Summer days
Summer is here and as Imjin magazine goes to press , we await news in the UK of the ending of restrictions imposed through COVID-19 . As with all of our countries across Europe and North America , we are learning to live with a new normal . The second national lockdown was for many , a very difficult time and some people struggled . Some expressed a sense of boredom , and at times I think I may have been bored too . That ’ s not from having nothing to do , far from it , life was busy , so I spent a bit of time thinking about what this boredom thing was really about .
As a child , I was taught that boredom is generally about wanting to be somewhere else , or do something else . But this doesn ’ t quite hit the nail on the head . Recently I heard a radio programme about how people were coping with lockdown and one presenter talked about boredom . He used the definition given by the great Russian writer , Leo Tolstoy , ‘ Boredom : the desire for desires !’, Tolstoy even used it as a title of a book describing boredom . For me , this speaks very well about what many of us experienced in lockdown , we desired more than ever to be with people , to meet , to have coffee , a meal with friends , to enjoy the company of others , to see new things and go to new places – the desire for new desires ! So , we have all been bored in some way , because we have missed new things , new desires . No wonder that the greatest punishment is solitary confinement , for as much as we may from time to time enjoy silence or a moment of solitude , we are made to be with people . In the Christian Gospels , the Lord Jesus says ‘ I have come that you may have life , and have it abundantly .’
As the days of Summer offer us more of our freedoms , we should desire life abundantly . We may look back at the last year and a half and begin to understand how we have changed , and I for one will always be grateful for new desires .
Padre Alex Bennett
Places of Worship around Gloucester
CHRISTIANITY Church of England
St John ’ s ( Reverend Jacqui Hyde )
St Andrew ’ s ( Reverend Jonathan Perkin )
Roman Catholic Our Lady ’ s ( Father Paul Brandon ) Methodist
Churchdown Methodist ( Reverend Graham Miles )
Baptist
Kendal Road Baptist ( Pastor – Steve Ayers )
JEWISH Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community ( Rabbi Anna Gerrard )
MUSLIM Masjid e Noor
Khoja Shi ’ s Muslim Community
HINDUISM Gloucester Pillaiyar Temple
GURKHA
There is a said communion on Sunday mornings , 08.30 - 09.00am
Sunday 10.30 services are currently being live-streamed and are accessible from our Video Outreach via YouTube , or via our Facebook page – check website
Check website - various times .
Sunday 10.30 morning worship . Masks must be worn .
If you would like to go in person some Sunday , book your place in advance via website . All services livestreamed on Zoom also .
7 days a week 9am - midday , 6 - 9 pm
Traditional style , with children ’ s work alongside
Modern style , with children ’ s work alongside
Mass , with children ’ s work alongside
Rotation of Holy Communion , All age worship , and normal Sunday Worship
All age service , with children ’ s work alongside
St Johns Avenue , Churchdown , GL3 2DB ( at crossroads with Hare and Hounds ) www . stjohnschurchdown . co . uk
Station Road , Churchdown , GL3 2JT new . standrewschurchdown . org . uk
66 Cheltenham Road East , Churchdown , GL3 1HU www . ourladyschurchdown . org . uk
Chapel Hay Lane , Churchdown , GL3 2ET www . churchdownmethodistchurch . org . uk
Kendal Road , Longlevens , GL2 0NB krbc . org . uk
www . gljc . org . uk
44-46 Ryecroft Street , Gloucester , GL1 4LY www . majidenoor . org . uk
Temple As required Imjin Barracks
Wainsbridge , 69 Bristol Road , Quedgley , GL2 4NE
Badminton Road , Matson , GL4 6AY gloucesterpillaiyar . business . site
ARRC Padre the imjin SUMMER 2021
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