Dear friends,
As the beginning of a new school term looms we find ourselves with one last bank holiday weekend to make the most of what we hope will be some more good weather. Two weeks ago we needed the good weather to watch the familiar yet spectacular sight of 60 hot air balloons flying over our beautiful city. This weekend many people, myself included, will need the good weather as we camp out in a field at one of the many music festivals that take place across our country this weekend. The festival we go to, along with several families from our church and wider church networks, is one which through music, art, poetry and comedy, seeks to provide space to dream, awaken fresh passion and perhaps even learn a thing or two about activism along the way. It is a deeply spiritual place and yet not at all like traditional church. As we hope to do at St. Mar n’s, it welcomes people of all stages of life and faith – insisting that sexuality, gender, disability and, income bracket should not be a barrier to living a spiritual and loving life in which we are loved and cherished by God and the communities around us. It is called Greenbelt and for those who like the sound of it, there’s always the potential for a wider church trip there in the future – Abbey and I will continue to scout it out in the mean me!
As I anticipate finding a variety of spaces in which I will be fed spiritually, finding inspiration and refreshment as I watch live music and get away from the city, I wonder what it is that brings those things for you? How and where do you feel a special spark of connection to our loving God? Is there a particular activity, other than church, that helps you to be at peace and connect with the source of light and love in our world? Many people find that sense of stillness and connection when they spend me intentionally in nature. We are about to enter Creationtide (1st Sept. – 4th Oct.). This is a period in our church calendar dedicated to God as Creator and Sustainer of all life. Many people choose to use this me of year to give particular thanks for God's gift of creation, and to renew their commitment to caring for our one planet home. This is something I am deeply passionate about but do not always speak loudly about. Over the last 7 years, as so many of us have, I have become much more aware of the extent to which human activity is damaging the world we not only live in but depend on for our existence. For many, particularly our young people, this realisation can cause a deep anxiety as they wonder what kind of future all this might lead to. We must be realis c about the situation we find ourselves in and yet, somehow, we also must find hope to take us forward. The issues surrounding the emergency of climate crisis are many and have deeply complex interconnected facets. I do believe our Chris an faith and teaching of the Bible can offer us help, emotional, spiritual and sometimes even practical, as we seek answers and ways forward in this crisis. If you are interested, feeling anxious or just want to hear more come and find me after a service or get in touch by email or text and I would love to talk more with you about my own journey and hear your thoughts too. Who knows, maybe eventually we could gather a new group together for discussion on the topic.
This weekend Revd.’s Tim Godden and Adam Beaumont will be joining us to help facilitate our times of worship. Join us at either 8:30 or 10:30 for a service of Holy Communion as we pray together and share our lives as a community of people seeking God together.
Every blessing,
Phil