For where two
or three are gathered
in my name,
there am I among them.
Matthew 18:20
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ooking
out from my study, I can see all the preparations going on in readiness for the
Open golf championship. It is amazing just how much thought and planning is in
play. I have every sympathy with them – it is a huge task.
Here at St
Hildeburgh’s we, too, are in the middle of preparation for our Prayer Labyrinth
based on the golf course. It has been an incredible journey for the team, who
have not only met regularly but spent hours and hours in preparing the floor
mat, the tables, the many items that will be used for reflection, the
production of images for the overhead projector and in the writing of the
booklet. It doesn’t stop there; there is publicity to organise and so much
more.
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have
lost count of how many people have been involved from the planning stage to
bring us to where we are today. This really has been a team effort and worthy
of much praise. It has been great to see so much fun and working together and
of course this is what a church should be about.
As each has
received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied
grace. 1 Peter 4:10
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n another subject I would like to say how great it
was to have so many at our last Family Praise service. This is clearly an area
of church life we all must support. Our links with Holy Trinity School are
strong and also with our Mums & Tots group. Many of the families are
finding their way to our Family Praise service and getting to know us better.
We have to work hard to help these new
families to settle and continue to be as welcoming as we can. Their voices mean
the church is alive and becoming more relevant to local people, the people we
are called to serve.
The introduction of the puppets and
having the screen has also been a move in the right direction and ensuring the
worship is accessible to the children and people of all ages.
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he church is a family. We might not all
like each other’s tastes in music and hymns but, providing we get the balance
right, we can all enjoy both learning new songs and also singing old
favourites. The future is exciting and I look forward in joining in with what
God wants for us.
Let’s thank God for his goodness and
pray for his continuing blessing on the parish and all our community.
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any
comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full
accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility
count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians
2:1-3
Your friend,
Rev’d Paul
Seventh Sunday of Easter:
1 June 2014
