Benefice-Priest in Charge
Katrina Dykes
Message from Katrina April 2020
Dear Friends,
Like many of you I am regularly looking at the news and checking for updates to what is happening in relation to the Covid 19 virus. I can only imagine what will have happened in the intervening couple of weeks between me tapping these words into my computer and you reading them in the magazine. Will the schools have closed? How many of us will be isolating ourselves? Is anyone we know unwell?
Everyone is having to make adjustments and change plans. We are all mindful of keeping our distance and washing our hands. We are adapting to working from home, holding meetings by conference call and cancelling trips.
People are afraid of what it might mean and have been stockpiling all kinds of groceries and supplies ‘just in case’. Some have done such a great job of this that the supermarket shelves are empty for the rest of us. What about those who do not have the cash to bulk buy? Or those who were working long hours and missed the opportunity to shop while the shelves were full?
Faced with so many unknowns, fear is the first reaction for many of us, but as we get used to the new situation and begin to get our heads around it, we can adjust and adapt and begin to find more constructive ways to manage ourselves and begin to reach out to others. Wouldn’t it be good if in two weeks’ time, when you are reading this, our newsfeed is full of good news stories of how people are helping each other?
We sometimes forget that the Good News of the story of Jesus Christ began with three women who were afraid. This really came home to me when I first attended a performance of Mark’s Gospel. The Gospel ends with the words:
“Don’t be alarmed,” the angel said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (Mark Chapter 16 verses 6 – 8)
Yes, that’s right! The women fled the empty tomb and they ran away! But the performance didn’t end there. After a pause, the actor returned to the opening words of the gospel…
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God…
(Mark Chapter 1 verse 1)
Fear did not have the final word, if it had we would have no story to tell today; no Christmas and no Easter. But we do, so the fleeing women must have found some courage and shared what they had seen and heard, and that was the beginning.
I hope that when we look back at 2020 from sometime in the future, the main story will be one of how people like us acted with compassion, shared our resources and looked after the vulnerable. A story of love over fear, of life over death.
May your home be filled with faith and hope, for a new day has dawned and the way to life stands open in our Saviour Jesus Christ (adapted from the Easter Day Prayer).
Rev’d Katrina
Dear Friends,
Like many of you I am regularly looking at the news and checking for updates to what is happening in relation to the Covid 19 virus. I can only imagine what will have happened in the intervening couple of weeks between me tapping these words into my computer and you reading them in the magazine. Will the schools have closed? How many of us will be isolating ourselves? Is anyone we know unwell?
Everyone is having to make adjustments and change plans. We are all mindful of keeping our distance and washing our hands. We are adapting to working from home, holding meetings by conference call and cancelling trips.
People are afraid of what it might mean and have been stockpiling all kinds of groceries and supplies ‘just in case’. Some have done such a great job of this that the supermarket shelves are empty for the rest of us. What about those who do not have the cash to bulk buy? Or those who were working long hours and missed the opportunity to shop while the shelves were full?
Faced with so many unknowns, fear is the first reaction for many of us, but as we get used to the new situation and begin to get our heads around it, we can adjust and adapt and begin to find more constructive ways to manage ourselves and begin to reach out to others. Wouldn’t it be good if in two weeks’ time, when you are reading this, our newsfeed is full of good news stories of how people are helping each other?
We sometimes forget that the Good News of the story of Jesus Christ began with three women who were afraid. This really came home to me when I first attended a performance of Mark’s Gospel. The Gospel ends with the words:
“Don’t be alarmed,” the angel said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (Mark Chapter 16 verses 6 – 8)
Yes, that’s right! The women fled the empty tomb and they ran away! But the performance didn’t end there. After a pause, the actor returned to the opening words of the gospel…
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God…
(Mark Chapter 1 verse 1)
Fear did not have the final word, if it had we would have no story to tell today; no Christmas and no Easter. But we do, so the fleeing women must have found some courage and shared what they had seen and heard, and that was the beginning.
I hope that when we look back at 2020 from sometime in the future, the main story will be one of how people like us acted with compassion, shared our resources and looked after the vulnerable. A story of love over fear, of life over death.
May your home be filled with faith and hope, for a new day has dawned and the way to life stands open in our Saviour Jesus Christ (adapted from the Easter Day Prayer).
Rev’d Katrina
MESSAGE FROM KATRINA - MARCH 2020
There are somethings in life you don’t realise until it’s too late, but if anyone had told you, you wouldn’t have believed them and in many cases, you would probably still have done it anyway!
I think becoming a parent is perhaps one of those things. I remember feeling terrified of taking my first child home from the hospital – fearing I wouldn’t know what do to and that I might inadvertently break him. Even then there was no comprehension of the years of concern and worry that lay ahead. Would I change anything? Of course not – my children are awesome and I am so proud to be their mum – whatever that means.
For some of us though, there are the babies we lost, perhaps before birth in miscarriage or abortion, perhaps we had to go through the pain of a still birth or our babies died in the first few days or weeks of life. These babies are rarely talked about and many of us perhaps felt we were expected to put them out of our minds and get on with life. I don’t think anyone who has lost a baby can ever forget them. We continue to wonder what might have been, regardless of whether we have any other children.
I cannot imagine what it must be like to attend the funeral of one’s own child who has spent more time as part of the family. That’s not how it is meant to be. Nor do I know the very real pain of longing to have a baby and being unable to.
So many of us carry a grief that we don’t feel able to share for fear of people not understanding or not knowing how to respond. Mother’s Day will come round again and we will keep quiet and try to smile, remembering silently.
This year however it could be different. We are offering a simple service to come and remember the children we lost or longed for – whether recently or 80 plus years ago. The service will include poems and readings, music and prayers and an act of remembrance. Sunday 15th March (the Sunday before Mother’s Day), 4pm at All Saints church, Upper Clatford.
Everyone is very welcome.
Rev’d Katrina
I think becoming a parent is perhaps one of those things. I remember feeling terrified of taking my first child home from the hospital – fearing I wouldn’t know what do to and that I might inadvertently break him. Even then there was no comprehension of the years of concern and worry that lay ahead. Would I change anything? Of course not – my children are awesome and I am so proud to be their mum – whatever that means.
For some of us though, there are the babies we lost, perhaps before birth in miscarriage or abortion, perhaps we had to go through the pain of a still birth or our babies died in the first few days or weeks of life. These babies are rarely talked about and many of us perhaps felt we were expected to put them out of our minds and get on with life. I don’t think anyone who has lost a baby can ever forget them. We continue to wonder what might have been, regardless of whether we have any other children.
I cannot imagine what it must be like to attend the funeral of one’s own child who has spent more time as part of the family. That’s not how it is meant to be. Nor do I know the very real pain of longing to have a baby and being unable to.
So many of us carry a grief that we don’t feel able to share for fear of people not understanding or not knowing how to respond. Mother’s Day will come round again and we will keep quiet and try to smile, remembering silently.
This year however it could be different. We are offering a simple service to come and remember the children we lost or longed for – whether recently or 80 plus years ago. The service will include poems and readings, music and prayers and an act of remembrance. Sunday 15th March (the Sunday before Mother’s Day), 4pm at All Saints church, Upper Clatford.
Everyone is very welcome.
Rev’d Katrina
Introducing Bertha
Bertha Agyekum, has come to the Anna Benefice all the way from Ghana, to join in with and help us develop our work with and for children and their families.
Until recently Bertha was working at an International School with children aged 4-5years old, but she had long been harbouring a desire to travel and offer herself for voluntary work overseas. Finally, the time seemed right, and she decided to begin her travels by offering to work in a Christian context, where she would be able to share her faith in thanks for the many ways God has blessed her.
Bertha chose the UK for its culture and heritage and felt it would provide her with many opportunities to learn, as well as to offer her experience and skills. She hoped she’d find a placement in the countryside where she could enjoy the natural beauty as well as a gentle introduction to another country, and is delighted to be here in this little corner of Hampshire.
Some of the things Bertha is looking forward to are learning new things from sharing in our worship and listening to the preaching, as well as getting to know the children and adults in our community. She hopes she will be able to take a course or two to develop her skills as a teacher and a Sunday school teacher and what she most wants to see is the River Thames.
In her free time, Bertha enjoys relaxing, listening to music, reading and reflecting on the Bible and the company of children as much as adults - confessing she still likes climbing trees!
I am confident you will join me offering Bertha a warm welcome to our villages.
Rev’d Katrina
Bertha Agyekum, has come to the Anna Benefice all the way from Ghana, to join in with and help us develop our work with and for children and their families.
Until recently Bertha was working at an International School with children aged 4-5years old, but she had long been harbouring a desire to travel and offer herself for voluntary work overseas. Finally, the time seemed right, and she decided to begin her travels by offering to work in a Christian context, where she would be able to share her faith in thanks for the many ways God has blessed her.
Bertha chose the UK for its culture and heritage and felt it would provide her with many opportunities to learn, as well as to offer her experience and skills. She hoped she’d find a placement in the countryside where she could enjoy the natural beauty as well as a gentle introduction to another country, and is delighted to be here in this little corner of Hampshire.
Some of the things Bertha is looking forward to are learning new things from sharing in our worship and listening to the preaching, as well as getting to know the children and adults in our community. She hopes she will be able to take a course or two to develop her skills as a teacher and a Sunday school teacher and what she most wants to see is the River Thames.
In her free time, Bertha enjoys relaxing, listening to music, reading and reflecting on the Bible and the company of children as much as adults - confessing she still likes climbing trees!
I am confident you will join me offering Bertha a warm welcome to our villages.
Rev’d Katrina
