Letter from the ministry team
Dear Friends,
Children ‘trick or treating’ on Halloween may not realise that they are the opening part of a medieval festival to honour the dead. All Hallows' Eve falls on 31st October each year, the day before All Hallows’ Day (or All Saints' Day) in the Christian calendar. A hallow is a saint or holy person and it’s when Christians remember saints and martyrs throughout history. All Souls' Day, on 2nd November, is a chance to commemorate anyone special to us who has died.
All Hallows' Eve was a time of prayer and fasting – so where does ‘trick or treating’ come from? All Hallows and All Souls probably displaced an even older Celtic festival called Samhain - Christian missionaries liked to do that. Samhain (pronounced sow-in) is Gaelic and means 'end of the summer'. It may have marked the time when the harvest was complete and winter preparations began. Sometimes people disguised themselves in costumes made of animal skins to drive away phantom visitors, and food was left out on tables to placate unwelcome spirits.
It seems the church replaced a celebration of the land as a source of food with festivals to honour the dead. Jesus said the most important things we can do are to love God and love our neighbour. So, like all Christian feasts, All Saints and All Souls are expressions of love. Nevertheless, it’s possible that medieval farming communities, while embracing the new, hedged their bets and never completely forgot ancient rituals to honour the earth on which they depended.
Modern industrial societies have largely detached themselves from nature. Although the church still celebrates the farming year, most recently at harvest festival, a nod to Samhain would be no bad thing: Halloween marks the start of COP 26, possibly our last chance to slow the effects of climate change on the planet. Our Remembrance Sunday services, when we give thanks for those who died in war, often open with words from the prophet Micah. They could serve to guide the COP delegates in Glasgow:
What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?(Micah 6:6-8)
This year in the Anna Benefice we’re celebrating All Souls on Sat 6 Nov, All Saints on Sun 7 Nov and Remembrance Sunday on 14 Nov. There are more details elsewhere in this magazine and in the benefice bulletin.
Tim Tayler
Children ‘trick or treating’ on Halloween may not realise that they are the opening part of a medieval festival to honour the dead. All Hallows' Eve falls on 31st October each year, the day before All Hallows’ Day (or All Saints' Day) in the Christian calendar. A hallow is a saint or holy person and it’s when Christians remember saints and martyrs throughout history. All Souls' Day, on 2nd November, is a chance to commemorate anyone special to us who has died.
All Hallows' Eve was a time of prayer and fasting – so where does ‘trick or treating’ come from? All Hallows and All Souls probably displaced an even older Celtic festival called Samhain - Christian missionaries liked to do that. Samhain (pronounced sow-in) is Gaelic and means 'end of the summer'. It may have marked the time when the harvest was complete and winter preparations began. Sometimes people disguised themselves in costumes made of animal skins to drive away phantom visitors, and food was left out on tables to placate unwelcome spirits.
It seems the church replaced a celebration of the land as a source of food with festivals to honour the dead. Jesus said the most important things we can do are to love God and love our neighbour. So, like all Christian feasts, All Saints and All Souls are expressions of love. Nevertheless, it’s possible that medieval farming communities, while embracing the new, hedged their bets and never completely forgot ancient rituals to honour the earth on which they depended.
Modern industrial societies have largely detached themselves from nature. Although the church still celebrates the farming year, most recently at harvest festival, a nod to Samhain would be no bad thing: Halloween marks the start of COP 26, possibly our last chance to slow the effects of climate change on the planet. Our Remembrance Sunday services, when we give thanks for those who died in war, often open with words from the prophet Micah. They could serve to guide the COP delegates in Glasgow:
What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?(Micah 6:6-8)
This year in the Anna Benefice we’re celebrating All Souls on Sat 6 Nov, All Saints on Sun 7 Nov and Remembrance Sunday on 14 Nov. There are more details elsewhere in this magazine and in the benefice bulletin.
Tim Tayler
Dear friends
I have often found myself searching for a topic for the monthly letter, but I have had no such problem this month! My mind for the last few weeks has been fully occupied by what happened to me in mid-July.
What a forty-eight hours I had! At 4pm on Sunday 18th July I was on my bed suffering a heart attack with Jane standing next to me and forty-eight hours later we were next to my bed in the Basingstoke Hospital Cardiac Unit waiting for Jane to drive me home! But what a lot had happened in between.
Watching the Open Golf on TV I was suddenly covered in sweat and feeling very unwell. I went upstairs to lie down but that didn't help at all. Jane came and took one look at me and immediately dialled 999 and called for an ambulance and when asked what the problem was, she said "Heart. " Good to be married to a Middlesex Hospital nurse! When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics gave me an ECG and immediately said "You are going to hospital, sir!" On the stretcher, into the ambulance, strapped in with three straps, and off down the A303 with siren wailing and blue light flashing. I don't know how fast we were travelling but I am pretty certain nothing overtook us and I realised why I was strapped in. Quite a ride!
Paramedic Liam said "We are not going in to Reception, you are going straight into the Cardiac Unit. Don't be worried but there will be a lot of people in gowns waiting for you." Once there I wriggled on to the operating table, and the surgeon said "Hello Peter, I am just going to make a hole in your right arm!" This was to insert the miniature camera on a wire which was threaded up my arm, across my chest, and into my heart! Then suddenly a piece of equipment loomed into view above me. A nurse said "Don't worry, this is the X-ray camera and it will move about but not touch you." And so a strange robotic dance began with the camera moving up and down and backwards and forwards, with the operating table also moving so the surgeon could see exactly where the problem was.
The problem was a blood clot which he dispersed with inflatable balloons and in no time I was in the recovery room. While I was on the table nurse Jon had whispered to me "Don't worry Peter, you are going to be fine and as soon as we are finished I will phone Jane and tell her she can come up to see you." How kind and reassuring for me that was. Then a moment of humour - nurse Floyd fitted my wrist band and said "Is that right?" " No, " I said, "my date of birth is definitely not 19th July 2021! " He laughed and said, "Oh, a new born." Then Jane arrived and sat with me as we waited for my Covid test result. It was negative so I could then be transferred onto the Cardiac ward.
Then began the two day procession - nurses taking blood pressure, pulse, temperature and oxygen readings, food and drink ordering and delivering, an X-ray at 2am in my bed, heart monitor permanently fixed to my chest with spaghetti leads which kept falling off, blood tests, endless tablets, doctor's ward rounds answering any questions, and always the wonderful NHS staff doing their appointed jobs with professionalism and a smile.
Did I pray? You bet your life I did, assured by that promise in Matthew 28:20 "I am with you always" and knowing that God was in control was enormously comforting. I gave thanks too for the God given skills of the great NHS staff and their demonstration of care and love.
So how have I changed? It was a sobering experience which gave me much pause for thought, and although I am physically much better, mentally I am tending to struggle with the shock and what the future might hold. I am sure it will get better, and my concentration will return, but it will take time and patience. So a new life begins for me, new medication and lifestyle, and it may be a long haul until I am back to full health. Thank you for the many messages for my recovery - we are both so grateful.
Best wishes and love
Peter
I have often found myself searching for a topic for the monthly letter, but I have had no such problem this month! My mind for the last few weeks has been fully occupied by what happened to me in mid-July.
What a forty-eight hours I had! At 4pm on Sunday 18th July I was on my bed suffering a heart attack with Jane standing next to me and forty-eight hours later we were next to my bed in the Basingstoke Hospital Cardiac Unit waiting for Jane to drive me home! But what a lot had happened in between.
Watching the Open Golf on TV I was suddenly covered in sweat and feeling very unwell. I went upstairs to lie down but that didn't help at all. Jane came and took one look at me and immediately dialled 999 and called for an ambulance and when asked what the problem was, she said "Heart. " Good to be married to a Middlesex Hospital nurse! When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics gave me an ECG and immediately said "You are going to hospital, sir!" On the stretcher, into the ambulance, strapped in with three straps, and off down the A303 with siren wailing and blue light flashing. I don't know how fast we were travelling but I am pretty certain nothing overtook us and I realised why I was strapped in. Quite a ride!
Paramedic Liam said "We are not going in to Reception, you are going straight into the Cardiac Unit. Don't be worried but there will be a lot of people in gowns waiting for you." Once there I wriggled on to the operating table, and the surgeon said "Hello Peter, I am just going to make a hole in your right arm!" This was to insert the miniature camera on a wire which was threaded up my arm, across my chest, and into my heart! Then suddenly a piece of equipment loomed into view above me. A nurse said "Don't worry, this is the X-ray camera and it will move about but not touch you." And so a strange robotic dance began with the camera moving up and down and backwards and forwards, with the operating table also moving so the surgeon could see exactly where the problem was.
The problem was a blood clot which he dispersed with inflatable balloons and in no time I was in the recovery room. While I was on the table nurse Jon had whispered to me "Don't worry Peter, you are going to be fine and as soon as we are finished I will phone Jane and tell her she can come up to see you." How kind and reassuring for me that was. Then a moment of humour - nurse Floyd fitted my wrist band and said "Is that right?" " No, " I said, "my date of birth is definitely not 19th July 2021! " He laughed and said, "Oh, a new born." Then Jane arrived and sat with me as we waited for my Covid test result. It was negative so I could then be transferred onto the Cardiac ward.
Then began the two day procession - nurses taking blood pressure, pulse, temperature and oxygen readings, food and drink ordering and delivering, an X-ray at 2am in my bed, heart monitor permanently fixed to my chest with spaghetti leads which kept falling off, blood tests, endless tablets, doctor's ward rounds answering any questions, and always the wonderful NHS staff doing their appointed jobs with professionalism and a smile.
Did I pray? You bet your life I did, assured by that promise in Matthew 28:20 "I am with you always" and knowing that God was in control was enormously comforting. I gave thanks too for the God given skills of the great NHS staff and their demonstration of care and love.
So how have I changed? It was a sobering experience which gave me much pause for thought, and although I am physically much better, mentally I am tending to struggle with the shock and what the future might hold. I am sure it will get better, and my concentration will return, but it will take time and patience. So a new life begins for me, new medication and lifestyle, and it may be a long haul until I am back to full health. Thank you for the many messages for my recovery - we are both so grateful.
Best wishes and love
Peter
Dear Friends,
On Radio 4 this week (early July) listeners have been invited to share stories of holidays in this country from their earliest memories. It made me think of holidays in Cornwall in the 1950s. Dad always chose to holiday during Wimbledon as he believed the weather would be good. I actually think it was so he could spend the whole holiday listening to whatever sport was happening. I have a photo of him in the long grass at the cliff top, in shorts & with his head against the big old portable radio, happy as a lark. He liked to travel down overnight. It took so long in those days. I was tucked up on the back seat and slept most of the way, half-waking whenever we passed through a town and the street lights shone on my face. We used to stop on Bodmin Moor for breakfast where I was thrilled to watch the ponies, sheep and cattle. Journey's end was Gerrans on the Roseland Peninsula, a small caravan site above the beach. My memories include the clatter and rattle of rain on the caravan roof and the wrap-around experience of a thunderstorm; seeing Dad in his old mac taking the Elsan Closet bucket to empty; the rich creamy yellow Kelly's ice cream from the van that visited the site; my first experience of a fizzy drink (I didn't like the bubbles going up my nose!); the tall tree avenue that looked like a green cathedral nave; fishmonger Edwards's delicious prawns on Mevagissey harbour and the mournful sound of the foghorn; walking with Mum along tunnelled lanes full of deep rosy foxgloves and twining, beautifully-scented honeysuckle. Whenever I return to Cornwall, it feels like making a pilgrimage to those happy days of long ago.
Pilgrimages are about journeys. Maybe to somewhere new and inspiring, like our benefice trip to Iona a couple of years ago. Sometimes, as mine, to a place with personal meaning. There will be an expectation that such a journey will have deep significance. If it does, there will be an opening for movement, for change, even a chance for God to break into our lives.
Next year a benefice trip is planned to Lee Abbey in Devon. Katrina was going to take us there at the end of March 2020, but lockdown prevented that. Now we are trying again: 25th-27th March 2022. There are still some places available, so do get in touch for more details if the idea interests you. Contact Emily Fabricius: aschurchwarden3@gmail.com or sandra.hopwood12@gmail.com
Best wishes,
Nicky
On Radio 4 this week (early July) listeners have been invited to share stories of holidays in this country from their earliest memories. It made me think of holidays in Cornwall in the 1950s. Dad always chose to holiday during Wimbledon as he believed the weather would be good. I actually think it was so he could spend the whole holiday listening to whatever sport was happening. I have a photo of him in the long grass at the cliff top, in shorts & with his head against the big old portable radio, happy as a lark. He liked to travel down overnight. It took so long in those days. I was tucked up on the back seat and slept most of the way, half-waking whenever we passed through a town and the street lights shone on my face. We used to stop on Bodmin Moor for breakfast where I was thrilled to watch the ponies, sheep and cattle. Journey's end was Gerrans on the Roseland Peninsula, a small caravan site above the beach. My memories include the clatter and rattle of rain on the caravan roof and the wrap-around experience of a thunderstorm; seeing Dad in his old mac taking the Elsan Closet bucket to empty; the rich creamy yellow Kelly's ice cream from the van that visited the site; my first experience of a fizzy drink (I didn't like the bubbles going up my nose!); the tall tree avenue that looked like a green cathedral nave; fishmonger Edwards's delicious prawns on Mevagissey harbour and the mournful sound of the foghorn; walking with Mum along tunnelled lanes full of deep rosy foxgloves and twining, beautifully-scented honeysuckle. Whenever I return to Cornwall, it feels like making a pilgrimage to those happy days of long ago.
Pilgrimages are about journeys. Maybe to somewhere new and inspiring, like our benefice trip to Iona a couple of years ago. Sometimes, as mine, to a place with personal meaning. There will be an expectation that such a journey will have deep significance. If it does, there will be an opening for movement, for change, even a chance for God to break into our lives.
Next year a benefice trip is planned to Lee Abbey in Devon. Katrina was going to take us there at the end of March 2020, but lockdown prevented that. Now we are trying again: 25th-27th March 2022. There are still some places available, so do get in touch for more details if the idea interests you. Contact Emily Fabricius: aschurchwarden3@gmail.com or sandra.hopwood12@gmail.com
Best wishes,
Nicky
Dear Friends,
As I write this the G7 summit has just ended. I enjoyed images of world leaders walking barefoot on the sand taking in the beautiful sunshine and sea air. Although Covid-19 was perhaps more pressing, our prime minister identified climate change commitments as one of the meeting’s key objectives. Their progress was limited but hopefully it will have focussed minds on the forthcoming COP26 climate summit in Glasgow later this year.
Last Sunday the Anna Benefice celebrated Climate Sunday. Every church in Britain and Ireland is being encouraged to focus for one week on climate matters to help raise awareness in people’s minds of this vital issue. The organisers hope that politicians will notice that, if ordinary people are taking this matter seriously, they must too.
It’s easy to feel that individuals are so far removed from government that our wishes are irrelevant. It’s tempting too, when we see huge container ships in Southampton Water and hear the air traffic in our skies, to think that any attempt we make to ‘save the planet’ or ‘reduce our carbon footprint’ is pathetic and futile.
Yet on Sunday we heard of work across our three parishes to install solar panels to generate church electricity, survey the bat populations, fit a swift box and plant a tree. Rosemary Griffiths told us of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s fascinating conservation work on the Pillhill Brook (the river Anna). Together, these examples showed us what trained and motivated volunteers can do to support our fragile environment and reduce energy consumption. Like the Pillhill Brook, each of our churchyards is a complex eco-system which we could do more to protect by working on it ourselves. The more our politicians hear our views on climate change, the more they know about local initiatives, the more encouraged they will be to agree tougher climate objectives.
Christians should never give up hope - along with love it’s one of our great gifts from God. Of course, we do despair sometimes, but last week we saw how much we can achieve if we put our minds to it. The prophet Jeremiah understood this. He told Israelites who trust God to look after them
‘will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.’(Jeremiah 17:8)
Tim Tayler
As I write this the G7 summit has just ended. I enjoyed images of world leaders walking barefoot on the sand taking in the beautiful sunshine and sea air. Although Covid-19 was perhaps more pressing, our prime minister identified climate change commitments as one of the meeting’s key objectives. Their progress was limited but hopefully it will have focussed minds on the forthcoming COP26 climate summit in Glasgow later this year.
Last Sunday the Anna Benefice celebrated Climate Sunday. Every church in Britain and Ireland is being encouraged to focus for one week on climate matters to help raise awareness in people’s minds of this vital issue. The organisers hope that politicians will notice that, if ordinary people are taking this matter seriously, they must too.
It’s easy to feel that individuals are so far removed from government that our wishes are irrelevant. It’s tempting too, when we see huge container ships in Southampton Water and hear the air traffic in our skies, to think that any attempt we make to ‘save the planet’ or ‘reduce our carbon footprint’ is pathetic and futile.
Yet on Sunday we heard of work across our three parishes to install solar panels to generate church electricity, survey the bat populations, fit a swift box and plant a tree. Rosemary Griffiths told us of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s fascinating conservation work on the Pillhill Brook (the river Anna). Together, these examples showed us what trained and motivated volunteers can do to support our fragile environment and reduce energy consumption. Like the Pillhill Brook, each of our churchyards is a complex eco-system which we could do more to protect by working on it ourselves. The more our politicians hear our views on climate change, the more they know about local initiatives, the more encouraged they will be to agree tougher climate objectives.
Christians should never give up hope - along with love it’s one of our great gifts from God. Of course, we do despair sometimes, but last week we saw how much we can achieve if we put our minds to it. The prophet Jeremiah understood this. He told Israelites who trust God to look after them
‘will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.’(Jeremiah 17:8)
Tim Tayler
Dear Friends,
“Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain.”
As I write this letter, I can see the flower buds opening on the copper sycamore tree in a neighbour's garden. At evening time, the setting sun shines on the red bud cases as they peel back and it looks as if the tree is covered in little lights. It gives me such pleasure to see this every Spring. It is good to have reminders like this that Spring is here. The cold wind and frosts of the last few days have made it felt so wintry, unlike last year when it warmed up early and encouraged us all to get out and garden enthusiastically.
Spring is a time of change, but positive change, as blossom and leaves unfurl, the daylight hours lengthen, birds begin nesting and the dawn chorus gets ever fuller. In the fields the crops are coming along and there are lambs about – another joyful sight. In the northern hemisphere it is the perfect time of year to celebrate Easter with its message of new life coming out of death. Certainly in this Benefice we have experienced our loss of Katrina and Phil, with tears shed at their farewell services. Now we look forward to a few months of Vacancy which I hope will be filled with life and energy as the country cautiously comes out of lockdown. The return of a printed Magazine in the Clatfords is a welcome sign.
We are still in the Easter season for most of this month, and there are three major festival days. First of all Ascension Day on 13th May. This is the day when we remember that the risen Christ returned to his heavenly Father's presence, where he continually prays for us. One of the Bible readings for the day has those comforting words of Jesus, “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” It was a popular festival for schoolchildren who had the rest of the day off once the church service had been attended. We are hoping to join in with an outdoor service at Amport that evening. More details will be found in the weekly bulletin when they have been finalised.
Jesus told his disciples that he had to leave them in order that the Holy Spirit could come to them. The Holy Spirit: Comforter, Guide, the one who will lead us to discern the answer to Pilate's question, “What is truth?” That happened at Pentecost, or Whitsun, which the Church celebrates on the 23rd May. As well as our regular services, there will be Messy Church on that day, too.
Between Ascension Day and Pentecost the worldwide Church asks for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we pray in the words of the Lord's Prayer, “Thy Kingdom Come.” That begs the question, “What is God's Kingdom?” and it also prompts people of faith to take seriously their own role in working for the Kingdom. For me, God's Kingdom is about every single person being valued, it is about God's healing love being shown to all, it is about individuals being humble enough to accept that love and healing.
Finally, on the 30th May, it will be Trinity Sunday, with its opportunity to reflect on what it means to speak of a God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There was a very interesting Radio 4 programme in the 'In our Time' series about Arianism and the way orthodox Christianity developed. Worth listening to on BBC Sounds if you have a spare 45 minutes.
This month is a time of rebirth, a time for nurturing growth and for looking forward in hope.
“Quick from the dead my risen Lord is seen:/ Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green.”
God bless you,
Nicky
“Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain.”
As I write this letter, I can see the flower buds opening on the copper sycamore tree in a neighbour's garden. At evening time, the setting sun shines on the red bud cases as they peel back and it looks as if the tree is covered in little lights. It gives me such pleasure to see this every Spring. It is good to have reminders like this that Spring is here. The cold wind and frosts of the last few days have made it felt so wintry, unlike last year when it warmed up early and encouraged us all to get out and garden enthusiastically.
Spring is a time of change, but positive change, as blossom and leaves unfurl, the daylight hours lengthen, birds begin nesting and the dawn chorus gets ever fuller. In the fields the crops are coming along and there are lambs about – another joyful sight. In the northern hemisphere it is the perfect time of year to celebrate Easter with its message of new life coming out of death. Certainly in this Benefice we have experienced our loss of Katrina and Phil, with tears shed at their farewell services. Now we look forward to a few months of Vacancy which I hope will be filled with life and energy as the country cautiously comes out of lockdown. The return of a printed Magazine in the Clatfords is a welcome sign.
We are still in the Easter season for most of this month, and there are three major festival days. First of all Ascension Day on 13th May. This is the day when we remember that the risen Christ returned to his heavenly Father's presence, where he continually prays for us. One of the Bible readings for the day has those comforting words of Jesus, “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” It was a popular festival for schoolchildren who had the rest of the day off once the church service had been attended. We are hoping to join in with an outdoor service at Amport that evening. More details will be found in the weekly bulletin when they have been finalised.
Jesus told his disciples that he had to leave them in order that the Holy Spirit could come to them. The Holy Spirit: Comforter, Guide, the one who will lead us to discern the answer to Pilate's question, “What is truth?” That happened at Pentecost, or Whitsun, which the Church celebrates on the 23rd May. As well as our regular services, there will be Messy Church on that day, too.
Between Ascension Day and Pentecost the worldwide Church asks for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we pray in the words of the Lord's Prayer, “Thy Kingdom Come.” That begs the question, “What is God's Kingdom?” and it also prompts people of faith to take seriously their own role in working for the Kingdom. For me, God's Kingdom is about every single person being valued, it is about God's healing love being shown to all, it is about individuals being humble enough to accept that love and healing.
Finally, on the 30th May, it will be Trinity Sunday, with its opportunity to reflect on what it means to speak of a God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There was a very interesting Radio 4 programme in the 'In our Time' series about Arianism and the way orthodox Christianity developed. Worth listening to on BBC Sounds if you have a spare 45 minutes.
This month is a time of rebirth, a time for nurturing growth and for looking forward in hope.
“Quick from the dead my risen Lord is seen:/ Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green.”
God bless you,
Nicky
Easter 2021
Dear Friends,
For many of us, the message of Easter will have special poignancy this year. As we pass the anniversary of the first lock down, we look back on all we have been through and look forward to what might be. Dare we hope that we have turned the corner and are now heading towards healing, restoration and freedom?
The Easter story has much for us to identify with given our recent experience, including the agony of separation, grief, pain and death. At times we’ve had our expectations raised and then dashed. At times we have felt let down, exhausted, and mentally and emotionally spent.
Part one of the Easter story does not whitewash the pain of the human experience, it exposes it through betrayal, denial and crucifixion. In life and in death, Christ encountered and engaged with suffering; he noticed those who were lost, lonely and left out, looked them in the eye and brought comfort, dignity and even healing.
Part two of the Easter story is resurrection. We often associate resurrection life with going to heaven after we have died, and that is certainly part of the Easter message. But it’s not the whole story. Jesus resurrection is also about God’s Kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven and this must mean we will see evidence of it here and now this side of death and even have a part to play in its presence here.
Resurrection did not whisk Jesus’s followers away from danger or adversity, but brought light and joy within their experience of an imperfect world. It offered a new kind of life they were called to live out, caring compassionately, sharing generously, offering grace and restoring hope.
Things are about to change for us all. Phil and I are moving to new jobs in a part of the country we don’t know. Here, there will be a period of vacancy and potential re-organisation. Before we say goodbye, let us listen closely to the Easter story again this year. As well as an ending; as well as uncertainty; as well as fear, there is also new life, courage and joy.
Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life’s desire.
From ‘For a new beginning’ by John O’Donohue
Benedictus - A book of blessings
Rev'd Katrina Dykes
Dear Friends,
For many of us, the message of Easter will have special poignancy this year. As we pass the anniversary of the first lock down, we look back on all we have been through and look forward to what might be. Dare we hope that we have turned the corner and are now heading towards healing, restoration and freedom?
The Easter story has much for us to identify with given our recent experience, including the agony of separation, grief, pain and death. At times we’ve had our expectations raised and then dashed. At times we have felt let down, exhausted, and mentally and emotionally spent.
Part one of the Easter story does not whitewash the pain of the human experience, it exposes it through betrayal, denial and crucifixion. In life and in death, Christ encountered and engaged with suffering; he noticed those who were lost, lonely and left out, looked them in the eye and brought comfort, dignity and even healing.
Part two of the Easter story is resurrection. We often associate resurrection life with going to heaven after we have died, and that is certainly part of the Easter message. But it’s not the whole story. Jesus resurrection is also about God’s Kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven and this must mean we will see evidence of it here and now this side of death and even have a part to play in its presence here.
Resurrection did not whisk Jesus’s followers away from danger or adversity, but brought light and joy within their experience of an imperfect world. It offered a new kind of life they were called to live out, caring compassionately, sharing generously, offering grace and restoring hope.
Things are about to change for us all. Phil and I are moving to new jobs in a part of the country we don’t know. Here, there will be a period of vacancy and potential re-organisation. Before we say goodbye, let us listen closely to the Easter story again this year. As well as an ending; as well as uncertainty; as well as fear, there is also new life, courage and joy.
Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life’s desire.
From ‘For a new beginning’ by John O’Donohue
Benedictus - A book of blessings
Rev'd Katrina Dykes
March 2021
Dear Friends
The best things in life may be free, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t costly! We only see the true worth of the things we value most in life, when we are tested close to, or beyond the limits of what we think we can cope with.
Consider for example, courage: we only need to be courageous when we are afraid. Or endurance, which can only be experienced through not giving up when that is exactly what we feel we are going to do. Hope is something we hold onto when all seems dark and we aren’t sure there is anything or anyone who will come to our aid.
Team work is at its most rewarding when we have to depend on others to achieve something we could not do alone. And friends really show their true worth when we are going through hard times.
Over the past year, we have all been tested by the pandemic. Many of us are tired and anxious. Some of us are running on empty and some have been damaged by what we have been through. Now more than ever we need to find some inner strength to hold onto and live out those virtues we value most. To show genuine care we need to be kind, generous, gentle, patient and forgiving with each other.
We may not know who needs to be shown kindness, or who we need to be patient with, so perhaps we just need to try and treat everyone in this way – when driving our cars, queuing in a shop or sorting something out on the phone or writing an email. It might be that by so doing we will experience something extraordinarily precious.
There is a much quoted verse in the Bible from one of St Paul’s letters: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13: 13
Rev'd Katrina Dykes
Dear Friends
The best things in life may be free, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t costly! We only see the true worth of the things we value most in life, when we are tested close to, or beyond the limits of what we think we can cope with.
Consider for example, courage: we only need to be courageous when we are afraid. Or endurance, which can only be experienced through not giving up when that is exactly what we feel we are going to do. Hope is something we hold onto when all seems dark and we aren’t sure there is anything or anyone who will come to our aid.
Team work is at its most rewarding when we have to depend on others to achieve something we could not do alone. And friends really show their true worth when we are going through hard times.
Over the past year, we have all been tested by the pandemic. Many of us are tired and anxious. Some of us are running on empty and some have been damaged by what we have been through. Now more than ever we need to find some inner strength to hold onto and live out those virtues we value most. To show genuine care we need to be kind, generous, gentle, patient and forgiving with each other.
We may not know who needs to be shown kindness, or who we need to be patient with, so perhaps we just need to try and treat everyone in this way – when driving our cars, queuing in a shop or sorting something out on the phone or writing an email. It might be that by so doing we will experience something extraordinarily precious.
There is a much quoted verse in the Bible from one of St Paul’s letters: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13: 13
Rev'd Katrina Dykes
January 2021
Dear Friends
If you were to choose one word to sum up the past year what would it be?
I would like to suggest the word ‘Love’. Let’s put aside politics, forget Westminster & Washington, Brussels and Brexit. And think closer to home.
Many of us have experienced a range of situations and emotions in recent months, we never imagined we would experience. But when we consider how we have reacted, many of our responses can be traced back to love.
The heartaches we have felt in the past year about separation from family and friends in care homes, hospitals and maternity wards; the inability to mourn and celebrate the lives on those who have died at funerals and the frustration at re-arranging weddings; the concern about the homeless and the hungry, those struggling with mental health and financial uncertainty. All these sadness and griefs are born out of love. If we did not love, we would not care. It is because we love that the past year has, in many ways, been so painful.
Love has also been shown in acts of generosity of time and money, and in great ingenuity of finding ways around the problems we have had to face, creatively coming up with new ways to do old things as well as dreaming up news ways to do new things!
Over the past few weeks we have enjoyed online Messy Church, Christingle and a Carol Service, all bringing people together across our three villages for wonderful and memorable experiences. Our Christmas Eve’s doorstep carols was a highlight for me, as we joined with many of you to sing carols together in our neighbourhoods. In Upper Clatford and Abbotts Ann, members of the village communities helped us to decorate trees with Christmas decorations and in Goodworth Clatford the Nativity scene outside the church resulted in much interest and also demonstrated a coming together of the whole community.
The appeal for funds to help support some local families facing particular pressure and challenges resulted in an amazing response which has provided computers for children without online access to learn from home and provide hampers to help families celebrate Christmas.
As we look to the New Year, we can be encouraged by what we have achieved. My hope is that it will spur us on to continue to work for closer relationships, support of those in need and a commitment to make things better for all in the future.
The virus has in many ways kept us apart, but love has overcome in so many places.
The season of Christmas, which continues throughout January, speaks to us of God’s love which triumphs over another enemy that spoils, spreads and separates. The Bible calls this enemy sin. It corrupts our hearts and in turn the world all around us. It spreads invisibly but we see its effects in acts of selfishness, greed and violence. Sin is evil but the antidote to this is Love.
The Christmas story speaks of a love so great, revealed in such meekness, which overcame all the evil in the world. A love that is about humility, truth, obedience and sacrifice.
This kind of love overcomes by sharing our pain and heartache and being alongside us, bringing hope and healing. This kind of love is all about presence - the greatest gift of all. The baby in the manger, once held by a young teenage girl was the king of highest heaven, and is now with us always and for ever by his spirit, who will never leave us or forsake us.
Whatever 2021 holds for us all, may love continue to be the word which defines our lives.
Happy New Year
Rev’d Katrina Dykes
