Dear Friends,

I hope you are well and are enjoying the end of June/beginning of July as much as I am! I have had a bit of a whirlwind of a fortnight as I became a priest and celebrated the eucharist at three of our four altars! I am so grateful to all of you who have supported and encouraged me at the cathedral, in a service and from afar with your prayers. As I looked out at our wonderful church community on Sunday, I was struck by how powerful a community like ours can be. One where we support one another, pray with and for one another and are able to share both the highs and the lows of our lives. We can always get better at supporting each other, finding more ways to open up and be vulnerable, but I do see those things happening in all of our various gatherings. As I led our community in this new way on Sunday several phrases stood out to me in particular from the liturgy:

"...he opened wide his arms for us on the cross"

As we think about Jesus’ death it can be easy to feel confused and even slightly embarrassed that God would need to go through this for us. As we look up at the crucifix, placed centrally in St Martin’s, I wonder how often we see the deep and ever so wide love that is behind the action. Love that goes far beyond our wildest expectations, that is not restricted and limited but reaches out and encompasses everything.

"counting us worthy to stand in your presence"

We can so often feel small and insecure and Christian teaching can often emphasis ideas of guilt and sin far more than they emphasis this: we are worthy (good enough) to stand in the presence of God. We believe that we are all created in God’s image, a creation he declared very good. As we come together to pray and praise it should be with this at the forefront of our minds.

"Great is the mystery of faith"

This line seems to carry so much for people in our community. It provides space and room in which we can breathe. We must never forget that the heart of our faith contains mystery and with it, room for us to have different ideas and perspectives as well as being OK with not having all the answers. Our coming together around the Lord’s table gives us a way to be physically united in the midst of difference.

As you can see, I have lots of thoughts about communion and community and I am delighted to be continuing my journey as a priest alongside such wonderful people. Let’s continue to chat, pray and ask questions together!

This weekend we will have chances to eat and celebrate together twice, first at our garden party with BBQ, cakes and refreshments and then again at café church where we will think about the idea of sabbath rest. You are welcome and invited!

Grace and peace,

Rev’d Phil