Dear Friends, Lent is upon us and once again I’m thinking about what that means for me and for all of us. I wonder if, like me, you’ve ever found yourself considering what the fuss about giving something up is all about? Have you tried it and found it hard to do? Or worse still that it made you feel ‘virtuous’ or pious? Last year I gave up coffee (I absolutely love the stuff) and far from making me holier, I ended up indulging in alternative distractions (snacking, scrolling Facebook etc). Perhaps you’ve adopted the modern trend to take something up instead (writing cards to people, visiting neighbours, volunteering) which feels more productive.But Jesus fasted, and he expected those who follow him to do the same (Matthew 6:16-18). I’m a latecomer to this ancient Christian discipline, but at last, I think I’m beginning to get it! Starting on 1st January, I began a forty day season of fasting, which at the time of writing, I have just finished. I don’t say this to make you think I’m a super-Christian (far from it), but as an encouragement to you. I did a ‘mixed-mode’ fast, experimenting with giving up a range of different things (foods or things that distract me such as social media) for different durations. But by far the best for me were the actual water-only fasts. Fasting is not about denying ourselves in the hope that a good dose of stoicism will fortify us. It’s also not about getting ourselves in God’s good books. It’s about making space for God and enjoying his presence. It’s about hungering for Him in our lives so that we can become more consecrated, that is, more ready for Him to use us for His purposes. And I did hunger! I have a fast metabolism and get hungry very quickly. I have been known to get ‘hangry’ - that state when you become tetchy or short-tempered from low blood sugar. But by God’s grace, I found these times of physical hunger led me deeper into His presence. I found myself drawing closer to Jesus - praying more often, enjoying reading the Bible more, thinking of Him every time my tummy rumbled, even dreaming about Him. I also became more aware of some things that I need to get right with God in my life, where I’m living more for myself than for Him. As a result, other things happened - my head has felt clearer, I’ve had a stronger sense of direction and purpose - in fact I feel a little bit ‘turbo-charged’.During Lent, I’m going to invite you to join me on two short fasts - the first and last Fridays of Lent. My plan is to gather to pray and eat together to break our fasts, so watch out for details in Minster Mail. But whatever Lenten disciplines we enter this year, we need to ask ourselves: how will this get me closer to Jesus and help me become more like Him? With love in Christ, Rev Daniel Corlett
Over the last week or two it feels like we’re leaving summer behind and tip-toeing into Autumn. The summer break is ending and it’s the beginning of a new term for many. We have two grandchildren who have started in reception and we’ve watched one launch in confidently and the other much more cautiously. It’s a new beginning for the children and their parents.September always brings change and is marked by beginnings and endings.Sometimes, the change is predictable and needs careful planning such as buying a school uniform, getting a new timetable, starting a new training course. At other times, the change is unexpected and even unwelcome. The recent sad news of the accident where Steve and Kathy Burch tragically lost their lives has cut across everyone’s hopes and plans for this term. We remember their children and wider family as they grieve and try to come to terms with this unexpected and terrible event. For many of us here in the Minster churches who knew them, there’s a lingering sadness that we can’t shake off quickly or easily.At this time of year, we are reminded that ‘letting go’ is part of life. The trees all around us have been in leaf and then blossom, bursting with life and colour. But as Autumn draws in, the leaves fall and die and are drenched by nature’s tears. The trees look lifeless and bare and stand silently. Yet we know that, in time, warmer days return and the trees will burst back into life with fresh vigour. It’s a bright picture of hope that death gives way to life and there’s unseen growth in the waiting time.The author of the book of Lamentations wrote these words in a time of desolation and sadness:-Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. Lam 3:21-22 You and I can know and experience this love in the midst of life’s beginnings and endings. The love and faithfulness of God is the constant in the midst of change and God our Heavenly Father will never let us go. In Him we have hope! In one of my favourite hymns, also written at a time of great sadness, George Mattheson penned the words you see here. In his sadness, he felt held and carried by the “love that wilt not let me go”. Focus on this love in the weeks ahead. Listen to this song again. Remember you are deeply loved and tell those around you that they are loved too. ♥ ♥ ♥ With every blessing as the seasons change… SteveO Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee. I trace the rainbow through the rain, and feel the promise is not vain, that morn shall tearless be.
Dear FriendsAs we approach midsummer in the glorious month of June , we delight in the fulness of God’s creation: birds singing , bees buzzing and flowers displaying a multitude of colors, and as followers of Jesus we move into a new season of the Church’s year . On a sunny afternoon last month we sat in the garden and listened to the bells of St Nicholas ringing for the Feast of Ascension and ten days later we celebrated Pentecost praying that the Holy Spirit might be poured upon us as it had been upon the disciples so that we might be renewed and refreshed in our own lives and in the lives of our churches .The Holy Spirit is the power of God and the presence of God in each one of us, enabling us to discover more and more about our faith, guiding us through our lives, coming alongside us when we need comfort and strength and giving us confidence to share our faith with others. Someone once said “God’s love is a great ocean yet undiscovered by us, and the Holy Spirit is the navigator of our ship leading us to further and further discoveries.The presence of the Holy Spirit in our churches brings new experiences of worship and a growing love for each other. Time and time again throughout Christian history we read accounts of renewal and revival and we continue to hear such stories coming from the worldwide church today .Some years ago, Lizzie went to Malawi, the poorest country in Africa, visiting the various projects which supplied Fairtrade products. One Sunday morning she asked if she could go to church and was taken to a tin- roofed church, crammed with two hundred Christian men, women and children all praising God together. She said she’d never seen a service like it for its worship was vibrant and exciting and powerful and when the service was over every one of those two hundred people came up and shook hands with her!As we look forward to Julie’s Ordination to the Priesthood, the Confirmation Service, the continuation of the exciting Alpha Courses and the flourishing Life Groups – signs indeed that the Holy Spirit is at work amongst us - let us pray that this new season of Pentecost will continue to bring about a new experience of the power and presence of Jesus in the lives of each of one of us and in all the churches of the Minster.Enjoy the month of June! With Christian greetings Revd. Julian
At the time of writing, my house looks like a giant greenhouse. You see my husband loves to grow things from seed. He likes the initial tending of the growing shoots, dividing and putting them into bigger pots until they are ready to plant out. He has taken an old bookcase and covered it with clear plastic to provide a warm space to encourage germination, and each windowsill in the house seems to have something interesting growing on it.However, he doesn't enjoy gardening and certainly he's not great at keeping things alive once planted out. That's where I come in. I do enjoy gardening, although I wouldn't claim to have the greenest of fingers. I like to potter about, do a bit of weeding and help things to flourish. During May we are also encouraged not to mow our grass, encouraging biodiversity and allowing wild flowers to bloom, which provides a nectar feast for pollinators such as bees, butterflies and beetles. A break to the grass cutting routine can often create space for something new to flourish.Between us, we generally get the garden to look fairly pretty during the warm summer months here in Alcester. Later in the summer holidays we will host our garden party once again so you can come and have a look for yourselves!This is often a good picture for the church as well. Some of us are good at one job, others at another. Very few of us are gifted in a large range of jobs although a number of people take on more than they have capacity for. Some of us have expertise in offering care and support, looking after our friends and neighbours. Others have practical skills and can get jobs done. Some offer excellent hospitality, some know just how to share stories about Jesus, and some are faithful in prayer for the needs of the world and our communities. This last month we have held our APCM’s and celebrated all the things that have taken place over the past year, in our churches, enabled by so many people. We have offered our grateful thanks to the vast number of volunteers who keep our churches alive and open, and we have recognised the dedication of many as they serve in particular roles. The Apostle Paul in the Bible talks about the church working together much like a body, each with a different part to play to enable the whole body to function well. We are all essential and our Christian faith encourages us to take responsibility, not only for our own growth in faith, but also in the flourishing of the church and its mission to tell the world about Jesus. So, as we enter the warmer weather and see our gardens begin to bloom with early summer colour, perhaps we can take stock of our own involvement in the church. Have we been planted in the right place? Are we helping others by using our gifts? Are we nourishing our own spiritual life so that we and the church continue to grow? Or do we need a season where we stop for a while to see what else might flourish?If you are not sure, please drop me a line, I’m sure we can work it out together.Rev Katie Cross
