Vicar’s Pastoral Letter - May 2024 Racing across the World … Benefice… Churches

Dear Friends,

Summer is almost upon us again – but perhaps the weather is not helping us get into the mood. At the end of this month, my family and I will go to Pembrokeshire to a spot that is indeed very special to us. The phone/Gmail will be turned off. I hope that you are able to think about the refreshment that comes from holidays at some point this year. Many of you of a certain vintage like holidays a lot - perhaps that’s why I haven’t seen you in church for a while! Maybe you worshipped in a church whilst you were away? What did you learn from their welcome, ministry and worship? Can we learn a few lessons from your travels?

Are you watching Race Across the World on TV at the moment? I think it’s an interesting idea of travelling without flying, within a limited budget and no internet or mobile phone. Just a map, opportunity to travel with a companion and may be work with them and a wallet of local currency. I wonder if the producers got their inspiration from The Acts of The Apostles? As you journey through Eastertide, our Biblical journey is a cruise through the various exploits and challenges faced by the developing church. And it most certainly was a Race Across the World. Seen through the lens of some of the earliest travel writers (the apostles and deacons), we learn such a lot about being prepared and ready, being resilient and up for a challenge. Peter was a great traveller and he most certainly clocked up the miles considering the numerous journeys he took to spread the gospel. Most of his journeys were far from comfortable. He even got ship-wrecked in Malta. Indeed, I think he endured three ship wrecks on his travels. The reception he got at many of the places where he visited could hardly be described as an ‘all-inclusive leisure holiday.’ He was beaten, stoned and got imprisoned at some of them. None of these stopped him. He persevered with his mission. He tried to finish the race. He knew whom he believed in and was convinced that He is able to guard what he had entrusted to him until the end.

The task God has given to each and every one of us can hardly be described as an ‘All-inclusive holiday’ at times. There are days we will feel tired, despondent and even sorry for ourselves because we think the load of life, or even within our churches, is becoming too heavy. Our Annual Meetings will be taking place this month. How many will stand up to take on the roles we need covering to carry our churches forward on their journey? How many old stalwarts on our church committees will call it a day and stand down for very good reasons? Are we seeing anyone new coming to the fore, or are we in recycling mode? There is a phrase called multitasking in Management but perhaps the church takes this to the extreme. With some many challenges out there, not least safeguarding and domestic abuse training and the imminent need to register our PCCs with the Charity Commission, it is mightily easy to all want to give it a break and take a holiday instead. Jesus says, ‘His yoke is easy and the load He will put on us is light.’ (Mathew 11:30). Our load only becomes heavy when we stop looking at the divine power of Jesus and focus on our physical strength. What’s more, He has left us with a Helper, the Holy Spirit, to guide and guard us - and we celebrate that fact this month too - first through the Ascension and then Pentecost.

Do not grow weary running the race. Stay in the race if you can but if you have to pull up, don’t feel ashamed. Call on Him daily to grant you the strength and wisdom to keep up His good work, may be in surprising or just other ways.

‘He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1Corinthians18)

God bless - Rev Gary