At the opening service at last month’s Royal Cheshire County Show, Bishop Sam Corley preached on the parable of the seed and the sower (in his inimi-table style!) and spoke about the ways in which God’s love is lavished on all people, deserving or not, in the hard and difficult times of life as well as in the happy and joyous times. It was a thought provoking address, giving eve-ryone at the service the chance to think about the loving generosity of God in their own lives and situations – and the Bishop’s final blessing was a joyful and amusing deviation from the set text!
The Show brings together of course people from across the County, and be-yond its borders, and it is a pleasure, and a privilege, to be involved with the Church at the Show tent, where many visitors are welcomed over the course of the two days, for worship and prayer, relaxation and refreshment and simply for a space to sit down! In between stewarding duties in the Church Tent I was able, as usual, to have a good look around the extensive Show Ground, and to meet and talk with many people, including of course many parishioners. It is clear how important the Show is in the life of the County and so many people, from the exhibitors and traders to the visitors and the choirs of school children, playing their musical instruments and singing in the outdoor area adjacent to the Church Tent. And, as we give thanks for the County Show in this 21st Century, with all its technological advances, it is also easy to see how very important medieval fairs and shows were to our ancestors.
In the Gospels Jesus is often recorded as using the world of agriculture and farming, as well as fishing, as basic metaphors for the relationships between God and people, from the seed time to the harvest, from the generosity of God’s love in creation to the loving care of a good shepherd. In his address Bishop Sam was also very clear in his understanding of the importance and contribution of all of us in the ongoing work and witness of God’s Kingdom, in which we all have a part to play, and in this understanding and outworking we can all take great encouragement as we journey onwards in faith.
Later this month we will be holding our annual Year 6 School Leavers’ Service, when we say goodbye to the Year 6 pupils and pray for their transition to secondary schools in the autumn. Some of these pupils have been with us at Great Budworth Primary School since they were very young, and it has been a great pleasure over the years to watch them grow and develop and to have welcomed them into Church on many, many occasions. I hope that these experiences of church and faith will not only have helped them but will also stay with them throughout the rest of their lives.
May God bless each and every one of us in this coming month.
The Revd Alec Brown.