself.  If we remember and abide by this, the rest will fall into place.

So what happens next?  This is the title of a newish book by Max Lucado, and if you want to know more, there is a video on YouTube which takes you through an end-times time line; it’s worth watching.  If you want a copy of the book, ask me, and I will get some ordered up for you.  The bottom line is, be prepared.  Now back to your holidays!  As for me,  I am going foreign this year with the family.  It’s the first time in a dozen since I needed my passport!  I am looking forward to it and am a bit anxious at the same time!  The girls of course are mega excited - wee Julie too - there’s no holiday without Julie.  But you know, wherever I am, I know I am not alone, and I anticipate spending quiet time in the sunshine, just me and the Father, while the others are being busy and youthfully energetic!  Did you know that the term “do not fear” appears around 300 times in the bible.  One of my favourites is in Isaiah 41:13, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you “Do not fear for I will help you.”  I think about what it feels like when you take a small child’s hand in yours.  Our Heavenly Father  takes our hand in His - what a comfort, what a joy, we have nothing to fear.

I wish you all every blessing for a sunny, love filled, fear free, summer.

Love,  Carol

Reflections from the Glebe House
“I was just thinking...

...Where are all the humble leaders?”

One of my heroes and role models whilst growing up was my village vicar, the Rev. Alan Page. On coming to our parish, although having very few gifts in youth work, he opened up his Rectory to the local children, creating a space where we could come together and learn about God. It was through his ministry that I came to faith shortly after joining that youth group. However, it was his godly character which really spoke to me. In many ways he wasn’t a natural leader, being quiet and quite shy and introverted. Nevertheless, there was a real genuineness to his life which, when I think about it, was characterised especially by humility. 

Our world seems to be in a very precarious place at the moment and seems to be dominated by a handful of powerful men with a frightening amount of power. Whether it’s Trump and Musk in America, Putin in Russia, Erdogan in Turkey, Orban in Hungary or countless others; all over the world, journalists and ordinary members of the public hang on their every word, often in fear. They have been put on a pedestal both by their own self opinion and by public opinion too, and people everywhere kowtow to them. This is exactly what they want. Even many who disagree with them also pander to them out of fear of what they could do when crossed. Our world seems to be saying that if you are going to be an effective leader you have to be strong, confident, single minded and assertive.

In stark but wonderful contrast, Jesus turns this view on its head. In Philippians 2:5-11 Jesus the Son of God, part of the Holy Trinity, co-equal with the Father, we read: did not clutch tightly onto His divine status and refuse to let go. Rather, out of indescribable love He agreed to step down from heavenly glory onto the earth he was instrumental in creating. Having done this, He lowered Himself further by becoming like one of the creatures he had made: a human being. Not only so, but as a human he chose to serve others and not to promote Himself. Finally, he humbled Himself yet more, by submitting to death - and then not just any death, but the cruel and shameful death of a criminal left to hang publicly on a cross. But Philippians does not stop there, just as the Easter story does not stop at Good Friday. God the Father vindicated Jesus and validated His sacrifice by raising Him from the dead and then exalting Him to the highest place, where he now reigns supreme.

That is an attitude that I admire and someone who I want to follow, much more than a self-important strong man. As Christians we are not called to put our trust in powerful people to solve the world’s problems; nor should we live in fear of what such people may do. There is only one name to be revered, and only one person who can solve the world’s problems: it is Jesus. As we move through this Easter season let us reaffirm our commitment to following Him and choose to join Him on His humble way, putting our trust in Him alone.
Andy