From the Pulpit
" Many are the plans in a person ' s heart, but it is the Lord ' s purpose that prevails "( Proverbs 19:21).
Anyone else absolutely fed up with the lectionary readings at this point in year A?
“ we’ re doomed, all doomed” it seems to say, and I say,“ good grief give us a break, it’ s not so bad here”.
As priest in charge it beholds me – with a nudge from Morag – to write the letter for the magazine each month. I usually write it as I am doing right now. I write it after writing my sermon, and I write my sermon after waiting to see how the life of the community / nation / world reflects the set of readings over the week. I then sit and ponder about‘ stuff’, stuff that might make you reflect, or smile or both. I think about Gordon as he puts the magazine together and wonder what his perception of the letter is hahahaha. Hi Gordon.
Anyway, back to the writing –
I have been to visit quite a few priests in the last few weeks, we have chatted about life in the wider church over a cup of tea, and because of those encounters I am absolutely thankful for our church family.
I have been able to speak about the way in which we support each other, the way tasks get done even if there is no one officially on the rota to do them. The way you are all so gracious with the children in the service, and the children themselves, a less than quiet, almost still, small gathering of small humans, looking at me as I give them communion, as if to say‘ this is special, I know it is’. And I pray that they do actually know how special they themselves are.
I have spoken to the priests about the way the church is beautiful in its simplicity; on the inside and the outside. I have been able to say that the grounds have recently become an evangelical opportunity; that I have conversations with people walking by who slow down and admire the garden; the cross cut into the lawn, the sunflowers nodding over the fence and the three Silver Birch trees showing their shimmering leaves off in the wind.
Far from being the invisible church, St Oswald’ s is now visible. So much so that people are coming in thinking that we are the parish church!!
Now that I can speak robustly of us all and of our building to other priests, I suppose it is time to get ready for the hundreds of people who will flock through our doors next year. – well we can dream- 😊
3