What does September mean to you? For the teachers and families amongst you, it will mean the start of a new year, and for some children - a brand new school. This is always very exciting but also a little bit scary. Change is always a little scary.
For those of you not at school, it may mean new phase of activity at work after a brief break, or if you are not in paid employment - a resumption of activities which had ceased for the summer months. For those without children of school age, it may be the chance to take a cheaper, child free holiday! For the Mid Trent Churches this month means a return to our usual rota, after an August Summer Holiday of just one Praise Together service per week across the Benefice. This has given people from our 10 churches a chance to come together. I must confess I have really enjoyed those services. We have swollen our usual numbers to between 40 and 60 people in each different church every week, and I have really enjoyed the hearty singing and the wonderful companionship of coming together. We have now turning from 10 different congregations to one community, all getting to know each other. Sometimes change brings good things.
We have also been busy preparing for another change. On August 30th we held our Vision Day, to discern where we want Mid-Trent Churches to go, so we can pass on that Vision when advertising for our new incumbent. As I have said to you many times, I can really feel the Holy Spirit propelling us forward into our next steps, and I think this change will be very exciting!
I should not be surprised about all this change.
After all, God is a Creator God - always making things new.
Here are a couple of promises about change. The first one is a passage from the Old Testament which was written by someone who was living through a time of terrible change and destruction. This writer, despite the difficult circumstances, see l have found a reason to have hope for the future:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations chapter 3, verses 22 to 23). Shortly after the resurrection of Jesus, another writer discovered that a relationship with Jesus was life-changing.
St Paul wrote: So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (2 Corinthians chapter 5, verse 17).
So, welcome to September! Embrace change and hopefully, enjoy a lovely Indian Summer!
With every blessing,