A letter from the Vicar

Dear Friends,

July often brings a change of pace. Schools begin to break up, families come and go on holiday, gardens are full of colour, and the long summer evenings invite us to slow down a little. In the life of the Church, too, this can be a quieter season, yet it is no less holy for that. We are now in Ordinary Time, the season after Trinity Sunday when the altar frontals are green and we settle into a gentler rhythm. It is a reminder that God is present not only in great festivals and special occasions, but also in the steady rhythm of everyday life.

That is a helpful thought for this time of year. Many of us will have plans for rest and refreshment; others may find the summer months difficult, especially if routines change or if holidays are not possible. Some will welcome the company of visiting family and friends, while others may feel the ache of absence more keenly. Wherever this month finds us, the good news of the gospel is the same: the Lord is with us, in our joy and in our weariness, in companionship and in solitude.

July also brings to mind some faithful witnesses whom the Church remembers, among them St Thomas the Apostle on 3 July, St Mary Magdalene on 22 July, and St James on 25th July. Their stories are different, yet each has something to teach us. Thomas reminds us that honest doubt can still lead us to Christ; Mary Magdalene speaks of devotion, love and the joy of resurrection hope; and James, one of the first disciples called by Jesus, points us towards courage, pilgrimage and wholehearted discipleship. In a world that often prizes noise and quick answers, these saints encourage us to remain faithful, prayerful and open to the presence of God.

This, I know, can feel counter cultural when we look and see that there is so much work to do. However, we cannot underestimate the time we need for ourselves in the midst of all the noise that goes on around us. Anne Long has written a book called Listening and in it she explains the need to listen with our whole selves, not just our ears. It means being attentive to the needs around us and that includes ourselves. It is very easy to push spiritual attentiveness to one side so that the noise can creep in. For some silence is terrifying, for others it is blissful. Either way creating space for yourself is key to your own personal wellbeing, this might mean just listening to music, it might be reading a book, or just simply sat on a bench somewhere.

As summer unfolds, may we make space not only for recreation, but also for renewal of the spirit. A few quiet moments of prayer, a visit to church when we can, a kind word to a neighbour, or a pause to notice the beauty of creation can all become ways of opening our hearts to God. Summer can also be a good time to return to simple habits of faith that sustain us: reading a few verses of scripture each day, lighting a candle as we pray, or taking a moment in the garden to give thanks for God’s goodness. These small practices may seem modest, but they steady the heart and remind us that God is never far away. If you are travelling this month, may you go safely and return refreshed. If you are staying at home, may you find peace and blessing in familiar places.

Please know that you are remembered in prayer, and that our churches remain places of welcome, worship and hope for all. May this month of July bring rest where it is needed, courage where it is lacking, and a renewed awareness of God’s loving presence in every day.

With every blessing,
Rev Scott