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- 😊
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